Avatar Land

[glassslippergirl]

I truly didn't get the decision to make a land based on a movie that was only moderately popular, but here's why I'm taking a wait-and-see approach: I never saw "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad," but I immensely enjoyed the old Mr. Toad ride. You can't get your hands on a copy of "Song of the South" today, so most young people have never seen it, but there's always a line for Splash Mountain. WDW attractions take on a life of their own independent of the source material, so this land could be fabulous despite lukewarm reaction to the movie. The visual effects certainly lend themselves well to a theme park adaptation if done well.

 

[Sevey13]

Just watched the sneak peek video they just put out and it looks like Animal Kingdom is about to loose it's way. It really worked with the Lion King theme. It's like they are one step away from glueing wings on the elephants and teaching them to jump off a high dive.

To be fair, AK's original 'way' included a Beastly Kingdom area where dragons and other fantastic creatures reigned supreme. Look at the AK logo...the dragon is still there

I never saw the movie. Didn't care. Still don't care to see it. But I saw the previews and the stills from the film and the environment was fantastic, and the conservation-heavy storyline is known even to people like me who haven't actually watched the thing. The message fits perfectly with AK, and the intricate, detailed environment is par for the course in what is easily Imagineering's most detailed US park.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Some articles about the cultural un-importance of Avatar:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottme...time-while-leaving-no-pop-culture-footprint/#

http://screencrush.com/back-to-pandora-why-is-avatar-forgotten/

http://blog.planet5d.com/2015/07/why-wasis-avatar-not-a-pop-culture-smash/

http://thedissolve.com/features/for...s-rapid-rise-sudden-downfall-and-endless-bil/

 

[DC to Disney]

I'm not excited about it at all. I also don't understand how it fits into AK's overall theme. Avatar wasn't really about animals, was it?

 

[Sevey13]

Some articles about the cultural un-importance of Avatar:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottme...time-while-leaving-no-pop-culture-footprint/#

http://screencrush.com/back-to-pandora-why-is-avatar-forgotten/

http://blog.planet5d.com/2015/07/why-wasis-avatar-not-a-pop-culture-smash/

http://thedissolve.com/features/for...s-rapid-rise-sudden-downfall-and-endless-bil/

I'm curious if you actually read any of those articles. I just clicked one to check it out, and it actually basically supported the notion that Avatar would make a great theme park world. It talked about how Cameron is essentially a visual storyteller (as are Imagineers), that the world is vivid and intricate (as is the Animal Kingdom), and that the message of conservation and ecological connectedness is central to the film (as it is to AK). The articles don't say that Avatar was bad. Their biggest point is that the studio didn't really know how to maintain the popularity of a film that raked their own methods and ideologies through the coals.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I'm curious if you actually read any of those articles. I just clicked one to check it out, and it actually basically supported the notion that Avatar would make a great theme park world. It talked about how Cameron is essentially a visual storyteller (as are Imagineers), that the world is vivid and intricate (as is the Animal Kingdom), and that the message of conservation and ecological connectedness is central to the film (as it is to AK). The articles don't say that Avatar was bad. Their biggest point is that the studio didn't really know how to maintain the popularity of a film that raked their own methods and ideologies through the coals.

Well, sure, the writers might make a good theme park area, if people felt like the movie was still relevant. People would have have to visit that part of Animal Kingdom.

 

[SgtTibbs]

Put a pin in it. I'll get back to you after I have a chance to visit AvatarLand.

 

[Sevey13]

Well, sure, the writers might make a good theme park area, if people felt like the movie was still relevant. People would have have to visit that part of Animal Kingdom.

As another poster above stated, is Mr. Toad still relevant? His attraction still exists at DL. Was Twilight Zone still really a thing when the ToT opened? Is it still today? And yet look at the popularity. These are good attractions (ToT is widely called the best example of WDW Imagineering in one attraction), and that's what draws people there. Heck, I've never really listened to Aerosmith. But I still want to ride their roller coaster. A lot of the most beloved attractions at WDW, current and gone, were not even based on existing properties but on new ideas. What 'cultural relevance' did Figment have when the original ride opened? There was no Pirates of the Caribbean film when crowds in Florida demanded the attraction be built at the Magic Kingdom. I think we need to give more credit to the quality of attractions rather than the relevancy of the property they are based on. If relevancy was the only metric, Star Wars land would have been built years ago. If Avatar land has good attractions and is as immersive as they are pumping out in their marketing materials, I think people will flock to it. If it is garbage, then it will be a big, expensive misstep. I don't think that 'relevancy' really has much to do with it.

