Avatar land coming to Animal Kingdom!!

[bbowers]

Husband and I (58/48) are stoked and can't wait. Watched the movie at home dozens of times (at least the hubster has and he is definitely not leftist). I will be closely watching for opening day or a DVC sneak peak!

 

[pjpoppins]

Does anybody know when it will be done? I read on the blog that it may be in 5 years. Is there plans for a sequel? I saw the movie and loved it. With that said, it seems as if the craze is long over. I don't see people wearing merchandise or kids dressing at Halloween for this. If it takes that long do you think it will be that popular? I'm not slamming it at all, I think it could be very cool and entertaining but it seems like if it takes that long you'll have a lot of people really not "connected" to it.

 

[jformica]

Unless I read the announcement wrong they are going to start work on the project in 2013 and then it could take up to 5 years to finish. I can't imagine I'm correct but if I am that is the worst idea I have ever heard. I mean, 2018? Seriously. Even if its ready in 2015 it will be much too late to combat Harry Potter.

I do credit Disney with trying to shake things up and bring new experiences (new resorts coming in this year and in the next 2) as well as the addition of Fantasyland. The problem I have is with the ideas, thats many of the posters criticisms. Its not that there not doing anything it's that there ideas are suspect at best.

 

[nytimez]

Unless I read the announcement wrong they are going to start work on the project in 2013 and then it could take up to 5 years to finish.

No, five years to complete from now, including the current initial planning phase -- so they're shooting for a 2016 opening.

 

[Bullseye]

My family and I are very excited about this! We think it's a great fit for AK and adds another reason to spend a little more time at this park! I love that the Disney experience is always changing and it keeps us coming back again and again.

Bravo, we feel the same way! We haven't lost confidence in Disney despite everyones gripes about monorails or chicken nuggets or decorations or whatever. Glad to see that they are adding Avatar to AK and I'm sure they will do it right! Lots of potential here!!

 

[KellyNY]

Unless I read the announcement wrong they are going to start work on the project in 2013 and then it could take up to 5 years to finish. I can't imagine I'm correct but if I am that is the worst idea I have ever heard. I mean, 2018? Seriously. Even if its ready in 2015 it will be much too late to combat Harry Potter.

I do credit Disney with trying to shake things up and bring new experiences (new resorts coming in this year and in the next 2) as well as the addition of Fantasyland. The problem I have is with the ideas, thats many of the posters criticisms. Its not that there not doing anything it's that there ideas are suspect at best.

WWOHP will expand as well by then, if rumors true.
Anyway if not HP, Avatar would be just another ride, now it is the whole land and it should be very cool.

 

[ilovepooh]

I think it's great! I can't wait until it's done to give me something more to look forward to. Disney is smart to do this since there are 2 Avatar sequels the making! Pandora will be a huge hit of they do it the Disney way!

 

[Babbletrish]

48 pages! Can we pass fifty?!?

I am just amazed how negative so many people are about something that is just in the planning stages.

That's been my feeling from the very beginning. It isn't like when the concept art was released for the Fantasyland Expansion at around the same time it was announced so we could actually base criticisms on something; here we know literally nothing about this aside from "'Avatar' themed land in Animal Kingdom"

It's funny how many of the people opposed to Avatar because "it's not Disney" don't realize how much of Disney is... well... "not Disney."

Shame on Disney for trying to add a TON of new attractions...Cars in DL, new Fantasyland in MK, an expansion in AK that most Disney lovers said was much needed...geesh.

Deep breath everyone...at least they're doing SOMETHING!!! More major attractions/construction than I can remember....

Amen to that!

 

[Rip]

I don't even know if that's true. If you look at many of the "Official" histories of the parks, You will come across stories of a proposed "Movie Pavilion" at EPCOT which was to tell the story of how movies were made. The idea was shelved, but later pulled off and used as the basis for a whole new park.

MGM was also built during the huge WDW Building boom of the late 80's that also brought us all the onsite Disney Hotels and the beginning of Disney's policy of trying to become an all encompassing vacation Destination that gave guests a complete vacation experience on site without needing to ever venture into the tourist traps along 192.

