Avatar land thoughts

[ZaneB]

Since I heard about Avatarland I have really liked the idea of bringing the movie to life. I am interested to know what everyone else's thoughts are on the land. Do you like the idea? What do you hope to see? What do you think could make it work?

I personally think it could give Animal Kingdom what it needs to become the highlight of Disneyworld. I really want to see them focus on the wildlife of Pandora and not just fill it with thrill rides. The whole area should be interactive, things that you can touch and smell to experience pandora without even getting on a ride.

 

[Master Yoda]

Just search thread titles for the word "avatar" and you will find a dozen or so threads with hundreds of posts on this very topic.

 

[DisDadEddie]

If it is done right I'm sure it will be fantastic!

 

[Redsky89]

Not a fan of the idea.

 

[twebber55]

love the idea and think it will be huge attendance boost if funded

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Just search thread titles for the word "avatar" and you will find a dozen or so threads with hundreds of posts on this very topic.

This. Oh my GOD there are so many threads on this topic already. If you want a quick answer, 75% of the people on this forum think it's a horrible idea. LOL!

 

[DisneyJunkie]

As much as I very much enjoyed the movie, Avatar, I have a feeling it will VERY quickly become outdated......as it seems more of a very relevant-now type of entertainment. I just don't see it becoming something timeless so that it will still be there 10, 15, 20 years from now. A good example of what I mean is that our local amusement park, Carowinds, had a Wayne's World themed area. Now Wayne's World is very early-90's and it quickly got old and still had parts of it in place not too long ago. I'd hate to see something like that happen with Avatar-land.

 

[mollydtt]

Since I heard about Avatarland I have really liked the idea of bringing the movie to life. I am interested to know what everyone else's thoughts are on the land. Do you like the idea? What do you hope to see? What do you think could make it work?

I personally think it could give Animal Kingdom what it needs to become the highlight of Disneyworld. I really want to see them focus on the wildlife of Pandora and not just fill it with thrill rides. The whole area should be interactive, things that you can touch and smell to experience pandora without even getting on a ride.

Although I realize I am in the minority, I agree with you.

I have enjoyed the safari, and the jungle trek, which are pretty much nature walks/rides. Yes, I enjoy "thrill rides" but somehow the idea of being able to just walk around and enjoy the flora and fauna of Pandora is very appealing.
So count me among those that like the idea of Avatarland, especially if it is something that doesn't entail standing in line or getting a fast pass.

 

[ShookieJones]

Just search thread titles for the word "avatar" and you will find a dozen or so threads with hundreds of posts on this very topic.

I second this motion.

 

[Magenta Panther]

I absolutely positively loathe the idea of an Avatarland in any Disney park. The whole scheme was a clumsy attempt by Robert Iger to try to trump or at least match the buzz around Harry Potter in Universal. Hopefully Avatarland will never ever EVER be built. And also that Marvel characters will never appear in the park either.

 

[danlb_2000]

Since I heard about Avatarland I have really liked the idea of bringing the movie to life. I am interested to know what everyone else's thoughts are on the land. Do you like the idea? What do you hope to see? What do you think could make it work?

I personally think it could give Animal Kingdom what it needs to become the highlight of Disneyworld. I really want to see them focus on the wildlife of Pandora and not just fill it with thrill rides. The whole area should be interactive, things that you can touch and smell to experience pandora without even getting on a ride.

Here are three recent threads that cover this topic very thoroughly....

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/doubting-avatar.839566/
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...l-2-3-and-4-to-be-filmed-at-same-time.840037/
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/is-avatar-to-political-for-a-disney-park.840120/

 

[Tim_4]

The whole scheme was a clumsy attempt by Robert Iger to try to trump or at least match the buzz around Harry Potter in Universal.

You have absolutely no clue what you're talking about. Avatar had NOTHING to do with Harry Potter.

I personally hated the movie. But it's a cultural phenomenon and the highest grossing film of all time. Those are indisputable facts. Also, the level of confidentiality that went into the negotiations with James Cameron and the buzz at the announcement were anything BUT "clumsy".

