Preparations get underway at Disney's Animal Kingdom for 'Disney KiteTails'

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Disney KiteTails jetski platforms

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Posted: Friday July 16, 2021 10:14am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Preparations are underway at Disney's Animal Kingdom in the Discovery River Amphitheater for the debut of 'Disney KiteTails,' a new show beginning October 1 2021.

Disney KiteTails jetski platforms

A number of platforms where the show's jet skis will dock have been setup in the river near to the Expedition Everest restroom area.

Disney KiteTails jetski platforms

Click the gallery to see more pictures of the new docks.

Disney KiteTails jetski platforms

Performers will fly windcatchers and kites of all shapes and sizes, while out on the water, elaborate three-dimensional kites – some stretching to 30 feet long – will depict Disney animal friends, including Simba, Zazu, Baloo, and King Louie. These colorful creations will dance through the sky to the beat of favorite Disney songs in an uplifting, vibrant experience for the whole family.

Disney KiteTails concept art

With this new show, the amphitheater will be used for the first time since Rivers of Light ended in 2020.

Discovery River Amphitheater

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Agent HFeb 02, 2025

Nah that’s Epcot

jeanericuser001Jan 31, 2025

Always nice to see a dagger buried in kitefails. A shame they are taking away a prime nesting spot for birds in the area but I guess it could not be helped. Some times I wonder if they should do with this area what they are gonna do with rivers of america. The space is pointless at this point and converting it into an attraction space might give disney enough space for something really interesting.

wdwmagicJan 29, 2025

I'm guessing these were falling apart and had to be removed. They were rather temporary looking, and thrown up quickly, so more than likely not intended for long-term use.

SquishyJan 29, 2025

TTA94Jan 24, 2025

You would think especially this summer they would want to put something in there even if it’s temporary.

aladdin2007Jan 23, 2025

It's unfortunate as the park could really benefit from something, why they don't just do a retooled version of Rivers of Light Ill never understand. They have the theater and prior infrastructure in place. I mentioned in another thread about the starlight parade that sometimes they try to be too high tech and it just doesn't work, less is more. And lately too many things have been backfiring on them.

TTA94Jan 23, 2025

Sure would be nice to have some show there for this summer but I’m pretty sure we would have heard about it by now.

gerararJan 23, 2025

That entire dock was specifically built for KiteTails. Now just the top square-ish piece remains. From July 2021: https://blogmickey.com/2021/07/construction-begins-for-disney-kitetails-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/

WorldExplorerJan 23, 2025

Was that KiteTails specific? I thought it was meant to look like generic theming for a boat dock and was there before KiteTails.

gerararJan 23, 2025

Big thread bump! But the old KiteTails infrastructure in the lagoon was recently removed. Majority of the dock/barges was stripped out and theming removed and replaced. Before: After: You can see where the extended dock used to connect with the bare-unthemed parts in the third picture above. Source and more:

ToTBellHopOct 28, 2022

This is the only way:

brb1006Oct 28, 2022

What about King Louie and Baloo taking a nap?

MisterPenguinOct 28, 2022

When will Kitetails be back? It was a family-favorite for weeks and weeks. Can't wait to someday bring my grandkids to see Kitetails and see the same shocked look of horror on them when Simba crashes head first into the stands, just like it was for me!

brb1006Oct 28, 2022

I forgot that Kitatails is closing in a few days.... really tells you how WDW's 50th Anniversary offerings was executed. Here's a live look at WDW's 50th Anniversary Campaign as it's getting closer to it's conclusion. Spongebob Laughing = Iger/Chapek What a complete joke WDW's 50th Anniversary Celebration turned out to be compared to Disneyland's 50th and 60th Anniversaries. Disney's 100th Anniversary ("100 Years of Wonder") starting next year better make up for this.