True... both MGM and Universal Studios Florida opened around the same time frame, but I don't know if one really prompted the other to build.

Oh it's definitely true, and the idea goes all the way back to when Eisner worked for Paramount and Universal first pitched the idea of building a theme park in Orlando to...... Paramount. Eisner was even able to fast track the building permits thanks to Disney's literal owning of Reedy Creek Improvement District - Universal Studios actually broke ground first.

 

[Rip]

Hopefully by "we" you mean yourself and no one else...

Pretty sure most people that read his tirade understood that he's a big time Avatar fanboy.

 

[FrankieDplus3]

...sorry if I haven't seen this point posted yet...but, today I just read the article in the Orlando Sentinel where Tom Staggs makes plural references to Avatar "lands".

Hmmm?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-cfb-tourism-0926-20110926,0,2437373.story

 

[NewsiesGoil]

...sorry if I haven't seen this point posted yet...but, today I just read the article in the Orlando Sentinel where Tom Staggs makes plural references to Avatar "lands".

Hmmm?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-cfb-tourism-0926-20110926,0,2437373.story

It's my understanding that they will be building Avatar lands at the international parks as well.

 

[Sydnerella]

If anywhere Avatar is more of a DHS thing... Perhaps there just isn't the land there.... But why must disney continue to mess with the theming of AK - isn't the awful state fair midway area enough???? How much more lame could they have made dinoland anyway.... dinos are cool without neon colors.

And I dont really even like that park but it seems like it messes with the vibe of the park too much. Like putting a Pixarland at MK.... that would be a very bad idea. New stuff is great but within the context of place - more is not more just because it is more!!

Cannot help it - I am a plan-gineer

Sydnerella's Mama

 

[elleherself]

I am interested to see how many people would be thrilled if Disney announced Twilight-land? I guess they could put it in DHS. Then again it's got wolves so maybe it could work in AK?

Jennasis I thank you. I somehow missed this news until today and I've been feeling rather depressed about it. I love, adore Disney World. I totally hate Avatar. I was unsure how this news could be any worse. And then you said that! And I'm actually a fan of Twilight. But no doubt, it would be hard to think of a franchise less suited for a Disney park. Maybe a Hunger Games arena attraction?

 

[livingfire]

 

[Wadecool]

Pretty sure most people that read his tirade understood that he's a big time Avatar fanboy.

Pretty sure most people don't want or need you to be their spokesperson in any topic here on the DIS.

 

[nytimez]

Pretty sure most people that read his tirade understood that he's a big time Avatar fanboy.

...says the guy posting on a Disney forum.

Seriously, dismissing someone's views as that of a "fanboy" is weak. Find a new act, this one's as old as the Internet.

 

[TriSeb°o°]

Love the unDisney-like post. Here is some fun reading (albeit a little edgy):

...look at these (very real) original endings to tales Disney sanitized/and baffled that they chose to adapt such horrifying stories to begin with ...
7 Classic Disney Movies Based On R-Rated Stories​

Just to name a few. I am cautiously optimistic about the proposed land. I watched the movie last night and admit there are elements that would make interesting choices for attractions, rides, etc.

 

[nemofans]

Jennasis I thank you. I somehow missed this news until today and I've been feeling rather depressed about it. I love, adore Disney World. I totally hate Avatar. I was unsure how this news could be any worse. And then you said that! And I'm actually a fan of Twilight. But no doubt, it would be hard to think of a franchise less suited for a Disney park. Maybe a Hunger Games arena attraction?

Yeah, they could take young volunteers, like Jedi Training Acad, & have them battle it out for survival! I'm sure that would go over very well!
What about a LOST area or ride??? Part of the area could be of Pandora & then it transitions into the island from LOST.

 

[Babbletrish]

What about a LOST area or ride??? Part of the area could be of Pandora & then it transitions into the island from LOST.

Not sure about that, but it wouldn't take much to recycle the remains of Discovery Island into The Island.

/ Naw, let the wild animals have it. Where else in the middle of Bay Lake are there quiet nesting areas?

// A little sad this thread didn't make it to fifty pages. Ah well.