 

[Jim Handy]

You have absolutely no clue what you're talking about. Avatar had NOTHING to do with Harry Potter.

I personally hated the movie. But it's a cultural phenomenon and the highest grossing film of all time. Those are indisputable facts. Also, the level of confidentiality that went into the negotiations with James Cameron and the buzz at the announcement were anything BUT "clumsy".

Not sure how true it is....but a few folks have said that Iger is very bitter that Rowling walked away on his watch. So he went after the biggest film he could.

 

[Tim_4]

Not sure how true it is....but a few folks have said that Iger is very bitter that Rowling walked away on his watch. So he went after the biggest film he could.

That's interesting, I've never heard that. I know a lot about the business but I won't pretend to have psychological insight on Iger's motivation. I think it'll prove to be a win in the long term. HP was a bigger splash with a tremendous immediate impact but I think a well-executed Pandora could outshine the films themselves (a la Splash Mountain).

 

[Jim Handy]

That's interesting, I've never heard that. I know a lot about the business but I won't pretend to have psychological insight on Iger's motivation. I think it'll prove to be a win in the long term. HP was a bigger splash with a tremendous immediate impact but I think a well-executed Pandora could outshine the films themselves (a la Splash Mountain).

Yeah, that theory has been floated with no real backing.

Personally, I think Avatar's staying power remains to be seen. It didn't pull in the cash in other media for the most part. Potter was obviously raking in cash from books and movies over nearly a decade. Franchises Disney have latched on to like Pirates, Toy Story, Cars or the Princesses have been huge successes in the theaters, and especially merchandising over decades (Princesses) or just a few years (Cars).

 

[menamechris]

This is actually a pretty weird debate. The bottom line is that few people have any sort of an emotional attachment to Avatar. That in and of itself is a pretty amazing thing - considering it is the highest grossing movie of all time. I think the average person was amazed by the movie, not because of its depth of characters or amazing storytelling - but rather the immersiveness of the environment and pretty scenery and special effects.

I think that is what creates the divide in people liking or disliking the idea of Avatar in a Disney park. People like characters and stories they can connect with in Disney parks. I do think this is where Avatar falls flat. However, done right, Disney should be able to create something gorgeous - and just an overall nice area to be in (hopefully).

Personally, just announce some plans and start building already. As I said, I have no attachment to the franchise - so I will probably not have an opinion of whether its done right or wrong. I just want something fresh and exciting at WDW that doesn't require me to fork out $100 to experience (Be Our Guest) or feel like I need to be with a 5 year old to ride (pretty much the rest of the Fantasyland expansion).

 

[Tim_4]

I think that is what creates the divide in people liking or disliking the idea of Avatar in a Disney park. People like characters and stories they can connect with in Disney parks. I do think this is where Avatar falls flat. However, done right, Disney should be able to create something gorgeous - and just an overall nice area to be in (hopefully).

I think you hit the nail on the head. Disney wasn't really buying "Avatar." They were buying "Pandora." You might not remember what "that dragon thing" was called in whatever-the-language-is-called but you sure as heck will be impressed if there's one flying over your head.

 

[chrissyw14]

I did not like the movie but I am looking at this in a positive way and I think Disney can make it amazing! The land itself will be great to explore it does not need to be dependent on the movie

 

[FettFan]

My only thought on Avatarland is that I wish they would cancel it and revisit the drawing board for Beastly Kingdomme instead.

Or work out a trade with Universal.....Let Universal IOA have Avatar in return for the Marvel gang.

Because I want to see Stark Tower on DHS' New York Street skyline and shake hands with Cap. Oh and just imagine what they could do with interactives featuring SHIELD agents?

 

[Jedeye80]

I'm not the biggest avatar fan either, but I am looking forward to seeing how this avatarland works out, if done right it could be amazing. All this talk of it being scaled back doesn't bother me seeing as though nothing at all has been announced so we don't know what was in the plans originally anyway. Personally if disney wanted a franchise to compete with potter they should have gone after LOTR or used star wars to its full potential, but DAK needs something new, I don't like the twilight zone but it doesnt make me like TOT any less so we just need to let the attractions speak for themselves before we judge.