The Spirited Sixth Sense ...

[Captain Chaos]

LOTR has yet to be signed by anyone.

The gun they have primed to fire is possibly bigger, depending on the implementation.

I know it hasn't been signed by anyone, but LOTR is the only big one I can think of... I'm trying to figure out which gun ready to be fired is bigger than LOTR... The IP is probably right in front of my face, I just can't see it.. LOL...

 

[Captain Chaos]

The only character I doubt will be in the Gringotts ride is Voldemort

I'll trust HTF on this one...

 

[PeterAlt]

Did you know that there are just eight media companies. When the new Comcast-TW merger completes there will be just seven left (5 + Disney).

You can bet that Iger's biggest merger under his watch is yet to be announced...

 

[WildcatDen]

Absolutely.

And the park that is in a world of trouble is TPFKaTD-MGMS. They don't have enough attractions. They are split between fare only for kiddies and thrill ride fare with some tired shows tossed in. No parade hurts too.

Disney realizes this, which is why there is so much that has been planned and talked about for it. But with none of it happening right now, they are just looking for a HUGE attendance and guest spend drop. And even with Disney's creative accounting and ticketing, that will show up once Potter 2.0 is up.

This is evident in my youngest trip this Spring for Marching Band. They have 3 days at WDW and one at IOA. Any guess which WDW park they are skipping???

 

[doctornick]

It's a probably a franchise that at nobody is thinking of

I've seen Star Trek bandied about here in the past, which might fit the bill but I don't see it as having the upside of LOTR. However, it would fit in well with Uni which doesn't have a solid sci-fi presence, specifically in terms of being "futuristic".

 

[GLaDOS]

Did you know that there are just eight media companies. When the new Comcast-TW merger completes there will be just seven left (5 + Disney).

You can bet that Iger's biggest merger under his watch is yet to be announced...

Again, Universal is not merging with Time Warner. They are merging with Time Warner Cable. Big difference.

 

[sshindel]

The difference is in the breadth of the source content. HP has far more points of reference that are well established and easy to jump from. JKR built out a wide universe of characters, locations, folklore, etc. Avatar does not have that same breadth of established universe behind it. In fact, it was picked on for being so shallow when it comes to the characters... making connections even more difficult.

But doesn't that actually handcuff them a bit more? As long as it fits into the VERY loose interpretation of what we know about the Avatar world, basically anything could be fit in (well, except now that he's working on the further movies, it does handcuff them a bit). The Potter world has been written about extensively, and so there is so much more "canon" there that you'd have to ensure to fit into it's constraints.
I understand your point about making a connection with the world and characters, with HP having a much easier connection point with the average consumer, but that just means the attraction builders at Pandora would have to work a bit harder to ensure that the guests connect with the attractions. It's something Disney has done time and time again (though admittedly in the past).

 

[PeterAlt]

Yes, I know that.

 

[PeterAlt]

Why are we talking about LOTR? Has anything changed? Or are we just asking "what if" questions?

 

[PeterAlt]

I'm thinking of not going to WDW and up my budget and go to DLR instead....

EDIT - I even took it the next step and shopped around for round trip airline tickets. Found one for under $300!

 

[danlb_2000]

Did you know that there are just eight media companies. When the new Comcast-TW merger completes there will be just seven left (5 + Disney).

You can bet that Iger's biggest merger under his watch is yet to be announced...

How does the merger of Comcast and TW reduce the number of media companies? TW is a telecom/cable provide, not a media company. Which other media company is going away?

 

[Captain Chaos]

I've seen Star Trek bandied about here in the past, which might fit the bill but I don't see it as having the upside of LOTR. However, it would fit in well with Uni which doesn't have a solid sci-fi presence, specifically in terms of being "futuristic".

I thought about Star Trek, but cannot picture that being enough of an IP to build an entire land out of... Including it into a Sci-fi land would work though... We know Star Trek has a huge following...

I also thought about their classic monsters... Mummy is getting a movie reboot, and the talk is they are going to try to build their classic monsters into one universe, like Marvel and Avengers did... If they can successfully pull that off, then a classic monsters island would work...

