The newest experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has us really feeling bad for some of our favorite characters. It’s also making it really hard to keep a straight face sometimes.
The new performance features huge three-dimensional kites, and “kite trains” designed to look like characters from Disney’s The Jungle Book and The Lion King, Cast members on jet skis and boats responsible for handling the large kites, and ground performers managing smaller kites.
Disney touts the new KiteTails experience as one at which “hearts and imaginations will soar,” and describes the kites as “elaborate, three-dimensional and incredible.” Disney’s website also promotes the show, calling it a “high-flying performance” during which “magic takes flight.”
But, as you can see from the plethora of TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter posts online, some of which are shared here, KiteTails might do well to call itself “KiteFails,” at least until Disney can figure out a better way to handle these adorable (and undoubtedly expensive) aerial windcatchers. Let us show you why.
This “KiteFail” happened on October 3. It just wasn’t Baloo’s day. The poor thing started out doing just fine, and he ended up smashing into a tree.
One TikTokker caught Baloo’s demise on video. Poor thing.
@thetragickingdom Whoops! #waltdisneyworld50 #disney #disneyparks #Disneyland #kitetails #harmonious #Distok #disneyworld #waltdisneyworld #animalkingdom #enchanted
It wasn’t Pumbaa’s day either. This poor guy slammed right into the stands. We’ve learned that the kites are meant to land in the stands, but slamming into them upside-down is not quite the idea.
if this show doesn’t run for a decade we riot pic.twitter.com/5FQxNiqL92
— the haunting of mel house (@melschnef) October 7, 2021
Pumbaa just had to join Simba during this show. Which would be sweet. Except the poor dears had a rendezvous on their heads.
I AM OBSESSED WITH KITE TAILS SHOW ME ONE OTHER DISNEY PERFORMANCE WITH THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE, 10/10 MUST WATCH pic.twitter.com/bFxCUbzrDx
— ?✨carlye wisel loves kitetails (@carlyewisel) October 1, 2021
Some fans aren’t laughing, though. Instead, they are outraged at what they consider Disney’s “diminished offerings.” This comment came from a family who’s had enough. They supposedly canceled their February trip because of KiteTails.
Some Guests love the show, simply because of the hilarity of the huge kites crashing. You never know when and how it will happen. You just know it will happen.
Baloo is officially down and out for the count. They jost announced a modified show right now so he wont be making an appearance. King Louis is also not visible right now. I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!! pic.twitter.com/HsVGh3uk2u
— Jimmy Farrington (@jimmy_farring) October 2, 2021
These Disney fans say they had the “best seat in the house,” but not for the reasons you might think.
@wrightdownmainstreet Best seats in the house! #wrightdownmainstreet #disneyparks #disneytiktok #wdw
It’s not that no one loves the show. But many admit that they love it for the chaos and crashes, which means they most likely will miss the story of KiteTails.
On social media comments so far, we’ve seen Animal Kingdom’s new show compared to a “dumpster fire,” and those who hate it blame the sad offering on the fact that Imagineer Joe Rohde has taken a step back. There are even hashtags such as #kitefails and #halfbakedidea being used.
Those are pretty massive kites to be crashing into everything around them. What do you think? Is it hilarious or embarrassing?