Cameron has given the OK ...

[LOSTllama]

Totally agreed. I don't get the love-fest with the bike coaster. I've ridden a couple (including the new one at Coney Island) and they aren't comfortable and don't offer, imo, a superior experience than a more conventional one.

Also, could someone kindly explain how the hell that would even fit the theme of Avatar?

In my opinion, if the theatre E ticket is the Banshees, then the motorbike coaster should be the Direhorses... Then it could be more like a "terrain" coaster instead of a "flying" coaster... It could hug the ground and you could hide the track/supports in some elaborate rock/water/jungle works...

Or if they wanted to make the coaster the Banshees, then the theatre ride should be the helicopters from the movie... The ride seats could be like you are facing out the side of the copter... They could tone down the military violence by having the science team taking you on an exploration since they took everything over at the end of the first film...

https://www.google.com/search?q=ava...hl=en&client=safari#biv=i|19;d|Q6ht9ABRu3qUdM:

 

[GeorgiaPinesRJB]

In my opinion, if the theatre E ticket is the Banshees, then the motorbike coaster should be the Direhorses... Then it could be more like a "terrain" coaster instead of a "flying" coaster... It could hug the ground and you could hide the track/supports in some elaborate rock/water/jungle works...

Or if they wanted to make the coaster the Banshees, then the theatre ride should be the helicopters from the movie... The ride seats could be like you are facing out the side of the copter... They could tone down the military violence by having the science team taking you on an exploration since they took everything over at the end of the first film...

https://www.google.com/search?q=avatar helicopter&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#biv=i|19;d|Q6ht9ABRu3qUdM:

I actually didn't even consider that... The ride vehicle could be one of those ships from the movie and you're going on a "grand tour" of Pandora. Probably will get attacked by that larger winged animal, etc. Lots of potential. I think we are all thinking you'll be riding banshees is because of the animal aspect of it... BUT I can see how the queue/pre-show could be much like the video someone posted earlier, with Sigourney Weaver doing the narration, a "welcome to Pandora" thing and then walking through the labs and then finally the hangar bay where the helicopters are kept...

 

[Beholder]

It'd been interesting if the supposed boat ride was actually some sort of submersible through a simulated Pandoran underwater environment. Or maybe a combination of surface/submarine vessel. I've always felt like Disney missed a huge opportunity by ignoring the wealth of marine dinosaurs, and this could maybe fill that void. Just a thought, but it could be anything. Makes this so much fun, all the speculation and guessing!

 

[culturenthrills]

I wouldn't say they opted to make it less spectacular but it was more an issue of execution and Warner/J.K. trusting Creative Studios a bit too much. From what I've seen during the development so far they have learned their lesson. I'm not going to say that Creative isn't still full of incompetent knuckle-heads, along with some very competent and talented individuals, but Warner and J.K. are running the show and have been putting feet to fire to ensure a hgh quality execution.

On top of that understand that FJ was developed under the old Universal/GE regime. Comcast has commited a healthy budget - more than twice phase one's budget - to ensure that the inevitable blunders will be taken care of. They have to because J.K. has already threatened to pull the IP a few times already after some design reviews stating that what she was seeing was not exactly what was pitched initially. She has won every battle so far. They will not risk losing her blessing. One example concerns consumables such as LN2 and steam. UC wanted to cut that budget in half. Instead they were only able to cut about 10 percent. This expansion is about three times the size of the first. Regardless of individual opinions everything I've stated so far will be included. The quantity of props and show sets alone, something you shouldn't be able to complain about with respect to FJ or the existing land, should be enough to get you excited. If you like FJ queue and some of the land details you're sure to love what's coming. There are a few additions s slated for the existing land as well by the way.

Well, that is the first I have heard of few additions to the current land.

 

[Clyde]

... to WDI's current plans for Pandora, and bids will be put out for construction work.

I am not postive as to the exact makeup of said land, but it appears Disney 'won' the battle and there will be two attractions and NOT the three that had been pushed for.

But I am awaiting further details before I post more.

Also, note this has NOTHING to do with ongoing plans for a major makeover of TPFKaTD-MGMS.

YOu guys all use so many abbreviations for specific places you are talking about. Where can I find the key to decipher what language you are speaking??? lol lil help over here...

 

[danlb_2000]

YOu guys all use so many abbreviations for specific places you are talking about. Where can I find the key to decipher what language you are speaking??? lol lil help over here...

I don't think you will find that one documented anywhere, "The Park Formerly Known as the Disney-MGM Studios."

 

[ParentsOf4]

I do think DHS needs help, but I would argue epcot needs more help . As the second wdw park, it should be stunning, and it is old looking, grubby, and sad.

I really like Epcot but, sadly, have to agree. WS hasn't changed in 25 years while much of FW needs work (and I like Soarin', Nemo, M:S, TT). I can't put my finger on it but, somehow, Epcot feels like it has lost its way. More than any place at WDW, Epcot feels like a time capsule from the 1980s and not in a good way. (Captain EO hasn't helped.)

Cameron's decision to greenlight Avatarland should improve DAK. With Beastly Kingdom placed on hold, DAK felt incomplete. EE's addition in 2006 helped (disco Yeti aside) but DAK needs more. Cameron's Avatarland should fit in nicely at DAK. I just hope I'm alive to see it finished.

 

[doctornick]

Totally agreed. I don't get the love-fest with the bike coaster. I've ridden a couple (including the new one at Coney Island) and they aren't comfortable and don't offer, imo, a superior experience than a more conventional one.

