News Avatar Experience coming to Disneyland Resort

[etc98]

I think they have made their choice and just dropped it from being California focused, Avatar being announced basically confirmed that, they just haven't rethemed Grizzly Peak yet but I suspect its coming soon enough.

Didn’t Josh say at the D23 panel that Soarin’ was his favorite (or at least one if his favorite) rides? I wonder if that’s what’s saved Grizzly Peak so far, is Josh doesn’t want to get rid of Soarin’.

Probably not, but sometimes I wonder how much personal opinion and feelings comes into these kinds of decisions.

 

[Disney Irish]

Didn’t Josh say at the D23 panel that Soarin’ was his favorite (or at least one if his favorite) rides? I wonder if that’s what’s saved Grizzly Peak so far, is Josh doesn’t want to get rid of Soarin’.

Probably not, but sometimes I wonder how much personal opinion and feelings comes into these kinds of decisions.

I'm not sure if goes into decisions like this. But even if it did doesn't mean the land won't be rethemed to a specific IP later.

 

[mickEblu]

I'm not sure if goes into decisions like this. But even if it did doesn't mean the land won't be rethemed to a specific IP later.

Humphrey the Bear Land

 

[Disney Irish]

Humphrey the Bear Land

Haven't they sort of done that already with all the references and nods to both him and Woodlore?

 

[SuddenStorm]

It's a hot take, but I would favor Avatar Land replacing the Grizzly area. Grizzly could be expanded and rethemed to Pandora or Avatar Mountain. Then Soarin' could be Soarin' over Pandora. There's a restaurant there already that could be rethemed. Then, there's room for expansion with the Redwood Creek area or the nearby Little Mermaid ride. I think it would be the quickest way to make Avatar land happen. But I'm also not attached to the California theming, tbh.

I disagree- only because that's the strongest area of DCA. Disney needs to stop messing with stuff that's excellent, and needs to start removing the weak areas of their parks.

 

[DLR92]

I would be so upset if they removed Grizzy Peak. It a well done area. It just shortsighted with lack of attractions with the hotel in the way. And no use of utilizing the mountain structure for another attraction. I never realized it about the same size as Jungle Cruise.

 

[GravityFalls]

The park is still California themed but its identity has shifted from an idealized historic California to a fantastical modern California. It's not to everyone's taste (especially with super fans), but there's still a premise that the park is attempting to follow.

In a very broad sense, imagineers can justify the existence of the Way of Water Pandora land as a fictional stand-in for or inspired by Monterey Bay (or a similar California location). In Monterey there are sea otters, whales, tourists, beautiful scenery and conservation efforts. Pandora has the fantasy version of all of those things.

 

[coffeefan]

I disagree- only because that's the strongest area of DCA. Disney needs to stop messing with stuff that's excellent, and needs to start removing the weak areas of their parks.

The weakest part is Hollywood Land, but I don't think Disney will touch it until they can gauge how popular Avengers Canpus and Marvel movies remain. I think if they remain popular, retheming Hollywood into a Marvel City area would make the most sense, similar (but better of course) to what IoA did with Marvel. Pixar Pier just needs to add more attractions, but overall, it's solid theme-wise, and Cars Land is perfect, IMO.

 

[Phroobar]

The weakest part is Hollywood Land, but I don't think Disney will touch it until they can gauge how popular Avengers Canpus and Marvel movies remain. I think if they remain popular, retheming Hollywood into a Marvel City area would make the most sense, similar (but better of course) to what IoA did with Marvel. Pixar Pier just needs to add more attractions, but overall, it's solid theme-wise, and Cars Land is perfect, IMO.

I agree. It really depends on those recent changes Kevin Feige made inside Marvel if the movies start firing on all cylinders again. All hope is lost with Lucasfilm.

 

[MistaDee]

The weakest part is Hollywood Land, but I don't think Disney will touch it until they can gauge how popular Avengers Canpus and Marvel movies remain. I think if they remain popular, retheming Hollywood into a Marvel City area would make the most sense, similar (but better of course) to what IoA did with Marvel. Pixar Pier just needs to add more attractions, but overall, it's solid theme-wise, and Cars Land is perfect, IMO.

'
Do you mean Hollywood Boulevard with Philharmagic, Disney Jr, Animation Building + Hyperion? I could certainly see Disney holding off on touching this area until they have more confidence in Avengers Campus/Marvel's longer-term popularity

The Hollywood Backlot part of Hollywood land seems to be the rumored consensus (plus the bus/gateway) for where Avatar will go.

I think after these next 3 additions, if all go where expected, the weakest part of DCA will be Paradise Gardens which would make sense to redevelop in preparation for the connecting bridge to the Simba lot for DisneylandForward.

After that San Fransokyo and the Blue Sky Cellar/Trattoria area could also be redeveloped into something with a small attraction. Is the big parade building between Incredicoaster and Carsland still in use? That's also some prime real estate but with Coco expected to take over the other parade building I imagine they'll need to retain that one.

 

[coffeefan]

'
Do you mean Hollywood Boulevard with Philharmagic, Disney Jr, Animation Building + Hyperion? I could certainly see Disney holding off on touching this area until they have more confidence in Avengers Campus/Marvel's longer-term popularity

The Hollywood Backlot part of Hollywood land seems to be the rumored consensus (plus the bus/gateway) for where Avatar will go.

I think after these next 3 additions, if all go where expected, the weakest part of DCA will be Paradise Gardens which would make sense to redevelop in preparation for the connecting bridge to the Simba lot for DisneylandForward.

