News Avatar Experience coming to Disneyland Resort

[BrianLo]

If they start work late this year, let's say... November 2026... I think it could still open mid-late 2029.

It would be very surprising for a project of this scale to get done in much under 36 months. They are doing it (barely) with Encanto. But I think there is more complexity here.

Taking the OC register at their word - if we see significant movement by the Spring I think Fall 2029 is in play.

 

[mickEblu]

The timing never made sense to me. The first step is the show buildings and the show buildings need the bus loops and the bus loops need a bridge and alternative guest plaza.

Closing Monster seemed like too early cost savings then a necessity.

Yeah. I had just assumed I didn't understand something about the order of operations. Which is why a while back I had mentioned a possible temporary bus zone on the west side of the resort to make sense of it all.

 

[DrStarlander]

Thank you!! Still want to see what you were writing.

I was writing a lot of exactly what you were saying. My main framing was about how there are Vibe lands that people want to hang out in, and Novelty lands (for lack of better word) that people want to visit to see it, because it's a wonder to behold...but then leave (because it's not actually that comfortable to be there for a long time, it may be sensory overload, the design may be interesting but endistancing, it may not be relatable to us humans in terms of settling into and occupying the space).

This is why the first phase of Simba should be a catch all Disney animation land. with the entry point being a bridge from DCA proper, you would want something that can always be updated and refreshed.

What’s the unifying theme for a catch all animation land though? I like that going Fantasy Springs style allows form multiple IP in a consistent and aesthetically pleasant setting. The catch all animation land would have been a great idea for BVS as the entry way to the park that just so happens to be set in Burbank/ Burbank Adjacent which was the birthplace of all these films.

I posted a while back, an Imagineering idea of re-branding Hollywood Blvd. as Disney Animation Ave. here. This to me was a pragmatic approach to leveraging what's there already and giving the street more focus and gravitas, and achieve brand-burnishing at a low cost. It's not my ultimate dream for that acreage but a cost-managed enhancement similar to what's happening at DHS.

I don’t see a move away from single IP lands. They are just too popular with the general public.

I think we're in the beginning stages of a shift away from single IP lands.

I think the industry is learning that there are upsides and downsides to single IP lands and is (hopefully) becoming more choosy about when/how to use them.

A lot of people don't actually know what they want. That's why we get crap like Avenger's Campus, because people just think "buh buh hurr durr it'd be like cool to have a Super Hero Land & Stuff, I definitely won't get sick of Marvel after 30 movies and 20 TV Shows, let's build a land because Spider-Man is cool!!!111"-and are then surprised it sucks because "Character I like" and "interesting environment" aren't 1:1 all the time.

Avenger's Campus wasn't an interesting environment when they built it, and they've doubled-down on that lack of interest recently:

Compare that above to what they've built elsewhere:

Marvel fans can easily list out the fantastical options that were available to Disney. Avenger's Campus sadly lacks ambition and creativity and investment. Even the new building. The land could still be made cooler with some fairly low-cost enhancements to tell the story of where we supposedly are, as I describe here. So I don't think it's that fans that are wrong, I think Disney has failed to manifest Marvel Avengers in the park well and not learned from their recent past.

 

[Disney Irish]

The timing never made sense to me. The first step is the show buildings and the show buildings need the bus loops and the bus loops need a bridge and alternative guest plaza.

Closing Monster seemed like too early cost savings then a necessity.

I don’t disagree and had thought and said much of the same here before. I had also thought maybe they had done things for a reason, like they found a way to do all of it at the same time. It still seems like much of the land will start to be cleared here in the coming months. So keeping Monsters open during that time really doesn’t affect much during the demo phase anyways, basically leave it as the last thing to be demo’d and cleared.

 

[BrianLo]

Avenger's Campus wasn't an interesting environment when they built it, and they've doubled-down on that lack of interest recently:

One wonders if Wakanda is still on the table or if they feel this is now enough Marvel. Wakanda could support a coaster everyone wants, but with nice rock work instead of a box.

There's a reason Pandora works like gangbusters in Florida and is reportedly the number one theme park land at WDW at least, according to TouringPlans.

I cannot find it, but this was on a slide deck in the last 18 months as well from Disney. Galaxies Edge/Rise meanwhile was the highest rated thing at DLR. It also provided a massive 30% attendance boost to DAK that was cut off by the pandemic.

