News Avatar Experience coming to Disneyland Resort

[mickEblu]

Wait, Monsters closes in January? I might have to pop over there and give it a ride. I always forget it's there, but riding it reminds me of going to DCA in like 2007 or so. So its oddly nostalgic, even though it's not something I think of when I think of DCA.

Yeah it does. It’s grown on me over the years. I’d like it even more if they removed LL and it was like a 15-20 min wait vs a 45 minute wait. Its location also doesn’t help it very much. I actually think it’s a solid dark ride. Much better than Mermaid. Too bad they couldn’t find a way to save it. With it going you actually only have a net gain of one family friendly attraction and two attractions total. Granted, I expect all 3 of the new attractions to be much greater in scope/ scale than Monsters Inc. Could have really played a nice role as an “easy” attraction amongst all the new attractions if they removed the LL along with Mermaid.

EDIT: just double checked. I don’t think they ever said January. I only see “early 2026.” Somewhere along the line I probably assumed that that meant January after the holidays. But technically if we take them at their word, the latest it has is until about March.

 

[Disney Analyst]

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Yeah it does. It’s grown on me over the years. I’d like it even more if they removed LL and it was like a 15-20 min wait vs a 45 minute wait. Its location also doesn’t help it very much. I actually think it’s a solid dark ride. Much better than Mermaid. Too bad they couldn’t find a way to save it. With it going you actually only have a net gain of one family friendly attraction and two attractions total. Granted, I expect all 3 of the new attractions to be much greater in scope/ scale than Monsters Inc. Could have really played a nice role as an “easy” attraction amongst all the new attractions if they removed the LL along with Mermaid.

EDIT: just double checked. I don’t think they ever said January. I only see “early 2026.” Somewhere along the line I probably assumed that that meant January after the holidays. But technically if we take them at their word, the latest it has is until about March.

Don't worry, you'll be able to visit all of the limited motion figures in the new Monsters Inc Door Coaster in Florida in a few years.

 

[mickEblu]

Don't worry, you'll be able to visit all of the limited motion figures in the new Monsters Inc Door Coaster in Florida in a few years.

Hey at least you ll be zooming by them on a new coaster!

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

If the Sunset Showcase theater is being spared for the time being, I wonder if Avatar can make a 2028 opening. the only major new thing is the boat ride and the old Hollywood and Dine building is staying for a eatery of sorts.

At D23 2024, they mentioned this area would grown and evolve, so I bet Sunset Showcase goes for a phase 2 ride down the line.

 

[mickEblu]

If the Sunset Showcase theater is being spared for the time being, I wonder if Avatar can make a 2028 opening. the only major new thing is the boat ride and the old Hollywood and Dine building is staying for a eatery of sorts.

At D23 2024, they mentioned this area would grown and evolve, so I bet Sunset Showcase goes for a phase 2 ride down the line.

2030/2031 is the earliest I see it opening.

Due to its size, I think they’d look at the Hyperion before Sunset showcase. Is the Sunset theatre big enough to house anything worthwhile? I could see Hyperion being more expendable for this reason and for the fact that any live show running in the Hyperion is much more costly to run than the Sunset theatre with its two CM’s. From what I understand they also host a lot of events at Sunset Showcase.

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

2030/2031 is the earliest I see it opening.

Due to its size, I think they’d look at the Hyperion before Sunset showcase. Is the Sunset theatre big enough to house anything worthwhile? I could see Hyperion being more expendable for this reason and for the fact that any live show running in the Hyperion is much more costly to run than the Sunset theatre with its two CM’s. From what I understand they also host a lot of events at Sunset Showcase.

The Hyperion is probably earmarked for a 5th Avengers Campus attraction.

 

[mickEblu]

The Hyperion is probably earmarked for a 5th Avengers Campus attraction.

I know many are assuming that but I think 4 attractions including an all encompassing Avengers attraction might be all she wrote for AC.

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

I know many are assuming that but I think 4 attractions including an all encompassing Avengers attraction might be all she wrote for AC.

There was a map I saw on X of Paris's AC and the stunt arena and area behind the Iron Man coaster were marked for expansion. To me this is a sign DCA will get at least one more AC attraction.

 

[mickEblu]

There was a map I saw on X of Paris's AC and the stunt arena and area behind the Iron Man coaster were marked for expansion. To me this is a sign DCA will get at least one more AC attraction.

