AVATAR land construction progress

[RSoxNo1]

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.

Can we stop saying that Volcano Bay is "incredibly themed"? It's the typical 80-90% theming that Universal always does. The brightly colored slides stick out like a sore thumb.

Also, it doesn't take a genius to figure that Volcano Bay and Pandora were going to open within a month of one another. Memorial Day is typically the summer goal for any major project. Calling it desperate is flat out wrong.

The biggest thing that Volcano Bay is doing is introducing Universal guests to a Magic Band/My Magic+ equivalent that probably cost 1/1000th of what Disney spent on their system.

 

[BrianLo]

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.

The videos are very "choice" shots still. You'll note how the nightline lady tried the new food in an industrial kitchen instead of the venues, how construction workers lurked off to the side of one shot with Whoopi and Cameron. All the theatres are not up and running, all the light up pathways have yet to be installed. Sections of the berm are still left to be filled in.

That said... they aren't waiting >2 months. Softs will start when it's truly guest ready and as you note it's pretty "close". It's currently choice-shot camera ready, which is a good sign.

 

[twebber55]

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

no you re not understanding what i was saying
the debate was... will Volcano Bays attendance be more than DAKs growth in attendance
sorry i worded my words wrong LOL

 

[twebber55]

The videos are very "choice" shots still. You'll note how the nightline lady tried the new food in an industrial kitchen instead of the venues, how construction workers lurked off to the side of one shot with Whoopi and Cameron. All the theatres are not up and running, all the light up pathways have yet to be installed. Sections of the berm are still left to be filled in.

That said... they aren't waiting >2 months. Softs will start when it's truly guest ready and as you note it's pretty "close". It's currently choice-shot camera ready, which is a good sign.

the big thing i noticed is they all walked around the same areas, the other side of the land is where most of the work (granted not much) is whats left

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

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.

1. This is not Disney's "solution" to Potter. This was Disney's solution to Animal Kingdom's capacity concerns and lack of nighttime offerings.
2. Everest does not need to be shut down to work on the yeti. He is easily disassembled and can be lowered and removed through the giant service door in the back of the mountain.

 

[matt9112]

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

You mean ride benches

 

[mergatroid]

Another video showing even more

 

[mergatroid]

There is truth in this, of course - but all those MK rides are "Disney"-themed rides, and even if folks haven't seen that particular movie, they have likely seen and have some affection for animated films from Disney in a similar style.

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.

Where and how did you research this, or did you just kind of make it up in your head and run with it?

 

[Casper Gutman]

Where and how did you research this, or did you just kind of make it up in your head and run with it?

Well, "I think" would seem to indicate that it's an opinion - just like almost everything else on these boards. I don't really have the time or inclination to conduct a detailed survey, but if I did, I'd point to the lack of Avatar toys, Avatar collectibles, the largely non-existent fan community and sparse amount of fan art, the apathetic reaction to the sequels endless delays, etc. etc. Compare all of that to Star Wars, Marvel, Dr. Who, DC, Star Trek, LOTR, Harry Potter, etc. etc. I'd point out the reaction to the character design at the time of its release. I'd also bring up many personal conversations, which are of course anecdotal, and ask you how often you've heard people compliment the design of the Na'Vi.

We're both "making it up in our heads" regarding the film's legacy, but I think there's real reasons to doubt the general public's fondness for the giant naked blue cat monsters.

 

[mergatroid]

Well, "I think" would seem to indicate that it's an opinion - just like almost everything else on these boards. I don't really have the time or inclination to conduct a detailed survey, but if I did, I'd point to the lack of Avatar toys, Avatar collectibles, the largely non-existent fan community and sparse amount of fan art, the apathetic reaction to the sequels endless delays, etc. etc. Compare all of that to Star Wars, Marvel, Dr. Who, DC, Star Trek, LOTR, Harry Potter, etc. etc. I'd point out the reaction to the character design at the time of its release. I'd also bring up many personal conversations, which are of course anecdotal, and ask you how often you've heard people compliment the design of the Na'Vi.

