Avatarland to take over Rafiki's Planet Watch?

[ToTBellHop]

I would hate to see them get rid of the train all together. I think it would be awesome if they could get the train to run from Animal Kingdom Lodge to the park and back. How cool would it be to have a resort that has train access to a park!

Or at the very least re-purpose the train and give it a more scenic route, because the way it is, there is really nothing to see and its quite a dull ride on a gorgeous train.

That would be cool, though unlikely b/c it'd be expensive and only really feasible if they put something new at the Beastly Kingdom plot and install a 2nd entrance there.

 

[mickeysaver]

...And "the tree huggin' hippie crap"? Really? What about Conservation Station exhibits is crap? (besides the animal dung.:lol

Well, the whole building is pretty much focused on the celebration and preservation of nature. Have you ever listened to the Rainforest audio that you can access in those little sound booths? Total save the rainforest tree huggin stuff. Then of course, you have the whole recycle thing that used to include Pipa the talking recycling can.

Don't get me wrong, I certainly respect nature, conservation efforts, and our planet in general. Conservation Station is ok, but being a member of the choir means that I really don't want to be preached to during my vacation. I at least like Conservation Station. I loathe the Lion King Circle of Life show over at Epcot. Talk about your serious Debbie Downer tree huggin hippie crap, that little "attraction" should win the award for biggest downer at WDW.

 

[MichWolv]

I would hate to see them get rid of the train all together. I think it would be awesome if they could get the train to run from Animal Kingdom Lodge to the park and back. How cool would it be to have a resort that has train access to a park!

Or at the very least re-purpose the train and give it a more scenic route, because the way it is, there is really nothing to see and its quite a dull ride on a gorgeous train.

That would just mean an entirely new train, since the location of the existing one is about as inconvenient as you could get for connecting to AKL.

I'd be happy with just a walking path (which would, I'm pretty sure, involve a bridge) to get from AKL to DAK.

 

[wm49rs]

Not that I'm not a fan of dead meat on a plate or tossing a can into the proper bin, but the last time I checked, one of the main themes at AK was conservation. Not one restricted to the petting zoo section.....

 

[njDizFan]

Well, the whole building is pretty much focused on the celebration and preservation of nature. Have you ever listened to the Rainforest audio that you can access in those little sound booths? Total save the rainforest tree huggin stuff. Then of course, you have the whole recycle thing that used to include Pipa the talking recycling can.

Don't get me wrong, I certainly respect nature, conservation efforts, and our planet in general. Conservation Station is ok, but being a member of the choir means that I really don't want to be preached to during my vacation. I at least like Conservation Station. I loathe the Lion King Circle of Life show over at Epcot. Talk about your serious Debbie Downer tree huggin hippie crap, that little "attraction" should win the award for biggest downer at WDW.

Just a quick comment, some people may take exception to your terminology and find it rather derogatory(although I doubt if you care).

Are you a fan of Test Track? I think it's for "oil loving planet killers".

 

[MichWolv]

Just a quick comment, some people may take exception to your terminology and find it rather derogatory(although I doubt if you care).

Are you a fan of Test Track? I think it's for "oil loving planet killers".

No, the planet killer is the thing we attack in one of the Star Tours II scenes.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Are you a fan of Test Track? I think it's for "oil loving planet killers".

Can't be all that bad. It is sponsored by GM.

 

[PhilharMagician]

Well, the whole building is pretty much focused on the celebration and preservation of nature. Have you ever listened to the Rainforest audio that you can access in those little sound booths? Total save the rainforest tree huggin stuff. Then of course, you have the whole recycle thing that used to include Pipa the talking recycling can.

Don't get me wrong, I certainly respect nature, conservation efforts, and our planet in general. Conservation Station is ok, but being a member of the choir means that I really don't want to be preached to during my vacation. I at least like Conservation Station. I loathe the Lion King Circle of Life show over at Epcot. Talk about your serious Debbie Downer tree huggin hippie crap, that little "attraction" should win the award for biggest downer at WDW.

:brick: Wow!



Since the announcement I have said that it should not go in the South expansion plot. There have been some good ideas that have been thrown around here in other threads like the moving of FotLK to Africa, but with the talk from Jim H saying that FotLK will stay in CMM and that Rainforest Cafe' could move to the other side of the entrance? I am just blown away. I personally cannot imagine that happening. With the limited room, the sight factor from the bus entrance and the location close to the entrance just does not seem to add up for the South plot. Put Avatar in the back of the park and draw people all the way to the back past the shops and restaurants so they have to pass all of them. The railroad could be removed and a large entrance could be opened up between FoW and Tamu Tamu allowing access to the new land.

 

[MichWolv]

Ok, getting back to the original topic of this thread...

