James Cameron, Joe Rohde, Tom Staggs and Disney executives touring Animal Kingdom

[Buried20KLeague]

Uh-oh you are on to me. :brick:

I am convinced the concept for a steampunk 1800's 20K land will some day be built at the MK. It is just to perfect for them not to build that concept. I forgot the name of it. :lol: But it would be perfect with the steam train incorporated and with BTMRR as a possible backdrop. Want.

I think the days of extreme, high-dollar expansions without movie tie-ins are long gone.

Sadly.

 

[Lee]

Overheard today at Universal...
Cameron: "Wow! Now this looks great. You guys shoulda done THIS!"
Scott Trowbridge: Yeah, Jim. We know...
Now, help us come up with something just as great...only with more...you know...trees and such."

 

[Lee]

Glad to know that Rohde is on board.

You say that like he had a choice.:lol:

 

[RSoxNo1]

He definitely said that it was going into CMM, but he said that Lion King was staying and that Avatarland would be further south towards the parking lot. He also said that rainforest cafe would move to the other side possibly. I just can't remember if I heard this on Magical Definition or on WDWfanboys. Btw it was a pleasant surprise to have the podcasts switched for the week.

That was on our show - honestly it seemed like moving Rainforest Cafe was just a possibility at this point, but it does sound like Festival of the Lion King is likely staying put. If that's the case I could see Camp Minnie Mickey have a bit more substance added to it down the road.

Most of the ambiance of the Toy Story area of Paradise Pier was way better than I thought it would be when I first saw it in Oct 2010, and to be honest I went to DCA expecting to hate all of it lol... though perhaps the carnival games could be a little less prominent..... the coaster and the mickey Wheel along the lagoon with all the lights as if it were truly along the ocean was really cool.

Of course I would never ride much of what was there except the wheel.

I really like what DCA is becoming. Paradise Pier has been dramatically improved, and I think they did a good job with A Bug's Land as well. People call these cheap themes, but I enjoy both.

More interesting news James Cameron was spotted cross town visiting the Wizard. Wondering if he is getting ideas or researching.

I think its more weird he is being escorted by Universal high ups. (guessing by photo) Wouldn't you think he be the enemy to them?

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_orlando/2011/10/picture-it-james-cameron-at-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter.html

I have no problem with this - it's just odd that Universal is giving him a tour unless they're trying to sell him on something else.

You say that like he had a choice.:lol:

When did Joe Rohde find out about this?

 

[MickeyPeace]

More interesting news James Cameron was spotted cross town visiting the Wizard. Wondering if he is getting ideas or researching.

I think its more weird he is being escorted by Universal high ups. (guessing by photo) Wouldn't you think he be the enemy to them?

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_orlando/2011/10/picture-it-james-cameron-at-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter.html

If you read the article you would know that he was with a Disney exec, not a Universal high up.

"It makes perfect sense that Cameron would check out the competition (and the hottest thing in theme parks) while in town. And it would make sense that he’d be accompanied by Scott Trowbridge (white hat), a Walt Disney Imagineering vice president who held a similar position at NBC Universal until 2007."

 

[janoimagine]

If you read the article you would know that he was with a Disney exec, not a Universal high up.

"It makes perfect sense that Cameron would check out the competition (and the hottest thing in theme parks) while in town. And it would make sense that he’d be accompanied by Scott Trowbridge (white hat), a Walt Disney Imagineering vice president who held a similar position at NBC Universal until 2007."

You may want to go back and re-read Mr. Morrows second response on page 12 ... before you jump all over him.

 

[MickeyPeace]

My hunch is that the E ticket ride for Avatarland will be a 4D attraction like Harry Potter because it is ideal for reproducing such a lush fantastical landscape/environment with credibility.

Since Cameron was touring HP with Trowbridge, who was senior show producer for the first 4D ride in Universal- the Spiderman attraction, this may be a clue that this indeed will be the type of attraction they are aiming for with Avatar.

 

[MickeyPeace]

You may want to go back and re-read Mr. Morrows second response on page 12 ... before you jump all over him.

I presented the facts. That is not jumping all over him.

And here is what he said,

"I think its more weird he is being escorted by Universal high ups. (guessing by photo) Wouldn't you think he be the enemy to them?"

