AVATAR progress

[ChrisM]

Frankly, I was hoping we could get into a little more detail about those Miami of Ohio sorority girls...

 

[doctornick]

I have heard the D-ticket boat ride has been downgraded to a C-ticket walk thru. It is basically the same attraction without a ride system. It should have several large AAs and "bioluminescent" plants. But as Lee said. It will be the first thing axed if the budget balloons.

I'm disappointing if this comes to pass. Not that there is anything wrong with a walk through per se; in fact, one could work well for Pandora. But DAK is already heavy into walk through activities and needs more actual rides -- especially family friendly ones like the boat ride would have presumably been.

If not a boat ride, I'm hoping they go with an omnimover setup. I would think that a basic ride system wouldn't really be that expensive no matter what form is used -- it would be the AAs and general infrastructure structure that would be more expensive. And a ride (vs a walk through) has the side benefit of preventing people from going off the path and touching/damaging the expensive AAs.

 

[twebber55]

I'm disappointing if this comes to pass. Not that there is anything wrong with a walk through per se; in fact, one could work well for Pandora. But DAK is already heavy into walk through activities and needs more actual rides -- especially family friendly ones like the boat ride would have presumably been.

If not a boat ride, I'm hoping they go with an omnimover setup. I would think that a basic ride system wouldn't really be that expensive no matter what form is used -- it would be the AAs and general infrastructure structure that would be more expensive. And a ride (vs a walk through) has the side benefit of preventing people from going off the path and touching/damaging the expensive AAs.

Agree would be disappointing a boat ride would be great

 

[Atomicmickey]

I'm disappointing if this comes to pass. Not that there is anything wrong with a walk through per se; in fact, one could work well for Pandora. But DAK is already heavy into walk through activities and needs more actual rides -- especially family friendly ones like the boat ride would have presumably been.

If not a boat ride, I'm hoping they go with an omnimover setup. I would think that a basic ride system wouldn't really be that expensive no matter what form is used -- it would be the AAs and general infrastructure structure that would be more expensive. And a ride (vs a walk through) has the side benefit of preventing people from going off the path and touching/damaging the expensive AAs.

You make a good point--maybe in reverse of what you and I would want--but a walkthrough IS
consistent with AK's style. Hmm. I don't mind the walkthroughs in AK because they're unique,
and well done. I love, in particular, the Gorilla area. That doesn't make me want a 'ride' any
less, but it does make me understand where the thinking for such an attraction would originate,
and how--despite my (and your) desires, it could work. Could.

 

[SirLink]

You've bashed bloggers/social media in the past as not being reliable sources. Are you backing off that now? Just want to make sure I know where you're coming from today

Well I have never ever "bashed" Al Lutz ... and he does have reliable sources. FACT. Other personalities ... nope ... and "personalities" that Disney creates for message boards/Facebook/Twitter to defend Disney are admirable but in truth they are as transparent as a window.

 

[themonkeyisthesultan]

I've heard (old rumor amongst Cast Members, so take it with a grain of salt) that a walk through attraction for Pandora would include moving walkways as they would fit thematically (unlike the walk throughs in Asia and Africa).

Edit: For the record, I'd personally prefer a boat ride.

 

[danlb_2000]

I've heard (old rumor amongst Cast Members, so take it with a grain of salt) that a walk through attraction for Pandora would include moving walkways as they would fit thematically (unlike the walk throughs in Asia and Africa).

Edit: For the record, I'd personally prefer a boat ride.

How do moving walkways fit thematically? Avatar is about preserving the natural world, putting in a bunch of high-tech moving walkways really goes against that theme.

 

[doctornick]

You make a good point--maybe in reverse of what you and I would want--but a walkthrough IS
consistent with AK's style. Hmm. I don't mind the walkthroughs in AK because they're unique,
and well done. I love, in particular, the Gorilla area. That doesn't make me want a 'ride' any
less, but it does make me understand where the thinking for such an attraction would originate,
and how--despite my (and your) desires, it could work. Could.

I've heard (old rumor amongst Cast Members, so take it with a grain of salt) that a walk through attraction for Pandora would include moving walkways as they would fit thematically (unlike the walk throughs in Asia and Africa).

I could see it in that sense. And, again, I'm not opposed to a Pandora walk through on principle -- I just think the park needs more rides and this is an opportunity for such.

Furthermore, I just think that it would be a cool theme have a Pandora "safari" via mechanized boat or car. The basic premise being that you are going on a Kilimanjaro Sarafi but on a foreign planent with exotic creatures.

 

[nytimez]

I actually think a walk-through would be fantastic -- but the plants and creatures they build for it had better be mind-blowingly awesome.

 

[misterID]

No it's not. Universal has to hurry just to try and siphon off a day or two from a families planned Disney vacation. As they said, they cannot afford a repeat of Summer 2012. Disney knows people come down to Orlando to come to Disney. universal just wants a piece of the pie.

They're hurrying? They're doing a good job, like it or not.

And they're getting a piece of the pie. You're also overlooking the fact that we've been saying this very thing for years on this site that UNI is trying to get days off of Disney Vacations. Oh...This just in, BREAKING NEWS: Water is wet.

Not to anyone with business sense it hasn't.

Trust me, I'm very well adept at business. I'm just not following people around needlessly on a WDW message board with endless business lectures and barbs.... But, you know, everyone needs a hobby.

Now, how about the Avatar C ticket! Any news on that?

 

[MattM]

Well I have never ever "bashed" Al Lutz ... and he does have reliable sources. FACT. Other personalities ... nope ... and "personalities" that Disney creates for message boards/Facebook/Twitter to defend Disney are admirable but in truth they are as transparent as a window.

