Avatar 2 and 3 Delayed??? The Effect on Avatarland at WDW...

[Ignohippo]

Is it sad that I'm more excited about the possible change in the configuration of the park with FotLK moving than I am about Avatar?

 

[Taylor]

It's an educated guess.

The source of the information is nebulous at best. Add to that there have been no permits filed for construction, not talk of equipment moving backstage, and none of the social media hoopla that comes with a project of this size beginning, and it paints a clear picture, in my opinion.

Yeah I didnt think about that but they could be clearing land for it or getting ready to move the festival of the lion king

 

[Taylor]

Still, it wouldn't be too hard to believe that they would move forward for land clearing to move FotLK even if Avatar never happens.

Dang you beat me to it

 

[baymenxpac]

No one is arguing that the movie isn't good or isn't the #1 blockbuster in movie history.

That said, how many people are going to be basing their vacation decisions on Avatar? You could argue that people come to Uni specifically for Potter and that families with little girls will flock to the MK due to the new princess offerings. The same simply can't be said for Avatar.

If Disney is going to be spending $500 mil on an expansion with a property that isn't it's own and that doesn't even fit the theme of the park it's in, there are many better ways for them to spend their money.

As for betting for or against Cameron, there have been many, many filmmakers that have had impressive winning streaks that still have the eventual disaster. I'm not saying these sequels will be them, but I wouldn't be betting that much money on something unseen, as Disney appears to be doing.

i think that's misunderstanding of disney's standing in the marketplace. disney's attendance VOLUME isn't the concern, it's flattening attendance comparable to uni's spikes. uni needed potter as a draw. disney is already drawing, especially at MK and epcot. the goals of the two companies are different.

uni's goal is to get you to come, and realize it's a nice/fun/worthwhile place. as their expansion (new hotels, more attractions) continues, it will shift to: you come here for harry. how about staying here for all this other stuff for 3-4 days.

disney's goal is: you're already coming here, now don't leave the property. so once you're done with MK and epcot, disney doesn't want you to stray from DHS and AK. avatar doesn't need to be the HUGE draw potter is. what it needs to do is provide another 3-4 hours at animal kingdom so the common family says, "well, honey. we'd love to take you to go see harry, but don't you want to do ALL of disney world first? we'll do harry next trip."

 

[spacemt354]

As for betting for or against Cameron, there have been many, many filmmakers that have had impressive winning streaks that still have the eventual disaster. I'm not saying these sequels will be them, but I wouldn't be betting that much money on something unseen, as Disney appears to be doing.

I don't think Disney has to worry about whether or not the Avatar sequals are going to be good or bad. Cars 2 wasn't reviewed very well by critics, yet Carsland is fantastic. Michael Bay's Transformers 2 and 3 were god awful films, yet the Transformers ride in Uni seems to be doing just fine as well.

Those attractions are doing well because the attraction success is not determined by how well the films are reviewed. It's based off of the concepts within the film that make for awesome attractions.

People are calling this project "Avatarland" but in reality I think the land itself is going to be called "Pandora"

The concept of Pandora is what will draw people to it. Although the film might not be the best, the main reason why I saw the first Avatar was because I wanted to be dazzled by the special effects of Pandora. And now, being able to see that in real life, I really can't wait for what is in store. And Cameron has already hinted that the sequals will take us to new places on Pandora as well, so I can't help but think Disney will also include those areas in their Pandora.

 

[ChrisM]

Is it sad that I'm more excited about the possible change in the configuration of the park with FotLK moving than I am about Avatar?

I'm reasonably confident that some actual art and proposed attraction details would at least start to change your mind.

Right now it's just a black hole with the name of a property you don't like attached to it.

 

[doctornick]

The point he is trying to make is that "seeing it" doesn't mean the same thing as "careing about it". I am a perfect example of this. I loved the movie when I saw it, and saw it twice in the theaters. I was really interested in this movie for a couple weeks after I saw it, but then my interest declined. I have the original Blu-ray of it, but never watched it and never even bothered to get the extended edition. If the sequals didn't happen, I wouldn't be disappointed.

Compare this to Star Wars where I fully admit that I sold my soul to George Lucas. I anxiously awaited each movie (even after seeing episode 1) and have bought every DVD/Blu-ray release. I am personally "invested" in Star Wars, but I have not maintained that feeling for Avatar.

I think the phrase "They may have enjoyed it, but they didn't care about it." really sums up the attitude a lot of people have for Avatar.

Despite all of this, I still think a well done Avatar attraction/land would be a great edition to Animal Kingdom.

Agree totally. Pandora/Avatar isn't going to by itself get people to make vacation plans for WDW or add extra days for more time in DAK. It's just not that kinda of franchise with that level of intense fans. That's okay, really, and I doubt anyone in Disney is operating under the misconception that it will be a draw like WWOHP where fans "just have to see it". I don't see that as a problem necessarily.

I mean, are there Indiana Jones superfans that go out of their way to go to DL to ride that ride? Probably not, but many people are excited by the theming it it enhances the experience for them.

 

[doctornick]

Kevin Yee just tweeted:

"Joe Rohde reportedly said that "PANDORA-The World of Avatar" starts construction today"

Some things...

1. I hope that this name sticks as it is exactly what I thought they should go with. Eventually, if/when it is better know, they can use just "Pandora" for the land.

2. I'm excited to hear of something. Sure this probably just means some movement for FotLK or clearing land, but every journey starts with a single step. The important thing is that something is happening, if this is true. I'm sure "construction" is used loosely here to mean the first steps in any devlopment, not necessarily physically building anything.

