News Round Up 2016

[saskdw]

Ironically, the biggest thing Avatar land has going against it is the movie.

So many people refuse to give the land a chance because they are judging the land based on the plot of the movie.

A lot of those people will be won over when they eventual wonder into the new land and see how awesome it is. They might not plan a trip just to see it, but I think they will have to admit they are impressed when they eventually see it.

 

[saskdw]

Photo update

Well the Tomorrowland rocks are blue-ish...

https://twitter.com/mysticflights/status/773982372719108097

I think I might save judgement until I see them in person.

Do we know the reason for this change? I haven't seen the new movie, does this have something to do with that?

 

[rteetz]

Do we know the reason for this change? I haven't seen the new movie, does this have something to do with that?

Nope nothing to do with the movie. The movie didn't have rocks in it. All of Tomorrowland has been getting paint changes within the last year or so.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

A lot of those people will be won over when they eventual wonder into the new land and see how awesome it is. They might not plan a trip just to see it, but I think they will have to admit they are impressed when they eventually see it.

And therein lies the problem...why spend that much money for something that isn't going to convince a large number of guests to plan a trip to Disney? When Star Wars gets up and running you KNOW DHS/Disney is going to see an attendance spike because Star Wars fans be crazy. I really think all Pandora is going to do is relieve the nightime pressure from Epcot and the MK.

I know I've said this before, but I don't care how immersive or well done a land is if I have no emotional tie to that land. I might think it's cool when I see it, but I highly doubt I'm going to want to spend copious amounts of time hanging out in the middle of an electro forest. Appreciating a job well done is very different from having your heart strings pulled.

 

[skier_pete]

And therein lies the problem...why spend that much money for something that isn't going to convince a large number of guests to plan a trip to Disney?

While I'll agree with you to a point, if they build something truly impressive - the reputation will get around. I mean Universal got a lot of mileage out of Harry Potter, but if they'd built it on the cheap and shoddy, word would've rapidly got around. It's as successful as it is still today because it is well done.

Another example is Carsland. Do you think there were a ton of people (specifically adults) lining up going "I can't wait for a CARS themed area! YAY!" Carslands massive susccess is due to how good it is, not the IP. (And yes, it is still a better IP than Avatar.)

If Pandora ends up being "the best thing Disney ever did" it will no doubt bring in the people.

 

[adam.adbe]

Photo update

Well the Tomorrowland rocks are blue-ish...

https://twitter.com/mysticflights/status/773982372719108097

I think I might save judgement until I see them in person.

I think they look kinda daft like that. If they went all in on that style though (I.E. much more rock work, and all throughout TL) that could be pretty cool.

 

[DrunkJam]

And therein lies the problem...why spend that much money for something that isn't going to convince a large number of guests to plan a trip to Disney? When Star Wars gets up and running you KNOW DHS/Disney is going to see an attendance spike because Star Wars fans be crazy. I really think all Pandora is going to do is relieve the nightime pressure from Epcot and the MK.

I know I've said this before, but I don't care how immersive or well done a land is if I have no emotional tie to that land. I might think it's cool when I see it, but I highly doubt I'm going to want to spend copious amounts of time hanging out in the middle of an electro forest. Appreciating a job well done is very different from having your heart strings pulled.

I don't know. I have never seen Avatar. But, I have heard a lot of good things about this land, and will be excited to see it open when we are there.
It might make me go back and watch the film. I mean, I see the point. Not a HUGE number of people are WAITING to buy tickets just to see this, like they are with SWL. But, wasn't this funded differently anyway?

 

[adam.adbe]

And therein lies the problem...why spend that much money for something that isn't going to convince a large number of guests to plan a trip to Disney? When Star Wars gets up and running you KNOW DHS/Disney is going to see an attendance spike because Star Wars fans be crazy. I really think all Pandora is going to do is relieve the nightime pressure from Epcot and the MK.

