AVATAR land - the specifics

[RSoxNo1]

It seems that as someone mentioned the leaked photo was an early concept that clearly didn't make it.

But Tom properly sources everything before posting it on his site...

The seating configuration looked very similar to the leaked blueprints.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

They call them 'floating mountains' not 'floating boulders'

I didn't say take water AWAY - I said their implementation hurts (and kills) the forced perspective.

Except that you haven't seen it in person, and it may look totally different from the human eye as opposed to a camera.

 

[Incomudro]

Except that you haven't seen it in person, and it may look totally different from the human eye as opposed to a camera.

People used to call me a critic.
I might have appeared that way 'till the internet came along, where there are people who seem poised to "find the flaws" as soon as something - anything is released.
Often before it's released.
Usually before they've seen it in person.

 

[Jahona]

Holy cow that lower third in the GMA video is obnoxious. Did we need to have it up the entire time blocking half the view? As for what we saw in the video. The bench rows are what I was expecting for Flight of Passage, although they might have more tech in them then meets the eye. The land is looking great and I can't wait to see it at night. I feel that's when it may really shine.

 

[twebber55]

Holy cow that lower third in the GMA video is obnoxious. Did we need to have it up the entire time blocking half the view? As for what we saw in the video. The bench rows are what I was expecting for Flight of Passage, although they might have more tech in them then meets the eye. The land is looking great and I can't wait to see it at night. I feel that's when it may really shine.

agreed

 

[BrianLo]

The time viewing the scene is another great point. I noted the RSR problem when that opened too, but as you say, its a relatively quick view which helps.



True, time always helps here. Just some of the horizon views really stood out to me how open they are. The ideas of more wrap over the top coverings could have gone a long way here. Don't build a biodome, but you could use the idea of canopies that extend out from your structures out over your walkways to create more overhead cover and limit the free fields of view.

Part of it is over exaggerated in the footage by having the cameras mostly point up to avoid the not so finished land.

There is a reasonable amount of foliage, but it definitely thins out a bit for the mountain photo ops.

 

[DDLand]

The things that stand out to me so far...

The waterfalls break any sense of forced perspective with the centerpiece. The speed of the water and scale completely detract from the idea of distance
The lack of 'density' in the backdrop in the land. The canopy is way too open to be any sense of in a jungle.
The banshee looks almost like being on a bench with the people next to you? Hrmm.. I know its not a bench seat, but was hoping for more gapping there
The food looked attractive
Have high hopes for the boat ride still.. but curious what the plot line will be.

It's reminding me of Universal Studios a bit.. enough to be 'from the movie' but not enough to be immersive and suspend disbelief.

These are legitimate criticisms. I'm inclined at this stage to walk the land before making final judgement on forced perspective and scaling. It's one of those " you have to be there" factors. The angles we've seen are too limited to really get a strong grasp on how this is going to feel. That's what it will boil down to, the feel.

We haven't really seen the money shot when you're first walking into the land from Discovery Island and get slammed with it. So I'm waiting.

Keep in mind they also could tweak the flow rate early in this process.

As to the criticisms on dense jungle, two things. First nothing would blow forced perspective quite like dense forests surrounding the mountains. Giving them a little breathing room should be helpful in maintaining the feel. Second the story goes that this is a reclaimed RDA mining area. Dense forests wouldn't have been conducive to mining and would have been eliminated early in the process. There should be more dense areas, but this land is going to be about reclamation and recovery. We're entering an area that is essentially a hospital, nursing the native landscape back to life.

Not to mention they still have a couple months to play with landscaping. There could be more.

The really heavy canopy is going to be in the river attraction that is always dark to do its' density.

You may be proven right, but at this stage I'm not going to speak conclusively. I'd be inclined to give it an open mind.

 

[flynnibus]

Part of it is over exaggerated in the footage by having the cameras mostly point up to avoid the not so finished land.

My comments were inspired by views like these... nothing to do with the mountain shots..

 

[LuvtheGoof]

My comments were inspired by views like these... nothing to do with the mountain shots..

View attachment 193172 View attachment 193173 View attachment 193174

I cannot believe that you are basing any kind of comment on those shots. Those are absolutely terrible camera shots to begin with.

 

[flynnibus]

Keep in mind they also could tweak the flow rate early in this process.

Unfortunately nothing but a redesign would fix this flaw. They could use water at the lower levels and stop it at the upper levels.. but flow won't change the problem of 'free fall'.

As to the criticisms on dense jungle, two things. First nothing would blow forced perspective quite like dense forests surrounding the mountains. Giving them a little breathing room should be helpful in maintaining the feel. Second the story goes that this is a reclaimed RDA mining area. Dense forests wouldn't have been conducive to mining and would have been eliminated early in the process.

To me it was the vistas as they were walking around that looked pretty bare to me and less about being in this dense forrest planet.

The mining story could be interesting to see how it's integrated.

You may be proven right, but at this stage I'm not going to speak conclusively. I'd be inclined to give it an open mind.

Yeah I'm not calling it all crap (minus the water ) - but as I said.. things that stood out to me Unfortunately my next visit is too far before the opening to hope for any access to see in person.. but we'll see how it looks when fully exposed.

 

[CTXRover]

Absolutely incredible looking. Best views of the new land thus far. Night-time will be amazing....looks like the main paths will also glow.

 

[BrianLo]

My comments were inspired by views like these... nothing to do with the mountain shots..

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Ya I'm a stickler on the foliage too. There's definitely some filling in that needs to occur. Shanghai was pretty sparse by comparison so I've been a little easier on this project. They've done a relatively ok job at selecting foliage. But it will never look as good as it will in 5-10 years.

 

[djkidkaz]

Where is that little cave that James Cameron and Whoopi are coming out from where she gets her first view? It's way too small to be an entrance to the land with thousands of Guests trying to enter and exit.

 

[mikeh]

Where is that little cave that James Cameron and Whoopi are coming out from where she gets her first view? It's way too small to be an entrance to the land with thousands of Guests trying to enter and exit.

Probably Na'vi River Journey exit

 

[Horizons1]

When are these FOUR sequels coming exactly?

 

[danlb_2000]

When are these FOUR sequels coming exactly?

They are supposed to be in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023, but they haven't even started shooting yet so I am skeptical they will get the first one out in 2018.

 

[cjkeating]

Could the Flight of Passage seats in the video be the ADA compliant version?

 

[Disneyhead'71]

"Avatar 2 is scheduled to be released in Dec. 2015, with subsequent releases every year."

So, as per Disney standards, they appear to be ahead of schedule.

 

[mikeh]

Could the Flight of Passage seats in the video be the ADA compliant version?

They could be, yes

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

wow.... I have to say... I was someone who doubted Avatar as a land.... but for the first time, the WDC has shut me up entirely!

My only slight criticism would be, with the outstanding theming of Avatarland, Africa, and Asia... Dinoland looks even more out of place.