But Paris only has the IR(nrc)ON MAN coaster and Webslingers right? That expansion pad is probably for the Avengers ride we’re getting or something similar.

 

[Gusey]

If the Sunset Showcase theater is being spared for the time being, I wonder if Avatar can make a 2028 opening. the only major new thing is the boat ride and the old Hollywood and Dine building is staying for a eatery of sorts.

At D23 2024, they mentioned this area would grown and evolve, so I bet Sunset Showcase goes for a phase 2 ride down the line.

I'm also thinking by 2030 (supposedly everything announced at the 2024 D23 is supposed to open with 5 years AKA by 2029, then give a year for potential delays). Avatar is pretty dependent on the new bus depot, right? So whilst Hollywood Backlot is closing at some point next year, they can't really destroy the current bus depot until a new/temporary one opens?

 

[truecoat]

I'm also thinking by 2030 (supposedly everything announced at the 2024 D23 is supposed to open with 5 years AKA by 2029, then give a year for potential delays). Avatar is pretty dependent on the new bus depot, right? So whilst Hollywood Backlot is closing at some point next year, they can't really destroy the current bus depot until a new/temporary one opens?

There are a lot of people that think the parking ramp needs to be finished first but I disagree. If the new drop off and bridge were complete, Avatar can go full steam ahead.

I've actually heard youtubers say the new drop off is in the parking ramp? I'm not sure where they get this from.

 

[Disney Irish]

There are a lot of people that think the parking ramp needs to be finished first but I disagree. If the new drop off and bridge were complete, Avatar can go full steam ahead.

I still really don't see any reason why both projects can't happen at the same time. Yeah it might make the Harbor entrance wall city for awhile, but its not the first time that has happened at the Esplanade.

Also overall I don't see the bridge and drop off taking all that long anyways. If started early 2026 I figure that part can be done by the end of 2026, so less than a year.

I've actually heard youtubers say the new drop off is in the parking ramp? I'm not sure where they get this from.

A couple posters said it here too, don't know where that idea came from. But drop off was always suppose to be at ground level outside the parking structure.

 

[truecoat]

I still really don't see any reason why both projects can't happen at the same time. Yeah it might make the Harbor entrance wall city for awhile, but its not the first time that has happened at the Esplanade.

Also overall I don't see the bridge and drop off taking all that long anyways. If started early 2026 I figure that part can be done by the end of 2026, so less than a year.


A couple posters said it here too, don't know where that idea came from. But drop off was always suppose to be at ground level outside the parking structure.

The only thing that might change with the original plan is that the building in red is no longer leased and can be included.

 

[mickEblu]

This has probably been discussed but are they still going to allow street access to the Harbor entrance or force people to use an elevator/ stairs to the bridge? Ideally people parking at the new structure would have their own dedicated security entrance by the structure with another one at street level at the current bus transpo zone for people coming from Harbor/ Harbor hotels.

 

[Disney Irish]

The only thing that might change with the original plan is that the building in red is no longer leased and can be included.

View attachment 885604

Yes, the USCIS building was suppose to be a "phase 2" future expansion section but now that its available I suspect they'll include it as part of the initial build.

 

[wityblack]

I'm just grateful they aren't moving the cast drop-off to the new hub.

 

[Disney Irish]

This has probably been discussed but are they still going to allow street access to the Harbor entrance or force people to use an elevator/ stairs to the bridge? Ideally people parking at the new structure would have their own dedicated security entrance by the structure with another one at street level at the current bus transpo zone for people coming from Harbor/ Harbor hotels.

Street access will still be available for those on that side of the street, but the Harbor crosswalk is suppose to be going away so those on the hotel/business side of the street will cross using the bridge.

Security will be after the bridge, as shown in this concept art -

 

[mickEblu]

Street access will still be available for those on that side of the street, but the Harbor crosswalk is suppose to be going away so those on the hotel/business side of the street will cross using the bridge.

Security will be after the bridge, as shown in this concept art -

Thanks. The elevators on the business/ hotel side might not be fun.

 

[Disney Irish]

Thanks. The elevators on the business/ hotel side might not be fun.

Which is where I suspect there will be stairs or other access points separate from any elevator.