Pandora the World of Avatar- My personal rant/thoughts

[GunnarCharles]

Theres a lot of talk about Pandora lately so I thought I would give my few cents worth for anyone that might care to read and respond.
1. We know nothing- I hear a lot of judgements about this new land but one fact remains, we haven't been there. We can say all we want about how it looks now or what we think it will be but the fact is that it still isn't open. How can we be so judgmental about something that isn't even open. It doesn't matter what we see now or what our initial thoughts may seem. We simply can not judge this land or the attractions until we experience them.
2. Don't let the past influence the future- Yes its true this expansion has been a long time coming and Disney probably hasn't opened this as soon as it should have. But we can't act like just because this is 2017 instead of 2015 we don't like it. I would rather this take longer and be spectacular than be built quick and done wrong.
3. Don't let the movie pre-determine your feeling about the experience- I've got a confession, I didn't love the Harry Potter books or movies, but I loved the theme park experiences. I didn't love the movie cars, but I LOVE cars land. Just because you don't like the movie doesn't mean you won't like the land.
4. It won't be better than Wizarding World- One question... so what!? I doubt Pandora beats something like Diagon Alley but thats besides the point. I don't think Space Mountain at WDW is better than Space Mountain at Disneyland but the fact is I still love both attractions. We should be happy there is a new expansion at Animal Kingdom with two completely new attractions. You can still love someplace without thinking its the best. Would you not ever eat at your third or fourth favorite restaurant if it wasn't your number one?
Lets stop worrying about all the comparisons and distractions and simply give this new experience a shot. The people that create these experiences are professionals and know what they are doing. I personally can't wait to experience Pandora and am excited to see something new and exciting. Any thoughts?

 

[shanethesaint88]

To be completely honest I'm just happy to have something new at really new at Disney. I mean "new fantasyland" was ok for me but besides that when was the last true expansion? So I'm excited for that fact alone. I didn't love the movie, I didn't dislike it neither, but many of my favorite attractions are not because of the movie it represents. I love splash mtn. And never seen song of the south. Peter Pan isn't my favorite movie but I love that attraction. Point is I don't think it matters about the quality of movie. I'm excited to see what Avatar Land is all about. And if it disappoints it disappoints, whatever. But I won't judge till I see it myself

 

[bryanb]

I like your thinking. I'm just happy that Disney is doing something that's new and interesting. I also didn't like the movie too much (well, the visual effects were awesome but I hated the story).

If you're a theme park fan, you'll be interested in seeing the new area. I agree that you don't have to have read or watched a single Harry Potter story to enjoy WWoHP, so the same is true for Avatar.

 

[Davey Jones II]

I'm looking forward to Pandora, very excited to experience a brand new land (and yes, I like the movie a lot, and never even saw it in 3D). My one concern is the possibility that the opening will be delayed, so that we won't get to experience it during our Orlando trip next October. Anyone know if an official opening date has been announced?

 

[cwis]

The only thing that bothers me about Avatar land is that I love Disney for the old, loved, classic movies. Peter Pan, Snow White, Ariel… this is all about Disney. To some extend, Pixar fits this universe as well.

Now, Disney extends to weird franchises that I'm not able to fit. Star Wars, Marvel, Avatar, all these might be excellent movies. I guess, the land and attractions will be excellent as well (admittedly, Star Tours is a fantastic attraction), though I'm afraid that they will somehow shadow the original Disney movies.

I simply don't want WDW to become a place like Universal where unrelated movies are themed together just because they were produced by the same company.

 

[Disneylover99]

I have no judgement. I just don't really care. I fell asleep watching that movie twice.

If Pandora is still not open when we go back to DW in the summer, I won't be disappointed. If it is open, great! I will check it out. But I'm really not expecting much. At least it will be nice to have a new land at a park to walk around in. Who knows? Maybe I'll be wowed!

 

[yulilin3]

I simply don't want WDW to become a place like Universal where unrelated movies are themed together just because they were produced by the same company.

I'm not understanding this point. WDW, especially MK is a bunch of unrelated movies thrown together in one park that were made by the same company.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

I wasn't wowed by Avatar, either (and I think the visuals look like a cartoon). It was okay, and I don't object when it's on tv as background noise. I am excited for a new land to explore and new rides, especially since the renderings look so immersive and beautiful.

 

[Matty_Disfan]

I simply don't want WDW to become a place like Universal where unrelated movies are themed together just because they were produced by the same company.

Yeah imagine if they had a ride themed for Star Wars and one for a Toy Story like..... in the SAME PARK??????!!!!!!! The end is near for Disney.....

 

[Parker Clan]

I love when both parks do expansions and new and innovative rides! The fact that I have something new pretty much every time we go is awesome! It's why I keep coming back year after year

 

[StuckInKS]

To be completely honest I'm just happy to have something new at really new at Disney.

