It's Official: AVATAR breaks ground at Disney's Animal Kingdom

[Rumors Rocks]

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...atar-inspired-land-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/

Earlier this week, leaders from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Lightstorm Entertainment kicked off the largest expansion in Disney’s Animal Kingdom history with a ceremonial groundbreaking for the park’s new AVATAR-inspired land with blue, Na’vi-inspired shovels.

In this photo illustration, they were joined by a Na’vi, showing the scale of characters from the “AVATAR” film.

The area, which is being designed by Walt Disney Imagineering in partnership with “AVATAR” creator James Cameron and Lightstorm Entertainment, will be unlike anything ever experienced at a Disney park. Guests will experience the wonders of Pandora when they fly with banshees and explore a rich natural environment with mountains that float and interactive plants that glow at night.

“Disney’s Animal Kingdom is already home to some of our guests’ favorite attractions,” said Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “With AVATAR, we are adding a spectacular new world and an exciting set of attractions unlike any our guests have experienced. The expansion now under way will make the park a true full-day, must-see experience.”

This week’s milestone is just the first step in a larger expansion for the park that will also include the debut of a new evening spectacular, as well as a nighttime version of Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Check out the video below for a look inside the ceremony, and be sure to follow the Disney Parks Blog for future updates on this exciting expansion.

AVATAR-land Groundbreaking Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oJ8CjnshVg

The shovels are officially in the ground.

~Paging Dr.Disneymd......

 

[StarWarsJez]

Great, so that's Avatarland OPENING in 2017 - that'll probably be the restrooms and gift shops. Given Disney's recent track record we can probably expect the first E Ticket ride in 2020

 

[zev]

Still not that excited for it, now they are locked in with Avatar while Mythical Beasts or what ever the original concept name, allowed for all sorts of options. I also thought AK had to close early for the animals.... so what changed that they are doing night time things?

 

[taterheads]

Disney's Facebook posting about this is getting buried 6 feet deep in negative comments. I am not super excited about it but I almost feel like it's the underdog project they are really going to have to prove themselves on since the following movies haven't been made and apparently many Disney fans wish Disney would have gone in another direction. Because it's such an underdog I almost feel a need to cheer it on in hopes it becomes something Disney and Disney fans can become proud of and not as one poster said the project doomed to become the John Carter of WDW. I hope the films to come will woo and so will the park but I am very nervous on Disney's behalf. Seems like a big gamble. Only time will tell.

 

[DWJoshua]

Still not that excited for it, now they are locked in with Avatar while Mythical Beasts or what ever the original concept name, allowed for all sorts of options. I also thought AK had to close early for the animals.... so what changed that they are doing night time things?

My understanding is that this is a bit of a myth. While certain attractions and exhibits need to be closed at certain times (or animals cycled out), there is no reason the park can't be open late. The only reason they've had it close earlier in the day is that it doesn't have enough content (attractions) to justify a longer operating day. They're adding a nighttime component to the safari, which may involve new lighting and cycling of animals. They're also adding a nighttime show somewhere in the park (presumably on the river near Everest).

Personally, I'm very excited about all of this activity at DAK. It's my favorite park aesthetically, and now it will have even more for you to actually do. There's a lot of negativity about Avatar (and I REALLY hope this thread doesn't devolve into an anti-avatar rant, like most of the threads), but I think it's a brilliant choice for this park. It adds to the nighttime offerings - especially considering how beautiful it will be in the dark. Disney is all about place-making. Avatar is one of the most beautiful landscapes ever created in a movie. The plot is pretty much irrelevant in this case. The key to this whole expansion is creating a completely immersive experience for guests, and I think they'll do it.

 

[zev]

Because it's such an underdog I almost feel a need to cheer it on in hopes it becomes something Disney and Disney fans can become proud of and not as one poster said the project doomed to become the John Carter of WDW. .

I may be one of the few but I found myself enjoying parts of John Carter so I hope Avatar Land can do the same.

Thanks for the info DWJoshua, big fan of AK as well. Will look forward to more night time attractions and may Avatar prove us naysayers wrong.

 

[Iowajes]

Is Avatar going to have sequels?

In 2017 and beyond will kids know what Avatar is? I know it was a very big movie, but it was in 2009 and I didn't think it really had a lasting fandom.

 

[Borishack]

Disney's Facebook posting about this is getting buried 6 feet deep in negative comments.

While every posting Universal puts up about the Harry Potter Diagon Alley gets huge numbers of positive comments. Disney is setting itself up to go into the annals of things like "New Coke" with this idea.

 

[Borishack]

Is Avatar going to have sequels?

In 2017 and beyond will kids know what Avatar is? I know it was a very big movie, but it was in 2009 and I didn't think it really had a lasting fandom.

Sequels? Can people even name a single character from the original?

 

[jeanylaser]

I love Avatar! It's awesome to see it in person on 2017!

 

[DWJoshua]

Is Avatar going to have sequels?

In 2017 and beyond will kids know what Avatar is? I know it was a very big movie, but it was in 2009 and I didn't think it really had a lasting fandom.

Yes, there are three sequels in the works. The first of which is expected to come out right around the same time Avatarland opens.

 

[Borishack]

Yes, there are three sequels in the works. The first of which is expected to come out right around the same time Avatarland opens.

That means we'll be seeing this thing go live sometime around the end of this decade. Or even later if they assign anyone to the project who was involved with the mine train....

 

[twebber55]

Sequels? Can people even name a single character from the original?

3 sequels in fact
im sure each will make a billion plus each movie

 

[twebber55]

That means we'll be seeing this thing go live sometime around the end of this decade. Or even later if they assign anyone to the project who was involved with the mine train....

quoted for truth

 

[knlanf]

Loved the movie and look forward to this new project. I'm sure it will be amazing when complete.




.

 

[vandy]

I was not a fan of the movie either and if there are sequels coming out, I really don't care. Even so, I believe you cannot judge the quality and experience a ride or attraction will give you simply based on characters from film or television. True "Imagineers" can develop a ride or experience that succeeds on it's own merits and does not need to be tied it into characters or movies.

This is now the time for Disney to step up. They claim to have the best designers, architects, engineers etc. If they truly have the best "Imangineers", then they can make Avatarland a huge success. They can make it so that any person, whether they have seen the movie or not, has the best, most exciting and memorable experience of their visit. The real question is whether or not they are capable of or allowed to do so. Only time and a few million dollars will tell.

 

[KYMickey]

Yes, there are three sequels in the works. The first of which is expected to come out right around the same time Avatarland opens.

At the time the original movie was in theaters the first sequel was supposed to be shown in 2012, that has moved many times and is now projected for 2017, will it move again? No script work have yet been starred for it.

 

[DWJoshua]

At the time the original movie was in theaters the first sequel was supposed to be shown in 2012, that has moved many times and is now projected for 2017, will it move again? No script work have yet been starred for it.

Can I ask how you know a script hasn't been started?

They seem to have nailed down a filming location recently:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/16/avatar-new-zealand-filming-three-sequels_n_4452410.html

 

[yitbos96bb]

Sequels? Can people even name a single character from the original?

Jake Sully

Nayteari

Moat

Grace

Trudy

The Colonel was Mikes Quartrich I think

 

[Whatsthegoodword]

Surely this is some elaborate hoax. Surely WDW is not building "Avatarland."