New Avatar attraction, will it affect AKV?

[Deb & Bill]

We'll probably see a lot of unsold Duffy bears dyed blue on the shelves.

 

[pluto2417]

I never saw the movie. I thought that it looked kind of stupid and didn't interest me at all. It will be interesting to see what Disney comes up with for this land. I'll take the wait and see attitude too, but when I first read the story I thought that it would fit more into HS or Epcot. I hope that they don't change AKL. It's my fave resort and my home.

 

[ssawka]

I don't mean to imply that the beds at Kidani are going to suddenly replaced by giant leaves hanging from trees, but would not be surprised if this "bleeds" into the AKV scene.

Oh man! That would be so cool! Well, that and ten foot ceilings and doors!

If you've seen the movie, I think Avatar is a perfect tie-in to AK given the environmental message in the movie and the mythical animals. That being said, I wonder if Disney is jumping the gun here. Yes, Avatar was a huge success; however with Harry Potter at Universal, they were building a land around a proven franchise. There was no way it was not going to be successful! With Avatar, Disney runs the risk that the two sequels will really suck and people will quickly lose interest in the franchise.

 

[mdsd8700]

I wonder if Disney is jumping the gun here. Yes, Avatar was a huge success; however with Harry Potter at Universal, they were building a land around a proven franchise. There was no way it was not going to be successful! With Avatar, Disney runs the risk that the two sequels will really suck and people will quickly lose interest in the franchise.

I agree with this. Although I am happy to see expansion and will also take a wait and see attitude. HP had already proven itself, even at the start of the construction at Universal. Not only had it worked its way into pop culture the characters were much beloved and people had emotional connections with them. The same in many ways as Disney characters and movies. Yes, Avatar has made a lot of money, but I think it is a bit of a gamble for Disney.

 

[DMKEDM]

I did see the movie...as a story it was ok, as a "visual feast" it was amazing...I can definitely see the "visual feast" elements forming a solid basis for an AvatarLand at AK...

On the other hand, I didn't "love it" like I "love" Harry Potter...none of the Avatar characters "grabbed" me like Harry, Hermione, Ron and the others did and do...

As I recall (perhaps faultily--is that a word?), one of the big reasons for the splash Avatar made was it was one of the first, if not the first, to use 3D technology? I wonder if Disney will incorporate the 3D element (virtual reality?) into the land and its attraction(s)?

I do really like it when Disney adds things...we all know how nutsy the lines are at Toy Story, Soarin', Expedition Everestt--on the latter two things have calmed a bit...maybe something "big and new" will cause a bit of calming at Toy Story?

In any event, I'm a fan/supporter of the idea of the project, and hopeful the Disney treatment will turn out to be as good as the potential suggests...

 

[GoofItUp]

I'm surprised to see Disney heading this way. I thought Avatar was interesting and worth a one-time movie ticket, but it's not something I needed to run to over and over. It was an extremely well-hyped movie and I think had a bit of a cult following. I agree that it certainly didn't have the emotional connection of HP and particularly not amongst Disney's main audience: kids. I'm reserving my opinion on Avatar-land until I see more as others have said, but I'm watching with raised eyebrows...

 

[GoofItUp]

We'll probably see a lot of unsold Duffy bears dyed blue on the shelves.

And this totally cracks me up! I hope I "get" Avatar-land more than I did Duffy!

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

I agree with this. Although I am happy to see expansion and will also take a wait and see attitude. HP had already proven itself, even at the start of the construction at Universal. Not only had it worked its way into pop culture the characters were much beloved and people had emotional connections with them. The same in many ways as Disney characters and movies. Yes, Avatar has made a lot of money, but I think it is a bit of a gamble for Disney.

I'm with you on this one. I'm not personally against Avatar because like many others I have yet to see it. But I am surprised that this is the direction Disney is heading and also surprised that AK is the park to be expanded. We have always felt that HS needed some added attractions because we can quickly do everything in that park before closing time. Just a few months ago there was a rumor here on the boards about a STAR WARS themed land being expanded at HS in the backlot area. It was to have a cantina restaurant with alien band playing and many of the planets and such to experience: Hoth, Endor...

