Cameron has given the OK ...

[Master Yoda]

you know. I don't know if I would really knock this too much. I mean we can sorta consider RSR as Test Track 2.0. Having a new attraction based on the Soarin' ride system doesn't mean that we're getting Soarin' with a Pandora video. I'm being optimistic here.

As am I. Personally, I think the Soarin ride system is one of the best things to come out of WDI. It provides an incredibly immersive experience that about 90%-95% of the people that walk through the gates can experience. While I love extreme coasters, I know plenty of people who simply can not ride them. Even my mother in law who can not get on such thrilling attractions as HM and SSE enjoys Soarin.

 

[Ignohippo]

Transformers ...

Um yeah, but Uni will also have built WWoHP, HP 2.0, Despicable Me AND Transformers within a 5-year timespan (and possibly a new Seuss attraction as well).

Obviously, old rise systems will always be used, but new tech needs to be developed as well. It seems like Disney is in a bit of a rut as far as delivering truly new and innovative ride systems go.

At least TSMM was a unique attraction...

 

[GLaDOS]

As am I. Personally, I think the Soarin ride system is one of the best things to come out of WDI. It provides an incredibly immersive experience that about 90%-95% of the people that walk through the gates can experience. While I love extreme coasters, I know plenty of people who simply can not ride them. Even my mother in law who can not get on such thrilling attractions as HM and SSE enjoys Soarin.

I wonder how "family friendly" this will be. If it's a modified version of Soarin', I wonder if it will be more thrilling.

 

[Ignohippo]

Is anyone else surprised Disney isn't taking advantage of 2 & 3 having the oceans as a big theme? It seems like it would be the perfect way for AK to add marine life and take Sea World on.

Just imagine how cool a marine area could be if added to AK!! If they don't add it to Avatar, it needs to be added to AK in some way. Too bad The Seas was built at EPCOT. It would be great at AK.

 

[muteki]

Is this all enclosed? It looks all boxed in, with little room to expand. Even if they wanted to add more, it looks like it would be difficult.

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

It seems like Disney is in a bit of a rut as far as delivering truly new and innovative ride systems go.

Agreed - I'd argue (and have) that the last time WDI created a real theme park "game-changer" was Tower of Terror. They've made some nice attractions since then, but not anything that has been truly innovative, imho.

Since then, Uni has created Spiderman/Transformers and FJ...

 

[twebber55]

this has got to be one of the fastest moving threads im seen since i ve joined..18 pages in about 10 hours

 

[Master Yoda]

I wonder how "family friendly" this will be. If it's a modified version of Soarin', I wonder if it will be more thrilling.

Time will tell. If I had to guess, I would say that the room for improvement in the Soarin ride system would fall into load times and site lines over thrill aspect. Adding quicker more exaggerated motions would be nice for us thrill seekers, but I would not be upset one bit if they were not. The good thing is if they decide to go for more thrills, they can have 1 or 2 theaters that take the edge off much like they do at M:S. THat is not exactly an option with a coaster.

 

[djkidkaz]

I don't like when they do something like a 2.0 version of an attraction. Soarin' is a great ride, but now if you put in a very similar version with 3D and state of the art effects, it just makes the other attraction look dated. And Epcot has very few attractions as it is, so now we'll be able to add Soarin' to the outdated list over there with Imagination, EO and the rest.

 

[flynnibus]

Spirit----

I buy into your conspiracy theory about the NYT/CBJ piece, because it makes financial sense for Disney to promote itself that way. But I don't understand how Disney would benefit by intentionally leaking these plans, if they really did.

It can be answered with the old saying...

"How to say something without saying anything at all..."

That's what leaks like this do - drum up excitement/buzz, without the company actually having to commit to anything, and is right up the alley of the fanbase that lusts for 'inside' info.

 

[Tom]

Guess I'll post again, since I went to bed at 1:30am, got up, got my hair cut, and am just now to a real computer.

One of two things has happened:

1) Disney issued these plans as discreetly as they could, to TRUSTED contractors, to get a quick budget to take back to Cameron so they could seal the deal before they made an announcement. And now, some pooh is going to hit the fan.

