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

[stitch2008]

He also confirmed "other planets as well." Wonder how that plays in.

Very little I'd imagine. I think this land is going to really be about Pandora and not really about the other planets.

I wonder how much Cameron is considering changing Avatar 2 and 3 to make the movies more relevant to park attractions.

I dont think hes gonna change them at all. I think hes gonna make his movies his way, and then WDI will create attractions based on the material.

 

[Disaddict]

We have loads of omnimover attractions. I hope to see a unique and creative ride system implemented.

I think you might have misunderstood me. I meant an omnimover for the "water planet" ride. I am sure there will be some sort of major E Ticket in there as well for another aspect of Pandora but I cannot see a better way to portray the water planet theme than an Omnimover. But that is just my lack of imagination right now and lack of sleep.

 

[Alektronic]

Embarrassment? Seriously?

Yes. Dino-Rama is an embarrassment!

 

[GLaDOS]

I wonder how much Cameron is considering changing Avatar 2 and 3 to make the movies more relevant to park attractions.

I'd rather see him spend time on writing a decent script and characters this time than wasting time on whether or not his action scene can be turned into a neato roller coaster.

 

[Disaddict]

Yes. Dino-Rama is an embarrassment!

I like Dinoland USA. It has a real "Route 66" appeal that I love. Quite a lot of people feel the same way. They may not be here... :lol: ...but they exist. :ROFLOL:

 

[NoChesterHester]

I think you might have misunderstood me. I meant an omnimover for the "water planet" ride. I am sure there will be some sort of major E Ticket in there as well for another aspect of Pandora but I cannot see a better way to portray the water planet theme than an Omnimover. But that is just my lack of imagination right now and lack of sleep.

http://www.tdrfan.com/tds/mysterious_island/20000_leagues_under_the_sea/index.htm

This version is very effective! The "water" is in the ride vehicles windows rather than submerging the animatronics. Amazing!

 

[Alektronic]

I like Dinoland USA. It has a real "Route 66" appeal that I love. Quite a lot of people feel the same way. They may not be here... :lol: ...but they exist. :ROFLOL:

I like Dinoland also, Dinosaur, Boneyard, Dig Site and Restaurantosaurus fit in well but the Dino-Rama carnival area has to go, it just cheapens the area.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Yes. Dino-Rama is an embarrassment!

Maybe I was mistaken...but I think Everest was what was called "becoming an embarrassment"

 

[Master Yoda]

I like Dinoland USA. It has a real "Route 66" appeal that I love. Quite a lot of people feel the same way. They may not be here... :lol: ...but they exist. :ROFLOL:

I am right over here in the corner.:wave:

I like Dinoland also, Dinosaur, Boneyard, Dig Site and Restaurantosaurus fit in well but the Dino-Rama carnival area has to go, it just cheapens the area.

That is the point.

 

[Disaddict]

http://www.tdrfan.com/tds/mysterious_island/20000_leagues_under_the_sea/index.htm

This version is very effective! The "water" is in the ride vehicles windows rather than submerging the animatronics. Amazing!

That is just amazing.

 

[MichWolv]

I like Dinoland USA. It has a real "Route 66" appeal that I love. Quite a lot of people feel the same way. They may not be here... :lol: ...but they exist. :ROFLOL:

I am right over here in the corner.:wave:

That is the point.

Count me in as well. It took me awhile to appreciate, and reading the Imagineering field guide to DAK certainly helped. But now I like it, even if Primevil Whirl isn't worth more than a 10 minute wait.

The layers of theming in Dinoland are interesting and noticeable now that I realize what's there.

 

[SleepingMonk]

Agreed! I just hope we get a 150-200 million dollar super E-ticket for this land. I really think they will go all out on one ride and create a completely groundbreaking attraction with a new ride system never seen before to counter Potter. Which is what this land needs. They need a ride so mind blowing people go home talking about.

$150-$200 million doesn't buy an E-ticket in Disney Dollars.

For that much Disney can finance another Little Mermaid, maybe a larger version of Midway Mania.

A Potter killer?

They would need to spend three times that amount.

 

[MickeyPeace]

Animal Kingdom has become my favorite park. I'm very excited to see this group together!

