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

[twebber55]

So I found this funny, but on a video game podcast, during a discussion about Universal Nintendo, one of the hosts says, "They're building an Avatar land at Animal Kingdom. Disney is. I don't know why."

:troll:

I would guess the "gamer" community (which a lot of this board is) probably isn't into environmental message movies
just a guess though

also, are there really video game podcasts out there?

 

[JungleSkip]

also, are there really video game podcasts out there?

There's podcasts for everything.

Also, the thought had nothing to do with environmentalism. It was about "Does anyone care about Avatar". Just pointing out that line of thought isn't restricted to theme park fans

 

[twebber55]

There's podcasts for everything.

Also, the thought had nothing to do with environmentalism. It was about "Does anyone care about Avatar". Just pointing out that line of thought isn't restricted to theme park fans

theme park fans who frequent these boards are also gamers...im sure there is a very strong 18-30 male demographic on this board

 

[JungleSkip]

theme park fans who frequent these boards are also gamers...im sure there is a very strong 18-30 male demographic on this board

You're missing the point. But okay. :bonk:

 

[twebber55]

You're missing the point. But okay. :bonk:

I guess you re missing my point, but okay

 

[shiekra38]

theme park fans who frequent these boards are also gamers...im sure there is a very strong 18-30 male demographic on this board

I'm not a gamer...

 

[Parkscope Joe]

theme park fans who frequent these boards are also gamers...im sure there is a very strong 18-30 male demographic on this board

The podcast in question is Isometic, hosted by three women and a dad.

 

[twebber55]

The podcast in question is Isometic, hosted by three women and a dad.

and there target audience? let me guess

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I'm not a gamer...

we re speaking in generalities, obviously there are people who are not, nor am I for that matter
my point was the gamer community is probably very similar to theme park community with strong ties with 18-30 males
which is what you see a lot of on this board

so when a point is being made about "even the video game community doesn't care about avatar" makes little difference to me because its the same crowd

 

[Tobias]

When it comes to this land, I have no doubt it's going to be a impressively themed land. Though personally for me, that's about it.

With the "big" ride looking to be essentially Soarin 2.0, I'll ride it when I'm there...but it's certainly not going to make me want to go to the land right when it opens. For me I'm far more excited for the Rivers of Light show. (I've always been intruiged by any new night show, that and I've been wanting AK to be open late for a long time since damn it's nice at night.)

 

[alomar]

Im a gamer, and the last number of the 18-30 demo. Haha.

 

[twebber55]

Fox, Disney, and some independent developers for the shows and exhibits.

The only explanation for Avatar's involvement at WDW so far is the spread of US vs Domestic grosses, with Avatar around 73% of grosses from international sales.

for the record most box office hits have a similar % between domestic and international ie Harry Potter...the landscape has changed with movies CHina is a major player. the one franchise that doesn't have a similar correlation is star wars which is more 50-50 so it will be interesting this December to see if that trend holds or now that the mouse has control will it become more international

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Please elaborate^^^^ Exactly which companies?

its been mentioned already but
Fox
Disney
Traveling Exhibition
Cirque show
all opening within the next two years

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When it comes to this land, I have no doubt it's going to be a impressively themed land. Though personally for me, that's about it.

With the "big" ride looking to be essentially Soarin 2.0, I'll ride it when I'm there...but it's certainly not going to make me want to go to the land right when it opens. For me I'm far more excited for the Rivers of Light show. (I've always been intruiged by any new night show, that and I've been wanting AK to be open late for a long time since damn it's nice at night.)

we don't really know what the rides are, so ll pass judgment after I see them

 

[Nick]

for the record most box office hits have a similar % between domestic and international ie Harry Potter...the landscape has changed with movies CHina is a major player. the one franchise that doesn't have a similar correlation is star wars which is more 50-50 so it will be interesting this December to see if that trend holds or now that the mouse has control will it become more international

Yeah, the only movie that has grossed over $1B and earned over 50% of that domestically is The Dark Knight at 53.2%, and that was about 7 years ago at this point (right when super hero movies started to really take off again). Super hero movies these days still hold up the best out of all movies that gross over $1B, but even then they are usually at around 40% at best.

