Festival of the Lion King to close in January

[DCTooTall]

Originally Posted by Fantasmiss

Not anything like Disboards, but I wish! What a goldmine of customer feedback.... :D

No, not base it in of course, but take into consideration. I know that some of them used to read the forums not long ago, and I can't see why they would've stopped.

Anyhow, it doesn't matter what we think. Avatarland being delayed is hopefully a hint, but time will show

It's worth noting... Nothing even remotely official is hinting that the Avatar project has been delayed.

The latest rumors were based off a single fansite deciding that since Disney has not released any official concept art, that the project must have been delayed. More mainstream news sites then picked up that story and reported it as fact.

From a purely logical standpoint, It is not surprising in the least that concept art has not been released. First off, According to reports, Imagineering didn't get much lead time before the official announcement about a year ago that Disney had secured the Theme Park rights to the Avatar franchise. A year is a VERY short time to go from blue sky, to cohesive plan, to concept art depicting that plan, to legal and PR approving the release of that concept art to the public.

From a practical standpoint, Universal has been constructing what is generally regarded as Harry Potter Phase 2 since the beginning of the year, and we have yet to see any official Concept art, let alone official confirmation.

Disney has been constructing the new restrooms and pathway in Fantasyland in the old Skyway station location, and they haven't released any concept art for it either despite construction already reaching the steel going up stage.

Even the Test Track refurb concept art wasn't released until AFTER they closed the attraction for the extended refurb.... Even though you know they had it in-house for MONTHS or even years prior due to the logistical needs of actually planning such a major refurb/construction project, let alone the legal and contractual obligations as it's a sponsored pavilion which would require the buy-in (and probable input from) GM.

My point is that it's not unheard of, or even really unexpected, for details such as concept art to be played close to the chest at this point. At the very least, I highly doubt we'll get any real updates or new information (including concept art) until after the Holiday season for 2 huge reasons. 1. The traditional excuse that Disney wouldn't want to influence people to postpone planned trips for the new attractions, and 2. With the opening of the Fantasyland Expansion so close, they will want to focus all their marketting and PR attention to the newly opened attractions and areas of their resort instead of stealing the focus away by releasing information about another project in the early stages of planning.

[Fantasmiss]

I'm basing it on the IGN article: http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/09/0...-fourth-avatar

I'm not saying this is proof of anything of course, but here's to hoping. The truth is we can't know for sure, even if Disney actually make an official announcement. As we all know they've officially announced things before and then changed their minds.

Originally Posted by DCTooTall

It's worth noting... Nothing even remotely official is hinting that the Avatar project has been delayed.

The latest rumors were based off a single fansite deciding that since Disney has not released any official concept art, that the project must have been delayed. More mainstream news sites then picked up that story and reported it as fact.

From a purely logical standpoint, It is not surprising in the least that concept art has not been released. First off, According to reports, Imagineering didn't get much lead time before the official announcement about a year ago that Disney had secured the Theme Park rights to the Avatar franchise. A year is a VERY short time to go from blue sky, to cohesive plan, to concept art depicting that plan, to legal and PR approving the release of that concept art to the public.

From a practical standpoint, Universal has been constructing what is generally regarded as Harry Potter Phase 2 since the beginning of the year, and we have yet to see any official Concept art, let alone official confirmation.

Disney has been constructing the new restrooms and pathway in Fantasyland in the old Skyway station location, and they haven't released any concept art for it either despite construction already reaching the steel going up stage.

Even the Test Track refurb concept art wasn't released until AFTER they closed the attraction for the extended refurb.... Even though you know they had it in-house for MONTHS or even years prior due to the logistical needs of actually planning such a major refurb/construction project, let alone the legal and contractual obligations as it's a sponsored pavilion which would require the buy-in (and probable input from) GM.

My point is that it's not unheard of, or even really unexpected, for details such as concept art to be played close to the chest at this point. At the very least, I highly doubt we'll get any real updates or new information (including concept art) until after the Holiday season for 2 huge reasons. 1. The traditional excuse that Disney wouldn't want to influence people to postpone planned trips for the new attractions, and 2. With the opening of the Fantasyland Expansion so close, they will want to focus all their marketting and PR attention to the newly opened attractions and areas of their resort instead of stealing the focus away by releasing information about another project in the early stages of planning.

[DCTooTall]

Originally Posted by Fantasmiss

I'm basing it on the IGN article: http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/09/0...-fourth-avatar

I'm not saying this is proof of anything of course, but here's to hoping. The truth is we can't know for sure, even if Disney actually make an official announcement. As we all know they've officially announced things before and then changed their minds.

And if you check the source for the IGN article, it's a fansite hypothesis.


Most other "mainstream" news sites which reported it, sourced IGN as their information source, but if you backtrack IGN's source, it's just a case of wishful thinking by a Disney fan.

(I'm pretty sure someone posted the actual link to the original source earlier in this thread.)

[awoogala]

yuck. I have no interest in avatar...I have never even seen the movie. I know progress, new things, blah blah. I just want Disney, all the time. No interest in any blockbuster movies coming in to spoil my disney! (this includes any marvel characters.)

[Fantasmiss]

Originally Posted by DCTooTall

And if you check the source for the IGN article, it's a fansite hypothesis.


Most other "mainstream" news sites which reported it, sourced IGN as their information source, but if you backtrack IGN's source, it's just a case of wishful thinking by a Disney fan.

(I'm pretty sure someone posted the actual link to the original source earlier in this thread.)