It's an interesting question. Obviously, some of the draw of the bike coaster is that is would be a "thrill ride" which generally just generate more excitement. But I think there's a point that any fast moving coaster is not going to allow as much enjoyment of the scenery as a slower moving ride -- and, with Avatar, the main draw theme park wise would seem to me to be replicating and enjoying the world that was created. In that sense, you could argue that both the Soarin' ride and boat ride would be more captivating in this setting than the boat coaster.

Personally, I just want to see good attractions. I enjoy Soarin', even if it isn't my favorite ride ever. But with some plussing, I actually think it could be a pretty breathtaking and awesome experience, even without the vehicles moving from room to room. IMHO, the main limitation with Soarin' would be that the vehicles don't do much of anything and you are basically just watching a movie from above ground level. If the vehicles for Pandora have significant movement -- and I've got to think they would -- it would make a pretty dramatic difference, especially if the film quality and 4D effects are also better.

I guess we'll have to see what the details end up being.

 

[ZmBe13]

Building floating mountains might not be as hard as you would think

 

[ChrisM]

Building floating mountains might not be as hard as you would think

Yep, that's exactly what I'm expecting at this point. Some forced perspective floating mountains with supports hidden in waterfalls and "hangings" vines; all arrayed off of, or looming over, this big show building from the leaked plans.

 

[Turtle]

Building floating mountains might not be as hard as you would think

And that mountain can have a water fall.. (it's obvious there is a beam support where the water is)

 

[Bairstow]

Interesting idea- using water features to obscure cantilevers.

 

[prfctlyximprct]

Building floating mountains might not be as hard as you would think

where is this??

 

[Tom]

Whew... Finally got through the whole thread. Thanks @edwardtc for the in-depth explanation of the plans. I think this came up once quickly already, but any chance these (http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...ion-for-true-flight-simulator-vehicle.829729/) could be the ride vehicles used?

It does not appear that the patent you linked to will be put to use in this project. The E-Ticket attraction will almost certainly used a customized version of THIS.

The boat ride, however, may be able to benefit from the patent they filed where a boat rides on two parallel track that essentially pivot the boat in the water as it travels along, aiming guests at specific things - much like an Omnimover does.

And to clear up one tiny little thing that keeps popping up. This project is NOT "out for bid". The drawings that were leaked are purely conceptual, used for preliminary budgets. Unless, of course, there are FAR more detailed drawings in the hands of contractors who have tighter reigns on their files.

As far as I know, all they've done right now is draw the floor plans, a few sections, and a set of structural plans. There are pages of information on electrical and mechanical scopes, but no construction plans, that I've seen floating around.

Disney sent this packet out to their favorite electrician, favorite mechanical contractor and favorite General Contractor(s). Each has been asked to put together an ESTIMATED PRICE to build this facility based on what can be seen in these plans and narratives. We do this routinely in the construction industry.

The plans floating around the web aren't even close to being ready to put out for actual contractor bidding - hands down. What Disney needs is for the GC, EC and MC each to give them their estimates. Add to it the estimate from the rockwork guy. On top of that, add everything WDI will build and BVCC will install. And get a site development number from someone like Thor to make the land ready to use.

Add all those up, and you've got a number that's $X-Hundred Million. They go to Cameron one last time and say, "Look, this is how much it's going to cost." He'll say, "OK, sure" or "Nah". If "Nah", Disney has plan B in their pocket and can re-skin this thing in a heartbeat.

But if it DOES go, don't get excited. They've got another 6 months of final design, real bidding, and strategery.

Then, they can start building, once FotLK has moved and is back open.

 

[misterID]

Did I read HUGE price increases? Ugghhh

 

[John]

But if it DOES go, don't get excited. They've got another 6 months of final design, real bidding, and strategery.

Which in laymans terms, Disney's time frame is calculated like dog years......dont look for ground being broke for atleast a year to 18 months and not to be finished for atleast four or five years after. sooooooooo soft opening 2018-19? It makes me wonder about EPCOT...when will this park get some love? It needed help years ago.

 

[El Grupo]

Which in laymans terms, Disney's time frame is calculated like dog years......dont look for ground being broke for atleast a year to 18 months and not to be finished for atleast four or five years after. sooooooooo soft opening 2018-19? It makes me wonder about EPCOT...when will this park get some love? It needed help years ago.

I share your frustration. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see Iger depart early and a few executives in Orlando and Burbank precede his exit or follow him out the door.

With this in mind, hopefully those that take over will put more stock in getting the Avatar attractions completed than spreading costs over four or five fiscal years.

I agree that EPCOT desperately needs attention. Hopefully some new blood will be the catalyst to getting a full park overhaul completed by the 50th anniversary of WDW.

 

[marni1971]

Which in laymans terms, Disney's time frame is calculated like dog years......dont look for ground being broke for atleast a year to 18 months and not to be finished for atleast four or five years after. sooooooooo soft opening 2018-19? It makes me wonder about EPCOT...when will this park get some love? It needed help years ago.

Sadly, I'm told Epcot has no large scale plan for the foreseeable except to limp forward as it is doing. But Food n Wine will save it of course according to the VP.

 

[dreamscometrue]

I don't think you will find that one documented anywhere, "The Park Formerly Known as the Disney-MGM Studios."

I.t.t.t.a.'T.P.F.K.a.T.D.-M.G.M.S.'i.a.'74.i
(I think that the acronym 'The Park Formerly Known as The Disney-M.G.M. Studios' is a '74 ism)

 

[hiptwinmama]

I think by doing the "Soarin" style ride, Disney is leaving the door open for a more simple re-themeing in the future if needed. No major construction would be required. I don't like the whole Avatar idea at all, but if they are going to do it, at least they are being smart about it.