misterID
Well-Known Member
Enjoy your snazzy new queue and cars and that's about it. :brick:
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Iger Says Avatar Most Likely 2015, Hints at Marvel, More Pirates and Cars
- Thread starter lebeau
- Start date
Enjoy your snazzy new queue and cars and that's about it. :brick:
JustInTime
Well-Known Member
I heard it was more than that.
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
Yes, I absolutely think so. Disney has announced billions of dollars worth of projects that never saw the light of day ... from entire parks to lands to hotel and timeshare developments to attractions. In some cases, they have even started land prep ... and then nothing.
Many of the above were masterplanned and ready to go ... any fanboi worth his Pixie Dust can tell you about the WRE and Thunder Mesa at MK ... or the Africa pavilion at EPCOT ... or Baby Herman's Buggy Ride at Disney-MGM ... or Disney's America ... or Hollywoodland at DL ... or Beauty and the Beast at DLP ... or Disneyquest Philadelphia ... or the early 1900s Florida themed DVC Resort (where the Four Seasons is going up) ... or how about the floating ship/traveling theme park ... or the National Waterfront Hotel ... or etc, etc.
The fact he put a date (and an incorrect one -- as 2016-17 was the timeframe always planned and there is NO way they could open something so expansive in '15 unless they started construction this week!:lol: ... look how long this very small-scale, relatively speaking, Fantasyland project is taking) tells me how unprepared he was for the question (which he shouldn't have) and his frosty response to both Avatar questions tells me he is aware of the talk that is spreading both inside the company and in the fan community.
What I am telling you is he just threw a date out that 'sounded right' to him and figured 'they're fans, what do they know?'
Now, you are correct about nothing proves it won't happen. I firmly believe it won't, but it isn't dead yet and his ego/rep is what concerns Iger.
But the FACT he ignored the entire Avatarland project when it should have been one of the top three things talked about (even if he just showed movie footage or stills) speaks volumes to anyone who understands the political atmosphere of the company and what talking about something (or ignoring it) really means.
P.S. Marvel isn't coming to WDW, fanbois. It legally can't. But you can enjoy it at UNI-Hollywood.:wave:
~Odds are about 8 to 2 at best of this thing happening!~
misterID
Well-Known Member
I did too, but it's come out that not a whole lot is being done to the ride itself, despite what's been reported.
I sure hope I'm wrong, though.
JustInTime
Well-Known Member
Why would he spend time talking about Avatar when it's 4-5 years away? 5 years ago, they weren't highlighting the Fantasyland expansion. It's far too early to make Avatarland the talk of the business. They just forked out millions (if not billions) on FLE and Carsland. Why steal that thunder and promo? I do think there is a chance of Avatar not happening. But I don't think it's as dire and doom and gloom as you make it out to be.
TalkingHead
Well-Known Member
I haven't watched the video so I'm trying to get this straight...
The project whose announcement warranted a press conference with Iger six months ago doesn't get mentioned at the annual meeting until a person in the crowd asks a question about it?
If that's the case, it sounds like this thing must be on life support.
TalkingHead
Well-Known Member
Five years ago FLE wasn't announced.
JustInTime
Well-Known Member
That was my point...
Avatar was announced early in development to help combat Harry Potter. If FLE was announced this early, we wouldn't have concept and it wouldn't have been the focus either. I can assure you, FLE was being planned 5 years ago. We are just being let in on the Avatar expansion earlier in the process which is kinda abnormal for Disney to do. I guess their back was against the wall since everybody in town was looking at TDO for their response to Potter. My point is, lack of concept art doesn't concern me at this point. The silence was much more worrisome.
John Carter seemed to get the same treatment, with added insult to injury. In closing he said "Go see Brave and the Avengers this summer!"
Never mind the awesome flick we got in theaters right now... you know, the one you spent $250 MILLION on? UGH!
(Actually caught it this weekend, really good effort on Stanton's part. My girlfriend hates Star Wars, Avatar and most other sci-fi, but actually was not opposed to seeing this a second time!)
TalkingHead
Well-Known Member
For one thing, what makes you think Avatar was announced at that specific time to help combat Potter?
Second thing, it's three years until Avatar is supposed to open. Wasn't the first FLE conceptual art (which didn't even accurately reflect the final design) publicized about three years before it's scheduled opening date? Point is, IF Avatar was looking likely, you'd think that concept art would have been produced by now and that the project wouldn't be skipped over in Iger's presentation...
JustInTime
Well-Known Member
It might not have been time specific, but Avatar is Disney's answer to Potter. And I think there is still time for concept art. Like I said, I can see it not happening but I don't think the situation is a bad as people think. His answer could have been more of a blanked response he gave if it were really practically canceled. I mean, you have a Q&A with fans. He knew Avatar would be brought up.
Club34
Well-Known Member
Well, you're obviously not a comic guy. Six Flags is DC comics (batman, superman, etc).
The fact is its going to be hit or miss for some folks for the type of attraction or the brand of the attraction (ie movie, characters, or some original concept). You can't please everyone. Although Im looking forward to seeing the FLE (the nighttime pics look awesome), there is NOTHING about the FLE that is a draw for me. Well, I'll probably ride LM and eat at the restaurant, but it is by no means the Indiana Jones rollercoaster/darkride/restaurant that I had requested. Oh well.
I understand the reluctance to having spiderman on MSUSA but at DHS it would be welcomed. It will be a bit weird at first but you can't stop progress. Besides, my opinion is that DHS is the absolute worst disney park and needs a big time upgrade on the level of DCA (which was not that bad to me).
Its all a matter of tastes.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Even in planning, drawing is being done. This is the biggest project going at the biggest Resort based on one of the highest grossing films. How is that not note worthy?
JustInTime
Well-Known Member
I am absolutely sure there are drawings being done. I am also sure there are also fully fleshed out land ideas. It's just choosing the right path and then announcing it. Disney learned their lesson with 1st not announcing finalized plans for FLE and then the debacle with Hyperion Warf concept. They are not going down that road again. And that could be both good and bad.
devoy1701
Well-Known Member
You really need to start reading between the lines of what's going on here JustIn....
Prototype82
Well-Known Member
Thank you Iger for at least shedding a little light on AK's Pandora. That's all I needed to hear... I can be patient.
JustInTime
Well-Known Member
Oh, I am. Like I have said, I can see this not happening. But I think it's the typical wait and see game. I also don't think it's a doomed as we think.
menamechris
Well-Known Member
I think most people have hit it on the head - Iger didn't volunteer any information or even approach the project on his own. And his time table of a 2015 opening leads me to believe this will become less "Avatarland" and more just an Avatar attraction. I would look for the buildings in the area to be re-themed, much like Storybook Circus has been, a drinking kiosk, a counter service window/restaurant perhaps, and one E-ticket. I think this will far from blow us away - but I think by 2015 we will be so ready to see something new...that anything will do.
JustInTime
Well-Known Member
I bet the contract between Cameron and Disney requires a full land and one they both approve on. I would love to read that thing...