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

[Alicia]

I'm in the same boat as you. With Dinosaur down last year, there was very little to do. Including dinner at Yak and Yeti, I think we were in and out in about 3 hours.

I don't think AK is a park with much to go back for with the rest on offer at the rest of WDW, DHS included.

AK is my favorite park to visit by myself... but that's because it's usually quiet and not very busy. It's a nice relaxing place to take a walk.

But if it becomes popular (like this past weekend,) I'm not sure I would like it as much.

 

[Miketheboss]

AK is my favorite park to visit by myself... but that's because it's usually quiet and not very busy. It's a nice relaxing place to take a walk.

But if it becomes popular (like this past weekend,) I'm not sure I would like it as much.

With Star Wars open in a couple of years, I think it'll go back to normal.

 

[Miketheboss]

I'm guessing we will hear this in the land.


Hearing this at night would be perfect.


Play this at my funeral


The soundtrack for this movie is so AK.

 

[bob albert]

funny how this thread has morphed from...."will anyone show up?"...to "Animal Kingdom can't handle these crowds!"

I don't see any way the park isn't absolutely jammed for quite a while after avatar opens. I mean who on this site doesn't think that years of pent up demand for a meaningful expansion of any kind can't pack the park with at least annual Passholders and former guests who need a reason to come back? The question is what the staying power is of avatar or the ability to attract new 1st time guests.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Remember when people thought Cars wasn't an IP deserving of a land? And for a couple years after opening people had to rush both the fastpass and stand by lines? Yeah, avatar will be the same.

 

[Scott W.]

Remember when people thought Cars wasn't an IP deserving of a land? And for a couple years after opening people had to rush both the fastpass and stand by lines? Yeah, avatar will be the same.

I'd have loved for the internet to be around in the late 80s like it is now to see people's reactions to Song of the South getting a ride made out of it.

 

[darkridelover]

I'd have loved for the internet to be around in the late 80s like it is now to see people's reactions to Song of the South getting a ride made out of it.

The ride would have never opened.

 

[Joel]

I'm guessing we will hear this in the land.


Hearing this at night would be perfect.


Play this at my funeral


The soundtrack for this movie is so AK.

I f'n love this picture.. this land looks so incredible. Probably going to book a weekend on-site Disney just to get 60-day advanced FP. We never stay on-site Disney, even if we're only going to Disney parks that weekend, always stay on-site Universal.

 

[Brian G.]

Remember when people thought Cars wasn't an IP deserving of a land? And for a couple years after opening people had to rush both the fastpass and stand by lines? Yeah, avatar will be the same.

No?

The argument was "Why are they spending 400-600 million on Pixar's weakest franchise?" - but we all knew it was coming because it was such a merch mover.

 

[twebber55]

No?

The argument was "Why are they spending 400-600 million on Pixar's weakest franchise?" - but we all knew it was coming because it was such a merch mover.

that wasnt an argument until the last year or so

 

[Parkscope Joe]

that wasnt an argument until the last year or so

There's some serious historical revisionism here.

Also I think the park will be packed around opening then drop. DHS and Epcot will get hit hard.

 

[twebber55]

There's some serious historical revisionism here.

Also I think the park will be packed around opening then drop. DHS and Epcot will get hit hard.

dude we didnt even know the supposed budget until about a year ago

 

[Brian G.]

dude we didnt even know the supposed budget until about a year ago

Wait.. which land are you talking about?

Cuz the Avatar cost rumor came out day of the official announcement.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

dude we didnt even know the supposed budget until about a year ago

Carsland budget? That's been discussed a ton through Al Lutz articles years and years ago.

 

[twebber55]

Carsland budget? That's been discussed a ton through Al Lutz articles years and years ago.

sorry avatar budget was what i was talking about LOL

 

[twebber55]

Wait.. which land are you talking about?

Cuz the Avatar cost rumor came out day of the official announcement.

sorry i was talking Avatar budget LOL
ill try to keep up next time

 

[Parkscope Joe]

sorry avatar budget was what i was talking about LOL

I think this is a great discussion point. It seems the budget has been in flux A LOT depending on what was in the project and all the required changes and engineering change orders. Those add up and Imagineering is notorious for it.

 

[epcyclopedia]

I'm still surprised by the crowds for ROL.

But you have to remember even on the busiest days there's half as many people at AK than MK.

If that will change remains to be seen. ROL packs people in abut has very intentionally selective availability. I'm not sure if they're just super smart controlling it that way to garner hype or if it is exceeding their own expectations.

People being at AK at 7-10pm is weird. It just is. The park, despite changes, still isn't built for it from an infrastructure standpoint and there were no real lessons learned during what was supposed to be AK extension of hours when ROL failed to open on time.

Unlit signage, dark narrow walkways, lack of food, lack of things to do (nearly all animal areas close or the animals go in) could come to bite them in the butt if guests start openly lingering instead of waiting to get in to see ROL.

So in that sense Avatar will fill a void and offer a lure.

At this point I don't doubt the need for an expansion and changes - I doubt the IP and it's ability to produce content people will want to consume. M:S is a good example of a high budget "thanks but no thanks" from the general public. I'm on the fence if Pandora will follow.

 

[Nick]

If you guys want to remove any revisionist history from your minds, go back to page 1 and look at the reaction. This was very well received upon announcement.

 

[epcyclopedia]

Hasn't it been mentioned that there are smaller refurb walls installed on the other side of the bridge now?