After a bit of speculation (less that a month ago) that Flights of Wonder would be leaving Animal Kingdom, today Disney announced an official end date for the experience that many guests have grown to love over the years. Flights of Wonder, a show debuting a series of real birds replicating their natural (and sometimes unnatural) behaviors before the eyes of guests, will be getting replaced by a show that remains largely nameless featuring Doug and Russel from Pixar’s blockbuster animated film “UP.”
While we currently know very little about the show, Disney did mention that senior Wilderness Explorer Doug and Russell will be interacting with guests and winged creatures throughout the performance.
Flights of Wonder will be coming to an end at the end of the month, December 31st, to make modifications for the upcoming shows debut. At this point in time, there is no definitive opening date for the replacement experience, but it will arrive in the parks in Spring of 2017.
In my own opinion, I’ve always loved the Flights of Wonder show, and while we overlooked it for years, it had become a small part of any day at Animal Kingdom. With that being said, it does appear as if this new opportunity may pull elements from the previous show and continue to build upon that entertainment concept. Hopefully this will be the update this show really needed. Of course, that is simply my opinion, so be sure to tell us what you think down in the comments on your favorite social media platform!
Animal Kingdom has changed drastically over the last few years and I wouldn’t be surprised to see even more changes on the horizon. However, I think it’s a move in the right direction. Pandora is vastly impressive, the new nightlife across the park is highly entertaining, and while the nighttime spectacle event Rivers of Light isn’t quite what many hoped for, it still exceeds expectations in a way that only Disney can truly accomplish.
