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[Anticitizen One]

Remember that big announcement last year that Disney was teaming up with James Cameron? http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=445690

Just to add some more hard info before I get lost in this thread ... but when I talked to my source at WDI, said source pointed out the fact that Disney hasn't released one piece of generic artwork to get fanbois excited 'because they can't even agree on the basics' ... what you have are two diametrically opposite views on building the land (and I absolutely saw that coming). Cameron wants something groundbreaking. Disney wants to give you Soarin Over Around and Thru Pandora. Cameron wants to take that $500 million budget and add 'whatever it takes to do this right' ... Disney wants to trim $100-125 million from the budget (guess they need to cover the John Carter disaster).

Also want to make it clear (like the OP) that Avatarland isn't quite dead and you're dealing with another ego here -- Bob Iger's. And he really is burning about the work UNI is doing. In California, he can point to the DCA Makeover and crow. But at the 'flagship resort' that modest Fantasyland project isn't going to do it.

My point being this could stay alive just because of Iger's ego.

My gut tells me that I am hungry ... oh, and it also tells me that the chances of ever seeing construction are very, very, very slim.

According to a well known insider (WDW1974) on this forum it looks like it's game over for Avatar land due to a falling out between James Cameron and Disney Theme Park's management. Disney has been known in recent years to cut costs even when it comes to guest experince and build attractions on the cheap. They have even went as far as only greenlighting attractions only if they are attached to huge blockbuster movie franchises and will most likely not be building anything original in the future. I can see why James Cameron, a known perfecontionist, would struggle with Disney's managament on this project. So it's not too suprising that this news is leaking out.

 

[Salvor.Hardin]

Were the Na'vi not allowed to have piercings?

 

[Jb]

To be perfectky honest, I didn't even know this project existed... A shame if it doesn't end up being made though.

 

[Door2Dawn]

Were the Na'vi not allowed to have piercings?

Only nipple rings.

 

[Anticitizen One]

Were the Na'vi not allowed to have piercings?

I don't think Disney has any problem with that sort of thing:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=421573

 

[Sean]

I don't know much about theme parks, but a 500 million budget to build a ride seems outrageously high.

 

[Htown]

What a shame.

 

[Anticitizen One]

I don't know much about theme parks, but a 500 million budget to build a ride seems outrageously high.

Keep in mind two things:

1)500 million would have went towards building a whole Pandora land which would include a themed environment, places to eat shop, and several rides and attractions.

2)You also have to consider Disney and Universal don't make rides like you would see at local amusment parks. We aren't talking generic log rides and barebones roller coasters. The average e-ticket (well themed) ride costs anywhere from $100-150 million dollars. The new CARS ride at DCA is the biggest ride project yet costing somewhere around $300 million dollars.

 

[Busty]

Remember that big announcement last year that Disney was teaming up with James Cameron? http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=445690

At the end of the day I think it came down to the fact that Avatar isn't a Disney owned property, it's owned by Fox.

Why would they invest all that time and money into an IP they don't even own at the end of the day, especially in this 'day and age'?

That and when the deal was made people were expecting Avatar to have a massive cultural footprint like a Harry Potter or whatever. Clearly that hasn't been the case despite it's massive box office returns.

Not surprising in the slightest.

 

[iamaustrian]

makes sense
they are probably learning from the shitty Harry Potter "Land" at Universal Park

 

[planar1280]

Sculli will not be pleased

 

[Busty]

Sculli will not be pleased

He'd already invested heavily in a condo there....

 

[Anticitizen One]

At the end of the day I think it came down to the fact that Avatar isn't a Disney owned property, it's owned by Fox.

Why would they invest all that time and money into an IP they don't even own at the end of the day, especially in this 'day and age'?

That and when the deal was made people were expecting Avatar to have a massive cultural footprint like a Harry Potter or whatever. Clearly that hasn't been the case despite it's massive box office returns.

Not surprising in the slightest.

That has nothing to do with it. Disney has always had rides and attractions based on other people's properties. They have Star Wars and Indiana Jones rides, they had Muppets attractions long before they owned them, The great movie ride is filled with scenes from other studios movies including Fox's Alien franchise and they even have an American Idol attraction which they built fairly recently.

makes sense
they are probably learning from the shitty Harry Potter "Land" at Universal Park

Are you mad? The harry potter land is widely regarded as one of the best new attractions that Orlando has seen in decades and the place is packed to the brimm every day. There are collosal lines just to buy stuff at the gift shops! It is killing Disney because they would love even a thin slice of that success

 

[2th]

No Smurf village?

