News Avatar Experience coming to Disneyland Resort

[mickEblu]

I feel Avatar needs to be at Disneyland. I put my two cents in a survey about Avatar in DC- done in the past.

The only place id want it at Disneyland would be at Disneyland’s DL Forward plot. Nowhere in DL proper.

 

[Disney Irish]

If Disney showed Disneyland boundaries to go against Ball Road above Star Wars. Yes, their land constraint. Plus the parcels Autopia and the Submarine occupies.

TDA and rest of backstage would have to be completely moved out from behind GE, and I don't see what happening for another couple decades if ever. And while I expect Autopia and Subs to be lost eventually, that would mean the entire lagoon and potentially the Monorail go along with it. That is a huge loss just to not put Avatar in the Backlot. And again you're still constrained by the same limited space, so not really gaining anything.

I think if you add up the plus and minus columns outside of a new DLForwad plot the Backlot is the only place within the existing footprint of the entire DLR for Avatar to go.

 

[coffeefan]

The only place id want it at Disneyland would be at Disneyland’s DL Forward plot. Nowhere in DL proper.

Avatar between TL and Fantasyland fits thematically, as Avatar is a "science fantasy".

 

[mickEblu]

Avatar between TL and Fantasyland fits thematically, as Avatar is a "science fantasy".

Thematically yes but I don’t like the sight line implications and not confident it would work with the Matterhorn.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Avatar between TL and Fantasyland fits thematically, as Avatar is a "science fantasy".

The concept is, but the visual experience is far more natural, tropical, rural, and indigenous.

 

[coffeefan]

The concept is, but the visual experience is far more natural, tropical, rural, and indigenous.

If GE worked coming fom FL and Frontierland, they could make it work. To your point, it would need a transition space from FL.
I'm just saying if Avatar had to go in DL it would be a suitable location. I'm good with it going to DCA though. (As I'm one of the few people who don't mind Autopia.)

 

[DrStarlander]

I feel Avatar needs to be at Disneyland.

How about Star Tours is revamped* to be a shuttle to Pandora. After an exciting ride there we get off the ride and we are in the base in Pandora (replacing Star Trader, which is now part of the attraction). We then get on a transport which uses the PeopleMover tracks. But these vehicles are fully closed and have a screen for a windshield, showing us cruising across Pandora to another field facility in dangerous territory, where we disembark. In reality we ride over to a new show building where Launch Bay is. There, we go on a flying theater/Flight of Passage experience. Like Rise of the Resistance, it's a multi-part/modal immersive adventure spanning 18-20 minutes, and in this case three vehicles/ride systems.

But, you might ask, what about all the rockwork and jungle plants we're not getting? This:

I will add also that WDI used to thrive with similar constraints in DLR, and I don't see why they can't again. So I think this gives WDI an opportunity to show what they can do when they don't have the benefit of unlimited space.

(* I say Star Tours is revamped, but alternately Star Tours could move to SWGE and just the space in TL be used as phase 1 of the Pandora experience).

 

[Disney Irish]

How about Star Tours is revamped* to be a shuttle to Pandora. After an exciting ride there we get off the ride and we are in the base in Pandora (replacing Star Trader, which is now part of the attraction). We then get on a transport which uses the PeopleMover tracks. But these vehicles are fully closed and have a screen for a windshield, showing us cruising across Pandora to another field facility in dangerous territory, where we disembark. In reality we ride over to a new show building where Launch Bay is. There, we go on a flying theater/Flight of Passage experience. Like Rise of the Resistance, it's a multi-part/modal immersive adventure spanning 18-20 minutes, and in this case three vehicles/ride systems.

But, you might ask, what about all the rockwork and jungle plants we're not getting? This:


(* I say Star Tours is revamped, but alternately Star Tours could move to SWGE and just the space in TL be used as phase 1 of the Pandora experience).

I wouldn't want to lose that much of TL just for that though. I'd rather have a complete TL redo if they are going to do that.

 

[coffeefan]

How about Star Tours is revamped* to be a shuttle to Pandora. After an exciting ride there we get off the ride and we are in the base in Pandora (replacing Star Trader, which is now part of the attraction). We then get on a transport which uses the PeopleMover tracks. But these vehicles are fully closed and have a screen for a windshield, showing us cruising across Pandora to another field facility in dangerous territory, where we disembark. In reality we ride over to a new show building where Launch Bay is. There, we go on a flying theater/Flight of Passage experience. Like Rise of the Resistance, it's a multi-part/modal immersive adventure spanning 18-20 minutes, and in this case three vehicles/ride systems.

But, you might ask, what about all the rockwork and jungle plants we're not getting? This:


(* I say Star Tours is revamped, but alternately Star Tours could move to SWGE and just the space in TL be used as phase 1 of the Pandora experience).

What if they did that starting at TL, but guests disembarked at Pandora DCA?

 

[Dayoldbread16]

Umm so why was it ever scheduled to close in early 26 then? Did they just realize that DCA was going to be short on family attractions? lol

Josh: “oh wait California adventure still exists? Oops lol”

 

[Gusey]

I'm with you.

