Actually, it is not. In 2011 (latest data available) the most popular tourist attraction in the world was Times Square in New York, which received 32.9 million visitors. The Magic Kingdom (which almost EVERY visitor to WDW goes to, so it IS the proper barometer) was actually
#8 on the list at 16.9 million visitors, which put it behind Central Park, Union Station in Washington DC, the Las Vegas Strip, Niagara Falls, Grand Central Terminal and Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston:
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-most-visited-tourist-attractions/2
Actually, for those of us who pay attention to economic data, Asians from developed areas travel much more than either Europeans or South Americans, but I digress. You ignored my earlier point, which is that
worldwide film grosses are skewed by large geographies that don't feed tourists to WDW. I'm sure a good number of people from the Indian subcontinent (with a population of 1.2 billion) saw Avatar.
But how many of them did you see at Epcot yesterday? And yes, WDW is just swarming with tourists from mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam
And you erroneously equate the fact someone saw Avatar with them having
engagement and interest in it. The sentiments of viewers shared on just this thread show that is not always the case. Here's one example from another forum that really encapsulates the "underwhelmed" reaction:
"
I spent my $20 to see Avatar, and found it to be a much preachier version of Pocahontas, but with blue people. I cannot remember the name of a single character from it, and have no desire to see any sequel when it comes out. The story was paper thin and no amount of special effects could save it. But most of all, I think Cameron is startlingly full of himself, and I foresee any Avatar ride or show to carry a heavy dose of his political leanings.
Potterland works so brilliantly because it is based on a fully-fleshed, incredibly rich story. The books were a theme park on paper. I mean, if your job was to come up with half a dozen shops and restaurants based on Avatar, could you come up with even ONE? Could you even come up with names for those shops that people would identify with the movie?
"
So your global grosses don't prove there is some sort of huge, embedded foreign fan base that is basing a decision on whether to go to WDW on the existence an "Avatarland" with a "blue people E-ticket."
No, Avatar is not even in the top ten when adjusted for inflation.
And while you're at it, explain how movie ticket sales in Indonesia and South Africa impact attendance at WDW.
