Was Avatarland really the best idea?

[rteetz]

Once Disney accomplishes all of that, could they do something to help Epcot? Future World could use some help and if they finally work on that area I hope that I'm still alive to see it.

I think Epcot will get something but not for probably 10 years

But something sooner that I do see happening is a soarin refurb. Soarin in DCA is getting a refurb very soon they just finished filming the new video for it last month. Rumors are they are going to new 4k projectors and of course all digital. I would assume Epcot would get the upgrade in a couple of years. DCA is getting it first for gearing up for the 60th anniversary celebration.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

Based on Carsland at DCA and New Fantasyland at MK I can't wait to see Pandora.

Every time I think they can't get any better Disney unveils something new with a higher level of immersion and detail, I fully expect Pandora to be incredible.

Pandora is basically Beastly Kingdom's theme (mythical creatures and lands) with a movie tie in so I don't really understand all the negativity, had they announced it as beastly kingdom with the exact same renderings but no mention of Avatar I think people would be thrilled.

 

[Jennasis]

Based on Carsland at DCA and New Fantasyland at MK I can't wait to see Pandora.

Every time I think they can't get any better Disney unveils something new with a higher level of immersion and detail, I fully expect Pandora to be incredible.

Pandora is basically Beastly Kingdom's theme (mythical creatures and lands) with a movie tie in so I don't really understand all the negativity, had they announced it as beastly kingdom with the exact same renderings but no mention of Avatar I think people would be thrilled.

I know what a unicorn is....a dragon, a centaur, a mermaid, a pegasus, a troll, a goblin etc. and I bet most people do too.

I couldn't even begin to guess what the flying creatures (big or small) or the weird "horse-like" things they rode in Avatar are called (I think I've heard the flying things referred to as dragons...even though they aren't dragons). Or the cat thing...or any of the other creatures. I saw the movie in the theater (I found the Rifftraxed version WAY more entertaining). It isn't Beastly Kingdom. It's Pandora.

It may be stealing design elements of Beastly Kingdom, which I guess is good, but it's to showcase a world I know/care squat about, isn't relevent (unlike say Star Wars, or even LOTR) etc.

Like I said, I'll go and enjoy the rides and the pretty view of stuff (what the heck were those mountains called?? I know they had a name...just didn't care enough about the film for any of it to stick...like the bad guys name? ANY character aside from Jake and the blue girl?? I got nuthin').

It's okay though...I'm pretty sure we will eventually get a Star Wars Land. Probably after the next movie comes out and they can gauge how much "lore" from the new films to add into the land.

 

[prudence64]

I think avatarland sounds stupid, but I think "pandora, the world of avatar" sounds cool. It's all in how the end up selling it.

 

[rteetz]

I know what a unicorn is....a dragon, a centaur, a mermaid, a pegasus, a troll, a goblin etc. and I bet most people do too. I couldn't even begin to guess what the flying creatures (big or small) or the weird "horse-like" things they rode in Avatar are called (I think I've heard the flying things referred to as dragons...even though they aren't dragons). Or the cat thing...or any of the other creatures. I saw the movie in the theater (I found the Rifftraxed version WAY more entertaining). It isn't Beastly Kingdom. It's Pandora. It may be stealing design elements of Beastly Kingdom, which I guess is good, but it's to showcase a world I know/care squat about, isn't relevent (unlike say Star Wars, or even LOTR) etc. Like I said, I'll go and enjoy the rides and the pretty view of stuff (what the heck were those mountains called?? I know they had a name...just didn't care enough about the film for any of it to stick...like the bad guys name? ANY character aside from Jake and the blue girl?? I got nuthin'). It's okay though...I'm pretty sure we will eventually get a Star Wars Land. Probably after the next movie comes out and they can gauge how much "lore" from the new films to add into the land.

That horse thing you are referring to is a banshee and they are making a ride out of it. You will get to ride a banshee as part of the avatar expansion. Rumors are it will be similar to soarin but not the same. As for the mountains I just call them the floating mountains I don't remember the name. That is also something disney is going to try and pull off how I don't know but they want to put floating mountains in the land.

 

[CinderElsa]

That horse thing you are referring to is a banshee and they are making a ride out of it. You will get to ride a banshee as part of the avatar expansion. Rumors are it will be similar to soarin but not the same. As for the mountains I just call them the floating mountains I don't remember the name. That is also something disney is going to try and pull off how I don't know but they want to put floating mountains in the land.

If you tell someone that they can "ride a banshee," I guarantee you that 99.9% of them are NOT going to think of something from Avatar.

 

[rteetz]

If you tell someone that they can "ride a banshee," I guarantee you that 99.9% of them are NOT going to think of something from Avatar.

That is true but it's intriguing I want to ride a banshee when it opens.

 

[VP037388]

I would have loved it if they did Carsland instead of Avatar. It would have been a good compliment to the Fantasyland expansion (IMO). We have 3 young boys. "Princessland" was a miss for us in MK and Avatarland will be a miss for us in AK. We like AK but not the movie. I realize they are trying to compete and appeal to a different group/age. It doesn't mean we won't check it out or stop going to Disney. We just won't go as often. Next trip, we will be splitting our time between Disney and other Orlando parks. The new norm for us.

 

[waynesgirl]

Avatar was a guilty pleasure, the sort of thing nobody will admit to enjoying even though it outsold everything but Titanic. Sorta like Creed or Nickelback.

This. This. And more this.

