Avatar construction aerial updates

[flyerjab]

This is what I was thinking all along. The boats DO have a designated ride path, as I recall, but it seemed like this would be a good ride to use the patent they filed a few years ago where there are 2 pivot points under the boat that follow two separate guide rails. As the rails get further apart, it causes the boat to turn, while still floating forward. Very much like an omnimover, where they control your line of sight.



The entire queuing system for E-Ticket will be quite enduring. Imagine Big Thunder, only on a much bigger scale. Ramping up outside (or through mountains as someone suggested), then winding through switchbacks on a fairly flat surface for a while (over the C-Ticket ride), then going up or down a series of ramps to get to the 3 boarding levels for the E-Ticket.

And worse, when you exit the E-Ticket ride, you have to go down multiple flights of stairs (similar to some Universal rides, and the Aladdin theater out in DCA).



Wow, I was way off on my IsAW comparison. The side building is more comparable to Mermaid.

Relatively speaking, Avatar is going on a small plot of land. They're going to cram a lot into a little area.

Is the area for the boat ride large or more on the smaller (i.e. disappointing) side? Or, is too early to tell from this picture. Some people have only identified the one area where the obviously large pour had already taken place. Whereas others have included the concrete and a sizable portion of land above it.

 

[George]

Is the area for the boat ride large or more on the smaller (i.e. disappointing) side? Or, is too early to tell from this picture. Some people have only identified the one area where the obviously large pour had already taken place. Whereas others have included the concrete and a sizable portion of land above it.

Actually, if the boats are on some kind of trackless ride system it may be possible to squeeze more fun into a smaller space. Layout is key.

 

[flyerjab]

Actually, if the boats are on some kind of trackless ride system it may be possible to squeeze more fun into a smaller space. Layout is key.

I am all about squeezing a lot of fun into a small space.

 

[DVCOwner]

Clearly, I have no construction experience or knowledge, but my impression is that they were further than I thought they would be. It looks like the ground is graded and a considerable amount of footings are in. The construction site seems to be established too. Relative to what still needs to be built, I guess we are not very far along.

While I do have a lot of construction and engineering experience (35 years). I can tell you that the amount of work done to get foundations into place is a large percentage of any job in this area of this size. From the photos I see there has been a great deal of work accomplished. When the vertical work starts one will think a lot more work is underway. Once the buildings are up, then work will look like it is moving at much shower pace. Work on the inside takes the longest and cannot be viewed from overhead or photos over the fence.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Typical. Instead of a new ride we're getting 8 IaSWs. Utter rubbish.

And none of them are moving to Showcase Plaza where it belongs.

 

[doctornick]

Is the area for the boat ride large or more on the smaller (i.e. disappointing) side? Or, is too early to tell from this picture. Some people have only identified the one area where the obviously large pour had already taken place. Whereas others have included the concrete and a sizable portion of land above it.

Yeah, I just think we are too far away from completion to have any idea. IASW is a pretty lengthy ride though (I think it ranges from 12-15 minutes in its various incarnations) so "smaller/shorter" than IASW isn't de facto bad. I'd be fine with an 8-10 min ride duration if it is well done. I'm more concerned about the quality of the scenes and AAs for the ride than the length or size and if the ride has a significant vertical presence then that could be pretty impressive surroundings.

As an aside, one of the great qualities of many Disney rides (especially boat rides) is a catchy song for ambiance. I wonder if this ride would have something, at least some sort of impressive musical score.

 

[flyerjab]

Yeah, I just think we are too far away from completion to have any idea. IASW is a pretty lengthy ride though (I think it ranges from 12-15 minutes in its various incarnations) so "smaller/shorter" than IASW isn't de facto bad. I'd be fine with an 8-10 min ride duration if it is well done. I'm more concerned about the quality of the scenes and AAs for the ride than the length or size and if the ride has a significant vertical presence then that could be pretty impressive surroundings.

As an aside, one of the great qualities of many Disney rides (especially boat rides) is a catchy song for ambiance. I wonder if this ride would have something, at least some sort of impressive musical score.

If this link works, this is the kind of music I expect to hear throughout the expansion. The Avatar soundtrack is custom made for themepark music.

 

[danlb_2000]

If this link works, this is the kind of music I expect to hear throughout the expansion. The Avatar soundtrack is custom made for themepark music.

I really hope they use Horner's music.

 

[Mike S]

If this link works, this is the kind of music I expect to hear throughout the expansion. The Avatar soundtrack is custom made for themepark music.

That music combined with the visuals of the land itself could work very well together. Imagining it now I was already thinking how great it would be. Why can't it open sooner!!!!!!!

 

[Frankie The Beer]

Amazing thread! Nice to see the progress and a big thank you to the people taking the pictures. My only observation is, since you could make a pretty good argument about the comparable size of Pandora and Carsland, could there be a possibility there might be more than two attractions coming? I don't see James Cameron as being the negotiable type, people keep quoting him as saying rides. I'm also trying to figure out how they are going to have that huge floating rock formation without supports being seen, I'm sure they will do it but figuring out how is kind of fun.

 

[jdmdisney99]

I'm also trying to figure out how they are going to have that huge floating rock formation without supports being seen, I'm sure they will do it but figuring out how is kind of fun.

That's the cool part...the supports will be hidden in plain sight, disguised as vines and rockwork.

 

[danlb_2000]

Amazing thread! Nice to see the progress and a big thank you to the people taking the pictures. My only observation is, since you could make a pretty good argument about the comparable size of Pandora and Carsland, could there be a possibility there might be more than two attractions coming? I don't see James Cameron as being the negotiable type, people keep quoting him as saying rides. I'm also trying to figure out how they are going to have that huge floating rock formation without supports being seen, I'm sure they will do it but figuring out how is kind of fun.