Pandora appeals to the non traditional base and that’s exactly why they want it. It’s not just an Iger ego thing, there’s a very clear business case for another Pandora… and a third and fourth in Paris and Shanghai.

 

[Disney Irish]

I mean Tropical Americas has multiple IPs, and Villains is more of an overarching theme rather than a single IP. I think we're in the beginning stages of a shift away from single IP lands. Plus it's not like a Colombia land wouldn't just be an Encanto land under a different name, for example.

I think the industry is learning that there are upsides and downsides to single IP lands and is (hopefully) becoming more choosy about when/how to use them.

Disney still seems to be using it for their biggest franchises, and Zootopia being as successful as it has been including the land in SDL is one of those franchises. As much as people on this site loathe IP based lands I think Zootopia is just one along with Arenedelle that is coming.

 

[mickEblu]

was writing a lot of exactly what you were saying. My main framing was about how there are Vibe lands that people want to hang out in, and Novelty lands (for lack of better word) that people want to visit to see it, because it's a wonder to behold...but then leave (because it's not actually that comfortable to be there for a long time, it may be sensory overload, the design may be interesting but endistancing, it may not be relatable to us humans in terms of settling into and occupying the space).

Super Nintendo Land immediately comes to mind. Claustrophobic sensory overload land. Vibe lands appeal to all generations and stand the test of time as they appeal to our basic human preferences. Vibe lands make so much more sense than novelty lands at a resort like DLR that hosts millions of pass holders each year. Not to say both cant be accomplished. Cars Land is a great example IMO as they really just overlayed the CARS IP on the real draw of the land which is the mid century Americana and car culture.

 

[coffeefan]

One wonders if Wakanda is still on the table or if they feel this is now enough Marvel. Wakanda could support a coaster everyone wants, but with nice rock work instead of a box.

Wakanda would be fitting between Avengers and Pandora. The natural environment and futuristic elements would be a good transition between the two lands. BP is also a billion-dollar franchise, so there's that too.

That piece of land is a one of the few places a coaster could go, so more Marvel makes the most sense.

 

[mickEblu]

Disney still seems to be using it for their biggest franchises, and Zootopia being as successful as it has been including the land in SDL is one of those franchises. As much as people on this site loathe IP based lands I think Zootopia is just one along with Arenedelle that is coming.

Arendelle I'm ok with even though I think it would be sort of redundant with Fantasyland. I also feel that it being the 5th iteration at this point and just the amount of time that has passed from the height of the franchises popularity make it less of a big deal. Not the best use of that precious Anaheim land IMO. The atmosphere looks pleasant though. They could certainly do worse. Zootopia I just cant find any upside.

 

[DrStarlander]

The timing never made sense to me. The first step is the show buildings and the show buildings need the bus loops and the bus loops need a bridge and alternative guest plaza.

Closing Monster seemed like too early cost savings then a necessity.

What I had originally thought would happen (though quite possibly wrong) was that they would start by demo'ing the backlot buildings, including Mike & Sulley, in the first part of '26. They'd clear it out and put down some asphalt as needed to patch at building footprints, and use the area for bus drop off. That would be needed because by late '26 they'd wall off most of the rest of the existing drop-off to build the bridge/new resort entry.

After about two years of that (say mid '28), when EGW/resort entry was done, they'd put a wall around the temp drop off and start building Avatar for a '31 opening.

And then building on that theory, now that ART is closing, they only need enough space for Toy Story buses so the far south drop-off is fine, and they can wall-off and do bridge/resort entry work north of that for a year at least without disturbing Mike & Sulley.

 

[Disney Irish]

Arendelle I'm ok with even though I think it would be sort of redundant with Fantasyland. I also feel that it being the 5th iteration at this point and just the amount of time that has passed from the height of the franchises popularity make it less of a big deal. Not the best use of that precious Anaheim land IMO. The atmosphere looks pleasant though. They could certainly do worse. Zootopia I just cant find any upside.

I mean you’re on record even as recent as a page or two ago saying that you like more general themed lands rather than IP focused lands, so this is not surprising. And I do think that is still coming as part of the rest of DLForward, especially in the DL side, I just think that Zootopia is too big of a franchise, similar to Avatar, for it to be just a single attraction shoved in a general themed land.

