Avatarland to take over Rafiki's Planet Watch?

[djkidkaz]

I've seen elsewhere on the internet a rumor that states come January 2012, Rafikis Planet Watch will be closing ( hence the reason Pocohontas and Jiminy Cricket are leaving in December ) so they can start removing it to make way for Avatarland. It also states the Wildlife Express train would be removed during this time.

Yes? No? Maybe?

I know the word was that Avatarland would begin construction in early 2013, but I can't imagine it would take a whole year to demolish Rafikis and prep the site for Avatarland, would it?

 

[Hakunamatata]

I've seen elsewhere on the internet a rumor that states come January 2012, Rafikis Planet Watch will be closing ( hence the reason Pocohontas and Jiminy Cricket are leaving in December ) so they can start removing it to make way for Avatarland. It also states the Wildlife Express train would be removed during this time.

Yes? No? Maybe?

I know the word was that Avatarland would begin construction in early 2013, but I can't imagine it would take a whole year to demolish Rafikis and prep the site for Avatarland, would it?

It very well could as a considerable amount of animal care is completed in hat location. There would have to be a very organized movement of equipment and facilities.

 

[danlb_2000]

I've seen this rumor also, but I don't know why they would put Avatarland that far back in the park. The land is not planned to be big enough to fill the entire space between Rafiki's and the rest of the park so without the train it would be a very long walk to get there. Based on the planned size of the expansion it would fit better in the open area near camp Minnie Mickey.

Dan

 

[Horizonsfan]

I've seen elsewhere on the internet a rumor that states come January 2012, Rafikis Planet Watch will be closing ( hence the reason Pocohontas and Jiminy Cricket are leaving in December ) so they can start removing it to make way for Avatarland. It also states the Wildlife Express train would be removed during this time.

Yes? No? Maybe?

I know the word was that Avatarland would begin construction in early 2013, but I can't imagine it would take a whole year to demolish Rafikis and prep the site for Avatarland, would it?

To completely demo, I would be shocked if it took a year. If they were to try to salvage and/or reconfigure those facilities, I could see that being a slow drawn out process (especially with the animal hospital and other care facilities remaining fully functional)

I still hope that this is the location for the proposed Avatar area. Definitely would allow for a more immersed entry experience than using CMM's leftover areas. IMO, give CMM a boost, move the petting zoo and Conservation Station there. Doing that would make CMM a much more solid land.

 

[invader]

While it is plausible, this would seem like a better fit. http://wikimapia.org/#lat=28.3549998&lon=-81.5921384&z=18&l=0&m=b

 

[Horizonsfan]

While it is plausible, this would seem like a better fit. http://wikimapia.org/#lat=28.3549998&lon=-81.5921384&z=18&l=0&m=b

It certainly would be the easier solution (and of course the widely expected location) but since when did the easiest answer become the best answer? :animwink:

To me it just seems misguided that to get to this new fully immersive land guests are going to have to cross through the 1998 stop-gap temporary land. Not saying it dooms the project or anything (I'm sure it will be wildly successful no matter the location) It just seems odd that they wouldn't start from scratch in that corner and find a new location for FOTLK elsewhere. (Of course, nothing has said that this idea isn't exactly what WDI intends to do.

 

[steve2wdw]

While it is plausible, this would seem like a better fit. http://wikimapia.org/#lat=28.3549998&lon=-81.5921384&z=18&l=0&m=b

This is where I've always assumed it (Avatarland) was going to go. If anything is changing at Conservation Station, I'd say maybe the Panda rumor is true (for that area) and any prep work is for them.

 

[Horizonsfan]

This is where I've always assumed it (Avatarland) was going to go. If anything is changing at Conservation Station, I'd say maybe the Panda rumor is true (for that area) and any prep work is for them.

Good Idea, didn't even think of that.Certainly would make that area go from least visited to one of the most visited.

 

[Timekeeper]

I still hope that this is the location for the proposed Avatar area. Definitely would allow for a more immersed entry experience than using CMM's leftover areas. IMO, give CMM a boost, move the petting zoo and Conservation Station there. Doing that would make CMM a much more solid land.

