AVATAR breaks ground

[Cesar R M]

To be clear I wasn't referring to the cynicism to be critical. I too like feeling like I am on an adventure.

I hope they hide blue aliens in the trees that look like they are spying on me as I walk through. That way I feel like I am inserting my humanness in an alien environment. I want lots of water. How about an exhibit with real life organisms that glow. I'll never forget sailing to Bimini and watching the boat carve through the bioluminescent microbes in the water. I know there are some worms that glow. I want to be struck with wonder.

NOOOOOOOOOO, DONT GIVE THEM IDEAS!!
GLOWING BATHROOMS WITH BLUE PEOPLESPYING! D:

What would they serve at a restaurant in Pandora? Are they planning on a table service restaurant? How do you design this restaurant ? I can imagine a futuristic theme. I could also see something rustic with vegetation.

imho, they could just copy the control center of the human base in pandora surrounded with a bulk of bio-luminescent trees.

That's what I was thinking. Aside from the few that hate the idea so much they won't step foot in that area.

I'm ok with a great 3D ride that has a great view, no shoes in front of my view please. Video screens are fine combined with great environmental effects. I like to hear how others would design this area. I hope those floating mountains effects work.

I wonder if they will copy the star wars 3d ride and implement a human transport ship in pandora, mix of "escape from the bad tribes and fly around the aleluya mountains"

 

[GoofGoof]

A real, genuine, classic-Disney E-Ticket that the entire family can ride. Soarin' over Pandora in 3D isn't it.

A classic dark ride like Little Mermaid in FLE?

 

[GoofGoof]

did some of us see the Lucas or Marvel acquisition coming?

Not likely. There may have been rumors, but if someone who knew those deals were going down leaked it here they would be in jail right now. Ask Martha Stewart how strict things are with insider trading. Buying another public company would be kept a lot more secret than building a new theme park attraction.

 

[orky8]

Not likely. There may have been rumors, but if someone who knew those deals were going down leaked it here they would be in jail right now. Ask Martha Stewart how strict things are with insider trading. Buying another public company would be kept a lot more secret than building a new theme park attraction.

Agreed. I was going to say something similar. A transaction such as this would only be known by very few people in industries that are more adept at keeping things in confidence (law firms, accounting firms, etc.). Within the corporations themselves, very few would know about the transaction. Contrast that with building a new attraction where many levels of the company would be aware of it, as well as outside contractors. It's really and apples to oranges comparison.

 

[flynnibus]

There were only three rides as part of Radiator Springs right? I've never been - honestly asking.

1 mega attraction, two lesser open air attractions. But just walking through Radiator Springs is it's own attraction as well. There is something to be said for being able to faithfully transplant people into an exact fantasy place they've only seen on TV/film. They took something fantasy and made it 'real' - and that alone is worth another E-ticket in itself.

Will Pandora have the same type of connection with guests? We'll have to see.. its not just about being 'convincing' but how much the people connect to the source material as well. Buena Vista Street is a good example of that. Detailed to the max... but doesn't resonate with guests like walking down the street in RS does.

 

[ford91exploder]

That's how I was reading it too. FG is mostly open land that's not currently used. It's highly speculative at this point, but could mean more substantial additions. Then again,maybe they are moving some backstage buildings over there....or another DVC. AKV part 3. This time in the park

I vote for DVC in the park - its only a matter of time

 

[GoofGoof]

1 mega attraction, two lesser open air attractions. But just walking through Radiator Springs is it's own attraction as well. There is something to be said for being able to faithfully transplant people into an exact fantasy place they've only seen on TV/film. They took something fantasy and made it 'real' - and that alone is worth another E-ticket in itself.

Will Pandora have the same type of connection with guests? We'll have to see.. its not just about being 'convincing' but how much the people connect to the source material as well. Buena Vista Street is a good example of that. Detailed to the max... but doesn't resonate with guests like walking down the street in RS does.

This is why I think FLE is underrated. Most of the focus is on the lack of rides or a true e-tcket, but the Beauty and the Beast area and LM areas are really well done. I guess it is hard to feel totally transported someplace else since there is a giant construction site right next door and the areas are right next to each other vs Radiator Springs being a more dedicated land.

My prediction is Pandora will likely be visually stunning like FLE (especially at night), but will still be heavily criticized for the rides. There already seems to be a growing indifference to the e-ticket which is being dismissed as Soarin 2.0. Some people won't be happy no matter what they build and some would be happy with a McDonald's playland and cardboard cutouts of blue guys. For the rest of us in the middle it probably comes down to the boat ride really.

 

[GoofGoof]

I vote for DVC in the park - its only a matter of time

EPCOT World Showcase before AK.

 

[Matt_Black]

did some of us see the Lucas or Marvel acquisition coming?

About a week or so before the deal was announced, I was brainstorming for a Disney fighting game (like the Marvel vs. Capcom series). I had the notion of putting Darth Vader in as an unlockable character because of the long association between Disney Parks and Star Wars, but then realized that probably wouldn't work. Then I thought, "Man, wouldn't it be cool if Disney bought Star Wars. That probably won't happen though..."

 

[marni1971]

This is why I think FLE is underrated. Most of the focus is on the lack of rides or a true e-tcket, but the Beauty and the Beast area and LM areas are really well done
.

The FLE exteriors are very pretty but its a case of style over substance. An area should lead to a greater interior or attraction; the weenie if you will. The outside shouldn't be better than what's inside.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

1 mega attraction, two lesser open air attractions. But just walking through Radiator Springs is it's own attraction as well. There is something to be said for being able to faithfully transplant people into an exact fantasy place they've only seen on TV/film. They took something fantasy and made it 'real' - and that alone is worth another E-ticket in itself.

