Disney's Avatar land cancelled?

[RMulieri]

No current franchise with one film can be compared to an 8 film franchise like Harry Potter, but Avatar is the highest grossing film in history, both domestically and internationally. Give the franchise another film or two and it could easily compete with Harry Potter.

It would also need 7 books that were on the NY TIMES Bestsellers list, a loyal fan following spanning various age groups ,toy/game tie ins etc...Avatar has its fans, add a movie or 2 more and it will have more...But I don't think it will come close the appeal of Harry Potter.Ask any small kid and they can tell you who Harry Potter is( and any adult for that matter) ..I don't see the same thing happening for Avatar( though James Cameron wants you to believe differently)

 

[Too Far From Home]

I don't see the success of WWoHP as being a failure for WDW. I think that most people who go to Universal area also going to go to WDW.

And I think that Disney could stay still for years and years and years, and still get new and repeat business.

Universal brings movies to life; Disney, IMO, should do it a little differently.

and you have to remember, Universal didn't bring out WWoHP the year after HP 1 came out; they waited and waited. The park wasn't announced until just before Rowling finished the FINAL book. That's a BIG difference between Avatar barely being out of the theaters and WDW announcing they are making a land out of it.

It is not a failure for Disney, except that it demonstrates that US continues to look forward while Disney continues to beat an old, tired horse. Walt was about innovation. Disney World was about innovation. What have you seen introduced in the last 20 years that qualifies?

Now, great ideas don't come along every day, so I don't fault Disney management for a slump, but they need to be on the hunt for the next great idea, because Universal is, and they are now real competitors in the same market place.

I am in no hurry for an "Avatar" land or "Pandora". If they come, great, but if Disney wants to let the market develop more before spending a fortune, that makes sense. But they can't rest on their laurels. If they do, they will die. Sounds unlikely, but how many great ideas have been put on the trash heap of history because someone came along with a better one to replace it?

 

[Mister Skellington]

Star Wars is a great idea that actually could fit into AK. Endor would be perfect for the theme.

Other ideas.....
For the love of god Disney give Tim Burton a ride to design! (not for AK but HS)
Lord of the Rings is a franchise that would make a great ride.
How about bringing a little DisneySea into AK?
Oz the great and powerful (movie) is coming...How about the Wizard of OZ??
Dont forget Disney is also releasing "The Avengers" - this has some punch in terms of marketing.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

~I don't think Disney has ever had an opening day turn out like WWoHP, for their whole parks, let alone a single land or attraction!

~Disney wants to capitalize on Avatar's predicted upcoming box office success for the second and third films. Avatar is the highest grossing film ever. I am not a fan of Avatar the film, but James Cameron has a strong track record of successful projects. The collaboration between Cameron's team and Disney Imagineers could be spectacular!

~Sorry, but people are not going to travel in droves to see unicorns and dragons. Disney will not put a shovel into the ground unless they feel they will have a similar turn out to HP.

~Universal was already in talks with Cameron, they wanted Avatar bad, in order to replace the Terminator series! Disney snatched it by promising Cameron a huge budget, resources and land. If we lose this, we'll have nothing at all. And when everyone lines up over at Universal to see Avatar world, we'll be shaking our heads again.

 

[Too Far From Home]

It would also need 7 books that were on the NY TIMES Bestsellers list, a loyal fan following spanning various age groups ,toy/game tie ins etc...Avatar has its fans, add a movie or 2 more and it will have more...But I don't think it will come close the appeal of Harry Potter.Ask any small kid and they can tell you who Harry Potter is( and any adult for that matter) ..I don't see the same thing happening for Avatar( though James Cameron wants you to believe differently)

It doesn't have to - which came first, Mickey Mouse's popularity globaly, or Disneyland? Build an incredible park, and it will create its own fan base. All it needs is a well known theme to start the buzz, and a park that surpasses visitor's expectations. Disney is capable of real magic.

 

[KellyNY]

It doesn't have to - which came first, Mickey Mouse's popularity globaly, or Disneyland? Build an incredible park, and it will create its own fan base. All it needs is a well known theme to start the buzz, and a park that surpasses visitor's expectations. Disney is capable of real magic.

Creating magic in this situation will require lots anf lots of technology and it will cost a lot. To begin with, I am not even sure how they can create virtual world in real world. It has potential, no doubts, but at the same time it is just way too big to bite.

 

[DanBoris]

While I wouldn't be completely surprised, I'm not going to give this info any more credibility than wild-rumor status.

I think this info is more credible then just a "wild-rumor". I have seen reliable insiders on other boards say similar things. I believe the quote I read was the Avatar is not dead, but it is on life support.