Lutz has reliable sources who would never lie or mislead. CEO of Disney always lies and misleads.

Got it.

 

[MattM]

They're hurrying? They're doing a good job, like it or not.

And they're getting a piece of the pie. You're also overlooking the fact that we've been saying this very thing for years on this site that UNI is trying to get days off of Disney Vacations. Oh...This just in, BREAKING NEWS: Water is wet.



Trust me, I'm very well adept at business. I'm just not following people around needlessly on a WDW message board with endless business lectures and barbs.... But, you know, everyone needs a hobby.

Now, how about the Avatar C ticket! Any news on that?

Water is wet...cute...but give me a glimpse of who I'm talking with. But yes, UNI is hurrying to get attractions built because even with all the greatness of Potterworld, they said they can't take another summer like 2012 (there words, not mine). If UNI wanted to slow things down with potter2.0 they would. They have to. Everyone adept in business knows that.

I'm not saying they're not doing a good job. Potter land is great.

 

[doctornick]

I can tell you the kids love the play grounds with the one in Dinoland being high on the list. AK has a lot of little things that are fun, if you're just after rides AK doesn't have much.

DAK is my favorite park at WDW. It's just an awesome place to just wander and look at the atmosphere. I thnk it's a fun park for kids, adults, anyone.

That said, it needs rides. It just needs more. You can't be a theme park and depend on walk throughs, ambiance and a smattering of rides and shows. I'm not even saying it needs 20 more rides, right now. But it does need 4-6 more, particularly non-height restricted/family rides particularly if they want to make it a "full day park" and keep it open late. Rides really are the backbone of any theme park.

 

[marni1971]

To be fair, he said that Disney was printing money. Not Walt Disney World. WDW is one unit of one of five segments. People always seem to forget that here, or just ignore it.

Orlando is the corporate cash cow. The other resorts are run as resorts.

Hence NextGen and DVC overkill as opposed to innovative new E ticket attractions.

 

[misterID]

Water is wet...cute...but give me a glimpse of who I'm talking with. But yes, UNI is hurrying to get attractions built because even with all the greatness of Potterworld, they said they can't take another summer like 2012 (there words, not mine). If UNI wanted to slow things down with potter2.0 they would. They have to. Everyone adept in business knows that.

I'm not saying they're not doing a good job. Potter land is great.

What exactly do you want to know? I worked in Orlando tourism/marketing, ran/redesigned/owned golf courses and I am now a consultant/something else.

I have no idea about the summer 2012 quote you keep bringing up, but I don't know why it's somehow a bad thing that a park understands its limitations, weaknesses and its needs, and actually try to rectify that in an incredibly ambitious manner, and the fact that at the same time, they are not only trying to correct past mistakes and flaws, but striving to be the best at what they do... While on the other hand, another enitity doesn't acknowledge their limitations, or at worst doesn't care, and seems to be complacent to draw money off of their legacy and the work of others who've they've not so graciously showed the door. You're making an argument where this isn't one. Everyone knew what was wrong with UNI, and they've thrown themselves on the problem like a human grendade. It's awesome to see.

Ambition is supposed to be a great thing, right? At the moment, one has it, the other doesn't. Avatar is a great start, and we'll see where it leads.

 

[nytimez]

Maybe I missed it... but what happened at Universal in summer of 2012 that was so catastrophic?

 

[bubbles1812]

Most parents will not plan a trip to see Transformers because it is most likely something they are interested in but they will spend $$$ because their daughter wants to ride the new Mermaid ride and eat in Beast's Castle.

Bahahahaha. Yes, they all solely come for an over priced restaurant and a clone of a ride in existence for many years. And did I tell you Im the Queen of the Nile?

No... Sad this thread got so stupid.

 

[bubbles1812]

Lutz has reliable sources who would never lie or mislead. CEO of Disney always lies and misleads.

Got it.

Out of curiosity which would you take more at their word? A CEO whose bonus is dependent on making shareholders happy? Or someone who has proven their sources give accurate information that doesn't have to be "played up" (or down) to keep said shareholders happy? Now this is not to say Lutz' or anyone else's inside info is infallible. And hey, Iger may just tell the truth sometimes. But you've spouted off about your "business sense" enough in this thread that you can't be naive enough to think that the bigwigs don't often twist the truth of things. So come on big shot, which do you believe?

 

[SirLink]

Lutz has reliable sources who would never lie or mislead. CEO of Disney always lies and misleads.

Got it.

I didn't say even bring up CEOs, but if you are going to I can think of maybe 5 within the last two years told shareholders extremely false information to steady stock prices. Mostly IEB companies though, but TWDC has as well.

Lutz does have pretty reliable sources - confirmed by others that I trust on internal affairs of Disney, way more than a man sitting in a cubicle giving out false hope. I'm more of an IEB man myself ...

 

[Figments Friend]

I actually think a walk-through would be fantastic -- but the plants and creatures they build for it had better be mind-blowingly awesome.

Yes, absolutely. It needs to be done RIGHT and not *value engineered*.
We have all been hoping that the purse holders at Disney will be a little more open to spending some serious money on completely themed lands after the blockbuster success of Cars Land at DCA.

*Avatar* to me is perfectly suited in thematic elements to deserve the full treatment whenever possible.
Cameron is no cheapskate when it comes to producing a experience in his films, and i have heard it is the same with other projects he has been involved in. This is a promising sign, as it gives me confidence that he will insure Disney will stay on track and not look for the cheapest way out to build this new area at DAK.

A Pandorian landscape, even a small enclosed area, would be awesome if all the elements we know and love from the original film are present. Creatures, bioluminescent greenery, and a completely enveloping enviroment. This could seriously rock....and i am not even talking about the possible ride(s) and other experiences being considered.