I don't think they *need* to convince large numbers of people to book WDW vacations. They're doing that anyway. What they do need to do is make sure that there's stuff to do for the guests that arrive, and particularly things to draw them out of MK. Pandora will almost certainly achieve that goal, regardless of whether the IP was the right choice then or now.

 

[HuskieJohn]

And therein lies the problem...why spend that much money for something that isn't going to convince a large number of guests to plan a trip to Disney? When Star Wars gets up and running you KNOW DHS/Disney is going to see an attendance spike because Star Wars fans be crazy. I really think all Pandora is going to do is relieve the nightime pressure from Epcot and the MK.

I know I've said this before, but I don't care how immersive or well done a land is if I have no emotional tie to that land. I might think it's cool when I see it, but I highly doubt I'm going to want to spend copious amounts of time hanging out in the middle of an electro forest. Appreciating a job well done is very different from having your heart strings pulled.

It might not cause people to book a vacation but it will likely cause people who are already going to WDW to go back to AK rather than skipping it all together and going to do something off resort like Universal.

Our first ever trip to WDW was in 2015 and I know that in 2020, when we plan on going back, if AK did not have anything huge and new like Avitar-land we would have zero interest in going back to that park. Instead we would have planned on being at Universal for a 2nd day.

EPCOT is still on the fence for us for the same reason. However if the rumors are true about the GotG coaster and 1 or 2 more attractions are added then the park will have enough new things get us back for that trip, which will actually keep us on the Resort for an additional day altogether.

But yes the SW fans are crazy...we are only low tier fans but the ONLY reason we are returning to WDW in 2020 to begin with is Star Wars Land. If it weren't for that we would likely have gone on a non Disney vacation.

 

[saskdw]

And therein lies the problem...why spend that much money for something that isn't going to convince a large number of guests to plan a trip to Disney? When Star Wars gets up and running you KNOW DHS/Disney is going to see an attendance spike because Star Wars fans be crazy. I really think all Pandora is going to do is relieve the nightime pressure from Epcot and the MK.

I know I've said this before, but I don't care how immersive or well done a land is if I have no emotional tie to that land. I might think it's cool when I see it, but I highly doubt I'm going to want to spend copious amounts of time hanging out in the middle of an electro forest. Appreciating a job well done is very different from having your heart strings pulled.

Not sure I get the "pull my heart strings" thing. Nothing at WDW pulls my heart strings. It's entertaining and amusing, but no heart strings being pulled.

We've spent hours at UO HP land and have a very minimal interest in HP. The theming is incredible and the place is amusing/entertaining.

Too many people pout on DIS when something isn't their first choice.

Example:

When it was announced that NBA experience themed place would replace Disney Quest. Tons of whiners proclaiming I have no interest in NBA, this is stupid, they should have done_____________, blah, blah, blah, whine, whine, whine.

Basketball is probably my least favorite pro sport. i'd much rather see NHL, MLB, or NFL. However if it was a well done place with lots of interactive games and entertainment DS could use something like that. I see the upside of the idea rather whining that it should be NHL themed or i don't like sports.

No idea will please everyone.

 

[rteetz]

Photo update

More photos of the Tomorrowland rocks

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...he-magic-kingdoms-tomorrowland-rock-work-.htm

 

[saskdw]

Photo update

More photos of the Tomorrowland rocks

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...he-magic-kingdoms-tomorrowland-rock-work-.htm

Looks better up close.

 

[rteetz]

News

New additions to Haunted Mansion holiday at DL this year

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...n-haunted-mansion-holiday-at-disneyland-park/

 

[eXo]

Avatar wasn't a bad movie, it was just a cliche movie. Most of the hate for it was simply backlash over all the hype. The more media talked about how revolutionary it was, the more backlash against it came out.

The movies storyline plays it safe by presenting folks with a well worn archetypal clash between the big bad company and the nature loving hippy aliens. Once you strip out all the criticism over the "dances with wolves featuring smurfs" story, I think you'll find there isn't much criticism left. As someone who saw it in 3D Imax near it's release, I was underwhelmed by the plot, but dumbfounded by the 3D. It was one of the first times a 3D movie didn't feel like a puppet show with a few layers floating in front of me. I felt surrounded by the world. It also didn't rely heavily on things popping up at you, rather it made great use of the 3D depth to make it's huge vistas seem to stretch out far into the distance.

