Avatar Land will be amazing

[MJMcBride]

I agree, I also love that aspect of AK... and the animals were the reason I chose AKV as my home when we got into DVC.

technically Saratoga is my home but I almost always use my points at Kidani now

 

[OklahomaTourist]

I've read a lot of people around the internet and Dis stating that they don't think Avatar is iconic or enduring enough to really be a success as a themed land.

Count me among them.

When I started catching up on Disney rumors and kept reading about "Avatarland," I thought to myself, "what on earth are they talking about?" and I initially actually thought it was some huge conceptual expansion on DisneyQuest using avatars in some fantastic, interactive, immersive system, but no, its about the blue alien movie. And I couldn't believe it. I mean, here is Disney, with these incredible resources (now including Star Wars) at their disposal, and they're going to make a park/land/significant concept out of Avatar??

I suppose the right mix of imagination and creativity could do something interesting with it, although that movie interested me not in the slightest, nor does the concept of a land based upon it. Whatever they do, it had darned well better have about 6,000% more imagination mixed into it than what went into New FantasyLand, which is best summed up by my daughter's reaction once we'd made the loop around it: "That's IT??" As someone else said, it looks beautiful, but there's nothing to do. They've plopped $400M on statuary and facades.

For every one person thinking AvatarLand is a good idea, I've got to believe there are at least five, maybe ten, who are ready to plunk down serious cash right now if a Star Wars land were to about to open up. SW is a huge social icon the world around...Avatar...big individual movie, but social icon?? Not so much.

 

[johnGorski]

Agreed with 400 million spent on FLE, however I was told construction cost to blend it into the rest of the park was a real challenge.

 

[johnGorski]

There is a video with james Cameron and joe Rhodes on screamscape going over this project in detail. This is going to be very detailed looking fo forward to 2017. Think TDO is going to deliver

 

[boreas154]

I really think that most of the issue folks have is related to using the 'Avatar' name.

If on the other hand they had said:

"Our Imagineers are at work in conjunction with a major Hollywood director on an Animal Kingdom expansion. This area will be based off a mythical vibrant and colorful world. Featuring floating mountains, bioluminescent plants, and fantastical creatures. This land will appeal to all of our senses. Also in the works are new rides and experiences for our guests that tie in wonderfully with our overall vision of the Animal Kingdom park."

etc, etc...

Even if you had never heard of (or seen) Avatar, I think this would have gone over better.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

There is a video with james Cameron and joe Rhodes on screamscape going over this project in detail. This is going to be very detailed looking fo forward to 2017. Think TDO is going to deliver

 

[arthropodtodd]

I showed my wife the pics, she hasn't been interested in the whole Avatarland idea, and even she is interested at this point.

 

[Teamubr]

This is going to be very detailed looking forward to 2017.

Unless Cameron has changed things up, I read where the next 2 Avatars were being (have been) filmed together. With release dates in 2015 and 2017. The timing of this works out well to the WDW 2017 plans. If the next 2 movies are as successful as the original, I think this could be gold for Disney.

j

 

[old lady]

http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/first...746579.html;_ylt=Ah_aVSReUCMTrlJOq6_eSryhpYMA

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Unless Cameron has changed things up, I read where the next 2 Avatars were being (have been) filmed together. With release dates in 2015 and 2017. The timing of this works out well to the WDW 2017 plans. If the next 2 movies are as successful as the original, I think this could be gold for Disney.

j

Well...Cameron has yet to make a flop. He occupies the top two spots on the all-time box-office list. Chances are...these will be monsters as well.

 

[JMD]

For every one person thinking AvatarLand is a good idea, I've got to believe there are at least five, maybe ten, who are ready to plunk down serious cash right now if a Star Wars land were to about to open up. SW is a huge social icon the world around...Avatar...big individual movie, but social icon?? Not so much.

I agree. IMO, DHS needs far more attention than AK. An expanded Star Wars area would be huge.

 

[ckelly10]

It is my opinion that Disney hasn't produced anything to match or exceed Spider Man at Universal from a technology standpoint. It debuted 13 years ago. Since then, Universal has created yet another ride, Harry Potter, that hasn't been matched or exceeded by Disney.

I gather that the new Fantasy Land refurb is supposed to be Disney's answer to Harry Potter Land. Although it will be a great addition to the park, I don't see it as meeting nor exceeding that which Universal created.