Will Pandora have the same type of connection with guests? We'll have to see.. its not just about being 'convincing' but how much the people connect to the source material as well. Buena Vista Street is a good example of that. Detailed to the max... but doesn't resonate with guests like walking down the street in RS does.

In many respects, AK has suffered from this as well: its an intricately detailed park but it lacks the substance that is expected from a theme park (aka: rides).

This is why I think FLE is underrated. Most of the focus is on the lack of rides or a true e-tcket, but the Beauty and the Beast area and LM areas are really well done. I guess it is hard to feel totally transported someplace else since there is a giant construction site right next door and the areas are right next to each other vs Radiator Springs being a more dedicated land.

My prediction is Pandora will likely be visually stunning like FLE (especially at night), but will still be heavily criticized for the rides. There already seems to be a growing indifference to the e-ticket which is being dismissed as Soarin 2.0. Some people won't be happy no matter what they build and some would be happy with a McDonald's playland and cardboard cutouts of blue guys. For the rest of us in the middle it probably comes down to the boat ride really.

There is no doubt that good details throughout a park are important and can make a difference, but they can only get you so far because...

The FLE exteriors are very pretty but its a case of style over substance. An area should lead to a greater interior or attraction; the weenie if you will. The outside shouldn't be better than what's inside.

...this is exactly true.

 

[flynnibus]

In many respects, AK has suffered from this as well: its an intricately detailed park but it lacks the substance that is expected from a theme park (aka: rides).

Hrmm... I don't disagree with your conclusion per say, but not how my comment supports it. My comment was more about 'great detail... that no one is interested in or connects with' - not a statement on what balance a theme park needs. It's a statement more about the personal connection and joy people get from different environments - and how powerful picking the right subject matter is.

Recreate something people adored... they'll love it. Recreate something people are indifferent to (no matter how accurate) and it will be a dud.

As it relates to FLE... the exteriors in the BatB movie really aren't all that essential.. almost forgettable. The setting really is insignificant. There is very little 'place I want to visit..' - Gaston's is probably the closest with the statue reference, etc. So no matter how well Disney recreates this place... people are going to be less moved vs recreating a SPECIFIC place they relate to or wanted to experience.

To put it in practice.. imagine if instead of recreating the exteriors from BatB... they had recreated Neverland... that place has many elements people would be able to recall and say I'd like to be there/see that. The place of neverland brings so much connotation and thoughts with it. Random french town?? Not so much.

In this respect, Pandora is soo much better positioned than FLE was... the physical environment was everything to Avatar. So if done well (re: Carsland) the environment itself can be the anchor attraction.

 

[dreamscometrue]

But just walking through Radiator Springs is it's own attraction as well. There is something to be said for being able to faithfully transplant people into an exact fantasy place they've only seen on TV/film. They took something fantasy and made it 'real' - and that alone is worth another E-ticket in itself.

This^^^^

This is why I think FLE is underrated. Most of the focus is on the lack of rides or a true e-tcket, but the Beauty and the Beast area and LM areas are really well done. I guess it is hard to feel totally transported someplace else since there is a giant construction site right next door and the areas are right next to each other vs Radiator Springs being a more dedicated land.

My prediction is Pandora will likely be visually stunning like FLE (especially at night), but will still be heavily criticized for the rides. There already seems to be a growing indifference to the e-ticket which is being dismissed as Soarin 2.0. Some people won't be happy no matter what they build and some would be happy with a McDonald's playland and cardboard cutouts of blue guys. For the rest of us in the middle it probably comes down to the boat ride really.

And this^^^^

 

[JEANYLASER]

Do you know the name of the boat ride will be in the Avatar?

 

[danlb_2000]

Do you know the name of the boat ride will be in the Avatar?

Probably to early for things to have official names.

 

[Matt_Black]

Probably to early for things to have official names.

"Must you humans name everything? Nothing's real to you 'til you've named it, given it limits. Does the sky need a name? Does the river?"

 

[SirLink]

"Must you humans name everything? Nothing's real to you 'til you've named it, given it limits. Does the sky need a name? Does the river?"

 

[Groxtak]

Did anyone (besides myself) notice that Tom Staggs is playing a more active role in deciding on big projects? They said that this (Avatar) was his idea and that he approached Cameron about it. Disney Springs was his idea. And before that, changing FLE to include the 7DMT was also his idea.....

 

[Groxtak]

Some people won't be happy unless the ride actually transports them to the planet of Pandora.

No, those people still wouldn't be happy. "Oh, this gravity.... I can't feel my feet on the ground! The air here is too thin! Why do we need to wear these stupid gas masks! I'm getting all sunburnt... I get sunburnt enough with one sun but here there's three suns... They don't make sunscreen for God-forsaken worlds like this! Pandora? Who named it Pandora? Whoever named it Pandora got it right. That's about the only thing they've gotten right! They've opened up Pandora's Box, that's for sure! Lunch? I'd rather be on Dagahbah with Yoda eating snake stew but Miceage says that's cancelled so I'm stuck here about to turn blue because that's what Pandora food does to you... You turn blue... The Navi are blue because they eat Pandora food... That's all they do...."

 

[SirLink]

Did anyone (besides myself) notice that Tom Staggs is playing a more active role in deciding on big projects? They said that this (Avatar) was his idea and that he approached Cameron about it. Disney Springs was his idea. And before that, changing FLE to include the 7DMT was also his idea.....

Well Avatar was Igers idea after a Hollywood luncheon I believe ... but yes Burbank has more hands on role on CapEx projects ... @marni1971 was it the Space Mtn. refurb that caused Burbank to be more hands on again...