Cant wait for more news.

Has anyone seen the tribute to Joe Rhode in AK? There is one sign that I saw for the first time last visit after taking the Backstage Safari tour.

 

[GLaDOS]

Count me in as well. It took me awhile to appreciate, and reading the Imagineering field guide to DAK certainly helped. But now I like it, even if Primevil Whirl isn't worth more than a 10 minute wait.

The layers of theming in Dinoland are interesting and noticeable now that I realize what's there.

I know the story behind Dinorama, but to me it is nothing more than a gross justification for adding a cheap, obnoxious, ugly area filled with cheap off the shelf rides and carnival games.

It's like decision makers told WDI, "We're going to add some crappy stuff to Dinoland. Make up a story that justifies its existence."

 

[Master Yoda]

I know the story behind Dinorama, but to me it is nothing more than a gross justification for adding a cheap, obnoxious, ugly area filled with cheap off the shelf rides and carnival games.

It's like decision makers told WDI, "We're going to add some crappy stuff to Dinoland. Make up a story that justifies its existence."

Call me crazy but I like "slumming" it on occasion. I love going to the fair once a year for the cheap games, horrible food and carney atmosphere. I have no problem with that element being brought into the safe haven of a Disney park. Quite honestly, I wish they would push the carney atmosphere a bit more with some food options (deep fried Twinkies, pickles, snickers bards, etc) and some over the top barkers.

 

[whylightbulb]

I'm going to get flamed for saying this, but Rohde has adopted a very Walt-esque pose in that picture- arms out, mind clearly working and thinking about how to make this work. You can just sense the energy and creativity he exudes, even in that photo.

Ugghhhhh I'm getting a bit nauseous from all the Rhode worship. I knew the guy back when he worked in the model shop and seriously he isn't that talented. He is great at politics and self promotion however. He lucked out on a few projects and worked his way up to the VP level. He is a nice enough fellow and I'm not trying to make him look bad but he is like so many in the management ranks: average in talent but great at politics. If it weren't for the many talented designers under him and the crazy wardrobe/jewelry you would never have heard of him.

 

[Disaddict]

$150-$200 million doesn't buy an E-ticket in Disney Dollars.

For that much Disney can finance another Little Mermaid, maybe a larger version of Midway Mania.

A Potter killer?

They would need to spend three times that amount.

First, I want to say that I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan.

But I wish people would stop talking about Disney's answer to Harry Potter. Disney doesn't have to answer to that land in another park. What Universal does in their parks should never cause Disney to "respond" in any way. Disney leads, and others follow. Why do you think US added WWoHP? Because Disney kicks their butt all the time so they had to come up with something. This WWoHP fascination will subside. But in the meantime Disney has no reason to "respond" to WWoHP. The people that come to US for it will likely be spending dollars at Disney as well. I hope US comes up with another huge idea. It will only help Disney.

 

[GLaDOS]

Call me crazy but I like "slumming" it on occasion. I love going to the fair once a year for the cheap games, horrible food and carney atmosphere.

I do too. But I don't go to Disney for something I can get at my local Six Flags or shore points.

The food I don't mind. But obviously cheap and shoddy-looking rides have no place in a Disney park.

If they were intent on doing this idea, it should look closer to Paradise Pier than my local summer carnival.

 

[GLaDOS]

Disney leads, and others follow.

Please.

Listen, I love WDW, but aside from attendance, Disney hasn't done squat to "lead" in Florida since the opening of Tower of Terror. Universal has whipped them in attraction design since '99.

Avatar could possibly change that. Possibly. But by the time Avatar opens Universal will have already added on another ground breaking attraction to the wizarding World and apparently a few over at the Studios as well.

 

[Scuttle]

$150-$200 million doesn't buy an E-ticket in Disney Dollars.

For that much Disney can finance another Little Mermaid, maybe a larger version of Midway Mania.

A Potter killer?

They would need to spend three times that

Everest cost 100 million to build, so it is possible, but I know what you mean. WDI runs up the budget so quickly. Is it because Disney keeps using all kinds of outside sources? I know Jim Hill has referred to WDI as more of just a management company these days.