I agree. Placing a new land out of the way (in the back of the park) and leaving a longer walkway to it is the ideal way to go. Especially if the land is supposed to be "immersive."

Look at Wizarding World as an example. If Universal had the space, they would have put it in a bit more "out of the way" rather than just a "land" that all guests have to walk through in order to get from point A to point B. Instead, they built boardwalks so that guests could "bypass" Wizarding World. And given that a new land that is going to generate huge crowds and attention (hence the boardwalks to bypass WW), the further from the entrance, the better. And a pathway would really help the transition into a fantasy world rather than just, say, a 20 foot bridge that leads into the various "lands" at the MK.

__________________
Timekeeper

 

[RSoxNo1]

Yeah the area labeled on WikiMapia is the area that Jim Hill said it would be located. It's a huge walk out to the edge of the land that ultimately leads to Rafiki's Planet Watch, and it would require a lot more stuff to move.

Having said that, there was a poster on here (InsiderImagine) that did mention that new animal care facilities would move to a new location and World of Avatar would be built on that plot North of Asia. Right now I'm inclined to believe Jim's info rather than this person's.

 

[marni1971]

The IOA boardwalks were built to bypass the Potter construction only. Given the crowds after opening it made sense to leave them open. Potters location was in keeping with the parks overall theme- islands. Phase 2 could make use of more backstage areas along with 3a.

Glendale have long wanted a way to connect Raffikis to the rest of DAK without the train. Avland would do that. Of course if Raffikis does move the option of using the land north of Kali anyway would tie in with the long term land use proposals for the park.

From what ive heard the BK plot could be too small for Avland anyway.

 

[Millionaire2K]

Could they use this location? http://wikimapia.org/#lat=28.3623593&lon=-81.5880936&z=18&l=0&m=b

It would allow for future groth Vs. the other site.

 

[jt04]

The original comment from Disney officials was that construction would start by the end of 2012. In other words, construction will start sometime between NOW and Christmas of next year.

As for the location mentioned in the OP, I am inclined to believe it because it spreads out the crowds and forces guests to the back of the park.

CMM seems unlikely for a few reasons. It would concentrate crowds at the front of the park, it is likely not large enough to house the on-stage and backstage elements of the new land, it is a poor location for an "off planet" themed experience, but most importantly (in my opinion) an Avatarland's infrastructure would loom over the DAK entrance and thereby ruin one of the park's most important means of immersing guests in the DAK backstory.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

The original comment from Disney officials was that construction would start by the end of 2012. In other words, construction will start sometime between NOW and Christmas of next year.

As for the location mentioned in the OP, I am inclined to believe it because it spreads out the crowds and forces guests to the back of the park.

CMM seems unlikely for a few reasons. It would concentrate crowds at the front of the park, it is likely not large enough to house the on-stage and backstage elements of the new land, it is a poor location for an "off planet" themed experience, but most importantly (in my opinion) an Avatarland's infrastructure would loom over the DAK entrance and thereby ruin one of the park's most important means of immersing guests in the DAK backstory.

I completely agree with you. Putting it back in the Asia plot moves the crowds away from the entrance (Much like Everest and the Safari) and keeps the "unearthly" land away from the "beginning of the story of DAK." I would much prefer it to be back there.

As I said in another post when this was first announced...it kinda does make a little sense to put it at CMM though. With Avatarland being where CMM is, it puts a "weenie" at the 4 quadrants of the park. (Safari, Everest, Dinosaur, Avatar). This would help spread the opening crowds out. They are already heading to the back of the park for Everest and the Safari now.

 

[Skipper03]

Wouldn't it be possible that Avatarland would be taking over all of Camp Minnie Mickey and they replace Planet Watch by moving Lion King to be right next to Africa? (Where I think it should have been in the first place).

 

[jt04]

I completely agree with you. Putting it back in the Asia plot moves the crowds away from the entrance (Much like Everest and the Safari) and keeps the "unearthly" land away from the "beginning of the story of DAK." I would much prefer it to be back there.

