News Avatar Experience coming to Disneyland Resort

[Professortango1]

I honestly really don't think there is much need for some convoluted backstory for this one. I mean you even mentioned it, Mission Breakout, all they said was "Bam, its here, the Collector wants to show off his new prize the Guardians". Sometimes simple is better. I think its us fans that demand some huge lore to be added to it, and Disney gets stuck into trying to appease that. Forget all that, its a theme park, doesn't always have to make "sense", it just is.

And when they did try and explain Mission BO with more details, it made it more confusing. The plasma marks on the ground to sell the idea the fortress appeared here cosmically doesn't match with the surrounding features and design. The paw prints where Rocket broke out to redesign the sign doesn't match with the fact he's still imprisoned when we walk inside and hasn't broken out yet.

Disney needs to learn they no longer have the creative power to do detailed storytelling in their parks. Broad strokes are much better suited to what made the early attractions work so well and why they keep mucking it up.

 

[Disney Irish]

And when they did try and explain Mission BO with more details, it made it more confusing. The plasma marks on the ground to sell the idea the fortress appeared here cosmically doesn't match with the surrounding features and design. The paw prints where Rocket broke out to redesign the sign doesn't match with the fact he's still imprisoned when we walk inside and hasn't broken out yet.

Disney needs to learn they no longer have the creative power to do detailed storytelling in their parks. Broad strokes are much better suited to what made the early attractions work so well and why they keep mucking it up.

I think the opposite, not that they don't have the "creative chops" as it were, but rather that they don't need to go into that much detail as its missed by like 99% of guest anyways. They were really only doing it for the 1% of fans that demand that sort of detail. So agree, go back to basics, just give the "broad strokes" as you say and then go find other ways such as Easter Eggs to give the 1% details they demand.

 

[Disney Irish]

Step into the set...

View attachment 863958

I just want to know if that experience comes with Kate Winslet, I'll even pay for LL.

 

[britain]

I think the opposite, not that they don't have the "creative chops" as it were, but rather that they don't need to go into that much detail as its missed by like 99% of guest anyways. They were really only doing it for the 1% of fans that demand that sort of detail. So agree, go back to basics, just give the "broad strokes" as you say and then go find other ways such as Easter Eggs to give the 1% details they demand.

I think Joe knew that if they only left M:B at the “broad strokes” level, it would be seen as a step down from the thick storytelling AND Easter egg hunt that was the Hollywood Tower Hotel.

He was given a very difficult hand, and I think he played it amazingly well. (Even though I still can’t stand how ugly the thing is.)

 

[mickEblu]

I think the opposite, not that they don't have the "creative chops" as it were, but rather that they don't need to go into that much detail as its missed by like 99% of guest anyways. They were really only doing it for the 1% of fans that demand that sort of detail. So agree, go back to basics, just give the "broad strokes" as you say and then go find other ways such as Easter Eggs to give the 1% details they demand.

Except aren’t we the 1%? Or are we the .01 above it all? Lol. As far as I can tell most of us don’t really care about that stuff.

 

[BrianLo]

Correct me if I’m wrong but I never saw you post this info on the actual parks investments thread.

I’m confused if this is an accusation or you are wondering if there’s something insider-y about my comment? There isn’t. I just already know I love Shanghai Pirates.

I think I’ve said a number of times how impressed I am with the breadth of original attractions we have coming online. I’m sure I counted the projects. I tend to not just straight repeat myself though and reframe my thoughts for every post I make. I don’t know if I’ve said the Pandora attraction is the one I have the highest potential expectancy of before, but maybe in this thread?

You are free to share my post if that’s what you are asking.

 

[Disney Irish]

I think Joe knew that if they only left M:B at the “broad strokes” level, it would be seen as a step down from the thick storytelling AND Easter egg hunt that was the Hollywood Tower Hotel.

He was played a very difficult hand, and I think he played it amazingly well.

I honestly don't know if he was personally the one that decided on those extra details, but yeah I agree he was handed a difficult hand. And outside some of those details that just didn't play well I think he did a good job overall.