3. Any insiders know anything of any plans? Would we be seeing artwork anytime soon?

 

[wdwfan4ver]

I am guessing Artwork for Avatarland will be revealed to the public for 2013 D23 expo since they will need something to talk about for the park and resort presentation. Since Carsland is all done and a good portion of FLE will be open, there has to be some new things to be announced.

 

[Mickey_777]

"Avatar's Pandora" has a better ring to it I think. In any case, even though I thought the movie was only okay, I'm looking forward to seeing this realized. A great attraction is a great attraction in my book. And if the theming and detail are on point (Disney always nails this), I don't see how any parks fan could not have a good time there.

Potterland , correct me if I'm wrong, is/was a new type of beast. To the extent of my knowledge, no theme park has ever created an entire land dedicated to one franchise with the cult following of the Harry Potter series. Add to that all people that saw the films (a few of them record setters) and you have a theme park experience that's sure not only to succeed but surpass expectation. That's what happened out at Uni and to ask Disney to replicate that is asking alot in my opinion. Quite honestly I don't even think an entire Star Wars theme park would do it. Those guys have grown up and started families and the sort. The whole "flocking to a theme park/resort" just for a land or attraction isn't something we're likely to ever see again just cause I don't see another franchise out there with the pull of Harry Potter. Like I said, I dont' even think Star Wars could do it. Dudes have grown up.

Some might argue Carsland has had a similar effect but the attendance numbers around DL resort have stayed flat from years past. So there you go...

 

[danlb_2000]

"Avatar's Pandora" has a better ring to it I think. In any case, even though I thought the movie was only okay, I'm looking forward to seeing this realized. A great attraction is a great attraction in my book. And if the theming and detail are on point (Disney always nails this), I don't see how any parks fan could not have a good time there.

Potterland , correct me if I'm wrong, is/was a new type of beast. To the extent of my knowledge, no theme park has ever created an entire land dedicated to one franchise with the cult following of the Harry Potter series. Add to that all people that saw the films (a few of them record setters) and you have a theme park experience that's sure not only to succeed but surpass expectation. That's what happened out at Uni and to ask Disney to replicate that is asking alot in my opinion. Quite honestly I don't even think an entire Star Wars theme park would do it. Those guys have grown up and started families and the sort. The whole "flocking to a theme park/resort" just for a land or attraction isn't something we're likely to ever see again just cause I don't see another franchise out there with the pull of Harry Potter. Like I said, I dont' even think Star Wars could do it. Dudes have grown up.

Some might argue Carsland has had a similar effect but the attendance numbers around DL resort have stayed flat from years past. So there you go...

I think Star Wars would still be a pretty big draw if Disney created a "Star Wars Land". Yes, the original fans have grown up but a lot of them, like myself, never outgrew it and are still pretty big fans. Not to mention the fact the the fans have introduced it to thier kids so they now enjoy Star Wars as a family.

 

[Mickey_777]

I think Star Wars would still be a pretty big draw if Disney created a "Star Wars Land". Yes, the original fans have grown up but a lot of them, like myself, never outgrew it and are still pretty big fans. Not to mention the fact the the fans have introduced it to thier kids so they now enjoy Star Wars as a family.

Oh absolutely. None of us have really outgrown our fandome have we . I'm not saying they've stopped being hard core fans. I'm saying they won't be as likely to "flock" to the grand opening of an attraction with the numbers Potter did it's first week/month/year. I'm talking about anchoring an entire resort with one land like Uni is doing with Potter. To see that happen again is unlikely and to much to ask of Disney IMO.

 

[Cybercat]

The world of Pandora will attract people like Potterland does. I just think this forum, for whatever reason, is extremely biased against Avatar to the point it blinds people to that very probable likelihood. There's just a bunch of sour grapes to go around due to people not getting their fantasy E-tickets, it not being solely a kids property, or whatever else.

I don't think Disney should just give up and concede being the most cutting edge theme park company to Universal like Mickey-777 suggests. Recreating the world of Pandora will be an even bigger task that recreating Potterland that is more steeped in things we know in regards to architecuture, etc. Avatar is way far more out there and is more foreign. Thus it has extreme potential in regards of producing an immersive fantasy enviornment that people will plan vacations to visit.

If you go outside the haters at the forum, I think most people are interested in visiting the Pandora that was in the film. Most people I mentioned this to were extremely excited by the concept and wanted to go there "now." And not just people that are obssessive fans of the film.

The doom and gloomers that don't think Disney can accomplish anything anymore just need to take their medication and visit Carsland I guess. Disney is not going to blow this license, and frankly they need to save their whiny complaints for when the thing is actually built.

 

[wm49rs]

So, the "haters" should not expect too much from Disney when it comes to Avatar, but Avatar will blow them away and draw them in hand over fist? Just as long as you don't seek to have the argument both ways.....

 

[Mickey_777]

I don't think Disney should just give up and concede being the most cutting edge theme park company to Universal like Mickey-777 suggests.

You missed my point. By all means I'd love for WDW to be the most cutting edge theme parks and resort anywhere in the world. My point was about asking WDW to replicate WWoHP's popularity and boost in attendance based off of one single land. It's too much to ask. Personally I don't believe there's another franchise/phenomenon out there that WDW could base a land off of that could bring in the numbers Potterland did when if first opened. I doesnt' matter how great the advanced the technology is. It doesn't matter how immersive it is. People will love it, especially fanboys of franchise "x" and the parks, but it won't have the pull of Harry Potter. Maybe Justin Bieberland?

Plus look at the advertising for Universal Orlando. You'd think it was Harry Potter Studios Orlando. WWoHP is the star of that resort. WDW, to the best of my knowledge, has never operated that way.