What Avatar Land has going against it is that few people have the connection to Avatar that they do to Harry Potter. It was wildly popular in the theaters, but never had that same lasting connection to the audience. That is why I feel an investment in Star Wars would be money better spent. Not only could Disney meet the standard set by Universal, but it could also exceed it in a big way.

Yet, barring a switch over to a Star Wars land, I am in agreement that whatever they cook up has to be mind blowing.

Agreed!! Universal when it comes to rides beats Disney hands down. Disney for a lot of things are amazing BUT they do need to up their game when it comes to new rides.

 

[skater]

I really think that most of the issue folks have is related to using the 'Avatar' name.

If on the other hand they had said:

"Our Imagineers are at work in conjunction with a major Hollywood director on an Animal Kingdom expansion. This area will be based off a mythical vibrant and colorful world. Featuring floating mountains, bioluminescent plants, and fantastical creatures. This land will appeal to all of our senses. Also in the works are new rides and experiences for our guests that tie in wonderfully with our overall vision of the Animal Kingdom park."

etc, etc...

Even if you had never heard of (or seen) Avatar, I think this would have gone over better.

Absolutely!

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

I agree. IMO, DHS needs far more attention than AK. An expanded Star Wars area would be huge.

~Plans for Avatarland were put in place long before Disney acquired full ownership the Star Wars empire. Avatarland is the reason Disney was finally able to negotiate a feasible deal with Lucas. Hopefully, we'll have a Star Wars land and Pixar expansion sometime in 2020!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

~Plans for Avatarland were put in place long before Disney acquired full ownership the Star Wars empire. Avatarland is the reason Disney was finally able to negotiate a feasible deal with Lucas. Hopefully, we'll have a Star Wars land and Pixar expansion sometime in 2020!

Ok...I'll bite...
Explanation on the Lucas tie in here?

And also, 2020? There amusement park rides for gods sakes...I'd like to see some of this stuff before I'm dead...and I'm not 40 yet.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

Ok...I'll bite...
Explanation on the Lucas tie in here?

And also, 2020? There amusement park rides for gods sakes...I'd like to see some of this stuff before I'm dead...and I'm not 40 yet.

~Hey lockedout, it's been awhile! Okay, I'm ready to spill the tea, lol. Apparently, the relationship between Disney and Lucas was a troubled one. Lucas was extremely guarded and protective of his precious Star Wars IP much like JK Rowling, severely limiting Disney in how they could utilize the IP in the parks and to their benefit and otherwise.

~Lucas founded Pixar and while he was impressed with how Disney handled that acquisition from Jobs. Lucas did not want Disney to mess up his vision of Star Wars. Iger kept on asking and Lucas told Iger during a private breakfast at Hollywood Brown Derby that he will let him know if and when he's ready.

~Anyway, it is no secret that James Cameron wanted Avatar to be the next Star Wars! While, Avatar may not be Star Wars -- it holds the box office record for highest grossing film. James Cameron is still committed to Avatar with the upcoming Avatar sequels.

~When Disney announced the deal with Cameron for Avatarland, it immediatedly caught Lucas's attention. He must have been concerned about Avatar upstaging Star Wars presence at Disney. And that his IP could fall between the cracks, meaning that Disney would no longer be interested in hosting Star Wars.

~Iger knew from the beginning that Avatar would not be the answer for Harry Potter, but Star Wars could. George Lucas wanted his IP to continue to thrive and he definitely did not want Star Wars to be lost in Avatar's shadow.

~For decades Lucas had no incentive to sell, but now with Avatar as an option, Iger was in a much better position to negotiate and leverage Lucas into an acceptable price.

~With all of the news surrounding Avatarland, Iger finally got a phone call from Lucas. Lucas was not comfortable about this deal but the James Cameron and Avatar relationship with Disney made him nervous.

~While Lucas has given up all control to Disney, he still has tremendous influence over his IP. He just doesn't trust Disney entirely, so Lucas made Kathleen Kennedy president of Lucasfilm which must remain intact and the next Star Wars film will be released under her authority -- so technically he's still calling the shots with the films.

~I'm not 40 yet either, but I might be by the time Disney finishes Star Wars land, if they ever start. It's so funny, I hope we're not to old to see a Star Wars ever.

