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

[Nick]

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

I feel like the by calling/thinking about the ride as "Soarin' 2.0", it's a disservice. The expected Vekoma ride system should pump this baby up to about "Soarin' 10.0"

Also, I was never using the box office numbers to show it's worth or that it has a following. I was simply using them in a way to combat someone else's point that it didn't make a lot of money domestically, which is absolutely false.

 

[Disneyhead]

I feel like the by calling/thinking about the ride as "Soarin' 2.0", it's a disservice. The expected Vekoma ride system should pump this baby up to about "Soarin' 10.0"

Also, I was never using the box office numbers to show it's worth or that it has a following. I was simply using them in a way to combat someone else's point that it didn't make a lot of money domestically, which is absolutely false.

I'll wait to see what kind of themeing the ride vehicles have and the themeing in the queue before I even come close to declaring anything about this ride.

And I honestly think the sequals are going to fail miserably.

 

[Nick]

I'll wait to see what kind of themeing the ride vehicles have and the themeing in the queue before I even come close to declaring anything about this ride.

And I honestly think the sequals are going to fail miserably.

Yes, theming will be a big factor obviously, I expect full-on theming, nothing like the blandness of the Soarin' queue. The visuals they can create in a queue based on this movie could be stunning.

And I don't have hat in the ring or really truly care what the sequels do. But I do know James Cameron rarely puts out a big budget dud and they will definitely pump up the promotion for this one to get people reminded of it. They'll remind people of how successful it was, What an amazing visual world it was, How much money it made, etc. I just don't see a movie that made $2.8B not going at least over $1B, possibly $1.5B or higher, mostly from the money they'll make on it's domestic opening weekend and overseas.

The movie may be a pretty mediocre movie, but if it captures that world again and maybe it even is good, then there's no way at least the FIRST sequel fails. After that it's anyones guess, but a movie doesn't make Almost $3B and then just bomb (financially) when a sequel comes out.

 

[Scarletwebslingr]

I think the best thing about this expansion is that it finally gave WDW the sense to relocate Festival of the Lion King where it belongs...you know...in Africa and not some dumpy meet and greet land beside an abandoned Pocahontas stage.

 

[twebber55]

Yes, theming will be a big factor obviously, I expect full-on theming, nothing like the blandness of the Soarin' queue. The visuals they can create in a queue based on this movie could be stunning.

And I don't have hat in the ring or really truly care what the sequels do. But I do know James Cameron rarely puts out a big budget dud and they will definitely pump up the promotion for this one to get people reminded of it. They'll remind people of how successful it was, What an amazing visual world it was, How much money it made, etc. I just don't see a movie that made $2.8B not going at least over $1B, possibly $1.5B or higher, mostly from the money they'll make on it's domestic opening weekend and overseas.

The movie may be a pretty mediocre movie, but if it captures that world again and maybe it even is good, then there's no way at least the FIRST sequel fails. After that it's anyones guess, but a movie doesn't make Almost $3B and then just bomb (financially) when a sequel comes out.

agree...I don't know what the next movie will make but id be shocked if it wasn't successful
also did you see the video of jon landau and james horner on magic? good video

 

[Nick]

I think the best thing about this expansion is that it finally gave WDW the sense to relocate Festival of the Lion King where it belongs...you know...in Africa and not some dumpy meet and greet land beside an abandoned Pocahontas stage.

And it looks great, too. Sure, the theatre is basically the same (aside from tech upgrades), but the new area is beautifully themed and there's even room for a possible future expansion (hopefully in the way of an attraction someday) to the left of the theatre along the path that will lead towards Pandora.

 

[Nick]

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

Add Dark Horse Comics to that list as well as Jon Landau mentions a Avatar Comic from them in this video:

[video=youtube;qZKYA9bSPD4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=158&v=qZKYA9bSPD4[/video]

I do have to wonder though why, if Disney is building an entire land based off of this franchise that they believe in and need to have continued success, they wouldn't fight to get Marvel doing the comic...

