Leaked Plans for AVATAR at AK available online

[DRDISNEYMD]

Love the Avatar movie and can't wait to see it come to Disney. However this type of coaster has absolutley no apeal to me. I am terrified of heights. I can do a few coasters like Big thunder Mountain as long as I close my eyes when on the outside parts. But this, no way. There are to many open air coaster like this at Universal. Hence the reason I have no interest in going there other than to maybe check out Harry Potter. Not enough themeing to go with a coaster of this type for Disney in my opinion.

~Hi mickey&minniealways! I didn't see Avatar at the movies, and I could not watch more than 30 minutes of Avatar at home! I really tried to get into this movie, but I just couldn't, it's sad because I wanted to love this film.

~Anyway, I totally understand where you're coming from. I don't know, but I just struggle with "who" I think Disney is trying to "reach" with Avatarland. I *think* Avatar would primarily appeal to the tween to young adult male demographic. My guess is that this group also makes up the majority of thrill seekers.

~While, I'm not a fan of Avatar the movie, I am still very excited for this vision to be realized at Animal Kingdom and I love the leaked plans. I just wasn't sure if it would be *enough* to draw in those thrill seekers. I totally agree that this coaster "as is" would not fit the park, or the aesthetic theme Disney strives for, but I would LOVE another coaster in Animal Kingdom and a night show!

~Currently, I don't know what to think. I wrote that post, the day *before* Disney bought Lucasfilm. Since that announcement, all we've been hearing about is StarWars Land at DHS, which is super exciting. So, right now, I'm just patiently waiting to hear more details about Avatarland.

 

[KYDIZFAN]

Disney will probably scrap Avatar land and go with. Star Wars themed land to tie in with new movie(s) no hard evidence just a guess on my part.

 

[monique5]

So I have only seen about 20 minutes of Avatar at home. It was ok, but not good enough to finish. So no excitement about it coming to AK. Very disappointed to several references that Camp Minnie and FotLK will be closed during my February trip.

I love Disney and the movies. However, I haven't been to Disney in over 15 years. DD loves all things Disney too. I've been planning this trip for over a year. Still very excited and will enjoy my trip, no doubt about it. However, so many changes this year. New Fantasyland, no Free Dining General Public Promo, Main Street Bakery closing for Starbucks. Camp Minnie/FotLK closing. Just purchased Star Wars. Almost too much to keep up with. Nevertheless, we have a fantasic week planned.....

However, I have read and seen all of the HP books/movies. So I had to go to Universal studios in WWoHP opened in 2010. Stayed on property. Express Pass is great. Included with onsite hotel reservation. Movie & Dinner discounts that include gratuity. Special perks for Three Broomsticks & other things at US and IoA for onsite guests only. Extra hours too....So when I started to research Disney, I felt a lot was missing for the price we are paying. I understand they are out to profit ,and we get enjoyment/excitement from what they have to offer. But feeling no love for onsite site guests. EMH are even changing in January. If I wasn't a planner, my DD would not be very happy in February. 365D t book room, 180D to guarantee ADRs. Promos changing, etc.

So not to comlain about Disney, just to say nothing wrong with Universal and other theme parks. And to always plan and expect the unexpected when traveling/planning.

 

[MJMcBride]

Disney will probably scrap Avatar land and go with. Star Wars themed land to tie in with new movie(s) no hard evidence just a guess on my part.

Mr. Iger. Please listen to this person

 

[rrushford]

Please speak up, I know there are more like me out there. This is not an anti Avatar rant but rather a request to not do another Soarin. That ride is at best a travelogue film, poorly put together with rough transitions between scenes and no storyline (very un-Disneylike). And as far as the ride itself, about as much excitement as the swings at a local carnival. Come on Disney, I'm counting on you to catch up to Universal (whose Harry potter and Spider-Man rides are years ahead in technology and excitement). At least, if you must use the Soarin ride base, at least amp it up a bit. And please, please give it a story, a purpose, something.