 

[RomanticHeroX]

I'd be glad to see it fall through, honestly. Animal Kingdom has never been my favorite, but I can't help but think an Avatar wing to a Disney park would get really dated really fast. And not in a timeless or fun sort of way.

 

[Anticitizen One]

I'd be glad to see it fall through, honestly. Animal Kingdom has never been my favorite, but I can't help but think an Avatar wing to a Disney park would get really dated really fast. And not in a timeless or fun sort of way.

But it would blend in with Animal Kingdom so perfectly:

 

[5amshift]

Thank god. This would've been terrible if it was actually released.

 

[wenis]

oh no, how will I ever go on with living...

 

[Kusagari]

makes sense
they are probably learning from the shitty Harry Potter "Land" at Universal Park

Yes, the shitty Harry Potter Land that is packed every single day, has increased attendance at Islands of Adventure by quite a bit, and has won tons of awards.

That is obviously why Disney is not going through with this.

 

[Anticitizen One]

Should have went with Star Wars land

 

[5amshift]

Should have went with Star Wars land

Original trilogy and yes. :b

 

[B33]

makes sense
they are probably learning from the shitty Harry Potter "Land" at Universal Park

Spoken like someone who's never been to the space nor has actually read the history and success concerning it.

Disney attempted to buy the rights to utilize the property and alleged creative disagreements with J.K. Rowling sunk the deal.

Universal later struck a deal and has seen an enormous amount of success critically and financially.

 

[Anticitizen One]

Harry Potter is actually getting its phase 2 expansion soon. It's getting a new London area complete with underground gringott's mine train ride.

 

[Solo]

That's a shame. Would have been incredible if Cameron had seen it through.

 

[RomanticHeroX]

Harry Potter is actually getting its phase 2 expansion soon. It's getting a new London area complete with underground gringott's mine train ride.

Is it getting actual rides? I've always been interested but everything I've seen makes it look like an enormous gift shop, and I'm not a big enough fan of Harry Potter to appreciate most of the rest of it.

 

[Big Baybee]

I thought this was a terrible idea. Hope it is scrapped.

 

[ConfusingJazz]

Should have went with Star Wars land

Only after Lucas has given up creative control on it.


Preferably to Cameron.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

Lulz. After giving Stanton carte blanch, it would have been fun trying to argue with Cameron.

Instead of building the tree fifty metres high, what say you, James Cameron Omitcaya Un Gleh, to building it five metres high?

Go fuck yourself.

 

[RawkHawk2010]

I thought this was gonna be about a park based on the Xbox Avatars to promote Kinect Disneyland Adventures.

 

[TheMan]

Should have went with Star Wars land

yeah, star wars has been a cultural mainstay for decades. avatar was hot shit a couple of years ago mostly because of the tech surrounding the movie, but honestly, who gives a shit about it now?

 

[StrikerObi]

The fact that there is no concept art doesn't stink of a cancellation though. They announced this thing literally the day the ink was drying on the contracts. There couldn't possibly have been any concept art at that point. Usually they wait to announce things until well into development. This was an exception to that rule.

However, there does seem to be something up with this project. Disney has a shareholders meeting scheduled for tomorrow (March 13) in Kansas City. If something is up with the project, they will HAVE to mention it there. If the project is going to be canceled and they don't tell the shareholders, they will be in some serious trouble.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

yeah, star wars has been a cultural mainstay for decades. avatar was hot shit a couple of years ago mostly because of the tech surrounding the movie, but honestly, who gives a shit about it now?

Pandora lends itself to being a full fleshed out 'land' for a theme park much better than takes scraps from each hollow Star Wars location.

'Hey, look! It's the Cantina...again!'

 

[Solo]

yeah, star wars has been a cultural mainstay for decades. avatar was hot shit a couple of years ago mostly because of the tech surrounding the movie, but honestly, who gives a shit about it now?

If I were the type to bookmark posts, and Im not, Id be inclined to bookmark this one for when Avatar 2 makes another $2B in 2015.

