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

[Teebin]

^ I believe VB attendance will also be affected to a degree by whether or not it has a few bigger than and taller than and cooler than attractions up it's sleeve. We just don't know those specifics yet but they remain a good possibility.

 

[Nick]

^ I believe VB attendance will also be affected to a degree by whether or not it has a few bigger than and taller than and cooler than attractions up it's sleeve. We just don't know those specifics yet but they remain a good possibility.

A water park is still a water park though. Many people who go to theme parks hate water parks and they also for all intents and eliminate the scooter brigade as well.

Volcano Bay will be great, i'm sure, but only very specific demographics tend to enjoy water parks. It's just the way it is.

 

[Nico]

If the intention was always to build a true third gate, the water park makes sense. At minimum they are doing everything they need to do to make the resort as a whole more rounded.

 

[Mad Dog]

Volcano Bay will do as intended, namely keep on site hotel guests an extra day or two.

 

[Disneyhead]

The intent of Volcano Bay is to make UOR a more attractive multi-day destination theme park resort. And in doing so, they will steal some of Disney's business.

A lot of people have done Disney to death. Disney hasn't added anything substantial in a long time. And Universal is adding like crazy. I predict we will see a lot more people base camping at a Uni resort and making day trips to Disney to see the new stuff as they add it.

And that brings us back to Avatar. I don't think Avatar is going to be a huge draw for WDW. It will just effect the traffic flow of people in and around to resort. The only people I know that are excited for Avatar are Disney World fans who would be going 5 times a year whether they built it or not.

 

[Nick]

The intent of Volcano Bay is to make UOR a more attractive multi-day destination theme park resort. And in doing so, they will steal some of Disney's business.

A lot of people have done Disney to death. Disney hasn't added anything substantial in a long time. And Universal is adding like crazy. I predict we will see a lot more people base camping at a Uni resort and making day trips to Disney to see the new stuff as they add it.

And that brings us back to Avatar. I don't think Avatar is going to be a huge draw for WDW. It will just effect the traffic flow of people in and around to resort. The only people I know that are excited for Avatar are Disney World fans who would be going 5 times a year whether they built it or not.

I think once Disney starts promoting Pandora, which they definitely will on next years Christmas Parade and beyond, interest may grow. However, on the whole I think you are spot on.

 

[UAN17]

Avatar and Rivers of Light might make AK unmissable on a night, and potentially even worthy of a revisit on the same vacation when added to the night safaris and riding Everest in the dark...that's been Disneys problem for us, too many seen it done it parks. We came from the UK and did just 1 day each at studios, AK and Epcot but spent 5 inbetween the 2. Universal parks despite being huge disney geeks.

 

[twebber55]

the fact that DAK will expand into night time is enough for substantial growth...i see huge 10-15% growth at animal kingdom while the other parks grow at a normal rate (except maybe DHS)

 

[Teebin]

For me, the most fun thing to see for me would be the massive press event. Disney does that like no other with press from all over the world and dozens and dozens of areas set up for each group to broadcast from. I was so lucky to watch them doing their thing for Everest. It made Universal's openings appear charming and cute.

 

[Scott W.]

The intent of Volcano Bay is to make UOR a more attractive multi-day destination theme park resort. And in doing so, they will steal some of Disney's business.

A lot of people have done Disney to death. Disney hasn't added anything substantial in a long time. And Universal is adding like crazy. I predict we will see a lot more people base camping at a Uni resort and making day trips to Disney to see the new stuff as they add it.

And that brings us back to Avatar. I don't think Avatar is going to be a huge draw for WDW. It will just effect the traffic flow of people in and around to resort. The only people I know that are excited for Avatar are Disney World fans who would be going 5 times a year whether they built it or not.

This is the exact issue I have with going to WDW this year. They have added so little recently that it's not worthwhile going since I've done Disney to death.

My wife's parents, sister and boyfriend and their 1 year old are meant to be coming too. They've never been before and want to go but my wife and I went to Disneyland last year and last went to WDW in 2013 so we have no incentive to go. Given the choice, I'd rather go in 2017 to see Avatar which would help slightly justify the price and plus get to see all the new stuff at Universal.

 

[UNIrd]

What I keep hearing most is people not renewing their Disney APs. I'm running out of people to go with. Nostalgia doesn't make everyone want to fork over $400 a year, apparently.

 

[Nick]

What I keep hearing most is people not renewing their Disney APs. I'm running out of people to go with. Nostalgia doesn't make everyone want to fork over $400 a year, apparently.

For me, most I know are changing to the ones with blackout dates. I will as well soon.

 

[IzzyB]

What I keep hearing most is people not renewing their Disney APs. I'm running out of people to go with. Nostalgia doesn't make everyone want to fork over $400 a year, apparently.

