LOL, no Avatar land after all?

[eeyorepixie]

Yes, Avatar was good but honestly not iconic, just good. Still not feeling it, my kids are not clamoring for Avatar in any shape or in any way. I just do not see it, and really I do not think it will happen unless it is on a very small scale. Time will tell, I usually do not post here just this rumor just has me scratching my head.

Maybe it will be something on the lines of the Prince Caspian promo that was at HS?

 

[smitch425]

I would SOOOO much rather see something added to AK that is REAL. When I think of AK, I think of all of the beautiful, natural things that can be found on Earth. I would love to see an Australia area with kangaroo, koalas, dingo, etc. It could be so beautiful. I understand that many people liked Avatar, but there are also a lot of people who did not find it the slightest bit interesting. My kids even threw their Avatar happy meal toys away before they even opened them because they found them "freaky looking". Their words, not mine, though...I do agree with their assessment.

 

[anthony2k7]

is there any news at all on avatarland?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

is there any news at all on avatarland?

no...of course not.

this is what they do know...they make "big annoncements"...one's that, conveniently, don't involve any construction for several years...then plan on the construction taking several more years...and they use it to milk PR (to milk profits) for what ends up being 6 or more years.

when all is said and done...the fantasyland expansion will be nice...but i already know that when i look at it - i see 18 months of construction.
But that is strategic...the longer it takes...the longer you can use "Coming soon"...and the longer you can keep packaging it as "new".

It would be refreshing if they did it a little more like "ghetto" universal and seaworld...where there is a press release the year before...the trucks roll in that day...and they press to have it open in 6,12,18 months...while its fresh.

Instead they are going to consume somewhere between 5 and 6 years to build two front line attractions, install a new dumbo with the old, repaint the barnstormer...add two dining locations...and build 37 new giftshops with the same cheap junk...

So those that were 5 or 6 when the announcement was made...won't even venture into fantasyland when it is complete.

That is inherently sad...and another front where the quality and committment to the customer has failed in disney management.

It's one thing to build an island, dredge a swamp, or bring water to the desert and build a brand new park and support facilities for 5 years....quite another when it amount to small addition.

They build EPCOT in 3 years from the swamp up...animal kingdom in 4 (though it should have taken 6 because they didn't bother to finish)...i'm just saying.

You'd think the wise course of action would be to have the Avatar "whatever" open before they release new movies....you can use it for special events, PR...buzz will growing, not waning.

But they can't seem to do it.

They supposedly had this monsters inc concept for DHS for about 5 years now...and a sequel is due next year...
it will probably will open in 2021

 

[anthony2k7]

It would be refreshing if they did it a little more like "ghetto" universal and seaworld...where there is a press release the year before...the trucks roll in that day...and they press to have it open in 6,12,18 months...while its fresh.

Universal havent even properly announced potterland 2 have they? I've not seen anything that says that is whats replacing Jaws - and yet Jaw's is completely gone already!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Universal havent even properly announced potterland 2 have they? I've not seen anything that says that is whats replacing Jaws - and yet Jaw's is completely gone already!

yes...and whether it's harry potter expansion or not...you can be assure that they demolished it to build SOMETHING...unlike the site of "fantasyland expansion" that sat in mothballs for 10 years.

Obviously...disney attractions and expansions are of a higher quality (probably 1.5x better at 5 times the price)..but

this just proves again how they are way too comfortable in their "big dog" boots in town...

Universal and Sea World...even as each were sold to an outside company...have had fairly consistent and aggressive expansion since 1999. They have had things tabled or cancelled...but when that has happened...they have still managed to do "something"

Disney has not made such attempts. The Travel Industry is still in survival mode...and its been written and suggested that the entire industry may be shifting...and the management at sea world and universal have recognized it and attempted to overcome it by trying to seize the headlines of the market and reinvest.

Disney - has taken a different tack. Timeshare construction and revenue protection and cost cutting mode. They get away with it because of the mouse...but it is beyond short sighted.

They are not threatened...nor really should they be...but they sure as heck also aren't acting like entertainment pioneers, creative artists, or imagineers.


Ok...so i just went back and checked for good measure...

Sea Worlds Antartica expansion...the largest in the parks history...was announced on Nov 8 2011...it is scheduled to open in March of 2013...15 months.

Fantasyland was announced on September 12, 2009 and the first phase...basically a repurposed toon town...is likely to open next month...29 months later. The final phase - the snow white coaster that has yet to really been worked on...2014...5 years

that's just not good enough

 

[loveysbydesign]

I have to say that I am NOT a fan of Avatar land coming to Ak either! I would much rather see Australia as another poster mentioned or a Beastly kingdom. I know many others who feel that same way but WDW is a big biz. and I guess they try to do whatever they can to make $$$!

 

[OldsDr]

I have to say that I am NOT a fan of Avatar land coming to Ak either! I would much rather see Australia as another poster mentioned or a Beastly kingdom. I know many others who feel that same way but WDW is a big biz. and I guess they try to do whatever they can to make $$$!

From a buisness point of view I think Australia or beastly Kingdom would make more sense because they will still be relevant 20 years from now. Being that they would still be relevent would presumably make them cheaper to upgrade than an Avatar-land which would have to be re-themed. They are Big Biz, but way to short sighted with tunnel vision.

I also know nothing on the down and dirty finances of running a themepark so hey maybe I am wrong.

