AVATAR land - the specifics

[stitch2008]

If that happens I will probably be done with Animal Kingdom.
Do not mess with the tree of life.

Im pretty sure he was being sarcastic.

 

[KevinYee]

I wouldn't expect a dome. I'd expect a big big showbuilding, like Mermaid Lagoon in TDS, which is hidden from view by landscaping - probably giant trees (though not the Tree of Souls, which I expect would be the land centerpiece inside).

The dragon patent does argue for an outdoor land, which would make me very disappointed. I want bioluminesence full time. And I want an air conditioned land, darnit. If you want people to explore Pandora, it needs to be in comfort and in perpetual nighttime.

 

[aladdin2007]

From a cohesive standpoint Id like to see Avatar added to the western side of the park, there is nothing over there. Everything is to the east and to the north. It needs some balence. Would be a great ode to beastly kingdom anyway since basically this is the new version of that.

 

[216bruce]

I'm sure it will include a Yeti, spray painted blue in "b" mode.

 

[Master Yoda]

I wouldn't expect a dome. I'd expect a big big showbuilding, like Mermaid Lagoon in TDS, which is hidden from view by landscaping - probably giant trees (though not the Tree of Souls, which I expect would be the land centerpiece inside).

The dragon patent does argue for an outdoor land, which would make me very disappointed. I want bioluminesence full time. And I want an air conditioned land, darnit. If you want people to explore Pandora, it needs to be in comfort and in perpetual nighttime.

While that does sound nice, I am really looking forward to the transition between night and day and how Disney will be handling it.

 

[wdw71fan]

The location I have is definite. Camp Minnie-Mickey was to be replaced but because of the landscape going in the location, it would of made Animal Kingdom's entrance odd-looking.

I highly doubt that there will be a Soarin' type attraction.

Rafiki's Planet Watch is being removed strictly because it is there for capacity reasons and with Avatar coming in, this would make that part obsolete. There will be an "education" part of the land that will probably replace Rafiki's Planet Watch.

If there was to be any outdoor roller coasters or any "noisy" rides it would be on the far east side of the park away from the animals.

I have heard a LOT of things this week.. and this is one of them.. So, I can attest to this being based in fact... But I will say that this is still very much a "The ink on the contract is still drying" time, and real decisions haven't been made by mangement and WDI yet... Hell, there isn't even any concept artwork for the land yet.. This announcement was done WAYYYYYYYY early for a project of it's scale.. It's the same as though they announced Pirates of the Caribbean the movie in 1998... We're THAT far ahead right now..

 

[jt04]

I wouldn't expect a dome. I'd expect a big big showbuilding, like Mermaid Lagoon in TDS, which is hidden from view by landscaping - probably giant trees (though not the Tree of Souls, which I expect would be the land centerpiece inside).

The dragon patent does argue for an outdoor land, which would make me very disappointed. I want bioluminesence full time. And I want an air conditioned land, darnit. If you want people to explore Pandora, it needs to be in comfort and in perpetual nighttime.

I thought they might do this exact thing for Star Wars at DHS. Except you might have a few buildings containing different worlds.

If you are right it could work something like this....

(On a side note, from a maintenance perspective and cost perspective "warehousing" lands in this fashion is logistically brilliant and cutting edge IMO)

You could approach a portal that is geographically isolated from the "warehouse" which would have a high capacity ride system such as Star Tours. After exiting this introductory experience you would then proceed to a pedestrian tunnel or people mover system that brings you into the enclosed world you are imagining. No need for external theming/rockwork etc. No tourist planes or wildlife or weather to break the illusion. A fully immersive experience. And depending on the placement of the warehouse(s) it could look just like a warehouse as it would not be seen by guests anywhere in the park. This would save huge amounts of money which could be used on the indoor portions. That is how I would go about it.

I think this model could be so successful that it could inspire similar treatments for Star Wars (parts of which are practically installed already) LOTR, Star Trek, Narnia, Potter etc etc. The possibilities are endless.

Avatar can be the pioneer in an entirely new way of Imagineering the theme park experience.

IMO.

 

[drew81]

I agree, the front pad makes most sense.

- There is already the bridge from Discovery Island
- Remove the camp area.
- Move LK Show to Africa, behind Tusker House.
- Run a new road from Africa around the river into the Pandora expansion pad
- Move character meet and greets from the camp area to the Creature Comforts building on Discovery Island. A central meet and greet area like EPCOT Character Spot. There are enough shops selling the same old stuff on Discovery Island.
- For the kids move the Bugs Land area from DCA and set up (minus the bumoper cars) in the area where the old Pocahontas show was and down toward Rainforest Cafe and west toward the service area. This would put kids rides in, that adults could also enjoy, and in clozse proximity to Pandora.

Forgive my ignorance but when we see low post counts with a trigger keyword in "Insider, Imagineer, etc" in their signature we get skeptical. What you're saying makes sense, but I would think they still need the animal care facilities that are at conservation station...



Putting Lion King behind Tusker House was an easy move prior to the Wild Africa Trek, to do that now would require moving that around as well.[/QUOTE]

What about the area next to Tamu Tamu? As of right now there's only a small trail that leads to character meet n greet. I wonder if that area would work?