We're both "making it up in our heads" regarding the film's legacy, but I think there's real reasons to doubt the general public's fondness for the giant naked blue cat monsters.

Some valid points re merchandise and such however merchandise doesn't always equate to whether a film is loved or not as films like Rocky and James Bond point out. Avatar seems story driven rather than character driven, I love the film but wouldn't buy merchandise and don't have a favourite character.

I have met many people who loved Avatar, like yourself it's anecdotal. Perhaps when I'm talking to people they compliment the film from politeness because they know I liked it. Likewise if people tell others they hated it, their friends might agree out of politeness rather than have a conflict of opinion?

I could be wrong but your post reads like you don't like Avatar much, mine probably reads the opposite way. Maybe I'm being defensive a bit as it kind of surprised me when people were slating this project from day one before even knowing anything about it. But it's all about opinions and I'd not fall out with you just because our opinions differ, let's see how it all pans out when it opens.

 

[Wameyn]

Lots of people hate on the movie in snarky online comments, and lots more people bought tickets to go see it in theaters and then bought a copy to watch at home. Last I saw it was second all time in Blu Ray sales for the US. The hate gets overblown IMO, but it's okay we all enjoy different things.

 

[Capsin4]

I could be wrong but your post reads like you don't like Avatar much, mine probably reads the opposite way. Maybe I'm being defensive a bit as it kind of surprised me when people were slating this project from day one before even knowing anything about it. But it's all about opinions and I'd not fall out with you just because our opinions differ, let's see how it all pans out when it opens.

I don't care about the movie. I've tried to get through it a few times and couldn't, but I'm looking forward to this. We love AK and I love fantasy/scifi in general. I've never read the HP books or watched more than a couple of the movies in full, but loved both HP areas at UOR. A well done immersive area will impress most looking for an escape and I think this will end up being a decent draw. A grand slam IP isn't needed at AK...in fact, given that there are so few that rise to his examples of SW, Potter or Marvel, it's nice to see something different.

 

[GoofGoof]

no you re not understanding what i was saying
the debate was... will Volcano Bays attendance be more than DAKs growth in attendance
sorry i worded my words wrong LOL

I got what you were saying. I was just giving you a hard time

I think the 2 are mostly mutually exclusive with the possible exception of Orlando area locals. If a tourist is already getting a multi-day Disney ticket they are almost certain to at least pop over to AK to see Pandora (even if they can't get on the rides ). I don't think most tourists will be choosing between visiting AK and Pandora or visiting VB. The one area where that will happen some is with locals. Some people may be deciding between an AP for Universal vs Disney but don't want to shell out for both in the same year.

I do think AK will see an uptick in attendance but the bigger thing they are looking for with Pandora opening and ROL is people staying into the night. It's rumored that AK will be the latest park open on a number of nights this summer. Even more important than an increase in attendance will be an increase in guest spending at the park with guests staying for dinner and buying nighttime and Avatar merchandise. That's how they sold the project to Wall Street as a way to make AK a full day experience. At least until 2019 AK will be a big draw and drive guest spending.

 

[RSoxNo1]

no you re not understanding what i was saying
the debate was... will Volcano Bays attendance be more than DAKs growth in attendance
sorry i worded my words wrong LOL

This was actually going back to @DisneyJayL implying a no brainer conversation over what would have a bigger impact and siding with Volcano Bay.

Universal calls it a water theme park, they called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter a new theme park, and implied that Islands of Adventure was a new land. I'm expecting this to be a waterpark, and I'm not convinced that it's better than what's already there.

 

[RSoxNo1]

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.

Disney didn't really have a response to Potter. Depending on who you asked, they'd say Cars Land was their answer, but that ignores a few thousand miles that separated the two. The other "response" was My Magic+. New Fantasyland kind of evolved into a pseudo response, and while it's great thematically, it doesn't have an anchor to match Forbidden Journey or Escape from Gringotts.

