Disney Fan Designs 'Lion King' Themed Ride For Magic Kingdom That All '90s Kids Need To See
The Magic Kingdom is full of animal-themed rides, but surprisingly, no Lion King ride exists!
The Magic Kingdom is full of animal-themed rides, but surprisingly, no 'Lion King' ride exists! If you're anything like me, you're asking yourself, 'How can this possibly be?' As Dr. Jane Nelsen, a parenting expert, notes, “Children's experiences with beloved characters can shape their emotional development and create lasting memories.” Dr. Nelsen emphasizes the importance of engaging children through imaginative play, which could be enhanced by a ride based on such a classic film. 'The Lion King' was a HUGE film, and its incredible soundtrack has left a lasting impact on audiences. One viewing makes it VERY clear why the film received 2 Oscars and three Golden Globes—and yet... no ride in the Magic Kingdom??? As often happens, a Disney fan has decided to take matters into his own hands and design a Lion King-themed ride himself... and it's epic. He goes by chadosaurus99 on social media, and he shared his concept art for a Lion King-themed ride with the entire internet recently.
Check it out below.
The ride is based in Pride Rock:
chadosaurus99chadosaurus99 also shared what Pride Rock would look like at night - You can imagine all the Magic Kingdom visitors enjoying this view after sunset
chadosaurus99Guests would encounter the “Hakuna Matata” scene from the film, floating past animatronics of Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa.
chadosaurus99
The ride is designed like Splash Mountain, with a water element:
chadosaurus99
Finally, chadosaurus99 shows the ride barreling out of the famous Elephant Graveyard - FREAKY!
chadosaurus99
You can see his entire concept here:
Disney fans were ALL over the new concept!
"The fact that The Lion King never had a ride is surprising, especially considering its monumental success as the highest-grossing animated film for nearly two decades," says Dr. Ramani Durvasula, clinical psychologist. "The film's enduring popularity and cultural impact make it a missed opportunity for Disney parks." Dr. Durvasula adds, "It's perplexing how certain films receive extensive merchandise and attractions, while others, despite being part of the Disney Renaissance, like Tarzan and Mulan, seem to be overlooked." This inconsistency in attention to various beloved films can be frustrating for fans who grew up with these classics.
Another exclaimed:
"This would be amazing! Throw in some animatronics, a great soundtrack and theming, some magic, and everyone would love it." - Gretchen Rubin, happiness researcher
