Avatar coming to Animal Kingdom

[Killer Fish]

Holy Blank!

I am cautiously optimistic. An entire Avatar themed land could be spectacular -- and also bring back elements of Beastly Kingdom into the park, although in a way no one could have anticipated.

I'd love to see the concepts for the rides and attractions -- I'm sure everyone here does -- but this has the potential to be something truly exciting, AND help give AK the boost it needs.

And finally... who says you can't keep secrets in the Internet age? Find me one person who leaked this rumor!

Very good point never heard anything on this other than as a replacement for T2 over at Universal.

Very excited for what may come from this.

 

[tfc3rid]

This is a big 'get' for them... Avatar with 2 sequels coming is going to be on people's minds... I'd think a lot of folks would love to take a visit to Pandora...

Avatar themed attractions are going to have to heavy on illusion, theatre and technology to pull it off completely.

Now on to pulling in Middle Earth....

 

[mike the canuck]

This sounds awesome! Im excited

 

[doconeill]

As it is being described as a "land", I'm guessing this is going where Beastly Kingdom should have been, and Beastly Kingdom will be put to rest - although some of the initial designs will probably be incorporated.

I can see a Manta-like coaster going there.

As for the franchise draw - I'm not sure Avatar has proven itself as a franchise yet. We're still more than 3 years away from the release of the second movie.

On the other hand it is encouraging to see WDW work on something before the subject matter is worn out.

I'd still prefer if it was Middle-earth themed...

 

[alweg]

This makes me wonder about the value of D23 Expo as being THE place for big announcments. It was only a month ago. I understand there may have been some back room negotiations that had to heppen before it could be announced. But this announcment was so BIG and it missed the big fan-base event. And the next Expo will be in two years, so will the big reveal be concept artwork?

 

[doconeill]

This makes me wonder about the value of D23 Expo as being THE place for big announcments. It was only a month ago. I understand there may have been some back room negotiations that had to heppen before it could be announced. But this announcment was so BIG and it missed the big fan-base event. And the next Expo will be in two years, so will the big reveal be concept artwork?

More than likely the contracts had not been signed in time for them to be able to say anything at all at D23. They admitted they had stuff they wanted to say but couldn't yet...

 

[baileygirlsmom]

This is a big 'get' for them... Avatar with 2 sequels coming is going to be on people's minds... I'd think a lot of folks would love to take a visit to Pandora...

Avatar themed attractions are going to have to heavy on illusion, theatre and technology to pull it off completely.

Now on to pulling in Middle Earth....

My thoughts exactly!

 

[onelilspark]

I guess I'll just copy my post I made on the Community Board thread


I'm not crazy about this announcement. A whole land dedicated to a movie that you don't know if it has staying power? And does Avatar have the kind of fans a la Harry Potter that this will drive attendance to the park?

Plus I really don't see how it fits in the Animal Kingdom short of the AK having the most land to work with.

 

[mcd2745]

So imaginaerring is being outsourced to James Cameron now?

 

[skiingfast]

So imaginaerring is being outsourced to James Cameron now?

It's not shocking at all. There have been Lucas and Spielberg attractions for decades.

 

[doconeill]

So imaginaerring is being outsourced to James Cameron now?

It has nothing to do with outsourcing Imagineering. Cameron et al will be working WITH Imagineering.

 

[crocko]

Well, I think this is cool.

a) Animal Kingdom is the right place. Not only because of theming, but b/c Animal Kingdom could use more attractions to make a "fuller" park.
b) It feels weird now, but if done well, it could be very enjoyable and mesh well. 20 years later, Star Wars and Disney feels like a natural connection.
c) I am just glad to hear Animal Kingdom getting some loving. I hope a couple cool new, innovative attractions can come from this.


ALSO -- congrats to Disney for being the ones to announce this without any hint of it from other sites ahead of time. Big announcement -- too bad they weren't able to get it done before D23.

As a DVC member, I love the idea that when I look forward to 2015/2016 vacations to WDW, this would be some big new things to look forward, hopefully not too long after Fantasyland is completed.

 

[ilovemk76]

I have never seen the movie so I am do not know if it is a good idea or not.

I am a huge HP book and movie lover. I have been to HP at Universal. I really liked it but it will not draw me there often.

i guess I need to see the movie eventually before I go to the land. I have a few years to get around to viewing the movie!

 

[tfc3rid]

Avatar may not have 'staying power' but it's enormously popular and some folks consider the film a work of art...

I would have to say that the level of theming required for this might have to be a 'DisneySea' level... One hopes there will be a nice budget associated with this.

 

[tfc3rid]

So we've got big announcements/expansion for the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom...

Epcot Center anyone??

 

[brandanobash]

Well, I think this is cool.

a) Animal Kingdom is the right place. Not only because of theming, but b/c Animal Kingdom could use more attractions to make a "fuller" park.
b) It feels weird now, but if done well, it could be very enjoyable and mesh well. 20 years later, Star Wars and Disney feels like a natural connection.
c) I am just glad to hear Animal Kingdom getting some loving. I hope a couple cool new, innovative attractions can come from this.


ALSO -- congrats to Disney for being the ones to announce this without any hint of it from other sites ahead of time. Big announcement -- too bad they weren't able to get it done before D23.

As a DVC member, I love the idea that when I look forward to 2015/2016 vacations to WDW, this would be some big new things to look forward, hopefully not too long after Fantasyland is completed.

totally agree! this is great news! This is what i want from disney, something big and new that will deliver some thrills.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Er, OK.

 

[Davey-D-99]

Guess I will be making a reservation for 2018!
Sounds like it will be pretty exciting

 

[skiingfast]

I would have to say that the level of theming required for this might have to be a 'DisneySea' level... One hopes there will be a nice budget associated with this.

I imagine it will be of that level. Carsland is looking amazing as the construction progresses.

 

[Golf4food]

A film doesn't need "staying power" to still make a good attraction. A good attraction is good regardless and will still be fun long after any movie tie-in is irrelevant. How many people visiting Disney parks today have seen all of the movies most of the rides are based on or would consider them favorites that they watch over and over again? (Example: Carsland - Cars it the worst of the Pixar films - not counting the worse sequel - and yet the appeal of a Carsland is not diminished. Just because the movie was not great doesn't mean the land and rides won't be fun for more than just 5-10 year old boys.)

Avatar the movie was ok, but I was a bit incredulous since the entire plot is nothing but Pocahontas in space. It was visually very pretty, however, and if they can incorporate that visual aspect into the park space and ride(s) (which will be a must) then it could still be a cool place to visit.

I just hope they bulldoze the atrocity that is Dinoland USA in order to make room for it, though they'll probably tear up the Camp Minnie Mickey area instead and kill of FOTLK, which would be a shame, since FOTLK is the best stage show in Disney World.