 

[WDWChloe]

Mr. Iger. Please listen to this person

here, here!

 

[wiigirl]

Disney will probably scrap Avatar land and go with. Star Wars themed land to tie in with new movie(s) no hard evidence just a guess on my part.

Thats what I would think....

 

[shyeyes]

if avatar land is every added to the animal kingdom, i think it would at least make that theme park a bit more exciting. right now, it's pretty low on our priority list for our next visit (early 2013).

the only reason why we're even going to AK is because we have character brunch dining at the tusker house.

the AK is just a glamourized zoo for us. we love a good zoo but since we have a good one in our city, it just wasn't our thing.

 

[aleksandr]

I'm a bit confused about something and perhaps I'm just missing some key piece of information...

Avatar was distributed by 20th Century Fox. What exactly is Disney's connection to this film that would warrant a ride or rides in a Disney Theme Park? Shouldn't Disney's ride development R&D dollars focus on an actual Disney movie? Oz the Great and Powerful is coming out next year and looks to have a pretty magical look for the land of Oz. Couldn't they build a "land" based on that film instead? At least it has a tenuous link to Disney.

I guess I'm mostly concerned that Avatarland will begin a continuing process of bringing "Thrill" rides to Disney parks. I'm old-fashioned and Space Mountain is enough of a thrill for me. I'd rather leave the crazy steel upside-down, standing up roller coasters to Universal or Busch Gardens.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Star Wars was distributed by 20th Fox...Indiana Jones was distributed by Paramont...the Twilight Zone is owned by Viacom/CBS...the wizard of Oz was MGM - which was owned by turner then time Warner for the last 40 years...

The point is that in themeparks...the lines of IP loyalty are blurred at best, nonexistent at worst. Anything is for rent in a vacation space...there is very little down side to anyone.

And there is no downside to James Cameron riding the Disney horse...

Perhaps avatar is just not the right ip for Disney...that is the underlying current of skepticism for this project since day one.

Buying Lucas should t on the surface change that...but perhaps the investment dollars may be deemed more prudent elsewhere.

I believe that Cameron and Disney have a "development deal"...which is often the case when you have 2 strong, controlling parties.

I.e. if nothing is developed...the. You walk away...no harm, no foul.

 

[disneyworld1977]

I'm a bit confused about something and perhaps I'm just missing some key piece of information...

Avatar was distributed by 20th Century Fox. What exactly is Disney's connection to this film that would warrant a ride or rides in a Disney Theme Park? Shouldn't Disney's ride development R&D dollars focus on an actual Disney movie? Oz the Great and Powerful is coming out next year and looks to have a pretty magical look for the land of Oz. Couldn't they build a "land" based on that film instead? At least it has a tenuous link to Disney.

I guess I'm mostly concerned that Avatarland will begin a continuing process of bringing "Thrill" rides to Disney parks. I'm old-fashioned and Space Mountain is enough of a thrill for me. I'd rather leave the crazy steel upside-down, standing up roller coasters to Universal or Busch Gardens.

As was stated from someone else, Star Wars wasn't Disney until recently. Having said that, I am kind of like you, I would rather Disney focus on their own original projects and movies. I am with you on most of your comments. I am old fashioned. I want more "attractions" than just the "thrill" rides. I go to Universal, Busch, and Six Flags for those things. But with the coasters that Disney has done, they have built them their way and with the theme that doesn't exist at some of those parks, and the stories behind them.

I am not a fan of the Avatar Land deal. If they do it, Disney will probably do it right and will be neat "in itself" but it just doesn't gel with me in the end. Disney moves forward and never is finished, that's whats cool. Sometimes we all don't agree, but never will on everything Disney does.

Oh well, I am just another Disney fan in these forums, not an a Disney Imagineer, so it's in their hands.