I feel there's far more space for originality with Avatar over the many IP's others suggest. I feel real excitement knowing how bold they can go, and also how gorgeous the environments are they can build.

For me, Avatar feels far more original and less of an "IP brand land" like a Zootopia, Monsters Inc, or Moana would be.

It feels more real, enticing to explore, and there's even room for a dash of danger / thrill.

Something I don't think I properly realised before is that AK's Pandora doesn't feature any of the characters from the Avatar Films, and I'm assuming neither will DCA's if they follow the same storyline of it's now a tourist destination thanks to ACE, set years (decades?) after the events of the Avatar films. I think that's partially why it feels less of an IP Brand Land as they've expanded beyond the films. They attempted something similar by making Batuu its own thing for Star Wars, but then encorporated the characters from Star Wars which ultimately limited the land

 

[eddie104]

To get back on topic I don’t think it’s outside of the realm of possibility that Avatar is moving locations, is in limbo or just being cancelled. I get the sense they are trying to buy time postponing Monsters Inc’s closure while they figure out what they want to do. Not sure I buy the reason they gave of wanting to keep another family attraction open for guests. That’s just a byproduct of what’s happening behind the scenes and how they re trying to sell it. The amount of negativity online towards this Avatar project is startling and I can’t imagine that it goes unnoticed when preparing to spend a billion dollars on a land/ attraction.

I think it would it would be a shame if it was cancelled because there is so much potential and that when considering the alternatives there are few aesthetics/ settings or attractions that I would find more appealing. Granted, would Zootopia or Monsters fit better in that location? Sure. If they come to the conclusion they could spend half the amount on a Monsters Inc coaster for example and people would be happier why wouldn’t they do it? And here’s the kicker- Zootopia and Monsters sell way more merch than Avatar.

Wasn’t Avatar Iger’s personal pet project for DCA ?

I wonder with D’Amaro on board how it affects future plans for this protection attraction.

Cancellation is definitely not out the picture considering they always stated that the development plans were still in a very early process.

 

[mickEblu]

Wasn’t Avatar Iger’s personal pet project for DCA ?

That’s what everyone seems to think but I’m not quite sure how we arrived at this conclusion?

Cancellation is definitely not out the picture considering they always stated that the development plans were still in a very early process.

As the manifester of this ride in its proposed location before Avatar at DLR was ever announced it does not bring me joy to say this but yeah it wouldn’t shock me either. Not to say I’m convinced it’s not happening but there is enough to make me doubt.

I just skimmed through the first 25 pages of this thread.

When Bob first teased this “experience” and most thought it was going to be small I said it wouldn’t make sense for this IP.

When most were leaning Disneyland I said DCA.

When most were stuck on Grizzly Peak or Simba I said the backlot.

Maybe I’m way off this time. It could happen. lol.

 

[Gusey]

That’s what everyone seems to think but I’m not quite sure how we arrived at this conclusion?

I've always thought it because he announced it in an earning's call rather than as an official announcement, almost as if he let is slip by accident and wasn't supposed to talk about it yet

 

[Movielover]

There's not a single day goes by that I don't think of you. You were my angel, my rock, my north star guiding me home every time I was lost. I long for your gentle embrace on these cold dark nights. When I close my eyes I can still see your face clear as day my love...

Spoiler: My Sweet Angel Of Love

Oh who am I kidding, DCA 1.0 sucked!

 

[DrStarlander]

I've always thought it because he announced it in an earning's call rather than as an official announcement, almost as if he let is slip by accident and wasn't supposed to talk about it yet

I also thought it was because it was tied up with the 20th Century Fox acquisition, which was very much his. Felt like a "see Board how we're gonna exploit this...."

 

[mickEblu]

I've always thought it because he announced it in an earning's call rather than as an official announcement, almost as if he let is slip by accident and wasn't supposed to talk about it yet

Yeah I figured this had something to do with it but not enough IMO to convince me it’s someone’s “pet project.”

Anyway, the sentiment I’m trying to express is that I wouldn’t be shocked if a change took place. Whether it’s the land moving locations or getting cancelled eventually I’m not sure. Not to say they couldn’t just be buying time and it doesn’t still end up in the backlot.

 

[coffeefan]

Wasn’t Avatar Iger’s personal pet project for DCA ?

I wonder with D’Amaro on board how it affects future plans for this protection attraction.

Cancellation is definitely not out the picture considering they always stated that the development plans were still in a very early process.

Eiger won't be CEO, but he will remain on the Board and as an adviser the remainder of the year. Also, people are forgetting Dana; it's yet to be seen how involved she will be with projects for the parks.

 

[britain]

Eiger won't be CEO, but he will remain on the Board and as an adviser the remainder of the year. Also, people are forgetting Dana; it's yet to be seen how involved she will be with projects for the parks.

True. All the chatter has been about how she can help D’Amaro with Hollywood relations, but equally true is that this will give her Parks experience. She‘ll be well prepared to replace D’Amaro in 5, 10, 15 years, if called upon.

 

[mickEblu]

What we really need is Eigsner. For both of them to come back together and lead Disney to the promised land.