Disney testing flying dragon for possible use in Avatarland

[GreenCntryGirl]

Interesting bit in this:

http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/06/26/james-cameron-will-film-three-avatar-sequels-at-the-same-time

Sigourney Weaver confirmed tonight that James Cameron is shooting “Avatar” 2, 3, and 4 all at the same time, all with her, and starting this fall. But first…

Wonder how closely the films and "the land" will open.

 

[Princess19]

No, but they are well-established franchises. Avatar has a long way to go before I put it in the same company. How would a decision like this circa 2001 with say, The Matrix, have worked out?

It is in my mind a very risky move.

Great point.

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

Two issues:

• Those lanterns are held aloft by hot air, hot air generated by burning something also they are made of paper.
  
• If they made them like balloons, Disney doesn't do balloon releases anymore.

Oh, believe me, I totally understand the inherent issues, particularly with paper lanterns and live flames. My point is, if Disney can make a dragon fly, those brilliant Imagineers can come up with a flying lantern solution!

 

[DCTooTall]

I'm still holding out hope that they nix the Avatarland idea completely. Dragon (which looks neat) or not it still is a horrible idea IMO.

I agree!

Why Avatar? It definitely doesn't scream "Disney" to me.

No, but they are well-established franchises. Avatar has a long way to go before I put it in the same company. How would a decision like this circa 2001 with say, The Matrix, have worked out?

It is in my mind a very risky move.

Here's the way I've seen it since day one.

Everybody keeps calling it "AvatarLand". I think that is 100% completely and totally the WRONG way to look at it. There is absolutely and totally no way whatsoever that "AvatarLand" will work as a long term addition to the Animal Kingdom Park.

How it should be looked at, and called... "Pandora". Forget the Avatar Movie and Narrative. Forget the space marines. Forget the Dances With Smurfs storylines. Just look at Pandora, the planet. Once you get past all the hype, one thing that was truly amazing about the Avatar film is that James Cameron developed an entire ecosystem for the Planet Pandora, with plant and animal life that was completely alien, but maintained the same type of similarities and relationships which life does here on earth. It wasn't a typical "What kinda weird creatures can we think of? Cool! Let's put them into this scene in the movie." alien planet development we traditionally see in movies. The planet, with it's ecosystem and history provides the perfect groundwork with which Disney Imagineering can build an experience worthy of Disney's park legacy.


If Disney attempts to build experiences following the storyline of the movie, It'll fail horribly. Maybe not initially, but it won't have any real staying power once the novelty wears off. But with the playground Cameron designed for his films, Disney has a great opportunity upon which to build their own stories.

(And from a fit standpoint.... With as lush a jungle environment at Pandora has, It would be very simple to create a smooth transition from the Jungle overgrowth of Discovery Island into the Pandora area.)

 

[chartle]

Oh, believe me, I totally understand the inherent issues, particularly with paper lanterns and live flames. My point is, if Disney can make a dragon fly, those brilliant Imagineers can come up with a flying lantern solution!

They did, they project them. Nothing to clean up.

I have seen ways though of projecting things in thin air using a number of intersecting lasers, but I have only seen a few demos.

 

[Reddog1134]

How it should be looked at, and called... "Pandora". Forget the Avatar Movie and Narrative. Forget the space marines. Forget the Dances With Smurfs storylines. Just look at Pandora, the planet.

I basically said the same thing. If there were no Avatar movie and Disney announced a "new land filled with wondrous alien plants and creatures", you wouldn't see this much backlash.

 

[chartle]

I basically said the same thing. If there were no Avatar movie and Disney announced a "new land filled with wondrous alien plants and creatures", you wouldn't see this much backlash.

Yes some people can't get past the Sci Fi part and maybe think its going to be a land full of miners fighting 8 foot tall blue aliens. (Well actually the miners are the aliens)

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

I was kinda sorta ok with Avatarland, but after seeing that dragon I'm not so sure.

It looks really cheesey. Hopefully it's just a prototype if the they are indeed planning on using them in the new land.

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

They did, they project them. Nothing to clean up.

I have seen ways though of projecting things in thin air using a number of intersecting lasers, but I have only seen a few demos.

Ha, yes, that's a cop-out though! Especially since it lasts about 0.8 seconds. "Oh, there's no need to meet Mickey Mouse, honey, you can see a picture of him on the castle!"

Laser projection in the air...now that could be cool...

But anyway, back to topic! It's always fun to think about the what-ifs!

 

[chartle]

I was kinda sorta ok with Avatarland, but after seeing that dragon I'm not so sure.

It looks really cheesey. Hopefully it's just a prototype if the they are indeed planning on using them in the new land.

Most say its not for Pandora Land (not going to call it Avatar land again) but the MK and yes its just a prototype to check for things like will it actually fly. Also I bet it will be a night time thing because its much easier to hide the parafoil.

 

[minnie mum]

How it should be looked at, and called... "Pandora". Forget the Avatar Movie and Narrative. Forget the space marines. Forget the Dances With Smurfs storylines. Just look at Pandora, the planet. Once you get past all the hype, one thing that was truly amazing about the Avatar film is that James Cameron developed an entire ecosystem for the Planet Pandora, with plant and animal life that was completely alien, but maintained the same type of similarities and relationships which life does here on earth. It wasn't a typical "What kinda weird creatures can we think of? Cool! Let's put them into this scene in the movie." alien planet development we traditionally see in movies. The planet, with it's ecosystem and history provides the perfect groundwork with which Disney Imagineering can build an experience worthy of Disney's park legacy.

I only quoted part of this post for the sake of brevity. But it is the first post that has made me stop and think along those lines. Thank you for posting it. I've had a lot of trouble coming to terms with the whole idea of an Avatar themed land at AK, but your post has put a whole new spin on it for me.

If it turns out as you have outlined it, then I think it very well could fit in. Whether the powers-that-be have the foresight to side-step some of the pitfalls- well, we'll all just have to wait and see.

And as for the dragon- I'd love to see the hoops they'll have to fly through to get FAA approval for low level flights over crowds.

 

[Robo]

And as for the dragon- I'd love to see the hoops they'll have to fly through to get FAA approval for low level flights over crowds.

One of them would likely be to agree not to fly through any HOOPS!

 

[minnie mum]

One of them would likely be to agree not to fly through any HOOPS!

 

[DCTooTall]

I only quoted part of this post for the sake of brevity. But it is the first post that has made me stop and think along those lines. Thank you for posting it. I've had a lot of trouble coming to terms with the whole idea of an Avatar themed land at AK, but your post has put a whole new spin on it for me.

If it turns out as you have outlined it, then I think it very well could fit in. Whether the powers-that-be have the foresight to side-step some of the pitfalls- well, we'll all just have to wait and see.

And as for the dragon- I'd love to see the hoops they'll have to fly through to get FAA approval for low level flights over crowds.

Glad I could help.

And the points I make are as equally directed to the powers that be at Disney as they are to the Disney Fans casting judgement on the idea. As long as Disney is able to keep themselves away from the temptation of falling back on the movie plots in their attraction and area development, they have a lot of potential.

 

[cm8]

One of them would likely be to agree not to fly through any HOOPS!