Very Interesting NEW Article about Avatar coming to DAK

[Reddog1134]

Originally Posted by jmm476

The OP requested that we keep Avatar bashing out of this thread, so I won't state my opinions there. But - is anyone else surprised to see that what was supposed to be avatar "land" is merely a building housing 2 attractions and a gift shop? Sounds a lot like the Land building at Epcot to me, just a larger scale.

I guess I just figured whatever they did, it would be bigger and have more to it...

The leaked plans are for THAT particular building only. Not the entire land.

In fact (from WDWMagic):

"Walt Disney Imagineering has recruited back to the company legendary rockwork and environment specialist Zsolt Hormay to produce the exterior environments for the upcoming AVATARland at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Zsolt has been involved in Disney's most elaborate and spectacular exteriors in the past 20 years, including Mysterious Island at Tokyo DisneySea, the Tree of Life at Disneys Animal Kingdom, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland Paris.

Zsolt Hormay will be working under Joe Rohde, the creative lead on the AVATAR project."

[JimmyV]

Originally Posted by jmm476

But - is anyone else surprised to see that what was supposed to be avatar "land" is merely a building housing 2 attractions and a gift shop? Sounds a lot like the Land building at Epcot to me, just a larger scale.

Actually, this is exactly what I had hoped would happen. A small themed area similar to what they have built around Star Tours is all that is warranted. This would be a nice compromise between those who despise Avatar, and those who would welcome a new thrill ride to AK. Coming off the heels of WWoHP and the FLE, perhaps people here, (and in Disney Imagineering) were envisioning something on a more grand scale. I never thought that would be wise. Looks like that won't happen.

[andyman8]

Originally Posted by JoshuaShaw

Except in the case of the work print of X-Men Origins: Wolverine getting leaked.

Or when Universal Orlando names its "countdown clock to a BIG announcement" Transformers_CountdownClock in the HTML code and just an hour later changes it to UOR_CountdownClock...

[elleherself]

I am really disappointed with the idea of another Soarin' type ride. While Soarin' is fun enough, I remember one thread here who thought the entire thing was the preshow, and that at the end the ride was about to begin! Being suspended over an IMAX screen is cool but I expect more from a ride.

The boat ride looks interesting enough, and would be a good addition to Animal Kingdom.

I hate to say this yet again, but the ride system for the Forbidden Journey at Universal is crazy good. Disney would be in their element designing something like this, and I think they should invite the inevitable comparisons and design a ride with something like that or Spiderman in mind. Universal has gotten ahead of them when it comes to quality dark ride attractions in the last few years.

BUT I take these early plans with a grain of salt. New Fantasyland barely resembles the original plans that were chock full of princess meet & greets and a fairy playground. The decision to add another great ride was an excellent one and I think Fantasyland as built is hugely improved over the early plans.

[TDC Nala]

New Fantasyland barely resembles the original plans that were chock full of princess meet & greets and a fairy playground.

This is true and thank goodness for that.

I even liked Belle's enchanted tale, which I think is the only survivor of the originally planned princess interactions - although I'd imagine it's pretty different after official opening, as there were no children in the audience I was in and they had to get all adult volunteers to do the show (they really didn't have any trouble getting them either, of course the biggest guy was picked to play the Beast)

Disney doesn't seem in the mood to build stuff that the whole family can't ride. As cool as Forbidden Journey is, there are a LOT of people who can't ride it. The mine train going up at MK is probaby going to exclude the youngest, looks like it's on a par with Big Thunder, so I don't know if they'll do it again; on the other hand, Avatar isn't a children's film and they might not be aiming for children.

[Jennasis]

Originally Posted by JoshuaShaw

Except in the case of the work print of X-Men Origins: Wolverine getting leaked.

I'm unfamiliar with that particular leak, but I still maintain that leaks are orchestrated (for the most part). When you have a production as big as a film or an amusement park land/ride etc, there are just too many people involved to expect they'll all stay silent. Better to control the flow of info and let stuff slip out as they want it to.