After that San Fransokyo and the Blue Sky Cellar/Trattoria area could also be redeveloped into something with a small attraction. Is the big parade building between Incredicoaster and Carsland still in use? That's also some prime real estate but with Coco expected to take over the other parade building I imagine they'll need to retain that one.

TBH I look at the whole Pier area as one land even though it's technically three. I think San Fransokyo could add a themed restaurant or bar similar to Olgas or Toadstool Cafe. I have something on my wishlist, but I know it would be controversial, so I won't say it haha. I would like to see a Pizza Planet somewhere near the Pier eventually, too.

I agree that upgrading Paradise Gardens should be a priority. The holdup is what the future plans are with DForward. I guess a lot is up in the air until that's settled.

I heard the rumors about Avatar going on the backlot. I think it would be an odd location. But maybe I'm biased because I wish that area would remain somewhat urban so we could continue seeing events like ElecTRONica and Mad T Party there.

 

[J4546]

Put a pizza planet where paradise pasta/pizza is...I'm into it. But would need legit arcade to be cool imo with lots of claw Machines

 

[Professortango1]

In a very broad sense, imagineers can justify the existence of the Way of Water Pandora land as a fictional stand-in for or inspired by Monterey Bay (or a similar California location). In Monterey there are sea otters, whales, tourists, beautiful scenery and conservation efforts. Pandora has the fantasy version of all of those things.

I don't think that works, thematically. "Pandora is essentially Monterey Bay" is a stretch, even for Disney's current social media team. Pandora doesn't fit California at all, unless its a movie set. Which it doesn't sound like it will be presented as "hot set" with actors and cameras on standby.

 

[andesigns792]

It's a hot take, but I would favor Avatar Land replacing the Grizzly area. Grizzly could be expanded and rethemed to Pandora or Avatar Mountain. Then Soarin' could be Soarin' over Pandora. There's a restaurant there already that could be rethemed. Then, there's room for expansion with the Redwood Creek area or the nearby Little Mermaid ride. I think it would be the quickest way to make Avatar land happen. But I'm also not attached to the California theming, tbh.

The Grand Californian alone provides a safety blanket to this area I believe. You can’t really disturb it without affecting the hotel that is basically inside of it and I don’t see anything happening to disrupt the flagship resort there on a scale like that.

Logistics aside, the combo of GCH and Grizzly Peak is just a masterpiece that needs to be preserved.

 

[Epcot81Fan]

In a very broad sense, imagineers can justify the existence of the Way of Water Pandora land as a fictional stand-in for or inspired by Monterey Bay (or a similar California location). In Monterey there are sea otters, whales, tourists, beautiful scenery and conservation efforts. Pandora has the fantasy version of all of those things.

I assume this is satire.

 

[Professortango1]

The Grand Californian alone provides a safety blanket to this area I believe. You can’t really disturb it without affecting the hotel that is basically inside of it and I don’t see anything happening to disrupt the flagship resort there on a scale like that.

Logistics aside, the combo of GCH and Grizzly Peak is just a masterpiece that needs to be preserved.

Which means we will likely have a park without a clear identity for a long foreseeable future. They want to go to an IP park, but Grizzly Peak/Grand Californian will anchor the park in a California Theme.

 

[MistaDee]

I don't think that works, thematically. "Pandora is essentially Monterey Bay" is a stretch, even for Disney's current social media team. Pandora doesn't fit California at all, unless its a movie set. Which it doesn't sound like it will be presented as "hot set" with actors and cameras on standby.

Yeah I'm curious how Disney will spin the land/park fit:

1) the "abstraction" Avatar is an Adventure in our Disney Park in California
2) the "ride the movies" Avatar is a movie in our Disney California Adventure Park
3) the "Pandora portal" come through our magical teleportation tunnel to travel from California to Pandora

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

Yeah I'm curious how Disney will spin the land/park fit:

1) the "abstraction" Avatar is an Adventure in our Disney Park in California
2) the "ride the movies" Avatar is a movie in our Disney California Adventure Park
3) the "Pandora portal" come through our magical teleportation tunnel to travel from California to Pandora

Thats why I think this hypothetical name change/rebranding of DCA will debut alongside Avatar.

 

[Disney Irish]

Yeah I'm curious how Disney will spin the land/park fit:

1) the "abstraction" Avatar is an Adventure in our Disney Park in California
2) the "ride the movies" Avatar is a movie in our Disney California Adventure Park
3) the "Pandora portal" come through our magical teleportation tunnel to travel from California to Pandora

At this point does Disney have to even explain it? Other than some hardcore (and I mean really hardcore) DCA fans, does anyone even care about the "California" theme anymore and the why/how Avatar would fit?

Just looking at various posts around the interwebs post announcement, I think I've seen maybe a handful of the "but it doesn't fit the California theme" posts outside of here. I don't think anyone really cares at this point and even fewer are nostalgic over the California theme.

 

[mickEblu]

Yeah I'm curious how Disney will spin the land/park fit:

1) the "abstraction" Avatar is an Adventure in our Disney Park in California
2) the "ride the movies" Avatar is a movie in our Disney California Adventure Park
3) the "Pandora portal" come through our magical teleportation tunnel to travel from California to Pandora

I thinks it’s a combo of #1 and #3. #3 being the practical/ physical way of getting into the land considering its location. Now, I’m not sure if they actually include the portal as part of the story of the land or not. I can’t imagine a scenario that any theming in that tunnel will be convincing enough to have us believe we’ve been teleported. They re better off just not explaining anything. No different than stepping into GE from Frontierland or Super Nintendo from the lower lot at USH. Of course this is assuming it’s going in the backlot.