Seems to me that IF the train and RPW are going away for Avatar, it would probably just be the guest portions of RPW that are going away. That is, the actual animal care, etc could remain, with no guest access, except maybe backstage tours. That would allow the land now used for the train and the walkway at the RPW end betewen the train station and the facilities to all be used for Avatarland, along with the plot that is already cleared behind Kali and Maharajah Jungle Trek. The entrance to the land would be along the east-west path between the bird show and Africa. There's plenty of forested area there that could be used for the entrace, leading to what would be a pretty large area between the cleared plot and the land now used for the train.

:brick: Wow!



Since the announcement I have said that it should not go in the South expansion plot. There have been some good ideas that have been thrown around here in other threads like the moving of FotLK to Africa, but with the talk from Jim H saying that FotLK will stay in CMM and that Rainforest Cafe' could move to the other side of the entrance? I am just blown away. I personally cannot imagine that happening. With the limited room, the sight factor from the bus entrance and the location close to the entrance just does not seem to add up for the South plot. Put Avatar in the back of the park and draw people all the way to the back past the shops and restaurants so they have to pass all of them. The railroad could be removed and a large entrance could be opened up between FoW and Tamu Tamu allowing access to the new land.

Ok, that's two votes for this plan.

 

[danlb_2000]

Ok, that's two votes for this plan.

I could see it going in the front part of the Asia plot, but unless this is going to be a lot bigger expansion then has been indicated I just can't see why they would remove Rafiki's. I could see it being closed as a public attraction and the train removed, but I don't understand why they would remove it completely when there is plenty of empty space in the Asia plot.

Dan

 

[RSoxNo1]

The amount of space back there is certainly enormous. If they do use that plot, I would hope that Avatar is only part of it. There's enough room back there for all of World of Avatar, a Panda enclosure and more. That area is also so far removed from the rest of the park there better be substantial additions back there.

A straight line back from the Parade pathway to the edge of the Asia plot is 800 feet.

I posted these earlier but I'm redoing them again and posting them here:

• 2450 Feet: Main Entrance to the edge of the Asia Plot
• 1670 feet: Main Entrance to Kilimanjaro Safaris
• 1900 feet: Kilimanjaro Safaris to Expedition Everest
• 1370 feet: Kilimanjaro Safaris to Edge of the Asia Plot (This requires backtracking, and this could actually be much shorter)
• 2225 feet: Expedition Everest to Edge of Asia Plot
• 1660 feet: Main Entrance to edge of Beastly Kingdom Plot
• 1670 feet: Kilimanjaro Safaris to edge of Beastly Kingdom Plot
• 2630 feet: Expedition Everest to edge of Beastly Kingdom Plot
• 1625 feet: Tower of Terror to Toy Story Midway Mania
• 2555 feet: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to Space Mountain
• 2620 feet: Edge of the Parade Route to Affection Section

 

[MichWolv]

I could see it going in the front part of the Asia plot, but unless this is going to be a lot bigger expansion then has been indicated I just can't see why they would remove Rafiki's. I could see it being closed as a public attraction and the train removed, but I don't understand why they would remove it completely when there is plenty of empty space in the Asia plot.

Dan

Exactly what I'm envisioning. It's the land that the train occupies that would be used. The buildings at RPW could stay and be backstage/cast buildings, and perhaps used during backstage tours, but no regular guest access.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I could see it going in the front part of the Asia plot, but unless this is going to be a lot bigger expansion then has been indicated I just can't see why they would remove Rafiki's. I could see it being closed as a public attraction and the train removed, but I don't understand why they would remove it completely when there is plenty of empty space in the Asia plot.

Dan

Access! There is really no room to put a walkway to get back there. The train tracks are within 40ft of the tiger shelter for the Maharajah Jungle Trek and there is also a backstage road to supply the Yak and Yetti that would have to be crossed. This leaves no easy access to that plot of land. The only options are

• Modify the Maharajah Jungle Trek to allow access to Avatar Land. This would create a traffic control issue with the small trails in the trak.
• Remove the Maharajah Jungle Trek. First, I cannot see that happening to this amazingly themed area and second it would create a congestion disaster with the Kali entrance and exit in the same area. It is already congested!
• Remove the train and relocate the Yak and Yetti backstage access road to be near the Maharajah Jungle Trek to create room for a walkway to Avatar Land between Flights of Wonder and Africa.
• Use the train to access Avatar Land. I cannot see how they would theme that train to fit transporting guests to Pandora. :shrug:

 

[JeffH]

it's a long trip...

Last I knew, Avatar was in a different solar system, so since Disney is so dedicated (for a while at least) to maintaining the image of reality (shrinking down to meet the Fairies, the Hydrolators to travel down to SeaBase Alpha) they could build Avatarland anywhere and force you to board a Space Ferry to get there...sort of a large capacity laid back Star Tours simulation (but you actually move) that literally transports you to Avatarland. The 'ride' would rumble during takeoff, you'd feel the take-off as the vehicle moves, and you'd watch the trip on the view-screen. With something like this they could 'hide' Avatarland somewhere far BEHIND Animal Kingdom. The animatronic pilot could look like James Cameron.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Last I knew, Avatar was in a different solar system, so since Disney is so dedicated (for a while at least) to maintaining the image of reality (shrinking down to meet the Fairies, the Hydrolators to travel down to SeaBase Alpha) they could build Avatarland anywhere and force you to board a Space Ferry to get there...sort of a large capacity laid back Star Tours simulation (but you actually move) that literally transports you to Avatarland. The 'ride' would rumble during takeoff, you'd feel the take-off as the vehicle moves, and you'd watch the trip on the view-screen. With something like this they could 'hide' Avatarland somewhere far BEHIND Animal Kingdom. The animatronic pilot could look like James Cameron.