 

[Scuttle]

simple... some things can be of equal quality and not be as popular for example Godfather is 28th in attendance all time yet maybe the greatest movie of all time...quality vs quantity so yes Avatar the land can be equally as impressive and not as popular

I agree to an extent. I think memorable characters and a good script matter though. Your example of the godfather is flawed since it's an incredible book and was a great screenplay as well. Avatar lacks both of those.

But again let's see. We have no idea what the sequels have in store and how much control JC has over Avatarland.

 

[PeterAlt]

How does the merger of Comcast and TW reduce the number of media companies? TW is a telecom/cable provide, not a media company. Which other media company is going away?

They're still considered a media company. I'm just repeating what I heard on talk radio. They could be wrong.

 

[flynnibus]

But doesn't that actually handcuff them a bit more? As long as it fits into the VERY loose interpretation of what we know about the Avatar world, basically anything could be fit in (well, except now that he's working on the further movies, it does handcuff them a bit)

You're doing the 'half full' vs 'half empty' dance. The lack of content in Avatar gives freedom... but makes it harder to sell continuity and it 'fitting'. HP's abundance of content could be seen as 'more obstacles to work around' but really it is more launching points, and more opportunities to establish credibility and link the projects together.

One is a root system.. from which you can grow. The other is a barren field you can build anything you want in.. but will it actually connect with anything, or how strongly?

The folklore and characters provide strong things people can relate to.. and create bonds with. That extends into IP licensing as well. But when your story is shallow and people create no bonds with the characters or folklore... there is far less attachment.

Pandora is a blank sheet... lots of freedom. But that also begs "why should it be pandora in the first place?" - if the IP doesn't give you strong lead-ins and emotional bonds... it's a weak property to license. That is the root issue with many people's complaints about Avatar... its so shallow what does it bring to the table.

 

[danlb_2000]

They're still considered a media company. I'm just repeating what I heard on talk radio. They could be wrong.

Probably should check your facts before quoting them as your own

 

[71jason]

The difference is in the breadth of the source content. HP has far more points of reference that are well established and easy to jump from. JKR built out a wide universe of characters, locations, folklore, etc. Avatar does not have that same breadth of established universe behind it. In fact, it was picked on for being so shallow when it comes to the characters... making connections even more difficult.

It comes down to a simple fact--virtually any IP can be developed into an attraction. Very, very few have enough world-building to work as a WWoHP-esque "land." Transformers is a great ride, but it couldn't support an entire area like Simpsons or Cars does. My guess is Pandora will be similar. It's a world that seemingly lacks the concept of restaurants and shops--an attempt to create those out of whole cloth is going to feel forced, like the menu at Gaston's.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

LOTR has yet to be signed by anyone.

The gun they have primed to fire is possibly bigger, depending on the implementation.

...any hints? Something already discussed here? Something already there but to be expanded upon?

I'm thinking of not going to WDW and up my budget and go to DLR instead....

EDIT - I even took it the next step and shopped around for round trip airline tickets. Found one for under $300!

You're gonna take me with you, right? I'll listen to all the monorail talk if I can go back to DL. that park is like "grandmas house" to me...you look forward to it all year because you know you'll be getting the royal treatment. And like granny's house, you don't wanna leave.

I've compared a WDW vacation vs. DL vacation and actually found DL to be cheaper by thousands. The only thing more expensive (for my location) is airfare. $300 is a steal.

 

[71jason]

LOTR has yet to be signed by anyone.

The gun they have primed to fire is possibly bigger, depending on the implementation.

Come on, hint?

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

It comes down to a simple fact--virtually any IP can be developed into an attraction. Very, very few have enough world-building to work as a WWoHP-esque "land." Transformers is a great ride, but it couldn't support an entire area like Simpsons or Cars does. My guess is Pandora will be similar. It's a world that seemingly lacks the concept of restaurants and shops--an attempt to create those out of whole cloth is going to feel forced, like the menu at Gaston's.

I'm wondering if Cameron is incorporating arteries eateries and menus into the next movie solely to give Pandora something to work with so it won't feel forced. I don't think it's a far fetched idea that he would do that.

(Edit, because my iPad autocorrected "eateries" to arteries and..well, both are appropriate and one is kinda hilarious)