 

[tjkraz]

Shortsighted is one word to use for Avatar. And it could prove to be an accurate label. Only time will tell.

Disney's hope (gamble) is that it's a property which will continue to be relevant and draw crowds for years to come.

If they build a Beastly Kingdom or Australia add-on, first-year attendance increases would be modest and go from there. The Avatar name alone will attract a larger crowd from the get-go and Disney is taking the chance that it will continue to be an appealing partner in the future.

The days of non-branded attractions seem to be behind us. Something like Pirates or Haunted Mansion would never be built today. It's just too easy to slap Belle, Aurora or Nemo on the attraction to create that instant name recognition.

And it's not like Disney is alone in this regard. After all, Universal didn't build the Wizarding World of Fred.

 

[skier_pete]

The days of non-branded attractions seem to be behind us. Something like Pirates or Haunted Mansion would never be built today. It's just too easy to slap Belle, Aurora or Nemo on the attraction to create that instant name recognition.

And it's not like Disney is alone in this regard. After all, Universal didn't build the Wizarding World of Fred.

This is very very true, I doubt you'll ever see another theme park ride not linked to some existing brand. The costs are so high for any major expansion that the risk of failure means heads will roll. "Beastly Kingdom" could hold exactly the same rides as "Avatarland", but the latter is a much safer bet.

However, I would argue that this was the case almost from Day 1. The whole Disney theme parks were branded off of Walt Disney's ways of telling stories in movies and television and even books/comics. While it wasn't name for name "Pirates" was 'branded' off of Treasure Island. Frontierland was 'branded' off of Disney's Davy Crockett serial. It wasn't name for name as in Carsland...but it was the same concept. And only then it probably wasn't done 100% because they thought people wanted something slightly different from what they saw at the movies. Now, the opposite mentality is true, we all want something familiar.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

This is very very true, I doubt you'll ever see another theme park ride not linked to some existing brand. The costs are so high for any major expansion that the risk of failure means heads will roll. "Beastly Kingdom" could hold exactly the same rides as "Avatarland", but the latter is a much safer bet.

However, I would argue that this was the case almost from Day 1. The whole Disney theme parks were branded off of Walt Disney's ways of telling stories in movies and television and even books/comics. While it wasn't name for name "Pirates" was 'branded' off of Treasure Island. Frontierland was 'branded' off of Disney's Davy Crockett serial. It wasn't name for name as in Carsland...but it was the same concept. And only then it probably wasn't done 100% because they thought people wanted something slightly different from what they saw at the movies. Now, the opposite mentality is true, we all want something familiar.

I totally agree. The fact is, we really don't know what the second and third films will be about. The aliens may not even be blue, the movie may shift focus to a different planet with different issue(s) -- who knows. But I feel there is a great opportunity for Disney to create something truly amazing. And we can't ignore James Cameron, how often does one get an opportunity to work with a guy like this? Anything he touches turns to gold, he's a perfectionist. I can see Cameron pushing Disney outside of their "comfort zone" to create this fabulous "land" for us. His reputation is at stake with this project, so at least we won't have to be concerned with mediocrity. Besides, Beastly Kingdom sounds boring, I'm glad Disney shelved it.

 

[crusader]

It won't matter how well the sequels do if Disney puts together a great land with great theming and with great rides. Ultimately it's the quality of the project itself that will make a theme park ride, land, park popular way over the inspiration for that ride, land or park.

If RnR retools with a new theme will Aerosmith fans quit riding the coaster?

agree. The sequels won't matter if they launch something great. Cameron is handily invested with the project. Who knows what a merger with his arsenal of tech could mean for the imagineering of tomorrow.

 

[onnawufei]

It won't matter how well the sequels do if Disney puts together a great land with great theming and with great rides. Ultimately it's the quality of the project itself that will make a theme park ride, land, park popular way over the inspiration for that ride, land or park.

If RnR retools with a new theme will Aerosmith fans quit riding the coaster?

Agreed. While I definitely had a *** moment when I heard about there being an Avatar land, I'm interested in seeing the result. It may have just been a blue-er version of Ferngully, but Avatar was a very pretty movie, and Disney does great theming. If they do a good enough job it won't matter whether you liked the movie or not.

 

[Figment632]

Well it look like AVL being canceled is more and more likely everyday.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Well it look like AVL being canceled is more and more likely everyday.

that's an enigma inside a riddle inside a conundrum...

care to keystroke elaborate?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Well it look like AVL being canceled is more and more likely everyday.

What's the basis for the assertion?

Based on the big announcement last year, Disney's executive management seems to be committed to AVATAR Land.

Yes, it's possible that Disney could quietly drop the project, but I haven't seen any credible evidence that the project is in trouble.

 

[tjkraz]

Source is the usual: third-hand reports from posters on other forums.

 

[ASteelersMidget]

^^Agreed. We have no evidence it has been dropped, but by the same thinking we also have no real evidence it is still being worked on.

I do however want to hear your reasoning/evidence/theory on why it was cancelled Figment.

 

[Figment632]

Source is the usual: third-hand reports from posters on other forums.

No Source is former Imagineer Eddie Sotto which I spoke to yesterday.


Anyway if it is canceled I would bet on no expansion.

 

[Figment632]

How long since the announcement and we have scene not an ounce of concept art or site prep????

Wasn't like that with FLE or Carsland?