 

[Professortango1]

While I've

I think Joe knew that if they only left M:B at the “broad strokes” level, it would be seen as a step down from the thick storytelling AND Easter egg hunt that was the Hollywood Tower Hotel.

He was played a very difficult hand, and I think he played it amazingly well.

While I've become less enamored with Joe as time has gone on (I blame EE's lazy coaster design for piercing the veil), I definitely know he was dealt a bad hand with Mission BO. Especially given its opening date was the same day as Pandora. Who gives a lead imagineer two different projects on two different coasts with the same opening day? Disney Management, that's who.

 

[Disney Irish]

Except aren’t we the 1%? Or are the .01 above it all? Lol. As far as I can tell most of us don’t really care about that stuff.

I don't know where "we" on this site rank, but I know I personally don't care much about that level of detail especially not when inside the Parks.

 

[mickEblu]

I don't know where "we" on this site rank, but I know I personally don't care much about that level of detail especially not when inside the Parks.

By “detail” you mean those convoluted back stories right? I think we all care about the details when it comes to aesthetics and place making.

 

[BrianLo]

Im fine with a Kablam of crossing a tunnel, threshold or bridge and it just is. Though they did put that big plant thing as the backstory for why we could breath the air as it was filtering nitrogen or whatever in the valley specifically.

 

[Disney Irish]

By “detail” you mean those convoluted back stories right? I think we all care about the details when it comes to aesthetics and place making.

Yes, that is what I mean. I couldn't really care less about how or why the Collector decided to plop his fortress into DCA. Just like I don't really care why or how we get to enter Pandora off Hollywood Blvd. Nor do I really care how or why it fits into "California". Just give me the broad strokes of the aesthetics and place making and I'm sold. Don't need all the other stuff, its like trying to add more icing to an already iced cake, its overkill and not needed in my opinion.

 

[Disney Irish]

Im fine with a Kablam of crossing a tunnel, threshold or bridge and it just is. Though they did put that big plant thing as the backstory for why we could breath the air as it was filtering nitrogen or whatever in the valley specifically.

Yes, but do 99.9% of guests even know about the backstory of the air being filtered? No, so while its nice as a little touch and an "in" for those that know, its lost on almost everyone. As no one really cares why you can breathe on Pandora when you're walking inside the land.

 

[BrianLo]

Yes, but do 99.9% of guests even know about the backstory of the air being filtered? No, so while its nice as a little touch and an "in" for those that know, its lost on almost everyone. As no one really cares why you can breathe on Pandora when you're walking inside the land.

I just meant to use as a “they didn’t really put in effort to explain why” in DAK, except that one aspect. I don’t think we’ll get any explanation on why or how we get to Pandora by crossing a threshold this time either.

They’ll probably further drop the plant. Who knows if that was a Joe or Jon thing. If it was James exclusively it might return.

 

[britain]

Yes, but do 99.9% of guests even know about the backstory of the air being filtered? No, so while its nice as a little touch and an "in" for those that know, its lost on almost everyone. As no one really cares why you can breathe on Pandora when you're walking inside the land.

I’d put it more at 75% of guests. The toxic air of the planet was a very important plot point in the film. Not doing something to acknowledge it would leave themselves open to smart alecs on social media saying things like, “you know technically we should all be dying, what kind of space tourism company would knowingly bring guests to a poisonous planet!?”

 

[Disney Irish]

I’d put it more at 75% of guests. The toxic air of the planet was a very important plot point in the film. Not doing something to acknowledge it would leave themselves open to smart alecs on social media saying things like, “you know technically we should all be dying, what kind of space tourism company would knowingly bring guests to a poisonous planet!?”

Having never been to AK and seeing how its done in person I can't say. But I can't imagine you'd have very many if any actual guests running around looking for air filters saying "We shouldn't be breathing". So it'd be internet keyboard jockeys who would be the ones saying it, bringing it back to my point of it being like 0.1%, over exaggeration as it was.