As I said, I know it's not proof of anything. I'm another case of wishfull thinking by a Disney fan. I'm just hoping it won't happen and they'll do something else exciting instead. Like with part of the first announcement of new Fantasyland.

[MJMcBride]

Originally Posted by Fantasmiss

You sound strangely sure, why? Do you know him or do you have some other kind of inside info?

Nothing that's not out there. That is Cameroon and imagineers are butting heads which shouldn't be surprising. It happened with Lucas too

[monkeyjuce]

Nothing lasts forever...

[DanBoris]

Originally Posted by DCTooTall

It's worth noting... Nothing even remotely official is hinting that the Avatar project has been delayed.

The latest rumors were based off a single fansite deciding that since Disney has not released any official concept art, that the project must have been delayed.

This it not true. There are people on other message boards who have proven track records for having inside knowledge of what is going on inside Disney. A number of these people have reported that project is having difficulties and has mainly come down to a conflict between what Cameron wants and what Disney is willing to pay for. Anyone who has read anything about Cameron's past projects should be surprised at all about that.

[DanBoris]

Originally Posted by MJMcBride

I do not know your business but I suspect it does not have a small very very vocal community on websites.

DIS and other communities make up a very small percentage of guests. Disney will not base thier strategies on what we say here

Not to mention the fact that you would probably want to know what non-Disney fans think of this idea, since these are the people you really want to go after if you want to grow WDW attendance. By going with a non-Disney proprety you can potentially tap into a population who has never, or very rarely visted Disney. Whether Avatar would achieve that or not is up for debate.

[DCTooTall]

Originally Posted by DanBoris

This it not true. There are people on other message boards who have proven track records for having inside knowledge of what is going on inside Disney. A number of these people have reported that project is having difficulties and has mainly come down to a conflict between what Cameron wants and what Disney is willing to pay for. Anyone who has read anything about Cameron's past projects should be surprised at all about that.

Difficulties, or butting of heads though I wouldn't call an official delay. It's just part of the process.

In many ways, the creative processes aren't going to impacted too much during the early processes by the money people. It's not until they start to get an idea of what they want to do, that they will have a better idea of the costs, and then the money people will get involved.

[Reddog1134]

Originally Posted by DanBoris

This it not true. There are people on other message boards who have proven track records for having inside knowledge of what is going on inside Disney. A number of these people have reported that project is having difficulties and has mainly come down to a conflict between what Cameron wants and what Disney is willing to pay for. Anyone who has read anything about Cameron's past projects should be surprised at all about that.

I don't know if you're reading the same boards as me but some of "those" type people are saying Avatarland has slowed down to a snails pace and attention is being shifted to DHS.

[DanBoris]

Originally Posted by DCTooTall

Difficulties, or butting of heads though I wouldn't call an official delay. It's just part of the process.

In many ways, the creative processes aren't going to impacted too much during the early processes by the money people. It's not until they start to get an idea of what they want to do, that they will have a better idea of the costs, and then the money people will get involved.

The reports I have read are that they have already reached the point of knowing what they want to do and money has now become the point of contention and that this is delaying and may eventually kill the project.

[pilferk]

Originally Posted by DanBoris

This it not true. There are people on other message boards who have proven track records for having inside knowledge of what is going on inside Disney. A number of these people have reported that project is having difficulties and has mainly come down to a conflict between what Cameron wants and what Disney is willing to pay for. Anyone who has read anything about Cameron's past projects should be surprised at all about that.

Actually, it IS true.

Nothing official has been announced.

The "recent rumors" (meaning the ones spawned from the IGN article...see reference from previous poster, above) ARE all sourced back to a single article which says the reason they suspect a delay is simply the fact they've seen no concept art.

Now...there may be other rumors out there, from other sources. But, proven track record or not, they are unsourced internet rumors on message boards....which means they should be considered as such.

I have not seen any reputable source (meaning press or reputable web site) publish rumors NOT sourced back to that original IGN article....

[DanBoris]

Originally Posted by pilferk

Actually, it IS true.

Nothing official has been announced.

The "recent rumors" (meaning the ones spawned from the IGN article...see reference from previous poster, above) ARE all sourced back to a single article which says the reason they suspect a delay is simply the fact they've seen no concept art.

Now...there may be other rumors out there, from other sources. But, proven track record or not, they are unsourced internet rumors on message boards....which means they should be considered as such.

But if you read message boards long enough, you learn who you can trust, and who you can't. Taking into consideration all the evidence I have seen, I tend to believe the reports that Avatar is not moving ahead smoothly. I think it is unfair to claim that rumors of it's delay are based soley on the lack of concept art.

[pilferk]

Originally Posted by DanBoris

But if you read message boards long enough, you learn who you can trust, and who you can't. Taking into consideration all the evidence I have seen, I tend to believe the reports that Avatar is not moving ahead smoothly. I think it is unfair to claim that rumors of it's delay are based soley on the lack of concept art.

They're still message board rumors, right? 'Nuff said.

YOU might lend credence to them..but you can't actually expect others to. I don't mean that as a knock on you, either. But anonymously posted, non-cross checked, non-corroberated rumors, of any type, are certainly to be taken with a pretty big grain of salt. And you certainly can't tell someone they're "wrong" based on that. Yes, it's more information to consider....but it's up to the individual how much weight they want to give to them. It's certainly not evidence that what was being said was "not true".

And, again, in the context of the conversation...the "recent rumors" being talked about were those sourced to the IGN article (look at the poster DC was talking to..THEY linked the IGN article and said it was their source)...because they're the only "recent rumors" from any sort of reputable source.

Unless there's something else out there we've missed?