I re-read it. Did I miss something?

 

[MarkTwain]

Uh-oh you are on to me. :brick:

I am convinced the concept for a steampunk 1800's 20K land will some day be built at the MK. It is just to perfect for them not to build that concept. I forgot the name of it. :lol: But it would be perfect with the steam train incorporated and with BTMRR as a possible backdrop. Want.

Discovery Bay :wave:

I think the days of extreme, high-dollar expansions without movie tie-ins are long gone.

Sadly.

Agreed with this, sadly.

You say that like he had a choice.:lol:

That's what I was thinking. :lol: If an expansion is going in his theme park, Rohde's going to be involved whether he likes it or not.

 

[Lee]

When did Joe Rohde find out about this?

I'm still trying to speak to someone close enough to the situation to give me an exact time frame. But, from what I've been told, Rohde was informed after the decision was made to go after Avatar and to put it into DAK. There was art and some blue sky concepts presented to Cameron, and Rohde was surely in the loop and involved in that process. However, he was not asked if he wanted Avatar, but rather informed that he DAK was getting it.

That's what I was thinking. :lol: If an expansion is going in his theme park, Rohde's going to be involved whether he likes it or not.

Yep, if he want's to remain empolyed.
There has been talk that two "celebrity" imagineers would be leaving in the short term, Rohde being one of them. It would appear that he is finding Avatar enough incentive to stay on for the next few years at least.

 

[janoimagine]

I presented the facts. That is not jumping all over him.

And here is what he said,

"I think its more weird he is being escorted by Universal high ups. (guessing by photo) Wouldn't you think he be the enemy to them?"

I re-read it. Did I miss something?

Yeah you missed his follow up post which was what I was referencing in my initial post to you (which it looks like to read right over too):

Yeah I was being sarcastic, doesn't go as well when in text :brick: my bad haha.

Make sense? :wave:

 

[jt04]

I think the days of extreme, high-dollar expansions without movie tie-ins are long gone.

Sadly.

Pssst, I think 20K is still being produced so there is hope.

Edit: Yep http://www.movieweb.com/news/20000-leagues-under-the-sea-captain-nemo-will-be-in-3d

Discovery Bay :wave:

Thanks. Perfect for MK. Even if it takes a couple more decades.

I'm still trying to speak to someone close enough to the situation to give me an exact time frame. But, from what I've been told, Rohde was informed after the decision was made to go after Avatar and to put it into DAK. There was art and some blue sky concepts presented to Cameron, and Rohde was surely in the loop and involved in that process. However, he was not asked if he wanted Avatar, but rather informed that he DAK was getting it.


Yep, if he want's to remain empolyed.
There has been talk that two "celebrity" imagineers would be leaving in the short term, Rohde being one of them. It would appear that he is finding Avatar enough incentive to stay on for the next few years at least.

I remember that "talk" and then I considered the spirited source. :zipit::lol:

 

[Hakunamatata]

Yep, if he want's to remain empolyed.
There has been talk that two "celebrity" imagineers would be leaving in the short term, Rohde being one of them. It would appear that he is finding Avatar enough incentive to stay on for the next few years at least.

Say an Imagineer with the credentials of Rohde decided to seek employment elsewhere, what exactly do they do or where do they go?

 

[Rosso11]

If you read the article you would know that he was with a Disney exec, not a Universal high up.

"It makes perfect sense that Cameron would check out the competition (and the hottest thing in theme parks) while in town. And it would make sense that he’d be accompanied by Scott Trowbridge (white hat), a Walt Disney Imagineering vice president who held a similar position at NBC Universal until 2007."

Actually if you look at the first picture he is being escorted by Universal employees. Look at the name badge it's clearly Universal. It looks like the Disney employees have the lanyards around their necks, probably some kind of VIP lanyards.

 

[WDW1974]

What awful timing. I was at EPCOT and TPFKaTD-MGMS Monday and DD and BW on Tuesday. It would have been wonderful to run into one of those dog and pony shows, more the one at IOA as Cameron wouldn't hold back his opinions (even if they likely had a Disney publicist or two along).

Oh, and I would be shocked if Disney's official prooganda blog released this until Cameron was on a plane and Staggs, if still in O-Town, wasn't going to be in public areas where the blogger/podcaster/webmaster crowd would 'bother him.'