 

[aleksandr]

Star Wars was distributed by 20th Fox...Indiana Jones was distributed by Paramont...the Twilight Zone is owned by Viacom/CBS...the wizard of Oz was MGM - which was owned by turner then time Warner for the last 40 years...

The point is that in themeparks...the lines of IP loyalty are blurred at best, nonexistent at worst. Anything is for rent in a vacation space...there is very little down side to anyone.

All very good points, but I think that all of the properties that you mention are reflected only in Disney Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios), which is a park dedicated to, well, movies

I think I'd have less of an issue with Avatarland if it were going into DHS and not Animal Kingdom. The way I see it (and this is just my opinion) is that putting an obvious movie-related attraction into AK dilutes the overall thematic purpose of that park. After all, AK is about animals, both living and prehistoric. Epcot is about science, technology, and world cultures. MK is just classic Disney. And DHS is about movies, animation, and the making thereof.

Oh well. Even if it gets built in AK it won't be the end of the world. Change is inevitable whether we embrace it or not

 

[DanBoris]

All very good points, but I think that all of the properties that you mention are reflected only in Disney Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios), which is a park dedicated to, well, movies

I think I'd have less of an issue with Avatarland if it were going into DHS and not Animal Kingdom. The way I see it (and this is just my opinion) is that putting an obvious movie-related attraction into AK dilutes the overall thematic purpose of that park. After all, AK is about animals, both living and prehistoric. Epcot is about science, technology, and world cultures. MK is just classic Disney. And DHS is about movies, animation, and the making thereof.

Oh well. Even if it gets built in AK it won't be the end of the world. Change is inevitable whether we embrace it or not

AK is also strongly focused on preservation and living in balance with nature which is a central theme of Avatar.

As for why Avatar over a Disney property, it could be argued that building an attraction from a Disney property is mainly going to appeal to Disney fans who are probably already coming to WDW. By going with an outside franchise you increase the chance of tapping into a new group of guest (whether this really will happen or not is up for debate). Harry Potter was a such a great choice for Universal because it brought in a lot of people who probably never set foot in Universal before that.

 

[Roccosmom]

Hi - Does anyone have any more info on whether or not they are closing TFoLK in January? TIA

 

[shyeyes]

AK is also strongly focused on preservation and living in balance with nature which is a central theme of Avatar.

totally agree. i see avatar land fitting in more with AK. i think it would give disney better PR to show that they are embracing conservation and educating people about the importance of this balance.

i suppose the making of/animation part of it could fit into the DHS, though. well, anyway, at this point, who knows if it's even going to happen!

we shall see.

in maybe a year or two?

 

[Max Rebo]

After all, AK is about animals, both living and prehistoric.

There was also always a plan for AK to explore the world of fantasy animals — creatures that never existed and are the creation of human imaginations. That's why there is a dragon on the AK logo, and why "Beastly Kingdomme" was once planned for that park.

In some ways, Avatar ties into that idea of exploring "mythological" animals.

 

[hoffmann2828]

Am I the only one who thinks they missed the boat on TIMING? I saw most of Avatar, wasn't super-impressed and that was years ago. All excitement for it has melted away.

 

[POB14]

Am I the only one who thinks they missed the boat on TIMING?

Maybe they didn't . . .

James Cameron confirms 'Avatar 2' should start filming in 2013

 

[Damien2213]

Avatar is like anything else some people will be impressed and others will not. It is just one of those things. I was highly disappointed with Soarin' and no matter how many times I ride it I can't figure out peoples fascination with it. I think the majority will enjoy the attraction. I think anyone not liking Avatar is among a minority. That's okay it happens. I wasn't obsessed with Harry Potter either. Different strokes for different folks. I'm actually looking forward to this though I'd actually rather see money like this spent towards building up beastly kingdomme.....

 

[MJMcBride]

Maybe they didn't . . .

James Cameron confirms 'Avatar 2' should start filming in 2013

That assumes people will care about the next Avatar