Pandora: The World of Avatar Announcement, Construction, & Preview Discussion

[Mad Dog]

All of those people on the Disney sites that have been talking smack on this land for the last four years are eating their words right now, and I would bet, were the first ones to sign up. FOS reigns.

 

[Alicia]

All of those people on the Disney sites that have been talking smack on this land for the last four years are eating their words right now, and I would bet, were the first ones to sign up.

Well, they want to be the first to say I told you so I'm sure.

I for one have always been excited for it and am looking forward to it (hopefully) not sucking.

 

[Alicia]

Did they force you to a non-disclosure / no-pictures-allowed policy when you signed up?

No.

Edit: However, who knows what the further information email they say is coming early May will say regarding that. And I bet you they'll have signs up at the Flight of Passage saying no video.

 

[twebber55]

i still havent seen an email but saw it on twitter followed the link and got May 13 6-8 pm
wanted the evening so maybe get a little nighttime action

 

[Miketheboss]

I'm so mad at myself right now. I was planning to go on opening day but I rather go during AP previews.

 

[Mr. EPCOT]

All of those people on the Disney sites that have been talking smack on this land for the last four years are eating their words right now, and I would bet, were the first ones to sign up. FOS reigns.

I still hate the idea of this IP being shoehorned into the parks with every fiber of my being, but that doesn't mean I'm not curious.

 

[epcyclopedia]

I'm so mad at myself right now. I was planning to go on opening day but I rather go during AP previews.

You could lay in the tropical plant section of home depot while waving a glowstick and get many of the same visceral sensations this land is going to offer.

*loves being a problem solver*

 

[Mad Dog]

You could lay in the tropical plant section of home depot while waving a glowstick and get many of the same visceral sensations this land is going to offer.

*loves being a problem solver*

You've had some good ones today.

 

[Miketheboss]

You could lay in the tropical plant section of home depot while waving a glowstick and get many of the same visceral sensations this land is going to offer.

*loves being a problem solver*

lol. I have days booked for May 27th, just to be able to get fast passes and there might not even be any. We are still 60 days out but people are already getting them.

 

[s8film40]

All of those people on the Disney sites that have been talking smack on this land for the last four years are eating their words right now, and I would bet, were the first ones to sign up. FOS reigns.

Hey we gotta go see it so we can say we saw it and it was the worst thing ever.

Now the hard part for me is going to be motivating myself to go see something I really have no interest in seeing outside of the curiosity factor.

 

[hishedale]

Sorry to burst anyone's bubble....but there's a 0.0000001% chance that guest previews will be going on April 8 and 9

Haven't seen a message from you since the preview sign up emails.
Guess no one's bubble is bursted?

 

[Mad Dog]

Hey we gotta go see it so we can say we saw it and it was the worst thing ever.

Now the hard part for me is going to be motivating myself to go see something I really have no interest in seeing outside of the curiosity factor.

No prob. Everybody has differing opinions on different things. Myself, I think this will be pretty good, but certainly not the equal of Diagon, especially in interest, time spent in the land, plus merch/food sales. The thing that I've found interesting reading the various Disney sites over the last four plus years, is that I think Pandora has received a fairer shake on OU (the only significant Universal forum) than it has from the many Disney oriented forums. People here have been pretty objective, for the most part.

 

[hishedale]

I hope everyone has a blast on their previews. I'm expecting some really beautiful shots of the land from everyone, especially Alicia.

 

[Alicia]

I hope everyone has a blast on their previews. I'm expecting some really beautiful shots of the land from everyone, especially Alicia.

I'll be trying the food as well, if it's serving that is. Will bring back pics and vids.

 

[s8film40]

No prob. Everybody has differing opinions on different things. Myself, I think this will be pretty good, but certainly not the equal of Diagon, especially in interest, time spent in the land, plus merch/food sales. The thing that I've found interesting reading the various Disney sites over the last four plus years, is that I think Pandora has received a fairer shake on OU (the only significant Universal forum) than it has from the many Disney oriented forums. People here have been pretty objective, for the most part.

The side of me that is a Disney fan absolutely hates it, the side of me that is a Universal fan is fairly indifferent.