Also, let's not pretend like domestic vs. foreign gross is a deal breaker here. If that was the truth, then why is Universal making a F&F ride at UOR? Furious 7 has the second worst domestic gross percentage for movies that have grossed over $1B at 23.1% compared to Avatar's 27.3%. Those numbers are a bit misleading though as Avatar made a buttload more than Furious 7, so that 27.1% translated to $760.5M vs. the 338.6M Furious 7 has grossed domestically so far.

 

[twebber55]

Yeah, the only movie that has grossed over $1B and earned over 50% of that domestically is The Dark Knight at 53.2%, and that was about 7 years ago at this point (right when super hero movies started to really take off again). Super hero movies these days still hold up the best out of all movies that gross over $1B, but even then they are usually at around 40% at best.

Also, let's not pretend like domestic vs. foreign gross is a deal breaker here. If that was the truth, then why is Universal making a F&F ride at UOR? Furious 7 has the second worst domestic gross percentage for movies that have grossed over $1B at 23.1% compared to Avatar's 27.3%. Those numbers are a bit misleading though as Avatar made a buttload more than Furious 7, so that 27.1% translated to $760.5M vs. the 338.6M Furious 7 has grossed domestically so far.

spot on post
Avatar's 27% of 2.8 billion is a lot more than 50% of 1 billion

forgot about Dark Night...great films

 

[shiekra38]

Yeah, the only movie that has grossed over $1B and earned over 50% of that domestically is The Dark Knight at 53.2%, and that was about 7 years ago at this point (right when super hero movies started to really take off again). Super hero movies these days still hold up the best out of all movies that gross over $1B, but even then they are usually at around 40% at best.

Also, let's not pretend like domestic vs. foreign gross is a deal breaker here. If that was the truth, then why is Universal making a F&F ride at UOR? Furious 7 has the second worst domestic gross percentage for movies that have grossed over $1B at 23.1% compared to Avatar's 27.3%. Those numbers are a bit misleading though as Avatar made a buttload more than Furious 7, so that 27.1% translated to $760.5M vs. the 338.6M Furious 7 has grossed domestically so far.

I find it less important how much a movie makes versus how much it is ingrained into pop culture...like many have said, you don't see kids chomping at the bit to own an Avatar toy..

All that Avatar had going for it was the gimmick of advanced motion capture, very clever marketing campaign, but that doesn't translate to lasting franchise...

 

[Nick]

I find it less important how much a movie makes versus how much it is ingrained into pop culture...like many have said, you don't see kids chomping at the bit to own an Avatar toy..

All that Avatar had going for it was the gimmick of advanced motion capture, very clever marketing campaign, but that doesn't translate to lasting franchise...

I wasn't arguing that, I was simply providing a counter point to the original statement, seemingly claiming that the only reason for Avatar is "the spread of US vs Domestic grosses" but 27% of $2.8B is still a lot.

I have stated multiple times that I am well aware that Avatar's place in pop-culture isn't really known or something safe to bet on. But the movie and what we've seen about the LAND lends perfectly to a theme park. People get caught up to much in what an attraction is based on. The land will look great, what will make or break it will be the rides and technology (AA's, bio-luminescent plants/paths, etc). That is what people will focus on and will make or break their experience.

Let me pose a question: If Avatar 2, 3, etc bomb somehow, but the attractions/land is amazing and is a big winner financially and boosts DAKs attendance big time, does that mean the land is any less of a success?

 

[twebber55]

I find it less important how much a movie makes versus how much it is ingrained into pop culture...like many have said, you don't see kids chomping at the bit to own an Avatar toy..