Perhaps this will be a greater issue when Universal acquires the rights to Lord of the Rings. One does not simply walk into Mordor...:lookaroun

 

[NoChesterHester]

Perhaps this will be a greater issue when Universal acquires the rights to Lord of the Rings. One does not simply walk into Mordor...:lookaroun

I know they are looking at it, but doesnt that universe have a lot of thematic overlap with WWOHP? IOA would be very heavily based on medieval style fantasy.

 

[danlb_2000]

Last I knew, Avatar was in a different solar system, so since Disney is so dedicated (for a while at least) to maintaining the image of reality (shrinking down to meet the Fairies, the Hydrolators to travel down to SeaBase Alpha) they could build Avatarland anywhere and force you to board a Space Ferry to get there...sort of a large capacity laid back Star Tours simulation (but you actually move) that literally transports you to Avatarland. The 'ride' would rumble during takeoff, you'd feel the take-off as the vehicle moves, and you'd watch the trip on the view-screen. With something like this they could 'hide' Avatarland somewhere far BEHIND Animal Kingdom. The animatronic pilot could look like James Cameron.

I don't have any concerns about how they will 'hide' Avatarland no matter where they put it. Disney has proven pretty good at hiding one part of a park from another even when they are physically close together.

A couple people have suggested the "ride as an entrance idea", but I just can't see them making any sort of ride a requirement to get into the area. The train worked ok for Planet Watch, but I assume Disney expects Avatarland to be a much larger draw so any entrance ride they built would have to have an very large capacity. The ride would also have to have zero physical restrictions (height, medical conditions, hadicap, etc) or otherwise there would need to be a way for certain guests to bypass it.

Dan

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Last I knew, Avatar was in a different solar system, so since Disney is so dedicated (for a while at least) to maintaining the image of reality (shrinking down to meet the Fairies, the Hydrolators to travel down to SeaBase Alpha) they could build Avatarland anywhere and force you to board a Space Ferry to get there...sort of a large capacity laid back Star Tours simulation (but you actually move) that literally transports you to Avatarland. The 'ride' would rumble during takeoff, you'd feel the take-off as the vehicle moves, and you'd watch the trip on the view-screen. With something like this they could 'hide' Avatarland somewhere far BEHIND Animal Kingdom. The animatronic pilot could look like James Cameron.

There's a major problem with this...what happens when the "transport" needs to go down for an extended rehab or it breaks down? Nobody gets into Avatarland?

While most people feel that there needs to be some sort of "shuttle" experience (even if it's just a motion-based simulator)...it's a nightmare. Imagine at rope-drop...all of these people running to this new "must-see" land...and then having to just cram and wait for this "transport".

Attractions can have "pre-shows" but entire lands can't...it just doesn't work. Look at the Jurassic Park section of IoA...there's no transport...you entire the giant gates....and you know you're in Jurassic Park.

Imagine if you needed to board a boat or a train to get to the Asia section. It would be a nightmare! People would just say, "I'm not going over there because you gotta wait for the boat...and then you have to wait in line..." It's two wait times.

The "transport" can not be an attraction...it needs to be something you just walk through. Maybe there's a lab on Earth that has opened a wormhole to Pandora...that you can just walk through.

 

[InsiderImagine]

There's a major problem with this...what happens when the "transport" needs to go down for an extended rehab or it breaks down? Nobody gets into Avatarland?

While most people feel that there needs to be some sort of "shuttle" experience (even if it's just a motion-based simulator)...it's a nightmare. Imagine at rope-drop...all of these people running to this new "must-see" land...and then having to just cram and wait for this "transport".

Attractions can have "pre-shows" but entire lands can't...it just doesn't work. Look at the Jurassic Park section of IoA...there's no transport...you entire the giant gates....and you know you're in Jurassic Park.

Imagine if you needed to board a boat or a train to get to the Asia section. It would be a nightmare! People would just say, "I'm not going over there because you gotta wait for the boat...and then you have to wait in line..." It's two wait times.

The "transport" can not be an attraction...it needs to be something you just walk through. Maybe there's a lab on Earth that has opened a wormhole to Pandora...that you can just walk through.

That is why they are designing a transportation ride and for people who don't want to wait can walk to Avatar. However, the only issue they have is how to get people to "walk" into another world and feel like they are walking in another world.

 

[JEANYLASER]

I'm confused!