Avatar coming to Animal Kingdom

[Oglet]

At a press conference at Walt Disney Imagineering earlier today, Disney executives Bob Iger and Tom Staggs announced a long-term creative partnership with James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the epic fantasy world of AVATAR to life at Disney parks, beginning with Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Orlando. With its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures and strong themes of family and loyalty, AVATAR is a great fit for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

Construction on our first AVATAR-themed land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park should begin in 2013.

Seems like the plan is far bigger than just Animal Kingdom. Maybe spin offs elsewhere?

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Well, we know that Disney will at minimum cross merchandise in the other parks, so you will see it in MK, EP and HS as well, so beginning can be a broad reference.

 

[DulcetDiscord]

I think I have to give this a resounding "Meh." Not that into James Cameron, only recently saw Avatar. It was okay. Not spectacular. No characters I was really into, and the VFX weren't as amazing as everybody said. It would probably make an okay attraction though.

While I think the THEME of Avatar fits into AK, the style does not. Beastly kingdom would have been mythical creatures from OUR world, not some other world. AK is about preserving EARTH's natural beauty, and I don't think sci-fi anything makes sense there; Dinoland itself is pushing it IMO, since it reduces awesome dinosaurs to cheap gimmick.

I'm not saying it'll be flat out awful, but I'm not going to waste my energy getting excited about it either.

So. Meh.

 

[mrsklamc]

I DON'T think Avatar had broad appeal despite its box office results. I think a lot of people in a niche saw it multiple times, and lots of average people saw it because it got such amazing reviews, and then were extremely overwhelmed.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

While I think the THEME of Avatar fits into AK, the style does not. Beastly kingdom would have been mythical creatures from OUR world, not some other world.

The creatures in Avatar are mythical creatures from our world, they are from the imaginations of people who live on Earth. That's the definition of a mythical creature, one of people's imagination, something based on lore, belief, sometimes with historical reference, but all the same, based on the imagination.

AK is about preserving EARTH's natural beauty, and I don't think sci-fi anything makes sense there

Avatar is about preserving Pandora and what harm can come from just forgoing the environment in the attempt to continually extract resources. It's just as relevant and connectable to Earth, so I see it being relavant. Would a whole land based on the movie Pocahontas work as well, absolutely, but lets not sugar coat the fact that the movie Pocahontas was not 100% based on fact, it too is a fictional representation of history.

Dinoland itself is pushing it IMO, since it reduces awesome dinosaurs to cheap gimmick.

I actually don't mind Dinoland USA as it is a nod to the "Route 66" culture of the US, the over the top roadside attractions of the 50's. The main part I struggle with though is it's disconnect to Dino Institute, the two areas don't flow that well. You can blame it on DinoLand or you can blame it on Dino Institute, most choose the former instead of the latter. However, I find Dino Institute has a similar feel to the Jurassic Park land at Universal Studios, and although I think Disney could have done an amazing job at it, the different track works for me with DinoLand.

 

[nytimez]

The creatures in Avatar are mythical creatures from our world, they are from the imaginations of people who live on Earth. That's the definition of a mythical creature, one of people's imagination, something based on lore, belief, sometimes with historical reference, but all the same, based on the imagination.

Amen.

I actually don't mind Dinoland USA as it is a nod to the "Route 66" culture of the US, the over the top roadside attractions of the 50's. The main part I struggle with though is it's disconnect to Dino Institute, the two areas don't flow that well. You can blame it on DinoLand or you can blame it on Dino Institute, most choose the former instead of the latter. However, I find Dino Institute has a similar feel to the Jurassic Park land at Universal Studios, and although I think Disney could have done an amazing job at it, the different track works for me with DinoLand.

I wouldn't mind a nod to Route 66. I'm too young to have driven it back in the day, but I've seen plenty of great photos -- and I didn't see ring-toss games in any of them.

Dinoland as a concept would be great for AK. Dinoland the execution stinks, on so many levels. Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure is superior to Dinoland in every regard, IMO.

Also, the giant T-Rex animatronic in River Adventure actually moves and lunges at people, and always has. Take that, Joe Rohde.

 

[kate_wdw]

It doesn't take much to get me excited about a new Disney project, but Avatar land? Color me unimpressed.

I agree with others who have said that they feel like this will have limited appeal.

