Ground was broken this week for Avatarland

[metzgardesign]

Two more movies are coming out in 2016, and 2017

Are they going to suck as bad as the first one did?

 

[Mousemommy1]

I did not like the movie Avatar, however, I think the sketches that I have seen and ideas that I have read look awesome!! And I love the possibility of AK being open at night!

I just really hope it doesn't take as long as the Mine Train...

And also....Bring on Star Wars Land!!!! That's the one I'm waiting for!!!

 

[Shadowcat70]

I realize they are trying to build something in AK to keep guests in the park longer hours so they can spending more money, but when I see that's it's going to be Avatar, it reminds me of the horrible repaint and "re-imagining" they did to Tomorrowland in DL thinking that "Treasure Planet" was going to be a big hit. It had no staying power. Avatar is a 5 year old film that (and I am borrowing this comparison from other sources because I think it's fitting) was as popular as the movie Titanic at the time it was released, but there's no buzz about it now. As another posted commented, there is no cult-following.

It would have been cool for them to get creative and come up with their own sci-fi "land" idea without having the tie it in to a dated movie. I am not sure if they are banking on the next Avatar movies to be blockbusters (whenever those eventually come out), or just don't have any more original concepts to work with. I just think Disney could have done better.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Beastly Kingdom was originally designed for this space, and BK was supposed to be mythical lands and beasts, that is basically what Pandora is!

How can that be an odd attraction for AK?

Disney is basically building Beastly Kingdom, but with a movie tie in. Not sure why that's such a terrible thing.

That too would have been an odd choice IMO. Maybe that's why it never happened.

 

[tlh0726]

I did not like the movie Avatar, however, I think the sketches that I have seen and ideas that I have read look awesome!! And I love the possibility of AK being open at night!

I just really hope it doesn't take as long as the Mine Train...

And also....Bring on Star Wars Land!!!! That's the one I'm waiting for!!!

that would definitely be a money maker!

 

[rteetz]

Are they going to suck as bad as the first one did?

If they sucked so bad why did millions and millions of people go and see them I don't think it was great movie but it was okay not terrible. But Avatarland should be better than the movie who doesn't want to fly on a banshee through floating mountains on a different planet.

 

[rteetz]

that would definitely be a money maker!

Disney is working on Star Wars it's just I don't think well end up seeing any announcements this year. Right now disney is focused on China and mymagic +. Two things disney wants to get right more than anything else.

 

[PJ]

I apologize if this posts twice - got bounced out. Here's a positive comment: I think the underlying theme of Avatar is completely consistent with Animal Kingdom. And Pandora in the movie was incredibly beautiful - even stunning in my opinion. I, for one, am looking forward to it!

 

[Buzzsgramma]

Our extended family of 14 mom, dad, kids, grandkids have no interest in this Land...give us Star Wars!!!!!!!
We go to WDW every year....just my opinion...

 

[Mad Hattered]

Everyone always hates on something new because it's not what they would do. Give it a chance.

Avatar, rather than having a cult of fans, seems to have a cult of haters who vehemently dislike it . Their voice ont he Internet is loud, repeating the same arguments over and over again, while the nearly $3 Billion in box office revenue tells a different story.

I think people will like the land and when the new movies come out, they will be well received. I personally enjoyed Avatar immensely; it is a groundbreaking motion picture form one of the masters of the genre. I can't wait to go!

73% of that total came from overseas. Perhaps that is what Disney is banking on. Domestically, Avatar ranks #14 in number of tickets sold:

1 Gone With the Wind
2 Snow White
3 101 Dalmations
4 Star Wars
5 Sound of Music
6 ET
7 Ben-Hur
8 Titanic
9 The Exorcist
10 Ten Commandments
11 JAWS
12 Doctor Zhivago
13 The Empire Strikes Back
14 Avatar
15 Return of the Jedi
16 Jurassic Park

http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm
http://boxofficemojo.com/about/adjuster.htm




ETA - before someone comes in to challenge the stats I added the links. You are welcome to do the math for yourselves. Use the UNADJUSTED gross in the first link divided by the average ticket price provided in the second link.

And in all honesty, Avatar didn't even sell the 101 million tickets I state because if you add in the premium you pay for a 3D movie, that screws with the $7.50 average.

 

[Mad Hattered]

If they sucked so bad why did millions and millions of people go and see them I don't think it was great movie but it was okay not terrible. But Avatarland should be better than the movie who doesn't want to fly on a banshee through floating mountains on a different planet.

To put it in perspective, 25 million more tickets were sold for Jaws, 105 million more tickets were sold for Star Wars, 30 million more tickets were sold for The Exorcist, 42 million more tickets were sold for Titanic, etc....

These are based on domestic ticket sales.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

To put it in perspective, 25 million more tickets were sold for Jaws, 105 million more tickets were sold for Star Wars, 30 million more tickets were sold for The Exorcist, 42 million more tickets were sold for Titanic, etc....

These are based on domestic ticket sales.

I remember when Star Wars went into the theatres and then just NEVER left

"Held over, 37th week!"

 

[Mad Hattered]

I remember when Star Wars went into the theatres and then just NEVER left

"Held over, 37th week!"

I remember it well, too! I remember standing in a line more than once that wrapped out and around the side of the theater...and then it made a 90 and snaked down the other side of the theater.

Just for the record, Avatar sold 101 million tickets domestically. Gone With the Wind sold 864 million.

