DAK AVATAR land construction progress

[doctornick]

Their timing on the hype is based on the fact that the the land will be open in a matter of weeks. This is the best time to build hype as guests can now book vacations to experience the new land.

Yep. I'm sure Disney actually has market research in terms of when people tend to plan vacations and might be coordinating the hype train to correspond to it. It wouldn't surprise me if now or soon after is when a lot of folks often plan/book vacations over the summer and Disney could be just reminding folks that they are around and they have a large new land opening to go check out.

 

[GoofGoof]

Well, this was Disney's "solution" to HP after all. It's just too bad they always take so long. I would've loved to seen Pandora open years ago. But maybe now they can divert enough attention away from E:E to finally close it for once and fix the giant statue inside.

100% agreed on the yeti. It's still amazing to me that they let the centerpiece of the "last true e-ticket built at WDW" rot for almost a decade now.

 

[raven]

100% agreed on the yeti. It's still amazing to me that they let the centerpiece of the "last true e-ticket built at WDW" rot for almost a decade now.

E:E is a large draw for DAK and they were probably reluctant to shut it down for an extended period to fix it for fear of attendance dropping. But now that they have a few other things to solidify that grip, now is the best time to do it.

 

[raven]

...but will they?

 

[flyerjab]

It's generating a huge anticipation here in Orlando. All new extremely large water park with a giant icon for its focus, many many attractions, incredible theming, 2-story cabanas, and so much more.


Because Disney suddenly put an opening date on Pandora AFTER Universal released a statement when Volcano Bay would open. And Disney planned the date to compete with their opening. That's blatantly desperate.

As for attendance goes, Universal is selling 3-park hopper tickets (much like Disney does for their water parks as well). And guests don't have to stand 20 minutes to board a crowded bus to get to their water park as well. Attendance there will be huge.

I don't see it as blatantly desperate in the slightest. Both projects had end dates that corresponded to within several days of each other. If Disney announced first and UNI followed with their announcement would UNI then be desperate? I don't think so. Seeing your posts and mine on this subject, however, pretty much tells me that we will never see eye to eye on this particular subject.

Please don't take this as overly negative. I don't mind when people have different opinions from mine as I try to respect everyone here. I just don't agree with your assessment on this one.

 

[truecoat]

As for attendance goes, Universal is selling 3-park hopper tickets (much like Disney does for their water parks as well). And guests don't have to stand 20 minutes to board a crowded bus to get to their water park as well. Attendance there will be huge.

How do you think most guests will get to the water park? They have to park at the main parking garage then ride a....bus.

 

[G00fyDad]

E:E is a large draw for DAK and they were probably reluctant to shut it down for an extended period to fix it for fear of attendance dropping. But now that they have a few other things to solidify that grip, now is the best time to do it.

You've been here since 2002 and you have not heard it said time and time again that the attraction would not need to close to fix the Yeti? He's been removed at least once now so far. The reason most people have no idea about that is because they didn't have to shut the ride down to do it. He comes down and out the very large red doors on the back of the attraction house.

 

[motox7]

Can we get a moderator to clean up all this BS thats being talked about. This is a Avatar construction progress forum.....not a Volcano bay debate stage. Y'all should be talking about the new video from Nightline last night that showed the ride vehicles

 

[wdwmagic]

Ride vehicle discussion etc is taking place in this thread - AVATAR land - the specifics

 

[matt9112]

Well, this was Disney's "solution" to HP after all. It's just too bad they always take so long. I would've loved to seen Pandora open years ago. But maybe now they can divert enough attention away from E:E to finally close it for once and fix the giant statue inside.

That would take leadership that cares....period.

 

[DisneyOwl12]

Because Disney suddenly put an opening date on Pandora AFTER Universal released a statement when Volcano Bay would open. And Disney planned the date to compete with their opening. That's blatantly desperate.

Or...they planned for it to open on a 3-day weekend that opens up the summer travel season for most people.

Universal announced the VB opening date on January 25 and Disney announced Pandora's opening date on February 7, a full two weeks later.

Anyone see this? The Discover Disney Florida Ticket offer is back for 2017 and includes blackout dates that apply only to Animal Kingdom in late-May and early-June. Could Pandora be ready that soon? Or maybe this is for a Rivers of Light relaunch?

The above quote was posted on January 4, so Disney clearly already had a strong feeling of when Pandora would open, even if it wasn't set in stone. If they wanted to rush the announcement after Uni's VB announcement, they could have easily done it a day or two later instead of two weeks later. I would think that these two companies know enough about each other so that Uni's announcement on the 25th was not a surprise to Disney.

It just seems like you're trying to make something out of nothing.