Also, James Horner mentions he's working on music for Pandora, which is great news imo.

 

[Shadow Carelli]

Add Dark Horse Comics to that list as well as Jon Landau mentions a Avatar Comic from them in this video:

[video=youtube;qZKYA9bSPD4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=158&v=qZKYA9bSPD4[/video]

I do have to wonder though why, if Disney is building an entire land based off of this franchise that they believe in and need to have continued success, they wouldn't fight to get Marvel doing the comic...

Also, James Horner mentions he's working on music for Pandora, which is great news imo.

Avatar was made by 20th Century FOX. Usually for comic adaptations of films, companies like Universal and Fox and Paramount would go to Dark Horse Comics. Before Disney bought Star Wars, DH was making Star Wars comics for years and I believe they stopped in the middle of 2013. There were also a few comics made for Peter Jackson's King Kong made in 2005. I believe DH also makes some comics for Star Trek too...

 

[Scarletwebslingr]

And it looks great, too. Sure, the theatre is basically the same (aside from tech upgrades), but the new area is beautifully themed and there's even room for a possible future expansion (hopefully in the way of an attraction someday) to the left of the theatre along the path that will lead towards Pandora.

I'm all for quality. I think Pandora has all the potential to blow my eyes out of my butt...but Disney has been playing it safe since Tower of Terror. They known Soarin' sells Fastpasses like hot butterbeer and so of course they'll just take a working concept instead of try anything new. Flying through Pandora should be exhilarating not whimsical.

 

[shiekra38]

If Universal was building an Avatar land everyone would be ripping it a new one...

 

[darkridelover]

Avatar Pop Culture Saturation Test:
Without looking it up or turning to a different page name 5 Avatar characters by name......no?........how about 3? Ask any co-workers or friends. It's almost impossible to find someone who can.

Now if I said name 5 Star Wars characters or 5 Harry Potter characters or even 5 Nintendo characters the result would be different.

Simply put, Avatar is the highest grossing movie of all time that no one remembers.

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

If Universal was building an Avatar land everyone would be ripping it a new one...

I'm in the latter but I think Universal could and would have done a better job coming up with creative rides for this project. But what do I know.

- - - Updated - - -

Avatar Pop Culture Saturation Test:
Without looking it up or turning to a different page name 5 Avatar characters by name......no?........how about 3? Ask any co-workers or friends. It's almost impossible to find someone who can.

Now if I said name 5 Star Wars characters or 5 Harry Potter characters or even 5 Nintendo characters the result would be different.

Simply put, Avatar is the highest grossing movie of all time that no one remembers.

I remember it. I wish the story was more about Navi and her people, the Avatars themselves without the human element/army/special forces BS. The movie setting and animation is great. Could definitely be something better if they leave the human element portion out or dwindle it down some.

 

[darkridelover]

- - - Updated - - -



I remember it. I wish the story was more about Navi and her people, the Avatars themselves without the human element/army/special forces BS. The movie setting and animation is great. Could definitely be something better if they leave the human element portion out or dwindle it down some.

Thank you for proving my point:
The Na'vi were the blue people. Not a characters name. The Avatars were the man made blue people that were used to infiltrate and communicate with the Na'vi and gain information from them.

 

[twebber55]

Avatar Pop Culture Saturation Test:
Without looking it up or turning to a different page name 5 Avatar characters by name......no?........how about 3? Ask any co-workers or friends. It's almost impossible to find someone who can.

Now if I said name 5 Star Wars characters or 5 Harry Potter characters or even 5 Nintendo characters the result would be different.

Simply put, Avatar is the highest grossing movie of all time that no one remembers.

feel better?

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

Thank you for proving my point:
The Na'vi were the blue people. Not a characters name. The Avatars were the man made blue people that were used to infiltrate and communicate with the Na'vi and gain information from them.