I think most people can agree this was an extremely poor choice of IP. Best case scenario the theme and environment make for a fun experience regardless of the IP. As a Disney fan I see this as damaging the overall theme of DAK and potentially being a big loss for the company considereing the investment. For me personally after following the decline of Disney over the last decade I've mostly become emotionally unnattached.

 

[giant4203]

Haven't seen a message from you since the preview sign up emails.
Guess no one's bubble is bursted?

My point was April 8 and 9 was not a thing...the rides will not be ready at that point for guests

 

[jtsalien]

The side of me that is a Disney fan absolutely hates it, the side of me that is a Universal fan is fairly indifferent.

I think most people can agree this was an extremely poor choice of IP. Best case scenario the theme and environment make for a fun experience regardless of the IP. As a Disney fan I see this as damaging the overall theme of DAK and potentially being a big loss for the company considereing the investment. For me personally after following the decline of Disney over the last decade I've mostly become emotionally unnattached.

Truth is DAK was dead the minute they cut the Mythical land and kept Dinoland. I mean, I get the shoehorn feel. But let's not pretend they're dropping a Mickey Wand or Birthday Cake theme on Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disneyland.

At the end of the day, this is brand new entertainment in a park that's been largely bereft of it since it's opened. I don't think anyone outside of the theme park community is going to be holding it to Wizarding World Standards. That same lack of care you mentioned has lowered the bar for Disney. People are clearly going to eat this up just because it's new (I doubt months ago anyone would've guessed the AP preview would be sold out in hours). And I don't think it has near the pressure of Star Wars land. Now if we're having these same "Meh" conversations about that in a few years.....

 

[cameronw99]

I have no clue how this works but I have a trip planned for May 10th-14th. Any chance I would get to check this out as a non passholder?

 

[Alicia]

Truth is DAK was dead the minute they cut the Mythical land and kept Dinoland. I mean, I get the shoehorn feel. But let's not pretend they're dropping a Mickey Wand or Birthday Cake theme on Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disneyland.

At the end of the day, this is brand new entertainment in a park that's been largely bereft of it since it's opened. I don't think anyone outside of the theme park community is going to be holding it to Wizarding World Standards. That same lack of care you mentioned has lowered the bar for Disney. People are clearly going to eat this up just because it's new (I doubt months ago anyone would've guessed the AP preview would be sold out in hours). And I don't think it has near the pressure of Star Wars land. Now if we're having these same "Meh" conversations about that in a few years.....

I agree with you on AK, it needs as much more as it can get. Everest was the best addition so far, but there's still much more room for improvement to make it an all day park.

I think the popularity of Disney's new attractions doesn't speak to their quality, so much as it does to the need for fresh things to do at WDW. Frozen, Mine Train, and Soarin' aren't the best rides in the world, but guests need new rides so bad that their Fastpasses run out as far as 60 days in advance. Luckily WDW is finally getting new things over the next five or so years, because clearly the guests are clamoring for (literally) anything new.

 

[s8film40]

Truth is DAK was dead the minute they cut the Mythical land and kept Dinoland. I mean, I get the shoehorn feel. But let's not pretend they're dropping a Mickey Wand or Birthday Cake theme on Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disneyland.

At the end of the day, this is brand new entertainment in a park that's been largely bereft of it since it's opened. I don't think anyone outside of the theme park community is going to be holding it to Wizarding World Standards. That same lack of care you mentioned has lowered the bar for Disney. People are clearly going to eat this up just because it's new (I doubt months ago anyone would've guessed the AP preview would be sold out in hours). And I don't think it has near the pressure of Star Wars land. Now if we're having these same "Meh" conversations about that in a few years.....

Yeah, I agree. I'm not very attached to DAK, it's definitely my least favorite Disney concept so it certainly doesn't really bother me having Avatar there. My only real issue with it is seeing the resources put to such waste, when so many other things could have been done. I think Avatar will add another item to most visitors checklist, but will have no impact at all on driving attendance. As you said Star Wars is a whole other story. Star Wars will be popular regardless of what they do, however what they do I think will have a long lasting effect on people's perception of what Disney is able to do creatively. If they mess it up it could take a long time to live that down. In a sense Avatar land I guess has given them a practice project (with low expectations) to take on as they try to get back in the game.