Avatar construction aerial updates

[photoflight]

Might as well start a thread since the construction "officially" is under way.

As I understand it the new area is replacing Camp Minnie Mickey so that's what I've concentrated on. If they expand south into the open field I'll expand coverage on these and future images (if and when I get them).

First as a baseline, Camp Minnie Mickey in January 2013
Click to enlarge...


The site about a week after the official "ground breaking". Not much going on except Camp Minnie Mickey is closed.
Click to enlarge...


Related, here's the new Festival of the Lion King theater, due north of the old location. This shows a transition from 2013 to 2014 note: updated the video, the previous date captions were wrong

 

[JenniferS]

Let me be the first to say, YAY!
And thanks.

 

[twebber55]

the one big change i notice is no cars behind Rain Forest Cafe with a fence up behind it

 

[Nemo14]

Thanks for doing this!

 

[cynic710]

yeah, like everyone else I agree this is GREATLY appreciated!

 

[danlb_2000]

the one big change i notice is no cars behind Rain Forest Cafe with a fence up behind it

There was also a small fence with a gate added near the old FotLK theater.

In the video of the new FotLK theatre, I wonder what the new structure just south of the theater is going to be?

 

[sshindel]

First off, @photoflight a major, massive, tremendous thank you to you for all you do to keep us informed with these photo updates.

I'm looking forward to seeing the change in the next few years, just like we did for Fantasyland.

 

[danlb_2000]

First off, @photoflight a major, massive, tremendous thank you to you for all you do to keep us informed with these photo updates.

I'm looking forward to seeing the change in the next few years, just like we did for Fantasyland.

Especially since this is probably going to be the only way to get a good view of the construction site.

 

[Bolt]

I'm assuming it'll be a little bit until you see wrecking balls back here since they have to strip those buildings from the inside first.

 

[FerretAfros]

Looks like they've also added a silt fence in the river, just behind Pizzafari

In the Lion King shot, it looks like they may have put some earthen dams in the river; I hope those are just temporary for construction, and will be removed when the area reopens. It also looks like there's a huge back-of-house structure attached to the north side of the new theater; it's much larger than what was there before

 

[gboiler1]

I'm wondering if they'll repurpose the FotLK building or just level it and start anew.

 

[danlb_2000]

Looks like they've also added a silt fence in the river, just behind Pizzafari

In the Lion King shot, it looks like they may have put some earthen dams in the river; I hope those are just temporary for construction, and will be removed when the area reopens. It also looks like there's a huge back-of-house structure attached to the north side of the new theater; it's much larger than what was there before

If you look at the old theatre there were a number of support buildings behind it, these were probably consolidated into the structure that is now attached to the new building.

 

[rnese]

Great job pic-posters! But the overriding question...the most important question of all...is...WHERE, pray tell, is the Avatar Restroom going to be?

 

[JLipnick]

thanks for posting. can you post the pic of the new FOTLK theater? you posted the timelapse video, but we can really zoom in when you post the pic. awesome pics though.

 

[jrlang1]

Thank you for posting these photos. They really help me get a handle on what is going on.

The only thing I see in the pic is the remain of the sand from the ground breaking and fencing

 

[C.FERNIE]

Thanks for posting! Can't wait for further updates!

 

[photoflight]

Thank you for posting these photos. They really help me get a handle on what is going on.

The only thing I see in the pic is the remain of the sand from the ground breaking and fencing

Good catch. Here's a closer view

 

[gonnichi]

Thank you so much for the pics and video! I'm very excited to see the progress of the new Festival of the Lion King. Does anyone know when construction is going to be completed on FOTLK?

 

[danlb_2000]

Here is the before image (bottom) and after (top) with some of the changes highlighted. In the top picture fences were added in the lower right and by the FotLK building. Also appears to be some blue tents added in the top picture by one of the back stage building.

In the bottom picture (before) you can see a couple things have disappeared. Directly behind the theater was a tank of some sort that was removed. There is also an object just south of that that has disappeared. Behind the old Pocahontas theatre there where a bunch of white objects that are now mostly gone.


\\\

 

[danlb_2000]

Thank you so much for the pics and video! I'm very excited to see the progress of the new Festival of the Lion King. Does anyone know when construction is going to be completed on FOTLK?

Disney has said that the show would re-open this summer.