AVATAR breaks ground

[englanddg]

From left to right George A. Kalogridis, president of Walt Disney World Resort; Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, United States and France; Tom Staggs, chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; a Na’vi; Jon Landau, AVATAR producer; Bruce Vaughn, chief creative executive of Walt Disney Imagineering; and Joe Rohde, creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering,

My original joke so flew right by you. (Grin)

 

[danlb_2000]

My original joke so flew right by you. (Grin)

Yep, looks like it.

 

[Zweiland]

From left to right George A. Kalogridis, president of Walt Disney World Resort; Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, United States and France; Tom Staggs, chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; a Na’vi; Jon Landau, AVATAR producer; Bruce Vaughn, chief creative executive of Walt Disney Imagineering; and Joe Rohde, creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering,

He means the Na'vi guy in the middle.

 

[schuelma]

Interesting article.


http://touch.orlandosentinel.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-78858695/

Is that 800 million number new or has that been floated before? Pretty substantial investment if true.

 

[englanddg]

Is that 800 million number new or has that been floated before? Pretty substantial investment if true.

It was an estimate done by an investment firm that is sourced in the article. I believe that number includes other work being done to convert the park to a nighttime offering as well, but I am not sure.

 

[ford91exploder]

F

Why the "you have got to be kidding"? It seems to me like you mainly agree with the post you quoted.

I do agree for the most part but this is the first time that I've heard of the attractions to be installed in the land. And I am underwhelmed to say the least. I thought because Cameron was involved we would at least get a groundbreaking attraction vehicle. I did not expect a rehash of 20 year old tech.

So the bioluminescent leaves will as I suspected be glow in the dark paint. Like Imagination

In a word Bletch

 

[Zweiland]

F


I do agree for the most part but this is the first time that I've heard of the attractions to be installed in the land. And I am underwhelmed to say the least. I thought because Cameron was involved we would at least get a groundbreaking attraction vehicle. I did not expect a rehash of 20 year old tech.

So the bioluminescent leaves will as I suspected be glow in the dark paint. Like Imagination

In a word Bletch

I see. I misinterpreted your post, sorry.

 

[ford91exploder]

OK, I'm going to go out on a conceptual limb, here. Everyone is wondering where the E ticket is. It remains to be seen about the Banshee ride--but I have a strong suspicion it will be an E. That's just me with mouse colored glasses, though.

But--swerve your thinking a bit. What if we started to think of THE AREA as an E Ticket? It looks like this place is going to be full of effects, possibly animatronics, the bioluminescence, and various 'experiences' have been promised throughout the land. The interactivity and responsiveness of Pandora lend themselves to this sort of thing. Let's put it this way--if, like CarsLand, you're moved by the variety of the environment and it's internal experiences to spend several hours enjoying the land---that's an E ticket equivalent. And you have not had to stand in line, not had to get a FastPass+. You've had hours of enjoyment with no lines, no waiting.

What's the difference between this land and, say 'Tomorrowland' as a concept? How can 'a land' be an E ticket? It has to do with technology and the experience. I think they're putting a ton of money into the land itself, and the responsiveness of the environment--the bioluminescence at night, and who knows what during the day, result in an "E ticket environment". No, you're not being hurtled upside down or anything, but the investment in the land itself is something to not be ignored in this unique case.

OK, I've sorta talked myself into it. I don't expect everyone to jump on that idea, and of course, it
all depends on the execution. I am making up a pile of things. But I can see it happening that way.

If I was in charge! But, of course . . not.

Sounds like if you were in charge we would get a great attraction. Instead TDO is in charge so we can watch how they make the cheapest area yet

 

[ford91exploder]

N

I see. I misinterpreted your post, sorry.

NP

 

[danlb_2000]

Sounds like if you were in charge we would get a great attraction. Instead TDO is in charge so we can watch how they make the cheapest area yet

I think a version of Soarin, in HD 3D with moving vehicles would be a pretty impressive ride. Can't think of anyone else that is doing this.

 

[englanddg]

Also, I can't wait for the meet and greets!

 

[Next Big Thing]

You have got to be kidding this is the ultimate TDO style cheap out. I was expecting a star tours type quad copter sim with one of the new 3D projection systems


But a rehashed Soarin system and a boat ride that's even worse than the IP the land is based on and it's gonna take 3 years to build that steaming pile of c---

From descriptions the Train to. Diagon alley will be more immersive than this c--- and it only took a year to build

Umm, Jaws closed and they started destruction on the area in January 2012. Meaning it will have taken 2.5 years from when Jaws closed to when Diagon Alley opened.


If Disney stays true to their Spring 2017 date, that will be just over 3 years from the closing of CMM to the opening of Pandora. If my math is correct, that's only taking them half a year longer to build and it certainly took Universal more than a year.

 

[Atomicmickey]

I'm surprised that the majority of negative reactions to the new land are rooted in the choice of IP and not the rumored contents of the land itself. In theory, there is nothing wrong with building a land around Avatar. Whether you liked the film or not, there is a lot about the franchise that lends itself to a themed land. The visual potential alone is staggering. The real issue with this expansion, aside from the long delay between announcement and construction, is the lack of a truly groundbreaking attraction. I don't care how many bells and whistles WDI throws at the Soarin' ride tech, the fact remains that a big IMAX screen with moving seats is not going to cut it. I know Disney isn't really interested in creating groundbreaking (and potentially problematic) ride systems anymore but the fact that Cameron relented and signed off on the current plan is disappointing. I'm sure Pandora will be beautiful and bring Animal Kingdom closer to a full-day park experience but it isn't going to have the same impact Carsland had on DCA or the Sunset Blvd. expansion had on DHS. And the fact that Pandora will be opening a full 3 years after Universal's Diagon Alley certainly won't help expectations either. A whopping 7 years after the first phase of the Wizarding World opened and shocked the industry, Disney World finally responds with... a simulator and a boat ride.