The reality is, Disney hasn't truly responded in the way that fans want. By virtue of being the next E-ticket built since Everest, Flight of Passage/Pandora can be identified as a response. I think that Avatar was largely a misguided ego driven project at the outset and was likely fueled by the original Potter expansion. I also think that the original Wizarding World succeeded in changing the way Disney looks at theme parks. It's created the intellectual property shift, and it's convinced the top brass that the theme park market is far from mature.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Lots of people hate on the movie in snarky online comments, and lots more people bought tickets to go see it in theaters and then bought a copy to watch at home. Last I saw it was second all time in Blu Ray sales for the US. The hate gets overblown IMO, but it's okay we all enjoy different things.

This argument has played out here before and is a familiar script - my lines now would say first fully-realized 3D movie drove interest, higher ticket prices, absolutely no cultural footprint, yada yada...

I just wanted to set out the prediction that, after rosy initial attendance reports and upbeat PR statements, our insiders will start to tell us about deeply discontented rumblings from within the Mouse House regarding how much Pandora is driving attendance and how guests are reacting to the land. And that will impact future developments. If its bad enough, it may help usher Iger towards the exit he keeps avoiding, but probably not. If the powers that be are wise, they will panic and pour money into future development plans, possibly even beefing up SWL. If they aren't wise, they'll slash budgets with increased ferocity. I don't know.

In any case, if I'm wrong, feel free to point at me and laugh (just wait a few months after Pandora's opening to do so)

 

[RSoxNo1]

Lots of people hate on the movie in snarky online comments, and lots more people bought tickets to go see it in theaters and then bought a copy to watch at home. Last I saw it was second all time in Blu Ray sales for the US. The hate gets overblown IMO, but it's okay we all enjoy different things.

My recollection was that early 3D TVS and 3D Blu Ray players came with Avatar and that was the only way to acquire it. Having said that, it would take a movie of Avatar's success to swing that kind of deal.

The movie itself was a wild success and that's undeniable. It's also a movie that certainly lends itself to an amazing themed environment. For that reason (and not the success), I'm more intrigued by it.

We've discussed on here in the past that some movies don't translate well to a ride. It's also part of the argument of intellectual property vs. original ride concepts. Some things lend themselves to attractions better than others. When you take one medium of entertainment and try to transition it to another medium of entertainment it doesn't always work. With Pandora, it's entirely possible that this could be a better themed environment than a setting for a movie.

 

[mergatroid]

I don't care about the movie. I've tried to get through it a few times and couldn't, but I'm looking forward to this. We love AK and I love fantasy/scifi in general. I've never read the HP books or watched more than a couple of the movies in full, but loved both HP areas at UOR. A well done immersive area will impress most looking for an escape and I think this will end up being a decent draw. A grand slam IP isn't needed at AK...in fact, given that there are so few that rise to his examples of SW, Potter or Marvel, it's nice to see something different.

That's fair enough and we agree on most. Like yourself I have no time for Potter books or films, however I love what Universal have done with the Potter lands. I hope you enjoy Pandora when it opens, heck if I see you there I'll buy you one of those Pandora drinks they've created

 

[No Name]

Okay let's settle this. The confusion stems from page 377 when @twebber55 misintrepreted what @RSoxNo1 said.

More people will experience the new land than the Waterpark...

This is a true statement. DAK pulls in around 10 million a year, while Disney's waterparks pull in around 2 million a year. Therefore, barring any tragic circumstances, more people will experience Pandora than Volcano Bay.

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

Twebber55 took RSoxNo1's above post as GROWTH IN visitors to Animal Kingdom vs. TOTAL visitors to Volcano Bay. RSoxNo1 meant TOTAL visitors to AK vs TOTAL visitors to VB. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Confusion followed. But hopefully this clears it up. Trust me, I don't enjoy defending Red Sox fans.

 

[GoofGoof]

Trust me, I don't enjoy defending Red Sox fans.

I'm with you on that.....except when they are beating the Yankees