As I said in another post when this was first announced...it kinda does make a little sense to put it at CMM though. With Avatarland being where CMM is, it puts a "weenie" at the 4 quadrants of the park. (Safari, Everest, Dinosaur, Avatar). This would help spread the opening crowds out. They are already heading to the back of the park for Everest and the Safari now.

CMM is still a placeholder I think and I would imagine they are saving that space for a new land porbably not yet decided on.

Some have speculated Planet Watch could go there and it could be the land morphs into an interactive animal care and educational 'pavillion' at that point themed towards families. But I think the trend will be to move DAK away from live animal exhibits. Actually I think the long term trend for zoological parks is for them to be in their natural habitat except for animals that are inacapable of surviving due to injuries or those that are on the brink of extinction.

Because of the increasing ease of travel, people that want to experience an African safari, for example, will just travel to Africa. As countries realize the benefit of setting up preseves they will become more popular and places like DAK (as it currently exists) will become less relevent. This is very much what has happened to World Showcase and created its identity problems. (another reason you will see more and more characters in WS and Kim Possible type adds) If people want to experience Europe now they just go there. DAK is going to go through a similar transition in my opinion. And that is why Avatar is a brilliant choice.

Now this will not take place overnight but I think over the next 20 years DAK will become much more like DisneySea than Busch Gardens. Just my opinion.

 

[WDWFigment]

I completely agree with you. Putting it back in the Asia plot moves the crowds away from the entrance (Much like Everest and the Safari) and keeps the "unearthly" land away from the "beginning of the story of DAK." I would much prefer it to be back there.

As I said in another post when this was first announced...it kinda does make a little sense to put it at CMM though. With Avatarland being where CMM is, it puts a "weenie" at the 4 quadrants of the park. (Safari, Everest, Dinosaur, Avatar). This would help spread the opening crowds out. They are already heading to the back of the park for Everest and the Safari now.

Have to agree, putting it back there makes a lot more sense than in CMM from a crowd flow and aesthetics perspective. I never even considered how having it near the entrance might be visually intrusive. I think you and JT04 are right on the money on this one.


Although I don't think the Safari and Dinosaur are weenies--don't weenies have to do with visual (size) characteristics, not popularity? For example, Cinderella Castle is a weenie, despite not having an attraction. Soarin' is not a weenie, despite being incredibly popular.

 

[Crush Dude!]

Have to agree, putting it back there makes a lot more sense than in CMM from a crowd flow and aesthetics perspective. I never even considered how having it near the entrance might be visually intrusive. I think you and JT04 are right on the money on this one.


Although I don't think the Safari and Dinosaur are weenies--don't weenies have to do with visual (size) characteristics, not popularity? For example, Cinderella Castle is a weenie, despite not having an attraction. Soarin' is not a weenie, despite being incredibly popular.

Yes exactly Castle, Tree of Life, Sorcerors Hat and Spaceship Earth are all weenies!

Have to agree with putting avatarland way back in Planet Watch, give it the space it needs :sohappy:

 

[danlb_2000]

I agree with a lot of reasoning behind why the Planet Watch area would be better for Avatar then CMM, but it still doesn't answer the question of how to get people back there. We have heard that Avatarland will be around 12 acres. Even if they decided to double that, it still wouldn't take up more then 1/2 of the space between Asia and Planet Watch. I don't see them doing any sort of transporation system, like a train, it would be to difficult to get enough capacity. Only other option would be a very long walking path. Anyone else have any thoughts?

 

[ToTBellHop]

I agree with a lot of reasoning behind why the Planet Watch area would be better for Avatar then CMM, but it still doesn't answer the question of how to get people back there. We have heard that Avatarland will be around 12 acres. Even if they decided to double that, it still wouldn't take up more then 1/2 of the space between Asia and Planet Watch. I don't see them doing any sort of transporation system, like a train, it would be to difficult to get enough capacity. Only other option would be a very long walking path. Anyone else have any thoughts?

It would make more sense to keep Planet Watch and have the new land overtake the space where the train currently is (thus necessitating a Planet Watch closure but not removal). They could have Planet Watch, with a slight retheme, function as part of Avatarland since thematically, they work together.