Now, I was busy hating WDW (oh, and UNI too -- equal opportunity hater) so I haven't gone through 13 pages of posts ... but am I right in believing the consensus here is that the fact these men were spotted in a park where they are supposed to be collaborating on a $500 million expansion is some big deal? And this somehow proves Staggs really loves the parks (and not simply because he is aiming at a Prez role in the near future and a possible CEO job down the line?)

Just wondering.

~GFCers Don't Cry at Construction Walls (unless someone drops a hammer on their toes)~

 

[WDW1974]

I'm still trying to speak to someone close enough to the situation to give me an exact time frame. But, from what I've been told, Rohde was informed after the decision was made to go after Avatar and to put it into DAK. There was art and some blue sky concepts presented to Cameron, and Rohde was surely in the loop and involved in that process. However, he was not asked if he wanted Avatar, but rather informed that he DAK was getting it.

You understand correctly. Joe was purposely kept out of the loop until almost announcement time. Why this was the case, one could only speculate.

Yep, if he want's to remain empolyed.
There has been talk that two "celebrity" imagineers would be leaving in the short term, Rohde being one of them. It would appear that he is finding Avatar enough incentive to stay on for the next few years at least.

Tony Baxter will be leaving Disney next year. At least as an employee. It is possible (but not guaranteed) that he may remain in some consultant/ceremonial position.

Joe has been getting paid to do very little ... when he was given Aulani the project was either 80% or 90% designed depending on whom you talk to in the company. He didn't have that much to do and there are worse places to do nothing than Oahu.

Whether he remains and is lead on Avatar remains to be seen, although he is still portfolio head for DAK. But this is a project that is 5-6 years from the earliest possible opening and a lot can happen.

I did see some posts on Joe's talent as an Imagineer and how much his celebrity status plays a role. I know the man, but I can't claim he is a friend or anything that would give deep insight. I believe he is a very good designer for TODAY'S WDI. The Flower Street campus isn't exactly filled with great talents that are just forced to the darkness so the celeb Imagineers can get out in front of the fanbois and social media. ... I absolutely agree with lightbulb about his storytelling and enthusiasm (which I think Steve also mentioned) and knowledge of his source material getting folks excited. I'll never forget sitting with him (alone) as he described the plans for Forbidden Mountain/Everest. It was impossible to not feel like something great was coming. ... But there certainly are legit criticisms of his work (going back to Maelstrom).

That said, I think when you look at WDI's talent pool, the man is easily one of top guys. But he is MUCH better at having a cohesive vision for creating something (like DAK) and throwing in layers of detailing than he is at actual design.

~Disco GFCer!~

 

[c-one]

Someone else will need to post it here. A team of Clydesdale horses driven by a crew of knit hat wearing fools, listening to Coldplay on an iPod, with one hand on their iPad couldn't drag me to Twitter. What a totally useless and inane site. "Let me see if I can let the whole world know where I am and what I am doing, right now." or "O....M...G!!! Lindsay Lohan just got a latte at Starbucks!!" :hurl::hurl:

Where's the "gun blowing my brains out" smiley?

With all due respect, you clearly don't know much about Twitter. The thing about Twitter is that it's only as good as who you follow. Find the people saying interesting things, and follow them. It's the most useful social network on the Internet IMO (and the level of discourse is very high).

 

[Disaddict]

With all due respect, you clearly don't know much about Twitter. The thing about Twitter is that it's only as good as who you follow. Find the people saying interesting things, and follow them. It's the most useful social network on the Internet IMO (and the level of discourse is very high).

Wow. That horse is kind of dead. Can you drop it? Thanks. Try reading all posts before jumping the gun.

 

[Hakunamatata]

With all due respect, you clearly don't know much about Twitter. The thing about Twitter is that it's only as good as who you follow. Find the people saying interesting things, and follow them. It's the most useful social network on the Internet IMO (and the level of discourse is very high).

You know what happens when you are always following....

 

[MrMorrowTom]

Actually if you look at the first picture he is being escorted by Universal employees. Look at the name badge it's clearly Universal. It looks like the Disney employees have the lanyards around their necks, probably some kind of VIP lanyards.

Thank you for posting that, I can't agree more. Some people we see something and be narrow minded and not look at the whole picture.