 

[Jennasis]

That horse thing you are referring to is a banshee and they are making a ride out of it. You will get to ride a banshee as part of the avatar expansion. Rumors are it will be similar to soarin but not the same. As for the mountains I just call them the floating mountains I don't remember the name. That is also something disney is going to try and pull off how I don't know but they want to put floating mountains in the land.

Nope. The banshee's were the flying things (thanks for the memory jog!). They also rode a horse-like thing. Lemme hit up wiki...

dang, wikipedia was useless but I found some other site that listed some of the wildlife of Pandora. The banshees are the flying things, and it appears the horse thing is a Direhorse?

The mountains were apparently the Hallelujah Mountains.

Now we know (and knowing is half the battle!)

 

[mom2cinderella]

Now we know (and knowing is half the battle!)

Settle down there, GI J(ennasis)oe!


I just hope the Navi? (Blue people) aren't a big part of Avatarland. I honestly did not watch the movie solely because I thought they were absolutely hideous.

 

[rteetz]

Nope. The banshee's were the flying things (thanks for the memory jog!). They also rode a horse-like thing. Lemme hit up wiki... dang, wikipedia was useless but I found some other site that listed some of the wildlife of Pandora. The banshees are the flying things, and it appears the horse thing is a Direhorse? The mountains were apparently the Hallelujah Mountains. Now we know (and knowing is half the battle!)

Well once avatar opens I guess we all will no more whether we want to or not.

 

[rteetz]

Settle down there, GI J(ennasis)oe! I just hope the Navi? (Blue people) aren't a big part of Avatarland. I honestly did not watch the movie solely because I thought they were absolutely hideous.

I honestly don't think they will have a huge presence I think it will be more about the theming and the world of pandora.

 

[Jennasis]

Well once avatar opens I guess we all will no more whether we want to or not.

true dat.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

Like I said, I'll go and enjoy the rides and the pretty view of stuff (what the heck were those mountains called?? I know they had a name...just didn't care enough about the film for any of it to stick...like the bad guys name? ANY character aside from Jake and the blue girl?? I got nuthin').

Honestly I can't remember a lot of the characters or animals names either, to me the names don't matter, I just love the idea of being surrounded by glowing plants, floating mountains, mysterious lands and mysterious creatures.

In a way it reminds me of Splash Mountain. I've seen Song of the South a handful of times but I'd guess 90% of the people that ride Splash Mountain have never seen it, don't know the stories, and have no idea who Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear, and Brer Fox are. In the end the movie it's based on doesn't matter because people love the animatronics, scenery, music, views, anticipation, and the drop whether or not they liked (or even saw) the movie.

In the end I think Pandora will be the same way, people will judge it not based on liking (or even seeing) Avatar but based on it's rides, scenery, and atmosphere.

 

[disneymac000]

Doesn't Disney own and distribute Studio Ghilibi stuff? If any of you have seen their movies, like Ponyo or Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle why not put that in place of Avatarland. Its a lot more family friendly and if you have seen any of the concepts in those movies on par with James Cameron stuff. They could use castle in the sky theme which was about saving the dying planet before it was too late. Disney can still have its floating mountains too

And you could have totoro come out and hang with the kids.

Just a thought...

and oh yea the fact that merch will be a lot more profitable would also make it a great idea.

 

[cfw213]

It was a huge movie and I'm sure the sequels will do well. However, I'm not
certain that it has the draw and iconic status to pull this move. It is a huge risk by Disney, IMO. Was it a knee jerk reaction to Harry Potter over at Universal? I know at the time this decision was made Disney did not own Star Wars, but a Star Wars section at HS (not just Star Tours but an entire "land")?or even a whole stand alone Star Wars theme park seems a more viable option to compete
with Harry Potter. Thoughts?

I haven't read the responses to this thread but I would be incredibly disappointed if Disney ever made a whole park dedicated to Star Wars (not that I ever think they will). I am not into Star Wars AT ALL and wouldn't even visit that park. A land I could visit/gloss over.

I saw Avatar and enjoyed it, and I think with the way Disney does them it will come across well.

 

[isabellea]

Maybe they keep Star Wars for a new SciFi park that would also incorporate the Marvel brand? Would mostly appeal to boys and not that much to princess-loving girls tho.

 

[rteetz]

Maybe they keep Star Wars for a new SciFi park that would also incorporate the Marvel brand? Would mostly appeal to boys and not that much to princess-loving girls tho.

Again you cannot have marvel in WDW it's never going to happen.

 

[hookedonears]

But this misses the whole point. You assume that there is and has been an overwhelming negative reaction to this. By whom? Disney-philes who go twice a year anyway and post on Disney chat boards? OK. Maybe. But linking Avatar to WDW is an effort to capture a different audience. They already own you. They want to own new customers now. Do a search and find an "Avatar Chat Board" (I'm sure they exist), and I'll bet you won't find an overwhelmingly negative reaction. The Navi crowd is likely salivating at this, and perhaps these are people who, in the past, found WDW to be lame but might give it a try now. Go to San Diego between 7/24-7/27 and ask the people there if they are excited to see Pandora come to life and you will not get a negative reaction. Sure, there may be a negative reaction among the "Let's meet Cinderella" crowd. But Disney has them in its back pocket already. What's so wrong about branching out to a wider audience. The assumption that "hard corp Disney fans don't like Avatar" is both too broad and irrelevant.

Social Media. Not only this board, but other sites as well. Yes there are some people who've been positive about the idea, but the overwhelming responses that I've seen have been negative. This is only one site. Disney monitors social media very closely, and there's no doubt they know the idea has been received with mixed reviews at best.