Actually. I wasn't referring to the the character. I Dont' remember her name or any of those crazy names. I Do remember Jake Skulley because that's easy to roll off of the tongue with out dialect interference.
Navi I thought was what they called themselves in reference to life and nature with the living elements like that big tree they could plug into. And By her people. I meant the people of "Her" land. Like we refer to as a place saying "her" meaning home. "America and her people"....etc.

And the Avatar looked just like a "Navi". It was designed to relate to the Navi being one in one. There is no real separation from the Navi and the actual Avatar (Except it was human controlled) unless I missed something completely. There was an ability for them to remain Avatars if I'm not mistaking yes?

 

[shiekra38]

Avatar Pop Culture Saturation Test:
Without looking it up or turning to a different page name 5 Avatar characters by name......no?........how about 3? Ask any co-workers or friends. It's almost impossible to find someone who can.

Now if I said name 5 Star Wars characters or 5 Harry Potter characters or even 5 Nintendo characters the result would be different.

Simply put, Avatar is the highest grossing movie of all time that no one remembers.

Anna, Elsa, Hermoine, Dumbledore, Captain Jack Sparrow, Sigourney Weaver

Basically a no brainer

 

[twebber55]

Avatar Pop Culture Saturation Test:
Without looking it up or turning to a different page name 5 Avatar characters by name......no?........how about 3? Ask any co-workers or friends. It's almost impossible to find someone who can.

Now if I said name 5 Star Wars characters or 5 Harry Potter characters or even 5 Nintendo characters the result would be different.

Simply put, Avatar is the highest grossing movie of all time that no one remembers.

my question to you is what does any of that matter in terms of how nice or fun this land is
since we re rehashing old arguments
ill bring up something I ve said before..every year I teach a unit on China which includes the Huangshan Mtns (mtns Cameron based his floating mtns on) and sure enough every year kids say, before I say anything, "hey those look like the avatar mtns) I do think you re right people don't really remember the names of the characters but they sure do remember the environment...and what is Disney building? the environment of Pandora. People want to walk on Pandora...People absolutely remember the setting of the place which means its perfect for a theme park...which actually in ways makes it better because there's not a reliance on characters or plot for people to go by, meaning they don't need to have watched the movie
how bout we sit back and wait until it opens and then if we see Disney cut corners feel free to rip but the idea that this land wont be any good because people don't know who jake sully was is way overplayed by people who didn't like the movie
BTW great article here
http://www.weather.com/travel/news/tourists-flock-chinas-avatar-national-park-photos-20130926

 

[OrlandoGuy]

I dont know a thing about Harry Potter...ok, wait, I'll do you one better, I actively DISLIKE Harry Potter. My girlfriend's tried to get me to sit down and watch the movies with her and I just can't stand it. But that doesn't stop me from thinking the Harry Potter rides and lands at Universal aren't the best things in their respective parks. I'm so-so about Diagon, to be honest, but I love Gringotts and think Hogsmeade and Forbidden Journey are AWESOME, even tho I couldnt care less about the source material.
Theme parks are 90% visual and visceral. Who cares if people don't know the human characters in Avatar? Not knowing about Harry Potter doesnt take away from my enjoyment of WWHP and the same can be assumed for Avatar because the VISUALS were the stars of the movie, not really the human characters. Disney isn't making a land based off human characters, they're making a land based off a planet.
Will it have the same draw as HP? Who knows for now. One thing I will say is that Disney doesn't need an all-star IP to attract crowds...Disney themselves is the draw. They could make Poo Poo Toilet Land and people would come out in droves.

tl;dr: everyone settle down, your knickers are getting bunched up over nothing.
EDIT: Universal fanbois* are getting their knickers bunched up over nothing

 

[MrRoamer]

They could make Poo Poo Toilet Land and people would come out in droves.

Didn't this already happen with Rapunzel land?

I kid! I kid!

 

[Parkscope Joe]

The visual style for Avatar could lend itself well to a section of park. All the examples of obscure characters in parks are for attractions. Characters are what tie you to a location. It will be interesting to see how that works in Pandora.