 

[kate_wdw]

Pandora=Effects
Effects=Inside/dark
Inside/dark=air conditioning
AK needs AC
Good

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I wouldn't mind a nod to Route 66. I'm too young to have driven it back in the day, but I've seen plenty of great photos -- and I didn't see ring-toss games in any of them.

Dinoland as a concept would be great for AK. Dinoland the execution stinks, on so many levels. Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure is superior to Dinoland in every regard, IMO.

Could DinoLand be more, absolutely, I agree, I'm sure I'll be called out for blasphemy, but if they took out Dino Institute and made DinoLand larger, and one comprehensive theme, it would work better.. As for the ring toss, no, it didn't but it's the theming, the "hoakiness" of it that is meant to fit the feel of it.

Also, the giant T-Rex animatronic in River Adventure actually moves and lunges at people, and always has. Take that, Joe Rohde.

 

[skier_pete]

Actually...now that I digested it a bit I think this is REALLY what we should take away from it:

1) It's a concept that has the POTENTIAL to be fantastic. (I think whether you liked Avatar or not you could say that.)

2) In the end, it's the EXECUTION that will say what it really means to the Disney experience.

Harry Potter is a GREAT story - but if Universal had completely blown the execution, it wouldn't have had the impact it did. Both Disney and Universal have underwhelmed with things...and Disney's record over the last 10 years is about 50:50. But, until I hear any details, I'm going to look forward to the potential.

 

[mrsklamc]

Response to the internet backlash I'm sure:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/09/answering-your-questions-about-avatar-at-disney-parks/

 

[doconeill]

Response to the internet backlash I'm sure:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/09/answering-your-questions-about-avatar-at-disney-parks/

They invited the questions with the original announcement, so I don't see it having anything to do with "backlash"...

 

[mrsklamc]

They never post to that blog this late at night. They are working on damage control.

 

[XGrumpy1]

In the words of my wife "Wow, Mr. Cameron is rich-ER!"

 

[doconeill]

They never post to that blog this late at night. They are working on damage control.

Here is what they said in the original announcement:

Got questions about the announcement? If so, Tom Staggs will be answering them in a special Q&A blog post later today. Just submit your name, city where you’re from and your question to questionsfortom@disney.com and then check the Disney Parks Blog later to see some of the answers.

So the followup posting was completely planned, and is not in reaction to the "backlash" that I'm not really seeing anyways. Yes, some people are negative about it, but it sure seems like there is more positive than negative - which actually was a bit of a surprise for me for some reason.

 

[nytimez]

They invited the questions with the original announcement, so I don't see it having anything to do with "backlash"...

Exactly.

Honestly, I don't get the "backlash." It's crazy. I'm usually one of the first to call Disney out when they take the cheap/easy route.

Building a "Beastly Kingdom" with some unicorns and dragons would be the cheap way out since you don't have to license any of that or work with a partner as creatively demanding as James Cameron.

They're not doing that. They're going big -- and they deserve credit for it.

Until we learn more, I'm going to remain cautiously optimistic on this.

 

[ChrisFL]

Exactly.

Honestly, I don't get the "backlash." It's crazy. I'm usually one of the first to call Disney out when they take the cheap/easy route.

Building a "Beastly Kingdom" with some unicorns and dragons would be the cheap why out since you don't have to license any of that or work with a partner as creatively demanding as James Cameron.

They're not doing that. They're going big -- and they deserve credit for it.

Until we learn more, I'm going to remain cautiously optimistic on this.

Agreed and people are having very odd reactions to this. People complain when they don't add anything to the parks, people complain when they announce a major new expansion

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Response to the internet backlash I'm sure:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/09/answering-your-questions-about-avatar-at-disney-parks/

I don't see this as having anything to do with backlash and/or damage control, rather it's following through on what they said they were going to do.

I also think the hype of the backlash is from a small group of people who tend to be vocal about everything Disney. It is far, far to early to tell what this will evolve into, but between the timeline and the dollars that are rumored to be committed to this it could be something amazing.

 

[mrsklamc]

So the followup posting was completely planned, and is not in reaction to the "backlash" that I'm not really seeing anyways. Yes, some people are negative about it, but it sure seems like there is more positive than negative - which actually was a bit of a surprise for me for some reason.

Ok- I'll admit when I'm wrong, apparently it was planned...but no way are there more positive reactions than negative ones.

 

[mike the canuck]

It was okay. Not spectacular. No characters I was really into, and the VFX weren't as amazing as everybody said. .

Did you see it in 3D???