 

[newdeal]

I agree no one will care about avatar however they won't need to because the land will be awesome regardless of the avatar thumbing and people will be in awe when they see it because it will be a new level of disney magic

 

[newdeal]

If they sucked so bad why did millions and millions of people go and see them I don't think it was great movie but it was okay not terrible. But Avatarland should be better than the movie who doesn't want to fly on a banshee through floating mountains on a different planet.

The reason was because of hype and because it was one of the first movies designed to be played in 3D. I have a feeling unless the second movie is amazing and gets a ton of word of mouth it won't get to the same level

 

[spacy9]

Did anyone else notice the picture with the Tree of Life and the surrounding area all light up like Pandora at night?! Are they really going to do this to the Tree of Life? Not sure I like that idea at all...

 

[Viva Las Disney]

73% of that total came from overseas. Perhaps that is what Disney is banking on. Domestically, Avatar ranks #14 in number of tickets sold

Adjusted for inflation the best Harry Potter movie ranks 69th and the worst not even on the top 200 list but look at what it has done for Universal. Avatar is still sitting at an 83% favorable rating on rotten tomatoes as well, higher than 4 and lower than 4 of the HP movies

I'm not trying to say Avatar is better than HP, I prefer the HP movies myself, just pointing out that just judging by the numbers Avatar is in line with the individual HP movies in ticket sales and likability. Whether the franchise can duplicate that 2 more times is a huge question, HP was amazing in that it matched itself 7 times.

I like the concept of Pandora at AK, and like that it looks like they could drop the movie theme pretty easily if needed and emphasize a BK theme, but only time will tell if it ends up having a similar affect as HP has had for Universal.

 

[Coffee50]

73% of that total came from overseas. Perhaps that is what Disney is banking on. Domestically, Avatar ranks #14 in number of tickets sold:

1 Gone With the Wind
2 Snow White
3 101 Dalmations
4 Star Wars
5 Sound of Music
6 ET
7 Ben-Hur
8 Titanic
9 The Exorcist
10 Ten Commandments
11 JAWS
12 Doctor Zhivago
13 The Empire Strikes Back
14 Avatar
15 Return of the Jedi
16 Jurassic Park

http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm
http://boxofficemojo.com/about/adjuster.htm




ETA - before someone comes in to challenge the stats I added the links. You are welcome to do the math for yourselves. Use the UNADJUSTED gross in the first link divided by the average ticket price provided in the second link.

And in all honesty, Avatar didn't even sell the 101 million tickets I state because if you add in the premium you pay for a 3D movie, that screws with the $7.50 average.

While the list is "accurate".... there are other factors to consider, including multiple re releases & (which applies to something like Gone With The Wind) road show releases that meant that the film was playing at the theater for years.

Avatar may not have a following like Star Wars or HP, but ultimately what matters is the quality of the land. It's almost assured that the sequels won't match the box office of the first film (even something like Avengers couldnt do it), but I'm sure they'll be money makers anyway.

 

[disneylovin24]

Adjusted for inflation the best Harry Potter movie ranks 69th and the worst not even on the top 200 list but look at what it has done for Universal. Avatar is still sitting at an 83% favorable rating on rotten tomatoes as well, higher than 4 and lower than 4 of the HP movies

I'm not trying to say Avatar is better than HP, I prefer the HP movies myself, just pointing out that just judging by the numbers Avatar is in line with the individual HP movies in ticket sales and likability. Whether the franchise can duplicate that 2 more times is a huge question, HP was amazing in that it matched itself 7 times.

I like the concept of Pandora at AK, and like that it looks like they could drop the movie theme pretty easily if needed and emphasize a BK theme, but only time will tell if it ends up having a similar affect as HP has had for Universal.

Interesting point made about the Harry Potter movies compared to Avatar when it comes to box office. Good research!


When Avatar first came out I had little interest in seeing it no matter what the reviews were, but I ended up seeing it and enjoyed it very much. Not my personal favorite movie, but it was worth the hype IMO. Now looking back, it is not a movie that has stayed with me and that I would rank among my favorites, but no matter how you look at the box office numbers you have to admit the movie was HUGE. And for that reason, I think it is safe to assume the sequels will be too. If nothing, the sequels will probably generate a lot of media buzz and if Disney is able to manage the opening of Avatarland to coincide with the sequel, Avatarland will get a lot of media buzz too. If Disney can time this right, I think it will definitely take off. But even if they don't, I think it is tough to ignore a land devoted to a movie that made almost 3 billion dollars in the box office. Even though the movie has gone from great to good for me, I will probably still rush to see Avatarland just because. Also, as others on the Dis have said, great theming and rides will not make it matter if you saw or liked the movie. I am giving Disney a chance on this, yes I would have preferred a Star Wars land but I can't blame Disney for jumping on a chance to build an area based on the highest grossing movie of all-time.

Just want to add that I think Disney made a smart move by adding this on to AK. Ride wise IMO AK was most in need of more so it made the most sense for Disney to take a risk there with something like this. I think it may end up working out just because of AK needing more, but again that is just the way I see it and nobody else has to see it that way.

 

[disneylovin24]

We are all going to have to wait a few years to truly see if this is a hit or a flop. Sounds like a lot of people will either be pleasantly surprised or be proud that they predicted a flop!

Like I said though, we will just have to wait and see how it turns out!