Personally, I never read articles bagging on the world that was created for the movie or the creatures that inhabited that world. And *that* is what the theme park is mostly based on. A strange alien world with a heavy ecology theme underlying it.

I don't think people have to like the story of Avatar to appreciate the world of Avatar.

 

[rteetz]

The movie storyline of Avatar will have nothing to do with the land of Pandora. That has been noted by James Cameron himself.

Also maybe it's time we take the avatar discussion to a new thread? I can start one if we want.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Not sure I get the "pull my heart strings" thing. Nothing at WDW pulls my heart strings. It's entertaining and amusing, but no heart strings being pulled.

We've spent hours at UO HP land and have a very minimal interest in HP. The theming is incredible and the place is amusing/entertaining.

Too many people pout on DIS when something isn't their first choice.

Example:

When it was announced that NBA experience themed place would replace Disney Quest. Tons of whiners proclaiming I have no interest in NBA, this is stupid, they should have done_____________, blah, blah, blah, whine, whine, whine.

Basketball is probably my least favorite pro sport. i'd much rather see NHL, MLB, or NFL. However if it was a well done place with lots of interactive games and entertainment DS could use something like that. I see the upside of the idea rather whining that it should be NHL themed or i don't like sports.

No idea will please everyone.

I do agree no idea will please everyone however for most people WDW/USO is a place that pulls at their heartstrings. Many people are emotionally invested in WDW/USO so choices each company makes can create emotional reactions.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Ironically, the biggest thing Avatar land has going against it is the movie.

So many people refuse to give the land a chance because they are judging the land based on the plot of the movie.

Yeah, I wonder how the response would be if it was basically the exact same but presented as an original property as opposed to the Avatar tie in

Thought, to be fair I have heard there are big time Avatar fans who are not Disney fans, have never been to WDW, but are planning to go once Pandora Land is done - so the connection to Avatar is bringing in some people

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Photo update

More photos of the Tomorrowland rocks

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...he-magic-kingdoms-tomorrowland-rock-work-.htm

I never quite got why there was rock work there to begin with ... looked like something from Frontierland got lost - so I kinda like the blue more than the regular rock work. At least it looks different and kinda alien

 

[mikepizzo]

Avatar wasn't a bad movie, it was just a cliche movie. Most of the hate for it was simply backlash over all the hype. The more media talked about how revolutionary it was, the more backlash against it came out.

The movies storyline plays it safe by presenting folks with a well worn archetypal clash between the big bad company and the nature loving hippy aliens. Once you strip out all the criticism over the "dances with wolves featuring smurfs" story, I think you'll find there isn't much criticism left. As someone who saw it in 3D Imax near it's release, I was underwhelmed by the plot, but dumbfounded by the 3D. It was one of the first times a 3D movie didn't feel like a puppet show with a few layers floating in front of me. I felt surrounded by the world. It also didn't rely heavily on things popping up at you, rather it made great use of the 3D depth to make it's huge vistas seem to stretch out far into the distance.

Personally, I never read articles bagging on the world that was created for the movie or the creatures that inhabited that world. And *that* is what the theme park is mostly based on. A strange alien world with a heavy ecology theme underlying it.

I don't think people have to like the story of Avatar to appreciate the world of Avatar.

I completely agree. In my opinion, another way to say what you are saying is that the movie was "safe". It really didn't take a lot of risks, but when you're dealing with a movie that has such new technology, you almost don't want to risk it. Have a nice safe story that everyone is familiar with and knock their socks off with the tech.

Ok, sorry, to continue. Back to the other stuff.

 

[rteetz]

I never quite got why there was rock work there to begin with ... looked like something from Frontierland got lost - so I kinda like the blue more than the regular rock work. At least it looks different and kinda alien

It was supposed to be "space" themed. With it looking like asteroid rocks or something.