 

[saskdw]

I'm expecting an extremely detailed and submersive area with top notch attractions that will stand on its own regardless of whether you like the movie.

Example: No one in our family cares about Harry Potter. We've watched some of the movies, but we don't read the books, no one is a Harry Potter fan or fanatic. However we all enjoy the HP area at UO because it is so well done. It is a great attraction that stands on its own.

I expect the same from Avatarland. It will be so well done that people will enjoy it regardless of you're enjoyment of the movie.

 

[minnie mum]

Please. Somebody do a search to find out how many threads identical to this one have popped up on this board since Avatarland was first announced. I'm too lazy. The number has to be in the high double digits. And I haven't read a single post on this thread that is something that hasn't been said before. The rationale for its inclusion in AK has been stated multiple times, for anyone willing to look for it.

Like Sgt. Tibbs, I'm one of those crazy people who is willing to see and experience this new land before I tear it to shreds or praise it to the heavens.

 

[Sevey13]

Please. Somebody do a search to find out how many threads identical to this one have popped up on this board since Avatarland was first announced. I'm too lazy. The number has to be in the high double digits. And I haven't read a single post on this thread that is something that hasn't been said before. The rationale for its inclusion in AK has been stated multiple times, for anyone willing to look for it.

Like Sgt. Tibbs, I'm one of those crazy people who is willing to see and experience this new land before I tear it to shreds or praise it to the heavens.

Searching in general I've found would cut down on, like, 50% of the new threads started on here.

 

[revdon64]

Honestly, I can see the potential in making an Avatar land. There was so much in the biodiversity of that planet/movie. It is interesting to me and I'll definitely want to go see it when it's done. That said, I thought the first movie was fair to middlin at best. Unobtainium? Really? You couldn't come up with anything more sciencey sounding than that? Pandora? Like the old legend? Again, not terribly original. After the special effects, wasn't much to this film, but I see it's value as a park experience.

 

[SgtTibbs]

The interesting thing about Avatar (and this does not directly relate to AvatarLand), is the complete lack of cultural reference it has generated. No pity quotes, no visual images. I can't count the number of times I've told my kids "Do, or do not. There is no try", "I'm altering the deal, pray I do not alter it further", "Oh you'll just have to wait till you'er king", "Well begun is half done", "Zoom zoom!" and many others.... From Avatar? I got nothing.

 

[jason10mm]

While I think it is an odd theme choice, I am very interested in seeing the final result. Visually I think it will be amazing. As for the movie sequels, if there is one thing I've learned, it is to NEVER UNDERESTIMATE JAMES CAMERON. I suspect there will be thousands of blue face painted kids running around AK once the expansion opens, so I'm not that worried that kids won't become fans.

 

[Jcon]

It's about the message that Avatar delivers, rather than the movie itself.

I think the 'ecosystem' appealed to Disney the most.

 

[hedberg1661]

I am not overly excited for Avatarland. I think it could be great but the movie didn't do that much for me. I would have thought Disney would have went with something they didn't need to get rights for...thought they would have learned.

 

[Skywise]

Put a pin in it.

No Bolt quotes, please.

 

[Skywise]

I'm expecting an extremely detailed and submersive area with top notch attractions that will stand on its own regardless of whether you like the movie.

Unfortunately, given the state of Disney Design Philosophy these days, I'm not.
(Now it SHOULD be and I'll be pleased if it is but I'm low balling my expectations.)

 

[saskdw]

Unfortunately, given the state of Disney Design Philosophy these days, I'm not.
(Now it SHOULD be and I'll be pleased if it is but I'm low balling my expectations.)

I have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[Keyser]

Well, since Avatar is basically "Pocahontas in Space," maybe Disney sees it as their movie! Count me in the group that didn't care much about Avatar, thought the message and story was poor, and was disappointed that Disney chose to make a land from the movie. I'll probably watch the sequels, but I have no enthusiasm for them.

HOWEVER, I do think that this is likely to be a really, really well-done land. The Pandora world is a pretty unique environment that would be really cool to see realized in parts in real life. Phosphorescence, floating mountains, strange creatures and plants, etc. And, James Cameron, who I assume is quite involved and will have some sign-off capability on this land, has done a really high-quality job with so much of his work, that I find it hard to believe that this will come off as a cheap area. I think Disney is planning on this anchoring AK, and solidifying it as a full-day park (beyond just the recently announced nighttime shows), so given how much they are counting on it, I think they are going to make sure it's done well. In the end, even if it's not my favorite movie/area, if they create an immersive, "cool", land, it will be good, regardless of the original source.