 

[raven]

Or...they planned for it to open on a 3-day weekend that opens up the summer travel season for most people.

Universal announced the VB opening date on January 25 and Disney announced Pandora's opening date on February 7, a full two weeks later.



The above quote was posted on January 4, so Disney clearly already had a strong feeling of when Pandora would open, even if it wasn't set in stone. If they wanted to rush the announcement after Uni's VB announcement, they could have easily done it a day or two later instead of two weeks later. I would think that these two companies know enough about each other so that Uni's announcement on the 25th was not a surprise to Disney.

It just seems like you're trying to make something out of nothing.

No.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Disney announced their's for the same weekend as Universal's to capitalize on the national media being in town.

While the lifestylers are pitting it as "theme park wars", and that is probably the tag line the media will lead with, it is actually a one, two punch for the domestic travelers that will benefit "Orlando".

"Lotso new stuff in Otown!"

 

[DisneyOwl12]

No.

Such a well thought-out response. Moving on...

 

[peter11435]

No.

The date was planned long before universal made their announcement. Proof of that is readily available if you know where to look.

 

[toolsnspools]

So why are they waiting another 2+ months to open the land? From the videos, it looks like they need to finish the fencing, and touch up a few things. They've been riding the Navi River Journey for a while now, and it looks complete. They're riding at least one of the FoP theaters, so it have to be about done. 2 more months just seems like a long time from now for them to have the grand opening.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

So why are they waiting another 2+ months to open the land? From the videos, it looks like they need to finish the fencing, and touch up a few things. They've been riding the Navi River Journey for a while now, and it looks complete. They're riding at least one of the FoP theaters, so it have to be about done. 2 more months just seems like a long time from now for them to have the grand opening.

Perhaps they are working out all of the little details throughout the land. There are a lot of little plants in the land and people have posted videos of them working on mapping projections on the floating mountains at night. They have one chance to open with a bang. Everything has to be working in tip top shape. They don't want another River of Light fiasco.

 

[toolsnspools]

Perhaps they are working out all of the little details throughout the land. There are a lot of little plants in the land and people have posted videos of them working on mapping projections on the floating mountains at night. They have one chance to open with a bang. Everything has to be working in tip top shape. They don't want another River of Light fiasco.

Yeah. The RoL fiasco is going to sting for a while. Perhaps stealing the thunder from Volcano Bay is being factored into a timeline that gives a lot of room for making sure the grand opening is actually grand.

 

[GoofGoof]

So why are they waiting another 2+ months to open the land? From the videos, it looks like they need to finish the fencing, and touch up a few things. They've been riding the Navi River Journey for a while now, and it looks complete. They're riding at least one of the FoP theaters, so it have to be about done. 2 more months just seems like a long time from now for them to have the grand opening.

It's kinda a dead time between Easter and Memorial Day. I wonder if they figured that if it wasn't ready for Spring break crowds hold off until the start of the summer season. This way they get a few weeks of soft openings in for media, AP holders and DVC members before the big rush. No need to rush it open now after 5+ years of waiting

 

[MisterPenguin]

I think people underestimate how much of the general public has a negative, rather than just a disinterested, reaction to Avatar. In particular, I think many folks find the design of the Na'vi singularly unappealing.

That's an interesting thought you have. Do you have any proof to back it up? I have the gross receipts of Avatar which show repeated viewings by tons of people as proof you're wrong.

Because Disney suddenly put an opening date on Pandora AFTER Universal released a statement when Volcano Bay would open. And Disney planned the date to compete with their opening. That's blatantly desperate.

Or...they planned for it to open on a 3-day weekend that opens up the summer travel season for most people.

Indeed. Memorial Day weekend is the beginning of the entertainment industry's "summer season.' There are enough college kids on summer break to staff summer entertainment enterprises. It was also one of RoL's attempted opening days.

To say that Disney is desperate, @raven, is just another made-up narrative of Disney-hate proffered with no proof.

So why are they waiting another 2+ months to open the land? From the videos, it looks like they need to finish the fencing, and touch up a few things. They've been riding the Navi River Journey for a while now, and it looks complete. They're riding at least one of the FoP theaters, so it have to be about done. 2 more months just seems like a long time from now for them to have the grand opening.

One does not simple walk into Mordor Avatar. A lot of those touch ups still take time. The rides need to be run continuously for days to make sure they work. Employees need to be trained. A technical glitch could set them back weeks. If they do get ready early, they could always start soft openings.

 

[RSoxNo1]

IDK
and im a staunch defender of this land
WNW gets about 1.3 million people a year you have to think VB will get more maybe near 2 million
2 million more people in DAK will give it a near 20% jump in attendance
that would be outstanding

And the 10+ million that are going to the park now are going to ignore the land?