Festival of the Lion King to close in January

[FirstTimeDisneyVisit]

i hope this is not true ! i have only seen it once and i am looking forward to seeing it again ! I absolutely love this show !

 

[Hmaries4]

I'm just going to hope that if it's true, that they will end up moving it before we get there in Feb and not cancel it. We haven't gotten to see it and I was really hoping to show it to the kids on our next trip.

 

[DCTooTall]

Since nobody else has mentioned this...

How do we know this is actually going to happen?

Because a Bus Driver told us it was!!

So, when they were looking at the AK map to find a place for Avatarland, did someone accidentally put their coffee cup on top of Dinoland? How else was Dinoland spared?

Easy... Dinoland was part of the original plans (even if the 2nd half was kinda done on the cheap) and take the full "land" space. Camp M/M on the other hand was a last minute quick addition to the park in a small part of the space designated for Beastly Kingdom in an attempt to provide a place for M&G's and to try and add more for people to do in the park. It was never designed or intentioned as a permanent addition to the park.


It's pretty much always been assumed that the space Camp M/M occupies would be utilized whenever the 'mythical creatures' land was eventually added to the park as originally intended. It's only been in the past year however that we've come to learn that the Avatar properties and it's Pandora planet would fill that "Mythical Creature" slot that's been missing in AK. (There is a reason one of the parking lot sections is named 'Unicorn', and there is a dragon on the official park Logo).

Honestly... I don't have a problem with this. Rumors have swirled for years of FoTLK relocating, and with the show's popularity, I highly doubt this is the last time we'll see the show. Even if the existing theater closes, For all we know, the total timeframe for the show's closure could be within the realm of a standard attraction/theater refurb.

As for the new land.... I've stated it before, and I'll say it again. I personally think it's wrong to look at it and refer to it as "AvatarLand". It's not the silly Dances with Smurfs movie/storyline that made the licensing a smart move. It was the planet, Pandora, and the incredibly indepth and detailed ecosystem that James Cameron created for his movie. This Ecosystem is both beautiful to look at, and pretty accurate in it's representation of 'the circle of life' with all sorts of plants and animals on the alien planet. (Much better than most alien planets with it's 'insert cutesy alien here, big mean alien there' look we get with many sci-fi movies).

With the work Cameron already did on the planet's ecosystem, Disney Imagineers can put their energy into creating the experiences for the guest, instead of needing to first spend a lot of time/effort creating the setting and backstory in which to place those experiences.


Just looking at What Disney is capable of, when they put their minds to it, I can quite easily picture an area of AK that blends perfectly with the park's existing look/feel.... as we transition seemlessly from the jungle growth around the Tree of Life and Discover Island, into the jungles of Pandora. At night, the fiber optic and other lighting effects within this new Pandora section of the park would come to life creating an entirely new, different, and exciting atmosphere all around you..... And for the park as a whole, the addition would create an opportunity to provide more experiences which could make the park's later operation viable after the animal based attractions close.... as well as a perfect location for them to fill one of the expectations that many guests feel is lacking at AK... The 'Grand Finale' show to end the night which the other 3 parks have. The Animals living at the park mean that pyrotechnics cannot be used for a nightly fireworks show, But Pandora's existing look at night with the glowing lights thru everything, Would make the new Pandora section of AK the PERFECT location to finally bring us an East Coast version of the Worlds of Color show.


There is a TON of potential here if things are done right, and since it's unlikely that FoTLK will be closed permanently instead of relocated, I'm willing to deal with a bit of disappointment in it's potentially being down while relocated due to what I know could be coming in it's current location.

 

[melancholywings]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I just don't get the Avatar thing.

I'm with you. I don't understand the appeal unless Disney is trying to get them to foot some of the costs for rides they are planning on themeing differently at a later point..say to Marvel. It feels as award a theme as the dino carnival.

 

[Claire-Bear]

I like the avatar plan. In the film, Pandora is a peaceful planet where all species greatly respect each other and the planet they live on. It is also very pretty. I think the theme fits perfectly with AK, which is meant to be focused towards nature and preservation.

I do hope they don't close FOTL for long to move it, if this goes ahead.

 

[TLSnell1981]

From Screamscape this morning:

Confirmed - (8/10/12) The latest buzz from the Rhinos is that the Festival of the Lion King show is expected to close in January to make way for Avatar. The long term plan is to move to into a new theater somewhere, but it sounds like the show will close down completely long before this happens.

Here they go again, destroying another Original. Now, I hate Avatarland even more.

 

[cigar95]

As for the new land.... I've stated it before, and I'll say it again. I personally think it's wrong to look at it and refer to it as "AvatarLand". It's not the silly Dances with Smurfs movie/storyline that made the licensing a smart move. It was the planet, Pandora, and the incredibly indepth and detailed ecosystem that James Cameron created for his movie. . . . . . .

Well said. One can do much more with a themed environment than just recreate the first movie that used it.