Dan

 

[StarGirl11]

They did..What I meant to say was they hadn't officially announced WHERE and WHAT it will be.But all sources at this point, point to a Diagon alley/Gringotts expansion in the space formerly occupied by JAWS And amity at the Studios side of things..

Whoops, misunderstood what you were saying there! I honestly think it will be built next to the preexisting WWOHP but that's just me.

Concerning alternate lands I do think them doing a Star Wars land would be great. I'm not much of a Star Wars fan but I would go to it. And that land would definitely get the kind of line WWOHP in FL got (and most likely Hollywood will get when it opens (and so help me god, I will be in that line if I have any say in it). I'm surprised Disney hasn't done something like that before, maybe it has something to do with Lucas?

 

[Jennasis]

No current franchise with one film can be compared to an 8 film franchise like Harry Potter, but Avatar is the highest grossing film in history, both domestically and internationally. Give the franchise another film or two and it could easily compete with Harry Potter.

HArry Potter had global appeal before there was even a single frame of film. You know it was a book series before it was a movie right?

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

If this gets cancelled it won't hurt my feelings, Disney has enough of their own stuff to create multiple lands and that would be more appealing to me

 

[FairydustyPrincesses]

I'm not a star wars fan but it is engrained in our culture enough that it would be a hit with even non fans. Plus a whole new generation is crazy about it with all the new cartoons. Even my 8 year old daughter likes it. Avatar doesn't have that effect. It seems to have gone over with a resounding meh.

I'm guessing Lucas won't allow it to happen because it seems to be a no brainer really - I mean it already has the fan base pouring in for a special weekend at WDW , doesn't seem to be a risk.

I'll go to avatar land- because ak doesn't have much to offer now anyway to fill a full day, but it will be just that - filler. I'm sure Disney can do something amazing and may even have Great rides but it seems like the franchise lacks heart , not somethig people will be passionate about. Disney in the pas has made parks people are passionate about. This will just be another theme park like all others IMO

 

[Planogirl]

Somebody liked Avatar or else it wouldn't have made the money it did. If Disney is trying to do this on the cheap then I don't blame Cameron if he's fighting it. Disney has a tendency to go for cheap results occasionally and a movie (movies?) this big shouldn't be treated that way.

I would like to see Lord of the Rings still. Universal doesn't have the space but Disney could do it right. Can't they talk the family into allowing it?

 

[coconutprincess]

I do hope its true. I think that Harry Potter is more of a story. I would love to see some great new development at WDW though. But to each their own.

 

[mesaboy2]

I think this info is more credible then just a "wild-rumor". I have seen reliable insiders on other boards say similar things. I believe the quote I read was the Avatar is not dead, but it is on life support.

Dan

Wild rumor, credible rumor, rumor--it's all semantics.

 

[KikiFan]

I didn't know there were Avatar fans, period.

LOL are you serious? most of my daughter's friends have seen the movie multiple times. I think the movie has a great balance of fantasy with an environmental theme which would be fantastic for DAK. Even those that aren't that into the movie could really enjoy it if it's done well. I really hope it doesn't fall through

 

[Too Far From Home]

HArry Potter had global appeal before there was even a single frame of film. You know it was a book series before it was a movie right?

That has nothing to do with the premise of my posts. And yes, I knew. I am an avid reader, and fantasy is my favorite genre. I have read the entire series many times, and have seen the films many times. This isn't about Harry Potter - it is about how Disney is going to keep moving forward. If they wait for the next Harry Potter, they might be waiting another 30 years.

 

[Jennasis]

That has nothing to do with the premise of my posts. And yes, I knew. I am an avid reader, and fantasy is my favorite genre. I have read the entire series many times, and have seen the films many times. This isn't about Harry Potter - it is about how Disney is going to keep moving forward. If they wait for the next Harry Potter, they might be waiting another 30 years.

I agree and they shouldn't BE waiting for "the next Harry Potter." They should be plumbing the depths of the massively successful franchises already in their stable (Star Wars, Muppets, Avengers etc)

 

[larryz]

I saw the movie and while the special effects were good, I'm still lost on the plot. It just didn't make much sense to me.

I think of it as "Pocahontas in the 24th-and-a-half Century."

 

[TDC Nala]

No current franchise with one film can be compared to an 8 film franchise like Harry Potter, but Avatar is the highest grossing film in history, both domestically and internationally. Give the franchise another film or two and it could easily compete with Harry Potter.

Not seeing this.

Disney picked it likely because it was a top selling movie and it had that environmental message they want (geez if they build it I hope they're smart enough not to make it all about the message) but Harry Potter in terms of popularity, it ain't.

 

[chartle]

I think of it as "Pocahontas in the 24th-and-a-half Century."

And instead of gold they want unobtainium