~Now, that Disney has made the deal of a lifetime, I'm still not convinced that they are eager to build a Star Wars land. Disney just did not want Universal or anyone else to get their hands on it. If Harry Potter 2 is not a huge success than Disney won't do anything else in the parks, we'll see.

 

[beer dave]

~Hey lockedout, it's been awhile! Okay, I'm ready to spill the tea, lol. Apparently, the relationship between Disney and Lucas was a troubled one. Lucas was extremely guarded and protective of his precious Star Wars IP much like JK Rowling, severely limiting Disney in how they could utilize the IP in the parks and to their benefit and otherwise.

~Lucas founded Pixar and while he was impressed with how Disney handled that acquisition from Jobs. Lucas did not want Disney to mess up his vision of Star Wars. Iger kept on asking and Lucas told Iger during a private breakfast at Hollywood Brown Derby that he will let him know if and when he's ready.

~Anyway, it is no secret that James Cameron wanted Avatar to be the next Star Wars! While, Avatar may not be Star Wars -- it holds the box office record for highest grossing film. James Cameron is still committed to Avatar with the upcoming Avatar sequels.

~When Disney announced the deal with Cameron for Avatarland, it immediatedly caught Lucas's attention. He must have been concerned about Avatar upstaging Star Wars presence at Disney. And that his IP could fall between the cracks, meaning that Disney would no longer be interested in hosting Star Wars.

~Iger knew from the beginning that Avatar would not be the answer for Harry Potter, but Star Wars could. George Lucas wanted his IP to continue to thrive and he definitely did not want Star Wars to be lost in Avatar's shadow.

~For decades Lucas had no incentive to sell, but now with Avatar as an option, Iger was in a much better position to negotiate and leverage Lucas into an acceptable price.

~With all of the news surrounding Avatarland, Iger finally got a phone call from Lucas. Lucas was not comfortable about this deal but the James Cameron and Avatar relationship with Disney made him nervous.

~While Lucas has given up all control to Disney, he still has tremendous influence over his IP. He just doesn't trust Disney entirely, so Lucas made Kathleen Kennedy president of Lucasfilm which must remain intact and the next Star Wars film will be released under her authority -- so technically he's still calling the shots with the films.

~I'm not 40 yet either, but I might be by the time Disney finishes Star Wars land, if they ever start. It's so funny, I hope we're not to old to see a Star Wars ever.

~Now, that Disney has made the deal of a lifetime, I'm still not convinced that they are eager to build a Star Wars land. Disney just did not want Universal or anyone else to get their hands on it. If Harry Potter 2 is not a huge success than Disney won't do anything else in the parks, we'll see.

Wow-- it sounds like you were there for the negotiations--

I like this theory(?) and hope it can spark some new development.

It's best to rely on your mental age-- sometimes I am 10.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

Wow-- it sounds like you were there for the negotiations--

I like this theory(?) and hope it can spark some new development.

It's best to rely on your mental age-- sometimes I am 10.

~Hey beer dave! I don't think this is a compliment! I guess instead of simply spilling the tea, I must have drowned poor LOL in it! He asked...

~But yeah, I'm fighting so hard to keep my inner child alive! And, I think 10 is a wonderful age!

 

[beer dave]

~Hey beer dave! I don't think this is a compliment! I guess instead of simply spilling the tea, I must have drowned poor LOL in it! He asked...

~But yeah, I'm fighting so hard to keep my inner child alive! And, I think 10 is a wonderful age!

Not an insult either-- just amazement at the level of development given to your concept, leading to the question " was she there for this" I can't write things like a lot of you do on here-- Just the occasional observation linked with a quip.

I rely on the writers here to provide the plot for the show. Then I sit in the cheap seats and heckle.
Thanks.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That was a very detailed take on Lucas and Cameron, Dr.

But I'm gonna have to go ahead and reject it flat out...

The main problem is the concept that somehow Lucas was threatened by Cameron...maybe on some USC geek, director, special effects level...
But not on money which is what matters

Star Wars has made a
Fortune in everything they've done for 35 years...it's just on another plane

Like Wdw and universal... Fans "hope" they're close so they'll duel it out in steel and French fries...
But that's simply not the case.

I think officially Lucas just realized he couldn't produce anything that sets the standard anymore:.. Caught by the Cameron's, Jackson, Abrams of the world...and just dumped what cost him originally nothing for a cool 4 billion smackers plus I'm sure future considerations