Same. I'll take anything new, I don't care what it is. Back when we thought ROL was gonna be open by May 2016, I was super excited to have something new to do. We did get to see the remastered version of the old Soarin' film! (Though we barely missed the new film and FEA)

ETA: Forget what I said about the Tree of Life. Wrong trip!

 

[CAS239]

The Avatar expansion will be a huge hit. It was a huge movie that broke records and that basically was one of the first to execute a 3D movie in the theater the way it should be. The graphics were amazing for when it came out, the world they created was vibrant and cool..and I'm sure Disney is doing everything they have to make all that come to life.

Imo it'll never touch Universals Harry Potter world because I hold Harry Potter to be the best movie series and books and Universal executed that world amazingly...but that's perfectly fine. Avatar will be loved by all ages and will draw crowds to it.

My only complaint about anything Avatar related is they are taking way too long to come out with the following movies. It should be 1-2 years inbetween movies, not 5+

 

[kip0992]

How can we be so judgmental about something that isn't even open. It doesn't matter what we see now or what our initial thoughts may seem. We simply can not judge this land or the attractions until we experience them.

If there is one thing that the theme park / amusement park / roller coaster community is good at, it is judging something before it is built...

It won't be better than Wizarding World- One question... so what!? I doubt Pandora beats something like Diagon Alley but thats besides the point.

Whether is "beats" (or is at least on par with) Universal's Wizarding World is totally the point. If it were a smaller attraction or land then it wouldn't, but this is a huge expansion with multiple "big" rides. Disney has spent a boat load of money and taken a ton of time to put this together and if they can't one-up Universal it isn't going to look good - especially if news stories, reviews, etc. start coming out saying that Disney's newest attraction isn't up to par. On the flip side, if Pandora turns out amazing that will draw that much more business away from Uni.

 

[cwis]

I'm not understanding this point. WDW, especially MK is a bunch of unrelated movies thrown together in one park that were made by the same company.

Most of the movies were made by the same man, who happens to be the man that *also* created the theme park. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing wrong about Star Wars in DHS or Avatar in DAK.

I just feel there is more glue between Ariel and Winnie the Pooh than between Star Tours and Toy Story Mania. Don't you feel so?

OTOH I'm glad if the Marvel/SW/Avatar franchine can bring more guests to the parks, and that is nowhere near a deal breaker for me.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I've never seen Avatar and don't plan to, but I wouldn't mind checking out anything new. I love the flight simulator type rides, so that excites me. I'm hoping it gives us a full day at AK for once when we go in November.

 

[yulilin3]

I just feel there is more glue between Ariel and Winnie the Pooh than between Star Tours and Toy Story Mania. Don't you feel so?

Not necessarily. I don't see any connection between Pooh (A story by A.A. Milne) and The Little Mermaid (story by Hans Christian Andersen) other than the Disney studio animated both. I personally like variety, a park that has different things to attract different audiences will see more success that one that mostly caters to one demographic.

 

[cwis]

Not necessarily. I don't see any connection between Pooh (A story by A.A. Milne) and The Little Mermaid (story by Hans Christian Andersen) other than the Disney studio animated both.

“Disney animated both” is a very strong connection.

I personally like variety, a park that has different things to attract different audiences will see more success that one that mostly caters to one demographic.

Irrespective of what I feel about the movies and their relative fitness into a theme park, you are correct that attracting attendance is key to success. I live near Disneyland Paris which is actively trying to end a period of many years where it stopped attracting new guests to the parks. Without guests, the revenue lowered critically, the park ceased to perform refurbs, the occupancy rate for hotels declined… it took WDC some huge amount of money to try to reverse the trend. Many fans felt disturbed by the many rides and shows dedicated to Star Wars, though I have to admit that attracting new audiences may be the key to restoring success.

That being said, what other movies/attractions could have been added to the DAK? Avatar surely fits the theme. Maybe Up could have been a match? I'm not sure of other Disney movies that could have done it; do you?

 

[goofyernmost]

I have no judgement. I just don't really care. I fell asleep watching that movie twice.

If Pandora is still not open when we go back to DW in the summer, I won't be disappointed. If it is open, great! I will check it out. But I'm really not expecting much. At least it will be nice to have a new land at a park to walk around in. Who knows? Maybe I'll be wowed!

I have never found the movie of anything to be indicative of what I might or might not like as a Disney attraction. There are so many things there that were based on movies that I never saw before going to WDW. Things like 20K, never saw the movie, but the attraction was wonderfully creative for its time and I enjoyed it again and again over the years. I still haven't seen the movie, doesn't matter at all. If the attraction is done well, it will create its own draw.

 

[chris benton]

My only complaint about anything Avatar related is they are taking way too long to come out with the following movies. It should be 1-2 years inbetween movies, not 5+

Ever tried to make a movie better than Avatar?

 

[CAS239]

Ever tried to make a movie better than Avatar?

Harry Potter series is way better than Avatar and they didn't take this long.