"Immersiveness" in Theme Parks

[KINGLOUIS1993]

Let alone Hogsmeade, for that matter.
It's the closest Disney has come to a home run in the great Potter Chase, and better than Radiator Springs, but they haven't quite hit that level of thematic success yet.

Granted, Avatar couldn't possibly have been Rohde and his team's first choice, and its very vertical jungles full of weird plants and creatures are a spectacularly difficult thing to pull off in a physical space, but they did a very good job with what they were given.

I couldn't agree more. Both of the HP themed lands at Uni are outstanding and In my humble opinion perfect examples of immersion. I like the HP franchise not love it and after I visited Uni and the HP lands I had to re-watch the whole series.

That being said I agree about Disney nailing the Immersion of a land for many years. Africa in AK is unreal, the World Showcase is one of my favorite things in any Disney park and tbh the Asia areas of AK are pretty fantastic too.

Yeah the Pandora area is very, very good and has that hallmark Disney level of detail but which land do I think will drag people in for the longer time period... HP no doubt. Mainly because it is a bigger franchise but I just think with all of the added options such as the jiggery pockery with the Wands and interactive stuff I think it let's guests live out a fantasy. Must be doing something right if people are willing to buy a chocolate frog for $20.00. (BTW if anybody wants one of those you can buy them here for about £2.00)

 

[cjkeating]

One thing I think Pandora does very well is connect with people that either haven't seen the movie (and lets not forget a lot of people did...) or saw the movie and weren't that fussed about it. You can enter the land from zero and still have a great experience.

I can't be the only person in the world who has minimal interest in Harry Potter, I know the basics and have seen the first and last film once but have never read any of the books. Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley meant very little to me and other than riding the two headliners the castle, dragon and fancy buildings didn't impress as I had no attachment to them.

 

[JohnyKaz2078]

One thing I think Pandora does very well is connect with people that either haven't seen the movie (and lets not forget a lot of people did...) or saw the movie and weren't that fussed about it. You can enter the land from zero and still have a great experience.

Same goes for Cars Land in DCA. I have never been a fun of Cars but I believe that the land is absolutely majestic. And Cars wasn't very popular when it first came out. It became popular later when everyone was bombarded with merchandise like remotely controlled Lighting McQueens and other stuff related with the movie.

 

[DfromATX]

I personally wasn't that impressed with Pandora (the land). Don't get me wrong FOP was really awesome and we all loved it and the boat ride was decent, but after the rides, instead of soaking it all in like I thought we would, we just went to our next ride.

 

[DfromATX]

One thing I think Pandora does very well is connect with people that either haven't seen the movie (and lets not forget a lot of people did...) or saw the movie and weren't that fussed about it. You can enter the land from zero and still have a great experience.

I can't be the only person in the world who has minimal interest in Harry Potter, I know the basics and have seen the first and last film once but have never read any of the books. Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley meant very little to me and other than riding the two headliners the castle, dragon and fancy buildings didn't impress as I had no attachment to them.

You know more about Harry Potter than I do. I did enjoy the ride a lot and until I rode FOP, thought it was one of the best rides ever.

 

[graphite1326]

Sure, but hitting a triple off a curveball doesn't mean you get a home run.

depends on the RBIs

 

[graphite1326]

Expect Pandora isn’t as good as Diagon.

There really isn’t a ACE backstory that anyone cares about. They had to create a new place since no one really cares about Pandora. People go to Hogsmeade and Diagon to experience those iconic places. No need for a backstory, you are the story. Diagon provides much more entertainment to go along with the beauty of the land. Pandora gives you some nice scenery, fake plants, and a crappy drum show.

I have seen the drum show on you tube. It IS crappy. Maybe they should get someone who can actually play the drums. I think we will pass on our first trip to Pandora in Sept.

 

[Corgi]

Disney Imagineers designed Harry Potter land, which is why it’s so good.

 

[tomast]

I spend more time walking, dining, buying things, taking pictures, etc. on Harry Potter land (both) that at the rides. I think I spent almost the same time there that in the rest of universal. And I am not a Harry Potter fan, yes, I saw the movies and I like it, but that's all. With Pandora (the land) I spend the time at both rides and then leave cause I did not find anything else to do. The only thing I saw was the lame drum show and a giant plastic plant that throws water.