All that Avatar had going for it was the gimmick of advanced motion capture, very clever marketing campaign, but that doesn't translate to lasting franchise...

regardless of the reasons of why YOU think people watched the movie, a ton still went and watched it...I would guess they wanted to see the Beauty of Pandora which is what Disney will be selling as a theme park
honestly can you not see the potential in an incredibly themed land? or does your not liking the movie hinder that?
Harry Potter does terrible merchandising and gets blown away by hello kitty..which land would you rather visit?

 

[shiekra38]

I wasn't arguing that, I was simply providing a counter point to the original statement, seemingly claiming that the only reason for Avatar is "the spread of US vs Domestic grosses" but 27% of $2.8B is still a lot.

I have stated multiple times that I am well aware that Avatar's place in pop-culture isn't really known or something safe to bet on. But the movie and what we've seen about the LAND lends perfectly to a theme park. People get caught up to much in what an attraction is based on. The land will look great, what will make or break it will be the rides and technology (AA's, bio-luminescent plants/paths, etc). That is what people will focus on and will make or break their experience.

Let me pose a question: If Avatar 2, 3, etc bomb somehow, but the attractions/land is amazing and is a big winner financially and boosts DAKs attendance big time, does that mean the land is any less of a success?

I'm sure it will be amazing, looking forward to it!

Unfortunately in the theme park world you need lasting properties or you should be prepared to replace attractions constantly..

We'll see if Avatar goes the way of Ellen's Energy Adventure or becomes a classic on its own

 

[twebber55]

I'm sure it will be amazing, looking forward to it!

Unfortunately in the theme park world you need lasting properties or you should be prepared to replace attractions constantly..

We'll see if Avatar goes the way of Ellen's Energy Adventure or becomes a classic on its own

all good points
we shall see

 

[Nick]

I'm sure it will be amazing, looking forward to it!

Unfortunately in the theme park world you need lasting properties or you should be prepared to replace attractions constantly..

We'll see if Avatar goes the way of Ellen's Energy Adventure or becomes a classic on its own

You seem to be missing the point. Is Song of the South relevant or known by most visitors? No. But Splash Mountain is still a great ride. Like Diagon, one of the best features of this land will be the visuals. That will be an attraction unto itself.

Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, etc would have never become classics had WDI not been creative and thought up the ideas. That's what it's all about, creativity, which is what you, in the end, experience. You are experiencing WDI or UC's creative art in real life. Just because it may be based off of an IP means very little. The IP is to attract an audience and give WDI something to work with right away. Who knows how big the audience actually is, but I doubt it actually matters in the end as what really matters is the experience of the land and how they execute the attractions going into the land.

Basically, creativity is what makes a great theme park land/attraction, not the IP.

 

[shiekra38]

You seem to be missing the point. Is Song of the South relevant or known by most visitors? No. But Splash Mountain is still a great ride. Like Diagon, one of the best features of this land will be the visuals. That will be an attraction unto itself.

Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, etc would have never become classics had WDI not been creative and thought up the ideas. That's what it's all about, creativity, which is what you, in the end, experience. You are experiencing WDI or UC's creative art in real life. Just because it may be based off of an IP means very little. The IP is to attract an audience and give WDI something to work with right away. Who knows how big the audience actually is, but I doubt it actually matters in the end as what really matters is the experience of the land and how they execute the attractions going into the land.

Basically, creativity is what makes a great theme park land/attraction, not the IP.

My apologies, when you brought out the information about the box office it points towards the fact that you are trying to prove Avatar's worth..

As for Song of the South and SM...I argue that the ride is a visual icon and that give it a leg up on some long gone rides like Mr. Toad and Alien Encounter

I 'm sure that Avatar will be very well done and good looking, but as far as creativity goes the Sorin 2.0 rumors have me nervous..

I'm not sure why I continue to have this conversation (even though I like discussing with you) as this attraction will already be popular because Disney did it