But then, this is the internet - never let a rational viewpoint get in the way of a good rant.

.... as well as a perfect location for them to fill one of the expectations that many guests feel is lacking at AK... The 'Grand Finale' show to end the night which the other 3 parks have. The Animals living at the park mean that pyrotechnics cannot be used for a nightly fireworks show, But Pandora's existing look at night with the glowing lights thru everything, Would make the new Pandora section of AK the PERFECT location to finally bring us an East Coast version of the Worlds of Color show.

Also note that given the location at the opposite end of the park from the safari, *most* of the animals are a good distance away from where this area would be. That will help with putting together a large-scale production.

I was not a fan of the movie, but I am very much looking forward to "Pandora - a Journey into James Cameron's 'Avatar'" (my prediction for the actual name of the area)

 

[Senator Tressel]

I was not a fan of the movie, but I am very much looking forward to "Pandora - a Journey into James Cameron's 'Avatar'" (my prediction for the actual name of the area)

Catchy.

 

[ftballfan7]

FOLK is the only reason we go to AK!!!!!!! I wonder how attendance will be affected for this stupid decision!!!! Only time will tell, but I can tell you, we probably won't go back after our two trips this year. I'd rather pay a bit more and add Water Parks!

Looks like a smart decision (as it relates to you anyway), they just got you to pay a bit more and add water parks!

 

[Robo]

I was not a fan of the movie, but I am very much looking forward to "Pandora - a Journey into James Cameron's 'Avatar'" (my prediction for the actual name of the area)

Catchy.

Yup.

PaJiJCA, start learning the acronym now!

 

[umichigan10]

Why do people not read what the op posted it says its closed until a new theater is built (presumably in Africa). So for everyone that says "they're closing the show now I hate avatarland" can calm down its being relocated (which I for one assumed was going to happen in the first place since Camp MM was always the assumed location for the expansion)

 

[labattblue]

I'm not sure I understand the dislike for Avatarland, when no details have been released as to the attractions/shows/dining/etc...

Just because you didn't like the movie doesn't mean you will hate Avatarland.

 

[cigar95]

PaJiJCA, start learning the acronym now!

I figured the title would need to include "Pandora", "Avatar", and "James Cameron". The rest of it just kind of came together, using typical Disney approaches.

Oh, and I also need to put a colon after "Pandora" in place of the dash - Disney uses them a lot.

If I miss out on FotLK for a year (we always pronounce that as a word of its own, after so many years) while it's relocated, I'll be fine. I think I've probably seen it about 50 times, 49 of them in the Elephant section.

Anyone else always sit in the same section?

 

[pilferk]

I figured the title would need to include "Pandora", "Avatar", and "James Cameron". The rest of it just kind of came together, using typical Disney approaches.

Oh, and I also need to put a colon after "Pandora" in place of the dash - Disney uses them a lot.

If I miss out on FotLK for a year (we always pronounce that as a word of its own, after so many years) while it's relocated, I'll be fine. I think I've probably seen it about 50 times, 49 of them in the Elephant section.

Anyone else always sit in the same section?

Not intentionally...but we DO always seem to end up in the Elephant section.

Which I've never really "noticed" til you brought it up.

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

I'm not sure I understand the dislike for Avatarland, when no details have been released as to the attractions/shows/dining/etc...

Just because you didn't like the movie doesn't mean you will hate Avatarland.

Exactly!! I personally am excited about some new attractions coming to AK. We love that park and are excited about enjoying more great attractions there. I trust that Disney will do a great job bringing the imagination and creativity of Avatar to this new area of AK.

 

[Robo]

I think I've probably seen it about 50 times, 49 of them in the Elephant section.

Anyone else always sit in the same section?

Yes.

But we sit exactly in the same SPOT every time.

It is the actual "sweet spot" from where the show is "centered."

Great sound there, too.

 

[brerdawg]

From Screamscape this morning:

Confirmed - (8/10/12) The latest buzz from the Rhinos is that the Festival of the Lion King show is expected to close in January to make way for Avatar. The long term plan is to move to into a new theater somewhere, but it sounds like the show will close down completely long before this happens.

Bummer!!! We love FOTLK! My kids have participated in the show every year that we went to WDW.

 

[cigar95]

Yes.

But we sit exactly in the same SPOT every time.

It is the actual "sweet spot" from where the show is "centered."

Great sound there, too.

You *are* going to tell us, right?

 

[meggiebeth]

Oh no!!! Oh NOOOOOO! won't a permanent theatre take months to build?!?!?! We are going in October to november 2013 and haven't seen the show yet! I really hope it is back up and running by then!

Darn Avatarland. For some reason I've always thought it was universal who did attractions like this- un disney related lol. I'm excited for avatarland, of course, but what about FotLK?!?!?! lol

 

[Magic3forme]

I would gladly see Nemo go anyday over this show!!