[t_daniels]

Originally Posted by JoshuaShaw

Except in the case of the work print of X-Men Origins: Wolverine getting leaked.

Haha that's very true!

[zulemara]

I was going to create a thread since this was starting to pop up all over. It seems Cameron has come to an agreement with Disney, likely for the scaled down, plan B version of Avatarland. Disney has also hired an environment and rockwork legend back into the company to work on Avatarland.

[DanBoris]

There is an excellent analysis of the full plans (the ones leaked are only part of the plans) here:

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/c...8#post-5189040

I can voucher for the author of this post, he knows what he is talking about.

[parkhopping]

Originally Posted by DanBoris

There is an excellent analysis of the full plans (the ones leaked are only part of the plans) here:

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/c...8#post-5189040

I can voucher for the author of this post, he knows what he is talking about.

That is great info! Thanks for sharing the link. I will be interested to hear more about the plans for this in the coming days and weeks.

I would also be interested to know if there is an area planned in this section of the park for an evening show. I saw speculation on another thread somewhere about adding something similar to WoC, and how that could fit within Avatarland. Something like that would enable them to do a nighttime spectacular that doesn't involve fireworks, and this expansion would provide enough attractions (along with EE and KRR) to keep sections of the park open after dark.

[TheRustyScupper]

Originally Posted by TwoCortWort

Oh I will be upset if they get rid of Festival of the Lion King. I love that show, but anxious to see what happens.

1) It is still rumored to be relocated to "Africa".
2) Which, of course does make contextual sense.
3) The *alleged* location is
. . . to the right of Tusker (when facing Tusker House)
. . . to the left of Safari
. . . set back about 50-70 feet
4) ABSOLUTELY NO RUMORS of a new Camp Minnie-Mickey location.
5) Assuming they keep Camp Minnie-Mickey ?!?!?!

[Reddog1134]

Originally Posted by TheRustyScupper

1) It is still rumored to be relocated to "Africa".
2) Which, of course does make contextual sense.
3) The *alleged* location is
. . . to the right of Tusker (when facing Tusker House)
. . . to the left of Safari
. . . set back about 50-70 feet
4) ABSOLUTELY NO RUMORS of a new Camp Minnie-Mickey location.
5) Assuming they keep Camp Minnie-Mickey ?!?!?!

I thought that Beastly Bazaar was the new Camp Minnie-Mickey.

[MJMcBride]

Originally Posted by Reddog1134

I thought that Beastly Bazaar was the new Camp Minnie-Mickey.

Its a character greeting area yes. No announcement of what will be in there. No announcement that its the new Camp MM

[Orreed]

At first I was totally opposed to Avatar, but this blueprints and ideas are exciting me. Yes, I would rather them be something like South America with these plans, but I'd be fine with Avatar. Thanks for the awesome links!

[ASteelersMidget]

Originally Posted by skier_pete

What you mean all those "rumors" with absolutely no basis in fact that this has been "canceled" were wrong! I am in complete shock!

(Since sarcasm doesn't come across on the internet - that's sarcasm kids!)

I am all for this. I can't stand the way so many Disney fans on the boards whine that Disney doesn't put anything new into WDW, and then when they do, whine that "Oh, but that's not what I wanted, I meant that not only should they put into something new, but it should be THIS and THIS only, because it's my idea, and I know better than anyone! Wah wah wah!"

I don't think Avatar was a great movie, but I think it good make a great theme park attraction. And if you make a great theme park attraction, then people will love it.

(A good example being Transformers at Uni, I think the Transformer movies are big steaming turds that I would never sit through again, unlike Avatar which I would, but I would never dismiss that they can't make a good theme park ride out of it.)

This this this this this.

Also I would have preferred a vekoma motorbike coaster that was rumored though. Still it's better than nothing. (And nothing is better than an exact clone of something at DL or DCA in my opinion)