News Avatar Experience coming to Disneyland Resort

[Disney Irish]

Its also a ways away from breaking ground. They said construction was starting on Avengers expansion this next year and Coco in 2026. No estimated construction date was given for Pandora II.

I'm with some others like @BrianLo on this one, I think they'll want to get started fairly quickly on it. Remember this is Iger's pet project. This is the one he announced specifically upon his return. So I think we'll hear a start date for this sooner rather than later.

 

[BrianLo]

I'm with some others like @BrianLo on this one, I think they'll want to get started fairly quickly on it. Remember this is Iger's pet project. This is the one he announced specifically upon his return. So I think we'll hear a start date for this sooner rather than later.

I think we’ll see the Eastern Gateway start this fall and backlot close early next year with the bus loop, security and bridge maybe ready by next Fall.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

regardless, adding a PotC equivalent ride to DCA is a major win for the park

Yep. High capacity attractions are so important.

It feels like Disney forgot this at some point.

 

[Disney Irish]

I think we’ll see the Eastern Gateway start this fall and backlot close early next year with the bus loop and bridge maybe ready by next Fall.

Agreed, I just think they didn't announce it right away in case there were some slippages in schedule due to the EGW.

Plus no reason to announce the closure of the Backlot until they are ready to start construction.

 

[Professortango1]

I'm with some others like @BrianLo on this one, I think they'll want to get started fairly quickly on it. Remember this is Iger's pet project. This is the one he announced specifically upon his return. So I think we'll hear a start date for this sooner rather than later.

Someone said earlier, I can't find the post at the moment, that they had heard via someone connected that there were still debates on where it is planned and where others think it works better.

It might be management wanting to get it ASAP and throwing it in Backlot while Imagineering is pushing back and wanting Simba to do it right. So it could start construction almost immediately with closing Backlot, or it could be tied to constructing the park expansion plot across the street.

Once again, this is all speculation based on a post that I can't find where someone heard something from someone else....but it could explain why it feels both imminent and still so vague.

 

[Disney Irish]

Someone said earlier, I can't find the post at the moment, that they had heard via someone connected that there were still debates on where it is planned and where others think it works better.

It might be management wanting to get it ASAP and throwing it in Backlot while Imagineering is pushing back and wanting Simba to do it right. So it could start construction almost immediately with closing Backlot, or it could be tied to constructing the park expansion plot across the street.

Once again, this is all speculation based on a post that I can't find where someone heard something from someone else....but it could explain why it feels both imminent and still so vague.

If you're talking about this below post, that doesn't indicate anything to me other than what the posts says, that the person was speculating themselves about a chance it could change. No offense to the poster of course, its just based on what they heard. But that doesn't indicate there is a debate to me.

I've been told by someone that the placement of Avatar is "not very good" and "doesn't make any sense". They speculated that there is still a chance they move it and hopes that they do.

I didn't press them on any details. Take that for whatever its worth. They also did say the Coco placement is perfect.

 

[Parteecia]

December 31st 2029 is technically the end of the decade, but on Disney's calendar who knows.

Just saying, and I think its mentioned already in the thread, but Avatar 4 is slated to come out December 21st 2029. So make of that what you will.

The "ought" year belongs to the previous decade. You don't start counting with Year 0.

 

[Disney Irish]

The "ought" year belongs to the previous decade. You don't start counting with Year 0.

It all depends on your definition of the word decade, as technically both are correct. You don't call the 1990s the 91s for example just because some don't start counting on the 0 year, its the 90s meaning starting in 1990. So while some may not start counting on the 0 year, the 0 year doesn't technically belong to the previous decade either. So is that a lost year? No its still part of the new decade, even if some don't start counting until the 1.

When Did the New Decade Start?

On January 1, 2020, people celebrated the beginning of the twenties. Was it one year too early?

www.timeanddate.com

 

[DisneyAJ]

I'm with some others like @BrianLo on this one, I think they'll want to get started fairly quickly on it. Remember this is Iger's pet project. This is the one he announced specifically upon his return. So I think we'll hear a start date for this sooner rather than later.

