Is anyone really excited about Avatar Land?

[emory2001]

No need for a master's thesis, but a simple explanation of what you meant when you said that Avatar has lost its "staying power" would suffice. I'm certain that you must have had something in mind when you posted that. If the answer is: "I believe that Avatar has lost its staying power because I don't think people will be interested in the sequel and it won't break $300 million at the box office", that is fine. It might be a dubious prediction, but certainly one you are entitled to.

Perhaps what I meant was, I don't think dollars at the movies are everything when it comes to "staying power," and maybe "staying power" isn't the right word and I can't think of the right one. Someone else used the phrase "cultural cache," which may be closer to what I mean. Merchandise and pervasiveness in popular culture play a big part in that too, beyond movie revenue, and I can't remember the last time I saw someone wearing an Avatar shirt or having an Avatar birthday party. Maybe I don't run in the right circles, whatever. I also said in my first sentence that I'm optimistic about Avatarland doing well.

 

[garris3404]

Not at all!

 

[DisneyFive]

No one has to love Arrowsmith to love Rock N Roller Coaster, nor do they have to love Twilight Zone to love Tower of Terror, nor do they have to love Pirates of the Carribean (movie) in order to love PoC (ride), nor do they have to love whatever movie Splash Mountain is based on in order to love the ride, etc, etc, etc. Sometimes, the movie makes the ride, but a lot of times, the ride makes the movie.

Lots of truth to that. Those rides weren't tied to previous Disney movies, yet they are still great rides. I can give/take Avatar at Disney, but the land/rides/attactions will be the proof (or lack of )

Dan

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I think the problem with Avatar as a movie is that while it was visually stunning, the story just doesn't stick. Most people liked the story better the first time - when it was called Dances With Wolves.

Because of what it was, the potential for a really cool attraction certainly exists. But, the attraction will need to stand alone on its own merit, not that of the film, IMO.

 

[alicat8]

Lots of truth to that. Those rides weren't tied to previous Disney movies, yet they are still great rides. I can give/take Avatar at Disney, but the land/rides/attactions will be the proof (or lack of )

Dan

BUT-Rock n Rollercoaster-amazing ride, Aerosmithland-terrible idea
I can't really say the other 2 wouldn't be good ideas for full lands (Pirates and Twilight Zone-both awesome). I think they would be But they can also span lots of different possibilities for attractions without all being tied to the same movie. We're not talking about one ride.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Saw the movie... like it, didn't love it. My dad is really excited for it. In fact, anytime we bring up Disney, he starts talking about it.

I wouldn't say I'm excited about it, but I'm definitely intrigued. The concept art looks really cool and I think it's going to impress a lot of people. The only problem is that I feel like a lot of people have either never seen the movie or don't remember it. By the time it opens, it's just going to be "the cool futuristic world in AK" rather than a tribute to the movie.

 

[Kalliope]

No need for a master's thesis, but a simple explanation of what you meant when you said that Avatar has lost its "staying power" would suffice. I'm certain that you must have had something in mind when you posted that. If the answer is: "I believe that Avatar has lost its staying power because I don't think people will be interested in the sequel and it won't break $300 million at the box office", that is fine. It might be a dubious prediction, but certainly one you are entitled to.

Funny, it sure doesn't seem that way. Some people don't like Avatar and aren't excited about it. Get over it.

I thought it pounded us over the head with a political agenda and PC drivel.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I think the problem with Avatar as a movie is that while it was visually stunning, the story just doesn't stick. Most people liked the story better the first time - when it was called Dances With Wolves.

Thanks for being the millionth person the state this so I could offer my rant.

You can have the same theme yet tell a very different story. Man vs nature, good vs evil, etc.

 

[nicki.momof3]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kobey]

I can't even find enough energy to put an avatar up on this forum, can't see getting too excited about an area dedicated to them.

 

[Yahweh]

Yes! They aren't going to make me watch the movie again are they

 

[PrincessJo]

Not even a little bit. I hated the movie.

I am excited about everyone else going to see AvatarLand and leaving the rest of the park empty for me to enjoy Not sure if anyone else said that... at work and don't have time to read 10 pages of replies!

 

[kangaand2roos]

Not especially, but I wasn't really looking forward to Carsland either, and that was a grand slam! So, I guess I am looking forward to it after all!

 

[Tomh]

And as far as my "typical" comment - if you account for inflation, Avatar isn't even in the Top 10 list of all-time movies.

Actually, according to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films) accounting for Inflation, Avatar ranks 2nd in all time revenue worldwide, well within the top 10.

 

[Poohbug]

Not enough to get me to visit DisneyWorld. I think the only thing that will make me do that is Star Wars Land or maybe Carsland/Pixar Land. Darn Fastpass+ ruined it for me.

 

[Hudson Hornet]

I think the problem with Avatar as a movie is that while it was visually stunning, the story just doesn't stick. Most people liked the story better the first time - when it was called Dances With Wolves.

Because of what it was, the potential for a really cool attraction certainly exists. But, the attraction will need to stand alone on its own merit, not that of the film, IMO.

Amen.

If the rides are good and the area well themed I'll enjoy it whether or not I care one bit about the movie, which I don't. I don't go to Disney world to relive a specific movie. No ride can recreate an entire movie in the first place. The rides at Disney world have always stood on their own and must continue to do so.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Not especially, but I wasn't really looking forward to Carsland either, and that was a grand slam! So, I guess I am looking forward to it after all!

Right, at the time, there was a ton of skepticism sorrounding the idea of building a Cars Land. I read countless posts by people who were basically dismissing the whole project before they had a chance to experience it.

People said: the Cars movies are not well loved, Cars was the weakest Pixar movie, why not one ride instead of an entire land, etc. All of that has been swept aside by the success of the land, even though one of the rides is being replaced!

I also want to address this whole "staying power" argument. You can't really judge the staying power of a franchise until it becomes a franchise! In other words, wait to see how well the sequels do before you judge staying power.

I won't make bold predictions, but it is very likely that the sequels will be huge. A sequel to a blockbuster is the closest thing to a sure thing in the movie business. Such sequels rarely fail -- sometimes they're even bigger than the original. Speed 2 might be an exception, but Speed was a hit, not a worldwide blockbuster like Avatar. If you can think of other exceptions, they are few and far between.

 

[slp87]

nope, no excitement here.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

We are really looking forward to it all...the story line and art work is promising a great new attraction.

AKK

 

[Jess_S]

I'm always late to the party -- to the point where my opinions aren't really adding much to the discussion. But that doesn't stop me from weighing in. I was annoyed about Avatar land when I first heard about it. I thought Avatar was an okay movie, but nothing original or particularly interesting. But when I saw the concept art for the new land, I got excited. It looks like it could turn out to be a really cool land that will stand on its own even though it's based on a movie that I have zero interest in watching ever again.