Now call me a Star Wars geek, but that is a bankable theme. It is established, has successful movies, merchandise, books, and appeals to many different ages. That is the themed land that I would have gambled on to compete with Harry Potter. Haven't the Star Wars weekends already proven to be marketable?

 

[tjkraz]

I personally love AK the way it is, I would have rather seen them put their efforts into a Jaw dropping transformers ride over in HS to blow our senses. (Yeah, I know - something about no Marvel in Disney Parks east of the Mississippi until the Universal contract expires)

Universal Studios bought the theme park rights to Transformers several years ago. They have a Transformers attraction under construction in their Hollywood park which is scheduled to open next summer. Supposed to use a similar ride system to Spider-Man at USF.

Still haven't seen Avatar myself but will make a point of doing so in the next few days to satisfy my curiosity. I'm also taking a wait-and-see approach on this one.

Hopefully they will come up with an attraction which transcends the theme and holds-up regardless of how the franchise ages over time. The obvious example of this is Splash Mountain. Still an extremely popular and satisfying theme park attraction despite the fact that Song of the South 2 won't be appearing in theaters anytime soon.

Somewhere in the last 24 hours the statement was made that Avatar is the biggest film franchise which was not already licensed to a theme park chain. That alone would seem to make it a prime target for Disney.

Assuming Disney had a shot at Harry Potter years ago--under reasonable contract terms--and turned it down (stories seem to differ depending upon source), this is obviously an acknowledgment that they erred. Critics will say that Disney has plenty of its own material to leverage for park attractions. But to be blunt, this isn't about adding more Mickey or Pixar or Stitch to the parks. The goal here is to reach a new audience. They want to attract business from folks who aren't particularly swayed by princesses and pirates. It may also add more of a teen-friendly element to the parks.

I may or may not end up being a fan of Avatar but if the Imagineers do their jobs well, it won't really matter. The theme park addition will still prove to be satisfying.

Oh and as for the original question, I don't see this spilling over to the villas. Maybe themed hotel rooms as one poster suggested but I can't envision Jambo House getting a facelift. Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Animal Kingdom theme park may share a name but there has never been any concerted effort to represent areas of the theme park at the resort.

 

[tjkraz]

That is the themed land that I would have gambled on to compete with Harry Potter. Haven't the Star Wars weekends already proven to be marketable?

As always, devil is in the details, though. Is George Lucas willing to do it? If so, at what cost?

I agree that Star Wars is a more logical franchise to pursue. The fact that Disney didn't go that direction leads me to believe there are specific reasons behind it.

Heck, Lucas may have his own visions of someday building (or at least licensing) an entire Star Wars theme park. If so, he isn't going to allow Disney to expand its Star Wars presence without paying very hefty licensing fees.

 

[Anjelica]

So an entire Avatar themed "land" will break ground in 2013 at Animal Kingdom. I wonder how this will bleed into AKV? Will we see any Avatar theming at the resort/resorts? I wouldn't be surprised. With 2 more Avatar movies set to come out in 2014/2015 and beyond, which seem to sort of correspond with the opening of this new attraction, I bet there will be a "Pandora" affect.

Gosh I hope not - I love AKV (own there) and would hate to see it go in that direction. Sure a few blue men in the gift shop, etc. but anything more than that will be a disappointment. I thought the movie was visually beautiful but the underlining message of "people are evil/bad/horrible, etc." lost me.

 

[wildernessDad]

I wonder how big this will be for Disney. The Harry Potter target audience is kids. Who is the target audience for Avatar?

 

[scout68]

If they choose to build on the portion of the park that was to be the beastly kingdom it will bring the park closer to the resort. Perhaps close enough for a walking path or (not likely but wishful thinking here) dredge the short distance for a direct ferry.

 

[ssawka]

And this totally cracks me up! I hope I "get" Avatar-land more than I did Duffy!

I get Duffy! If you'd read the book with your children you would totally get the whole Duffy thing. The story is very cute!