Truthfully. We don't know anything concrete about the ride system at this point.
We have years old leaked plans, and some quick video. We have no way of knowing
exactly what is being built at this point. Yes, there will be film. High frame rate? 3D?
Animatronics incorporated? A suspended simulator? Who knows? We don't.

It will be fun to discuss once we know. But we don't.

I'd just say, wait and see until we know more. And--'a boat ride', well, don't stomp on my Pirates of the Caribbean/Jungle Cruise/Maelstrom/Small World/Gran Fiesta Tour buzz, please.

 

[CDavid]

Is that 800 million number new or has that been floated before? Pretty substantial investment if true.

Imagine what kind of Star Wars land you could build for 800 million...

Also, I can't wait for the meet and greets!

I can. i can wait all eternity...

 

[ford91exploder]

Sin

Truthfully. We don't know anything concrete about the ride system at this point.
We have years old leaked plans, and some quick video. We have no way of knowing
exactly what is being built at this point. Yes, there will be film. High frame rate? 3D?
Animatronics incorporated? A suspended simulator? Who knows? We don't.

It will be fun to discuss once we know. But we don't.

I'd just say, wait and see until we know more. And--'a boat ride', well, don't stomp on my Pirates of the Caribbean/Jungle Cruise/Maelstrom/Small World/Gran Fiesta Tour buzz, please.

Since it's TDO doing this assume cheapest option and hope for the best.

As to boat rides I love them but a Soarin mechanism and a boat ride do not comprise an e ticket. At best D ticket for Soarin C ticket for boat ride

 

[Atomicmickey]

Sin

Since it's TDO doing this assume cheapest option and hope for the best.

As to boat rides I love them but a Soarin mechanism and a boat ride do not comprise an e ticket. At best D ticket for Soarin C ticket for boat ride

After this I'm done. Is Pirates a C ticket? How do you know what the boat ride will be?
Oh, that's right, you don't.

Show me this Soarin' mechanism that you speak of. Oh, that's right, there isn't one to look at.

Let's. Just. Wait.

 

[Next Big Thing]

When I compare DAK, DHS, Epcot - attractions (rides and shows only)

DAK: ITTBAB, Primeval Whirl, TriceraTop Spin, Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids, Everest, Nemo, Flights of Wonder, KS, Festival of Lion King (10)

DHS: BATB Stage Show, ToT, RNRC, Great Movie Ride, Studio Backlot Tour, MuppetVision 3D, TSMM, Star Tours, AIE, Indiana Jones Stunt Spec., Lights-Motor-Action, Voyage of TLM (12)

Epcot: Captain EO, Journey into Imag., Maelstrom, Mission Space, Seas with Nemo, Soarin', Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth, Test Track, Ellens Energy Adventure, Grand Fiesta Tour, Impressions de France, Reflections of China, O' Canada, American Adventure (15)

These three parks are all half day parks - at this stage in their life cycle they should all have double the amount of attractions that are currently located in each park.

I agree, all parks need rides. But with this expansion (including the nighttime ent. part), there's much more I actually WANT to do at DAK than at DHS and Epcot. All of the shows at DAK (Flights, FotLK, Nemo) are all better than any show at DHS and the marquee rides (EE, KS, Dinosaur, Avatar and Kali on hot days) are all much more accessible than the main rides at Epcot or DHS because these rides are people eaters at DAK (and other reasons that are the fault of the other parks). Sure, there's less rides right now, but I enjoy my time there more and find it much more pleasant and easy going of an experience.

 

[twebber55]

After this I'm done. Is Pirates a C ticket? How do you know what the boat ride will be?
Oh, that's right, you don't.

Show me this Soarin' mechanism that you speak of. Oh, that's right, there isn't one to look at.

Let's. Just. Wait.

im always amazed by some of these post....people have no whats in store (nor do I) for this land

 

[twebber55]

I agree, all parks need rides. But with this expansion (including the nighttime ent. part), there's much more I actually WANT to do at DAK than at DHS and Epcot. All of the shows at DAK (Flights, FotLK, Nemo) are all better than any show at DHS and the marquee rides (EE, KS, Dinosaur and Kali on hot days) are all much more accessible than the main rides at Epcot or DHS because these rides are people eaters at DAK. Sure, there's less rides right now, but I enjoy my time there more and find it much more pleasant and easy going of an experience.

the whole park expansion is being under sold on this sight.....people keep bringing up star wars but that doesn't help DAK.....this keeps people away from magic kingdom at night

 

[Tom]

After this I'm done. Is Pirates a C ticket? How do you know what the boat ride will be?
Oh, that's right, you don't.

Show me this Soarin' mechanism that you speak of. Oh, that's right, there isn't one to look at.

Let's. Just. Wait.

Well, since the newest models and descriptions match the blueprints we saw in 2012, we do have a pretty good idea what the E-ticket mechanism will be like, and that it will be 3D. And we know what part of the boat ride will be like.