Cameron said "several rides" in one of the interviews. We could debate the meaning of "several" until the cows come home, but I don't think that one word guarantees we are getting more then two rides. The Soarin ride and boat ride are pretty certain, even if they don't open at the same time, but no way to be sure if there will be any rides beyond those two.

 

[flyerjab]

Cameron said "several rides" in one of the interviews. We could debate the meaning of "several" until the cows come home, but I don't think that one word guarantees we are getting more then two rides. The Soarin ride and boat ride are pretty certain, even if they don't open at the same time, but no way to be sure if there will be any rides beyond those two.

Ever since the aerial photo came out, I have been going back and re-reading the Avatar threads, listening to every sound bite and watching every video. There is one recent one where 2 rides are specifically mentioned. If the 2 rides end up becoming the E-Ticket simulator and a D-Ticket boat ride, I will be extremely pleased. The rides would also be coupled with the probable eye-candy that will be the land itself. I would imagine that the wiring, electrical and lightening portion if this project will be HUGE, especially since
the lighting will be for bioluminescent foliage and plants/trees. It is a very unique land in that aspect.

Aside from the 2 rides and the obvious QS location (someone mentioned a
mess hall theme), I am curious about the "other" entertainment. I have heard that phrase mentioned many times by various people. I am wondering if there will be some type if show and/or performance during the day or evening. I would think more evening since they are pushing to make this an all day park, but then maybe not evening so that it wouldn't interfere with the upcoming River of Light nighttime show.

My one hope is that the next movie does exceptionally well and that the land itself helps propels DAK attendance numbers up. When Iger steps down after the expansion opens, maybe a new leadership group would agree to a ride expansion or plussing of the Avatar area.

And I will now stop as I am soooo far ahead of myself that I can't even see me.

 

[Steel City Magic]

Finally something to see! Thanks @photoflight! Glad to see you back in the sky

 

[djkidkaz]

People keep saying you load on multiple levels due to the building having multiple floors, but I thought I saw something that showed a ride system on a large pile that could go up and down, spin around and the seats could rotate and turn. I keep thinking that you would load on the first floor and then the height of the building would be for your vehicle to move along the pole and make drops and turns.

 

[Skibum1970]

I was thinking a little more about the board ride. The leaked blueprints showed what looked like a traditional water ride with a clear boat path. On the other hand that concept art shows a more open body of water without a clear path, which is more consistent with what we see in the aerial. I wonder if this is going to use a new ride system, maybe something that gives the boat more freedom of movement.

A couple years ago, I recall reading about a patented ride system Disney had that would allow not just guides but also being able to spin a boat without use of a rail. I know that they have the trackless system such as the ride at Tokyo DisneySea (someone showed it above) but this would enable different movements. I think that LIM's were also employed although I might be getting some faulty memory-thing going.

 

[Steel City Magic]

People keep saying you load on multiple levels due to the building having multiple floors, but I thought I saw something that showed a ride system on a large pile that could go up and down, spin around and the seats could rotate and turn. I keep thinking that you would load on the first floor and then the height of the building would be for your vehicle to move along the pole and make drops and turns.

If i remember correctly thats the pandoras box ride system, which by the way, looks like it would be an awesome ride

Vekoma Pandora's Box Promotional:

 

[Tom]

Is the area for the boat ride large or more on the smaller (i.e. disappointing) side? Or, is too early to tell from this picture. Some people have only identified the one area where the obviously large pour had already taken place. Whereas others have included the concrete and a sizable portion of land above it.

I don't know. All anyone ever saw was the small portion of the boat ride that extended into the smaller building adjacent to the E-ticket building. It could be any size outside of that.

While I do have a lot of construction and engineering experience (35 years). I can tell you that the amount of work done to get foundations into place is a large percentage of any job in this area of this size. From the photos I see there has been a great deal of work accomplished. When the vertical work starts one will think a lot more work is underway. Once the buildings are up, then work will look like it is moving at much shower pace. Work on the inside takes the longest and cannot be viewed from overhead or photos over the fence.

Oh, so true. I don't look forward to the year of complaints about how "it's been done for 6 months, why isn't it open???" or "they haven't done anything in forever..did they cut the rest of the budget?"

People keep saying you load on multiple levels due to the building having multiple floors, but I thought I saw something that showed a ride system on a large pile that could go up and down, spin around and the seats could rotate and turn. I keep thinking that you would load on the first floor and then the height of the building would be for your vehicle to move along the pole and make drops and turns.

The ride system will most likely be extremely similar to this:
http://www.vekoma.com/index.php/specialities-and-attractions/panoramic-flight-simulator

If i remember correctly thats the pandoras box ride system, which by the way, looks like it would be an awesome ride

Vekoma Pandora's Box Promotional:

That would be cool, but not what they're using here.

 

[Figment2005]

People keep saying you load on multiple levels due to the building having multiple floors, but I thought I saw something that showed a ride system on a large pile that could go up and down, spin around and the seats could rotate and turn. I keep thinking that you would load on the first floor and then the height of the building would be for your vehicle to move along the pole and make drops and turns.

That was a very early speculation on possible use of the Pandora's Box ride system from Vekoma. That has since been debunked, and it seems Vekoma's flight simulator system is much more likely.

 

[DoTheImpossible]

Honestly, a lengthy ramp based queue for the E-Ticket would work nicely. In the movie the Na'vi have to scale a floating mountain just to reach where the banshees nest. If themed properly, and you hope it will be, it'll be a nice added element to build up to the ride itself.