Hopefully they will come up with an attraction which transcends the theme and holds-up regardless of how the franchise ages over time. The obvious example of this is Splash Mountain. Still an extremely popular and satisfying theme park attraction despite the fact that Song of the South 2 won't be appearing in theaters anytime soon.

Forget Song of The South 2, you will never see Song of The South released again. The irony of Splash Mountain amazes me, that one of Disney's biggest attractions is based on a movie that Disney has self-banned.

 

[Anjelica]

If they choose to build on the portion of the park that was to be the beastly kingdom it will bring the park closer to the resort. Perhaps close enough for a walking path or (not likely but wishful thinking here) dredge the short distance for a direct ferry.

That would be interesting.......

 

[hakepb]

Disney did it's best with Aluani being imagineered "to tell a story", and every detail exists to support that story.

Pandora is an environment created with the level of detail to suggest they used every word in the Imagineer's dictionary, but where's the story?

 

[jade1]

Universal Studios bought the theme park rights to Transformers several years ago. They have a Transformers attraction under construction in their Hollywood park which is scheduled to open next summer. Supposed to use a similar ride system to Spider-Man at USF.

Still haven't seen Avatar myself but will make a point of doing so in the next few days to satisfy my curiosity. I'm also taking a wait-and-see approach on this one.

Hopefully they will come up with an attraction which transcends the theme and holds-up regardless of how the franchise ages over time. The obvious example of this is Splash Mountain. Still an extremely popular and satisfying theme park attraction despite the fact that Song of the South 2 won't be appearing in theaters anytime soon.

Somewhere in the last 24 hours the statement was made that Avatar is the biggest film franchise which was not already licensed to a theme park chain. That alone would seem to make it a prime target for Disney.

Assuming Disney had a shot at Harry Potter years ago--under reasonable contract terms--and turned it down (stories seem to differ depending upon source), this is obviously an acknowledgment that they erred. Critics will say that Disney has plenty of its own material to leverage for park attractions. But to be blunt, this isn't about adding more Mickey or Pixar or Stitch to the parks. The goal here is to reach a new audience. They want to attract business from folks who aren't particularly swayed by princesses and pirates. It may also add more of a teen-friendly element to the parks.

I may or may not end up being a fan of Avatar but if the Imagineers do their jobs well, it won't really matter. The theme park addition will still prove to be satisfying.

Oh and as for the original question, I don't see this spilling over to the villas. Maybe themed hotel rooms as one poster suggested but I can't envision Jambo House getting a facelift. Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Animal Kingdom theme park may share a name but there has never been any concerted effort to represent areas of the theme park at the resort.

Well said-we did see it however and it has great potential IMO-although the characters can take em or leave em compared to HP. Watched it again last night on HBO (I think) and good but not compared to IMAX 3D-thats was impressive.

I just want to fly one of those dragons, but I don't think they are real.

 

[ssawka]

Well said-we did see it however and it has great potential IMO-although the characters can take em or leave em compared to HP. Watched it again last night on HBO (I think) and good but not compared to IMAX 3D-thats was impressive.

I just want to fly one of those dragons, but I don't think they are real.

Yes, but the whole interfacing with them seems a bit too much! Can't we just put a saddle on and hold on tight?

 

[jade1]

Yes, but the whole interfacing with them seems a bit too much! Can't we just put a saddle on and hold on tight?

I will say your correct, that was a bit too far for me as well.

 

[drusba]

I wonder how big this will be for Disney. The Harry Potter target audience is kids. Who is the target audience for Avatar?

Tweens, Teens and adults but Disney will likely leave out the battle scenes and thus can also go for kids. Avatar grossed about $3 billion dollars making it the highest grossing film ever and a billion more than second place Titanic (also a James Cameron film). (There is rumor that they are considering another release of Avatar itself before any new one is released because they believe just a re-release would gross over a hundred million) Though the film is decent in 2D to really get the impact you need to see it in 3D. One might assume that 3D and Soarin-type attractions (fly through Pandora) may be a significant part of what Disney will be adding to AK.