I am the opposite. Everyone I know has Disney passes and no one has Universal. Keep trying to talk people into Uni passes with no luck. I know one family with Uni passes and they also have Disney.

 

[Mad Dog]

What I keep hearing most is people not renewing their Disney APs. I'm running out of people to go with. Nostalgia doesn't make everyone want to fork over $400 a year, apparently.

I've been wandering if that's one of a number of reasons (expanded fall season school vacations, My Magic plus creating longer stand by lines, closed attractions) WDW was so uncharacteristically crowded in Sept. & Oct. & Nov. Perhaps people that weren't going to renew because of the large AP price increases got their park trips in while they still had active AP's. Just a long shot theory though.

 

[UNIrd]

I've been wandering if that's one of a number of reasons (expanded fall season school vacations, My Magic plus creating longer stand by lines, closed attractions) WDW was so uncharacteristically crowded in Sept. & Oct. & Nov. Perhaps people that weren't going to renew because of the large AP price increases got their park trips in while they still had active AP's. Just a long shot theory though.

I think it's the opposite. I think the AP's that are making the parks that crowded. Ever since they started the monthly payment program, there's A LOT more people with Disney AP's.

I used to have a reputation for being the Disney guy and used to hear about how I'm always at Disney and would get asked when am I going to Disney next (to them, even Universal is Disney). But, as a theme park lover, I saw the value in even paying full price for APs years and years ago. I've had a Universal AP straight since 2002. Disney, I'm Seasonal on and off depending on offerings. Now, on my Instagram feed, somebody I know is always at Disney and visiting the parks more than I ever did.

 

[Nick]

I've been wandering if that's one of a number of reasons (expanded fall season school vacations, My Magic plus creating longer stand by lines, closed attractions) WDW was so uncharacteristically crowded in Sept. & Oct. & Nov. Perhaps people that weren't going to renew because of the large AP price increases got their park trips in while they still had active AP's. Just a long shot theory though.

WDW in never crowded in September an those other months are hit or miss depending on the park/day. If you go to MK on a MNSSHP day at MK, it's likely to be dead, if you go on a day without the party, MK will be slammed. Epcot is packed much of the fall because of F&W.

Right now DHS and DAK are the two parks that struggle the most during the fall. DAK should start doing a bit better next year once RoL starts and other nighttime entertainment.

 

[MrRoamer]

I think it's the opposite. I think the AP's that are making the parks that crowded. Ever since they started the monthly payment program, there's A LOT more people with Disney AP's.

I used to have a reputation for being the Disney guy and used to hear about how I'm always at Disney and would get asked when am I going to Disney next (to them, even Universal is Disney). But, as a theme park lover, I saw the value in even paying full price for APs years and years ago. I've had a Universal AP straight since 2002. Disney, I'm Seasonal on and off depending on offerings. Now, on my Instagram feed, somebody I know is always at Disney and visiting the parks more than I ever did.

I'm that guy at work too (I'd assume most of us are), and no matter how much I try to educate them on Universal and the other things here it fails... Orlando may as well just be renamed to Disney.

 

[IzzyB]

I think it's the opposite. I think the AP's that are making the parks that crowded. Ever since they started the monthly payment program, there's A LOT more people with Disney AP's.

I used to have a reputation for being the Disney guy and used to hear about how I'm always at Disney and would get asked when am I going to Disney next (to them, even Universal is Disney). But, as a theme park lover, I saw the value in even paying full price for APs years and years ago. I've had a Universal AP straight since 2002. Disney, I'm Seasonal on and off depending on offerings. Now, on my Instagram feed, somebody I know is always at Disney and visiting the parks more than I ever did.

Yes. I have heard the payment plan added a ton of AP holders. The recent restructure didn't get anyone I know to drop their pass. Most are getting gold since there is no price increase. Others are dropping to Silver to actually save money now that parking is included. But no one has told me they aren't renewing. Most people I know renew year to year, we don't. We normally skip many months then renew. I also know people who do Sea World, but no one does all 3 like we do. But again we don't renew ever. We just let it expire and do the other parks until that one expires then pick up one of the others.

 

[Porkchop]

I am the opposite. Everyone I know has Disney passes and no one has Universal. Keep trying to talk people into Uni passes with no luck. I know one family with Uni passes and they also have Disney.

We just bought our Uni annual passes on Sunday! Already planning for September and if we're lucky, sooner!!!

 

[rioriz]

For me, the most fun thing to see for me would be the massive press event. Disney does that like no other with press from all over the world and dozens and dozens of areas set up for each group to broadcast from. I was so lucky to watch them doing their thing for Everest. It made Universal's openings appear charming and cute.

You better believe there will be a promo in all the sequels and there will be am ABC special.....politely disagree and think Pandora will have business booming WHEN all this takes place