I disagree about LOTR movies. They have more staying power than Avatar
Potter doesn't even show up until #68 with The Sorcerer's Stone. We all know how well that one is doing for Universal. Avatar was one "hit" movie without a built-in fan base to rely on. There is nothing else. People went to see it for it's 3-D and IMAX aspect.
It will actually draw "their" visitors away just like Potter has already done.
And apparently they liked it, as evidenced by the high Rotten Tomatoes figures from both critics and the public.
Not sure I really see the point here. Avatar doesn't have the fan base of Harry Potter and yet it sold far more tickets at the box office. I won't claim that Avatar is a better property than HP but clearly it has its fans. And that interest can only be re-kindled with sequels on the way.
WWoHP has been a boon for Universal but it hasn't drawn anything away from Disney. The WDW parks' attendance was up about 1% in 2011.
If you don't think Potter has drawn anything away from Disney then you are delusional.
If you don't think Potter has drawn anything away from Disney then you are delusional.
Do you realize how many people have left Disney property to spend time at Universal *gasp*? Do you think they aren't spending money there? I do believe they are spending "Disney's" money there. Do you even consider that maybe people across the pond go to Universal and "pop" into Disney since they are in the neighborhood?
Do you think Disney would have increased attendance by a whopping 1% if there wasn't something new to see in Orlando?
Whether or not Avatar is the right property is certainly a topic for discussion. But it amuses me how quick people are to dismiss it despite the glowing reviews and astronomical earnings. Just because one's own circle of friends doesn't happen to appreciate Avatar doesn't mean it won't reach a completely different audience.
If Disney spends $500 million at DHS or DAK and sees a 3% increase, that's about 150,000 additional people. Not a very good return on the investment.
"Absolutely James Cameron has a virtually flawless track record in terms of the pictures he has directed. Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, True Lies, Titanic, Avatar.
Just two: Terminator, where Cameron directed the first two but not the third film...
...and Aliens, where the genesis of the franchise -- the 1979 blockbuster -- had nothing to do with Cameron, it was directed by Ridley Scott. Cameron directed only one of the three sequels (the first, in 1986). So implying he is the "originator/owner" of the success of that series is specious.
Or to be more blunt, as successful Cameron has been as a director, his track record in creating and developing money machine film franchises is very limited. I.e., over the course of a 34 year long career, he's accomplished that just once.
hmmmmm
Middle Earth would make a much better land
I disagree about LOTR movies. They have more staying power than Avatar
Please let ut be true! I haven't heard ANYONE say they thought Avatar land was a good idea.
DCTooTall said:FWIW.... You will NEVER see LoTR at a Disney Park. Tolkien had a big dislike of the Disney way of doing things and the people in charge of the properties today are honoring his wishes to never give Disney control of his creation.
I think it's great idea with lots of potential..... if done right....