 

[AmongMadPeople]

Restaurants have been mentioned as being an important part of the land, but I'm really curious as to what kind of restaurant(s) we're looking at. A counter service and sit down location? If there is a base camp, that seems a natural fit and theme for a counter service restaurant.

Perhaps the sit down would be Pandora themed? While I don't remember the Na'vi eating in the movie, a quick search tells me they are omnivores. Maybe the Pandora theme will play out primarily in the design of the restaurant, and the menu will have a sustainable and/or local focus. I'll be paying attention to this when I re-watch the movie, but the future films may also open up other ideas for a restaurant.

While that does sound nice, I am really looking forward to the transition between night and day and how Disney will be handling it.

Great point. One of my first thoughts upon hearing this news was whether this would justify late hours at AK, and perhaps bringing back PM EMH. Already, Animal Kingdom is a different place at night vs day, so a new land that transitions from day to night just means there is twice as much to experience.

 

[Map7711]

Where was/is

Lee in all this. Surprised he didnt know this was coming........ Does he have any inside scoop on what will be built?

 

[mgf]

Avatar can be the pioneer in an entirely new way of Imagineering the theme park experience.

A la a theme park in a box, no?

-----

Also, I take this as a good sign that a US entertainment/tourism company feels comfortable making an additional half billion (est) dollar investment in its domestic parks, on top of the at least $1.4 billion (est) they already committed. Debates about staleness and WWoHP aside, Disney would not invest this much without confidence the tourism industry is starting to rebound. For a company that has been in recession mode since 9/11 this is a pretty substantial change in operations. I applaud Disney for risking such an investment in a time when cash hoarding has paralyzed growth in private sector spending. (Please note that the last statement is factually accurate and is not intended to be or create a political discussion.)

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Whos to say these dragon thingys arent CM operated and designed as a live effect, like in Terminator, rather than a ride?

 

[Map7711]

Oops

Now see where Lee said that he heard about this a month or so ago. Thought the imagineer was kidding? Why would u think that? The movie was the biggest movie of all time. Ive seen u talk about other really blue sky stuff u heard in passing. Just curious why this item u choose to disregard?

 

[Map7711]

Lee

And its not like the imagineer said we are making Ishtar The Ride w/ animatronics of Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman!!! LOL!!!

 

[wdw71fan]

Now see where Lee said that he heard about this a month or so ago. Thought the imagineer was kidding? Why would u think that? The movie was the biggest movie of all time. Ive seen u talk about other really blue sky stuff u heard in passing. Just curious why this item u choose to disregard?

The answer to that question is right in front of you.. You merely need to draw that conclusion on your own.

 

[MickeyMind]

I can definitely see them incorporating illuminated light paths, where as people step, the ground lights up blue, like in the movie.

I can also see them trying to recreate as much of the foliage from the movie as possible. Maybe somewhere in the ride or in a visual demonstration itself, have those huge pink plants that when touched they revert back down to a tiny size.

I think that for them to recreate Pandora successfully it will have to be indoors so they can have full control of the environment and visuals. Although creating it outdoors wouldnt be too difficult, using fake plants and lots of led's.

They probably will create some type of soarin ride, The best way to do it though would be to incorporate sets with screens like in harry potter, so as not to have some kind of direct clone as soarin.

I can also see them using a simulator like star tours, though I would hope that they have a little more imagination then to reuse a ride idea like that just replaced with a different theme.

If they really wanted to get on the hp level, and have their own successful version of "butterbeer", they can genetically engineer some type of fruit like the one Jake eats when he firsts visits pandora. Might be hard to do, but its possible and the exclusivity of only being able to enjoy that type of fruit at animal kingdom might mean big $$ for the mouse (if done correctly)

I'm hoping that this place isnt all full of simulator/screen type rides though. As nice as a 3d projection can be nowadays, its still cant replace the effect/feel/smell of an actual live set. I would like to be transported to pandora through actual real life sets, not just tv screens.

 

[Map7711]

wdw71

just trying to be gentle. I know what wrath could come my way.

 

[KevinYee]

Whos to say these dragon thingys arent CM operated and designed as a live effect, like in Terminator, rather than a ride?

Oh, I am positive it WON'T be a ride for guests. A self-propelled robot up in the sky driven by a giant fan? They won't even open the Tiggr bounce pads, so I think we can rule out anything but a CM driving it.

But if they build those dragons, I'm sure part of the land at least will be outdoors. Which I don't want.

 

[ProjectGemini]

Am I the only one who's cautiously optimistic about a potential nighttime show?

I too am hoping that this leads to a night time show at AK...Something along the lines of the forest lighting up at night, or those floaty plant things (the ones that anded on Sully when he was first found by the N'avi) coming down around a life tree

 

[misterID]

Oh, I am positive it WON'T be a ride for guests. A self-propelled robot up in the sky driven by a giant fan? They won't even open the Tiggr bounce pads, so I think we can rule out anything but a CM driving it.

But if they build those dragons, I'm sure part of the land at least will be outdoors. Which I don't want.

My first thought was that they would be used for a night time show.