I didn’t think about that. It obviously won’t be done before he’s gone but it’s true they’ll likely start before he leaves since it’s been like the one thing he keeps talking about

 

[TheDisneyParksfanC8]

If they decide to work on the Eastern Gateway in conjunction with Avatar land construction, wouldn't they need to setup a temporary transportation drop-off?

Since the Hyperion is staying obviously, it is entirely possible if no future productions are rotated in, it goes for another Avengers Campus attraction?

 

[mickEblu]

Agreed, I just think they didn't announce it right away in case there were some slippages in schedule due to the EGW.

Plus no reason to announce the closure of the Backlot until they are ready to start construction.

What about those of us who want to say our goodbyes to Hollywood lounge and the abandoned stage?

 

[mickEblu]

I think we’ll see the Eastern Gateway start this fall and backlot close early next year with the bus loop, security and bridge maybe ready by next Fall.

The permanent/ final bus drop off by next Fall? I guess it doesn’t have anything to do with the parking structure really.

 

[BrianLo]

The permanent/ final bus drop off by next Fall? I guess it doesn’t have anything to do with the parking structure really.

Ya, that’s a very quick project and doesn’t really require the garage to be ready. It’s probably the pedestrian bridge that’s the holdup, though that’s likely mostly prefabbed off site and set onto the pillars. They also could move bus drop off temporarily to the eastern side of the resort, if they are in a hurry.

But Disney Springs threw these things up quite rapidly.

It’s of course possible both (Coco and Pandora) are 2029 openings.

 

[Disney Analyst]

The permanent/ final bus drop off by next Fall? I guess it doesn’t have anything to do with the parking structure really.

The only project they specifically mentioned we’d see construction on was Avengers, presumably early 2025.

I have to think Avatar is a 2027 start? If Coco is 2026.

 

[BrianLo]

I have to think Avatar is a 2027 start? If Coco is 2026.

Everything is set to open within 5 years. 2.5 more years on Avatar would be far longer than the original Pandora took to design and that was delayed due to contentions with James Cameron. None of which I’m sensing, it’s basically set what they are doing.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Everything is set to open within 5 years. 2 more years on Avatar would be far longer than the original Pandora took to design and that was delayed due to contentions with James Cameron. None of which I’m sensing, it’s basically set what they are doing.

Open or start work on in the next 5 years? Wasn’t clear to me. But if so, 2027 gives avatar a 2029 open if it’s a two year construction period. Which puts it in the five year plan?

I only think 2027 as I assume if it’s goes where we think, they’ll do eastern gateway stuff first.

 

[BrianLo]

Open or start work on in the next 5 years? Wasn’t clear to me. But if so, 2027 gives avatar a 2029 open if it’s a two year construction period. Which puts it in the five year plan?

I only think 2027 as I assume if it’s goes where we think, they’ll do eastern gateway stuff first.

Open, he really seemed to imply open. To me at least. But, stretching the truth could mean 2030.

Avatar will definitely need 3-3.5 years to build. Just going on history. I just think the eastern gateway is far more imminent than you guys expect.

Pandora v2 was greenlit Jan 2023, an Important distinction. Which I think really only the Avengers projects predate of the whole lot of things announced.

 

[Disney Irish]

What about those of us who want to say our goodbyes to Hollywood lounge and the abandoned stage?

Suggest you say your goodbyes soon then.

 

[britain]

Open, he really seemed to imply open. To me at least. But, stretching the truth could mean 2030.

Avatar will definitely need 3-3.5 years to build. Just going on history. I just think the eastern gateway is far more imminent than you guys expect.

Pandora v2 was greenlit Jan 2023, an Important distinction. Which I think really only the Avengers projects predate of the whole lot of things announced.

I suspect the eastern gateway is coming fast, but without the moving of monorail track.

REMOVAL, yes. Moving no.

After seeing how brazen they are willing to be (with replacing the RoA in MK with Cars) and simultaneously how cowardly (not announcing the location on stage), I would no longer put it past them to simply say, “this monorail is a headache. It’s in the way of too many projects.”

If they are ambitious, they will have a replacement vision for resort transportation. But I suspect they might just want to remove the monorail and not replace it with anything.

 

[MoonRakerSCM]