AVATAR coming to WDW

[Jacca5660]

We only go to the AK about every third visit and then it's only for a few hours. It's to hot, air doesn't move, and there are only a couple of things to see or do. I love staying at the AK Lodge. We've even have stayed there and not visited the AK park!!

[DAR]

I'm cautiously excited for this.

[Sharonofwindham]

Maybe the reason they're not adding AVATAR land to DHS is because they're already committed that space to TWILIGHT area instead?

OH MY GOD TAKE IT BACK. I'd rather have Avatar and I hate that idea enough as it is... That's not funny.

Same here!! Give me Avatar anyday !

[summermouse]

It should be at DHS, not DAK. It's a MOVIE not affiliated with Diz - isn't all of that over at DHS? Once again, abuse the theming....

I couldn't agree more!!

Summer

[MW1218]

I'm with you, I would much rather have another land dedicated to real animals. I"ll take the rainforest over pandora anyday of the week. I just can't wrap my head around it, and I so hope Disney rethinks this. I really hate the thought of them trying to compete with a park as lame as Universal. Disney imagineers are so amazing, they don't need franchises such as Avitar to draw crowds.
Can you imagine if they took the story of Alice in Wonderland, for example, and created an attraction using new technologies ? Now this would fit perfectly into the MK! Disneys stories and characters are aboslutely timeless They need to stop trying to jump on every band wagon that comes down the road, it really mkes them appear lost and desparate Walt would be p*** OFF

You...you do know that Walt Disney didn't create Alice in Wonderland, right?

[mindflipper]

True, but its their own version of Alice in Wonderland they used in Fantasyland (well, at least at DLR) and not somebody else's version. At WDW, the non-Disney based attractions - TWILIGHT ZONE Tower of Terror, Star Tours (based on STAR TOURS), the MUPPETvision 4D, INDIANA JONES Stunt Show - are all found at DHS.

[MW1218]

Yeah but placement isn't the issue. People are making it seem like this is the first time that Disney ever went out of house for something, and you just listed several examples of times that they did...and created some of the most popular attractions at the parks. Also, let's not forget that for years, Disney didn't own Pixar...they just distributed their films. I'd say that partnership is going pretty well, wouldn't you?

Disney has been drawing from other sources for inspiration basically since the beginning of the studios when Walt and Roy were running things. This time, they happen to have the benefit of collaborating with the original creator of the source material, who has always been about pushing the envelope in using state of the art technology to tell his stories, and I'm intrigued to see what the partnership between Cameron and the Imagineers can come up with.

I'm not trying to say that the screenplay for Avatar was groundbreaking either. I definitely agree that its an interstellar Dances With Wolves, but I'm fairly confident that anybody who the film in 3D would agree that it was the most immersive use of the technology to date and a big technological achievement. I think the draw of the movie was to get lost in the world that was created rather than nitpick plot details...and that if they can transfer that immersion over to the theme park experience, it will be a big hit. Do you ride Space Mountain for the story? Isn't that just an interstellar Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Also, the people who are saying "Never saw the movie, hate this" and those dismissing the idea before a single blueprint, rendering or write-up come out are making me

[Wizzard419]

The reason they may also opt for the AK, aside from the obvious envrionmental theme, is that they want to use the central tree in a backdrop capacity, if they built it at DHS they would either have to build one or do without.

[Sharonofwindham]

I'm with you, I would much rather have another land dedicated to real animals. I"ll take the rainforest over pandora anyday of the week. I just can't wrap my head around it, and I so hope Disney rethinks this. I really hate the thought of them trying to compete with a park as lame as Universal. Disney imagineers are so amazing, they don't need franchises such as Avitar to draw crowds.
Can you imagine if they took the story of Alice in Wonderland, for example, and created an attraction using new technologies ? Now this would fit perfectly into the MK! Disneys stories and characters are aboslutely timeless They need to stop trying to jump on every band wagon that comes down the road, it really mkes them appear lost and desparate Walt would be p*** OFF

You...you do know that Walt Disney didn't create Alice in Wonderland, right?

However, the cartoon characters were Disney created. Same with Jungle Book, and I do believe Winnie the Pooh as well.

[Sharonofwindham]

Yeah but placement isn't the issue. People are making it seem like this is the first time that Disney ever went out of house for something, and you just listed several examples of times that they did...and created some of the most popular attractions at the parks. Also, let's not forget that for years, Disney didn't own Pixar...they just distributed their films. I'd say that partnership is going pretty well, wouldn't you?

Disney has been drawing from other sources for inspiration basically since the beginning of the studios when Walt and Roy were running things. This time, they happen to have the benefit of collaborating with the original creator of the source material, who has always been about pushing the envelope in using state of the art technology to tell his stories, and I'm intrigued to see what the partnership between Cameron and the Imagineers can come up with.