2) This is an EXTREMELY well played and clever planted leak. These are legitimate blueprints. This isn't some crap a kid made on photoshop (like the transformer titleblock). This is 100000% real. And now these plans are in the hands of every Disney fanboi.

So, either MAJOR FUBAR or MAJOR KUDOS to Disney WDI/PR. Interested to see where this goes.

 

[GLaDOS]

So, either MAJOR FUBAR or MAJOR KUDOS to Disney WDI/PR. Interested to see where this goes.

Honesty...from the reactions I'm seeing online, I have to say FUBAR.

For the vast majority of reactions I've seen, these plans have landed with a thud.

 

[Ignohippo]

It can be answered with the old saying...

"How to say something without saying anything at all..."

That's what leaks like this do - drum up excitement/buzz, without the company actually having to commit to anything, and is right up the alley of the fanbase that lusts for 'inside' info.

IMO, Disney is going to look somewhat foolish with Avatar as an answer to Transformers and Potter – especially with a very limited attraction lineup.

 

[Lee]

Remember those plans that came up a while back of the multi level soarin type attraction that moved to different screens on different levels? Could that be this?

Nope.
There are four theaters, arranged kinda like M:S. you go in, see the show in one theatre, on one screen, and exit.

 

[Ignohippo]

Guess I'll post again, since I went to bed at 1:30am, got up, got my hair cut, and am just now to a real computer.

One of two things has happened:

1) Disney issued these plans as discreetly as they could, to TRUSTED contractors, to get a quick budget to take back to Cameron so they could seal the deal before they made an announcement. And now, some pooh is going to hit the fan and a certain contractor (or contractors) will lose its/their privileges.

2) This is an EXTREMELY well played and clever planted leak. I know exactly where I got my copy, and they're 1 step removed from the source. No games. I'm looking at PDF files of 100% legitimate blueprints, Architectural, Mechanical and Electrical narratives, and HVAC load design calculations. This isn't some crap a kid made on photoshop (like the transformer titleblock). This is 100000% real. And now these plans are in the hands of every Disney fanboi.

So, either MAJOR FUBAR or MAJOR KUDOS to Disney WDI/PR. Interested to see where this goes.

(And yes, the two things Merf posted are legit, and are from the same set of documents I have. He just posted two sheets of about 50+).

I wonder if each set of plans has a unique element to be able to trace any leak...

 

[Ignohippo]

Nope.
There are four theaters, arranged kinda like M:S. you go in, see the show in one theatre, on one screen, and exit.

BORING!

What are your thoughts Lee?

 

[mgf]

Merf hocking them to Garcia on Twitter as we type. (Claiming credit of course.) We could learn if this was a leak or plant based on how he covers the story.

 

[Atomicmickey]

Well, of course, nothing's stopping anyone from a rush to judgement.

However, consider this. The building is HUGE. This could be the tip of the iceberg.
Don't we all think that it will be clad in rockwork and foliage? The boat ride seems
to exit the building. So there's more to that, as well.

Don't go all Nemo:The Musical building on us, Disney. Please.

I can mourn the loss of a launched bike coaster with the rest of you, but I also
wonder what else goes with this, and how it will look . . .

 

[danlb_2000]

Are all disney rides going to be videos now? Are they ever going to make a ride with actual themed sets, practical effects, and audio animatronics again? Video woks for star tours but its lame when they keep doing it over and over again

Little Mermaid is almost entirely phyiscal sets and animatronics, and it sounds like the mine ride is going to by mainly physical also. Going outside WDW, RSR is physical sets also. As much as I love the Universal attractions they seem to be relying more on video then Disney is at this point.

 

[Beholder]

Honesty...from the reactions I'm seeing online, I have to say FUBAR.

For the vast majority of reactions I've seen, these plans have landed with a thud.

.


I'm thinking the "thud" is due more to the (alleged) underwhelming attraction line up than to the fact it's Avatar. Am I off base here, or is that pretty much the overall feeling about these "plans"?