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

Hey Bricky did a video and said he firmly believes the Avatar land will likely have a second attraction likely. simulator of some kind. That could go in the spot Philiarmagic occupies. I would also throw in a walkthrough as a possibility for a second D ticket attraction

 

[MistaDee]

Hey Bricky did a video and said he firmly believes the Avatar land will likely have a second attraction likely. simulator of some kind. That could go in the spot Philiarmagic occupies. I would also throw in a walkthrough as a possibility for a second D ticket attraction

That was honestly a really great video. I loved the stuff on keyholes and how the monorail might go overhead:

I'm not sold on his projection of what will happen between the monorail and Hollywood Blvd. Specifically this:

I do like the idea of retaining Hollywood Blvd alongside Buena Vista Street to serve as a thematic corridor before departing into Pandora or Avenger's campus, but this vaguely "celestial" park feels like a generic waste of space. Something that feels more uniquely 1920s LA/Hollywood while also setting up the concepts/themes from Avengers/Pandora, so some kind of water feature would definitely be appropriate, but not sure what would foreshadow Avengers Campus well

the Philharmagic theater, Animation Building and (I know I'm dreaming given the recent posture towards union entertainment) an updated Hyperion with a proper facade.

 

[mickEblu]

That was honestly a really great video. I loved the stuff on keyholes and how the monorail might go overhead:
View attachment 864840I'm not sold on his projection of what will happen between the monorail and Hollywood Blvd. Specifically this:

View attachment 864837

I do like the idea of retaining Hollywood Blvd alongside Buena Vista Street to serve as a thematic corridor before departing into Pandora or Avenger's campus, but this vaguely "celestial" park feels like a generic waste of space. Something that feels more uniquely 1920s LA/Hollywood while also setting up the concepts/themes from Avengers/Pandora, so some kind of water feature would definitely be appropriate, but not sure what would foreshadow Avengers Campus well

the Philharmagic theater, Animation Building and (I know I'm dreaming given the recent posture towards union entertainment) an updated Hyperion with a proper facade.

While this approach doesn’t address the concern that WDI seems to have with Pandora being at DCA, I would definitely prefer this to some “hot set” concept or whatever explanation they might give to explain why we are going from Hollywoodland to Pandora. Just here’s this really charming park and through that tunnel is Pandora. Kind of like GE from Frontierland. However, like you said, it seems unrealistic that modern Disney would essentially build a larger Magnolia Park.

Now with that said, what revenue generating opportunities would be missing from that space that exist there now? Nothing but a refreshment stand and food truck. Both of which could be placed off to the side in new configurations. I guess the bigger question is if they have enough space to use up on that sort of a transition and if this would indicate that the project has already been scaled back as the newer concept art suggests? Personally I think there is space for this transition as there really isn’t that much space between the backlot entrance and the monorail track.

This park area would be a really nice upgrade for Hollywoodland but brings up another question. Do they want to invest any money into the Hollywoodland theme? Removing the Red Car and TOT suggest they don’t. Not to mention this land is nestled between Pandora and Avengers Campus. For example if they re saving the Philharmagic theatre for a future expansion for Pandora would this new park still work? Probably not. So for me, if they were to go with this type of transition that would suggest to me that they intend to keep Hollywoodland around for a while. And I’m not sure they really have a choice considering how it’s place and how Hollywood Blvd extends from the BVS and the hub.

With all of that said, I guess they could create a new entrance from Pandora to the backside of the Philharmagic theatre. So there is a scenario where you could have this little park, an Avatar attraction in the Philharmagic theatre and Hollywoodland existing for the sole purpose of being a transition from BVS. I’m not sure that fake sky facade is ever going anywhere. Obviously Hyperion will wind up being more Marvel or Avatar unless they come up with something really creative there. Hollywoodland existing just as a transition and a home for the Animation building would be kind of odd which is what has always led me to believe the that it just gets absorbed into BVS.

 

[PizzaPlanet]

These ideas are probably pretty close to what they’ll go with, and there will likely be blog posts explaining how Avatar represents California’s ties to the ocean.

I can’t imagine them doing the “hot set” thing now, even though it was quintessential 90s Disney.