I'm not trying to say that the screenplay for Avatar was groundbreaking either. I definitely agree that its an interstellar Dances With Wolves, but I'm fairly confident that anybody who the film in 3D would agree that it was the most immersive use of the technology to date and a big technological achievement. I think the draw of the movie was to get lost in the world that was created rather than nitpick plot details...and that if they can transfer that immersion over to the theme park experience, it will be a big hit. Do you ride Space Mountain for the story? Isn't that just an interstellar Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Also, the people who are saying "Never saw the movie, hate this" and those dismissing the idea before a single blueprint, rendering or write-up come out are making me

I have to admit, I am feeling a bit better about the idea. It really did seem a bit crazy at first. I did see the movie, and I enjoyed it. I just don't always enjoy all the hype. Cameron is definitely doing the right thing by going with Disney. If anyone can do it up right it's Disney imagineers. You make alot of excellent points, and I am definitely much more open minded and curious about it. I love the AK, and if it brings in more revenue there so they can add more to be excited about, Australia ? then so be it .

[MW1218]

You...you do know that Walt Disney didn't create Alice in Wonderland, right?

However, the cartoon characters were Disney created. Same with Jungle Book, and I do believe Winnie the Pooh as well.

A lot more than that. Just go through the list of animated films and there are dozens that were adapted from another source: Snow White, Pinocchio, Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Cinderella, Alice, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, Sword in the Stone, Jungle Book, Robin Hood, Winnie the Pooh, The Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse Detective, Oliver & Company, The Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, The Lion King, Tarzan, Mulan, The Emperor's New Groove, Atlantis, Treasure Planet, Chicken Little, Princess & the Frog, Tangled...all of those came from non-Disney origins. And yet, we love (most) them all the same, and have no problem with attractions or shows based on them being in the theme parks.

I understand the point that you're trying to make; that Disney took an original story from another source and created their own version of it, and made it their own, as it were. However, I don't think it's right for people to get down on the Avatar idea off the bat because it didn't come from "in-house"...it's not like there isn't precedent.

[Wizzard419]

Ok, I'll bite... where does New Groove and Atlantis source from? I know they were inspired by other stories but go on different paths.

[Soarin08]

The reason they may also opt for the AK, aside from the obvious envrionmental theme, is that they want to use the central tree in a backdrop capacity, if they built it at DHS they would either have to build one or do without.

Wait, the Tree of Life already at DAK or the tree from the movie? The tree in the film got destroyed in the end, if I recall correctly, which I would think would mean it wouldn't be featured in the upcoming films. So you think they could do without the Avatar tree and do it around the landscaping instead.

Which, the idea of Pandora wouldn't be so bad if the film had animals in it and not blue aliens....

New Groove is loosely based on the Hans Christian Anderson story The Emperor's New Clothes... mostly just taking the haughty emperor bit. As for Atlantis, I have no idea. Legends, I guess? The legend of Atlantis has been around for ages.

[Wizzard419]

The storylines for various rides and shows don't always take place after the latest movie and considering how everything gets blown up, they probably would take place before it all goes to hell. That and there might be more than one tree since (if I recall) there was more than one group of blue people.

It did have animals, remember? They stuck their genitals into them as a means of control before having sex with each other later in the movie. (Yes, that really happened in the movie)

New clothes doesn't really have much to do with that story other than the similar title, it's closer to prince and pauper but even then it's not that close.

[Sharonofwindham]

You...you do know that Walt Disney didn't create Alice in Wonderland, right?

However, the cartoon characters were Disney created. Same with Jungle Book, and I do believe Winnie the Pooh as well.

A lot more than that. Just go through the list of animated films and there are dozens that were adapted from another source: Snow White, Pinocchio, Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Cinderella, Alice, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, Sword in the Stone, Jungle Book, Robin Hood, Winnie the Pooh, The Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse Detective, Oliver & Company, The Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, The Lion King, Tarzan, Mulan, The Emperor's New Groove, Atlantis, Treasure Planet, Chicken Little, Princess & the Frog, Tangled...all of those came from non-Disney origins. And yet, we love (most) them all the same, and have no problem with attractions or shows based on them being in the theme parks.

I understand the point that you're trying to make; that Disney took an original story from another source and created their own version of it, and made it their own, as it were. However, I don't think it's right for people to get down on the Avatar idea off the bat because it didn't come from "in-house"...it's not like there isn't precedent.

I was starting to warm up to the idea for AK, since they were supposed to add a Beastly Kingdom, but the more I think about it the more rediculous it sounds. They are ALIENS, not creatures from the past or legend ! Again , I start to think It's ALL about money, and available space, and not about creativity at all. That REALLY makes me and angry! I really want to find a positive side to this project, but it ain't lookin' so good right now !