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

I mean you’re on record even as recent as a page or two ago saying that you like more general themed lands rather than IP focused lands, so this is not surprising. And I do think that is still coming as part of the rest of DLForward, especially in the DL side, I just think that Zootopia is too big of a franchise, similar to Avatar, for it to be just a single attraction shoved in a general themed land.

I would also keep my eye on AK for Zootopia integration as well.

 

[coffeefan]

I mean you’re on record even as recent as a page or two ago saying that you like more general themed lands rather than IP focused lands, so this is not surprising. And I do think that is still coming as part of the rest of DLForward, especially in the DL side, I just think that Zootopia is too big of a franchise, similar to Avatar, for it to be just a single attraction shoved in a general themed land.

Zootopia would be a huge tourism draw, given how popular it is. And if TDL doesn't use the IP for an attraction it can draw Japanese tourists as well. Japanese folks used to be one of the most frequent visitorts to Anaheim before TDL was built.

Frozen is so stale to me now. If DLR must have it, I hope it's just an attraction and not a land.

 

[mickEblu]

I mean you’re on record even as recent as a page or two ago saying that you like more general themed lands rather than IP focused lands, so this is not surprising. And I do think that is still coming as part of the rest of DLForward, especially in the DL side, I just think that Zootopia is too big of a franchise, similar to Avatar, for it to be just a single attraction shoved in a general themed land.

Well good thing I wasn't trying to surprise you then.

 

[Disney Irish]

Zootopia would be a huge tourism draw, given how popular it is. And if TDL doesn't use the IP for an attraction it can draw Japanese tourists as well. Japanese folks used to be one of the most frequent visitorts to Anaheim before TDL was built.

Frozen is so stale to me now. If DLR must have it, I hope it's just an attraction and not a land.

Arenedelle has been so popular at TDL and HKDL that its also basically a guarantee at this point, especially with the 3rd opening in a couple weeks in DLP.

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

Zootopia would be a huge tourism draw, given how popular it is. And if TDL doesn't use the IP for an attraction it can draw Japanese tourists as well. Japanese folks used to be one of the most frequent visitorts to Anaheim before TDL was built.

Frozen is so stale to me now. If DLR must have it, I hope it's just an attraction and not a land.

There has long been talk of a Fantasyland revamp at DL. This would be an ideal opportunity to do an attraction that incorporates elements of Frozen 2 and 3 by the time Disney gets to building it.

 

[Disney Irish]

There has long been talk of a Fantasyland revamp at DL. This would be an ideal opportunity to do an attraction that incorporates elements of Frozen 2 and 3 by the time Disney gets to building it.

Unless its to incorporate more land like reclaim the Motor Boat area and some of Autopia I don't see a major revamp of DLs FL. Its too tightly packed, you'd be losing at least 2-3 attractions just to gain 1, which is a lose in my book. So no I don't see that happening.

 

[mickEblu]

Zootopia would be a huge tourism draw, given how popular it is. And if TDL doesn't use the IP for an attraction it can draw Japanese tourists as well. Japanese folks used to be one of the most frequent visitorts to Anaheim before TDL was built.

Frozen is so stale to me now. If DLR must have it, I hope it's just an attraction and not a land.

I think if they want to utilize some of the space better just a one off BatB ride (and mandatory shop/ restaurant) would be the better move for Fantasyland as it would fit in more seamlessly. If BatB doesn't go into Fantasyland it's almost certain it will not get a ride unless a third gate is built. They're not building BatB land but I could see them adding an attraction to Fantasyland or a World showcase type park.

 

[Disney Irish]

I think if they want to utilize some of the space better just a one off BatB ride (and mandatory shop/ restaurant) would be the better move for Fantasyland as it would fit in more seamlessly. If BatB doesn't go into Fantasyland it's almost certain it will not get a ride unless a third gate is built. They're not building BatB land but I could see them adding an attraction to Fantasyland or a World showcase type park.

BatB in the Motor Boat area is still the biggest rumor that I would think would be more likely to happen, either the attraction or a BoG type restaurant.

 

[mickEblu]

BatB in the Motor Boat area is still the biggest rumor that I would think would be more likely to happen, either the attraction or a BoG type restaurant.

I think it's been a while since I heard any rumor BatB rumor for DL but it would make a lot of sense all things considered. I'd prefer it on the hill on the FL Theatre side though. Maybe the restaurant where Motor Boat is.