 

[TheMan]

Pandora lends itself to being a full fleshed out 'land' for a theme park much better than takes scraps from each hollow Star Wars location.

'Hey, look! It's the Cantina...again!'

"oh hey look, it's more jungle!"

 

[VistraNorrez]

Are you mad? The harry potter land is widely regarded as one of the best new attractions that Orlando has seen in decades and the place is packed to the brimm every day. There are collosal lines just to buy stuff at the gift shops! It is killing Disney because they would love even a thin slice of that success

It is in not killing Disney. I guess we'd have to see the numbers but I'm pretty sure Magic Kingdom is still the most visited theme park in the world. Of course they would've crushed Universal and they are certainly regretting that.

And the OP seems to suggest John Carter's failure has something to do with this, but I always thought the parks and the film production studios did not share money. Maybe I'm wrong though.

I'll believe this news when it's official. I can't see Disney letting another major property, one that would fit perfectly with Animal Kingdom, slip away.

 

[TheMan]

If I were the type to bookmark posts, and Im not, Id be inclined to bookmark this one for when Avatar 2 makes another $2B in 2015.

i truly think that avatar had the right tech at the right time, and that the sequel will do well but not gangbusters like the first.

 

[Solo]

i truly think that avatar had the right tech at the right time, and that the sequel will do well but not gangbusters like the first.

Well, that's why I said two billion instead of three

Point being, millions of people do give a shit.

 

[thekillingjoker]

My first thought was I agree that it makes sense as an add on to Animal Kingdom and a ride where you fly to the flying rock place in the movie would be cool. But now all I can do is think about how awesome that Gringott's mine ride would be. I went to Harry Potter land with the girlfriend cause she's a huge fan. At the time, I had only seen 2 movies out of of order. It was packed. 1 hour to get into the wand shop (which is absurd since you can buy wands all over and the show at the beginning is crap.). The Hogwarts ride is awesome and it made me interested in the movies. That expansion is not a failure.

Star Wars does make more sense to me but that's cause I'm an older dude. I never got why Avatar was so awesome anyway. It would be interesting to see if they could make it work together and create something awesome. But isn't this Cameron's baby of sorts? He doesn't seem like the guy who would say "oh sure cut a couple mill off".

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

i truly think that avatar had the right tech at the right time, and that the sequel will do well but not gangbusters like the first.

You don't think Cameron is going to push the tech forward again with the sequel? I mean, we already have it being shot at 60fps.

 

[Demoncarnotaur]

I'm surprised they even decided to build the thing in the first place... That said, it could have been damn cool if done right. I want this to pull through just for a bio-luminescent jungle theme park, which would seriously be awesome. Seriously, imagine going through the park at night... it would be crazy awesome.

 

[TheMan]

You don't think Cameron is going to push the tech forward again with the sequel? I mean, we already have it being shot at 60fps.

sure, but where is he gonna go? 60fps? I mean the movie will no doubt look amazing but it won't have that obvious-wow-factor gimmick that the first had.

 

[ConfusingJazz]

Pandora lends itself to being a full fleshed out 'land' for a theme park much better than takes scraps from each hollow Star Wars location.

'Hey, look! It's the Cantina...again!'

First off, you wouldn't want to get a drink at the Cantina?

Secondly, yeah, Pandora would just be jungle. Really really pretty and amazing jungle, but jungle none the less.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

sure, but where is he gonna go? 60fps? I mean the movie will no doubt look amazing but it won't have that obvious-wow-factor gimmick that the first had.

Oh, I'm bettin' that it will.

Cameron doesn't do half-assed sequels. He is the king of sequels. It will be bigger and better than the first.

 

[C.Dark.DN]

If you can't do it right, don't do it at all.

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

James Cameron wanted to make a groundbreaking theme park?

I'm not quite sure that he knows what he is talking about.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

James Cameron wanted to make a groundbreaking theme park?

I'm not quite sure that he knows what he is talking about.

That is what everybody says before he blows their minds.

 

[Anticitizen One]

Is it getting actual rides? I've always been interested but everything I've seen makes it look like an enormous gift shop, and I'm not a big enough fan of Harry Potter to appreciate most of the rest of it.

Yes in addition to the underground Gringott's coaster it is getting a train ride that links the new london area to the currently existing Hogsmeade village. It's still under wraps so we don't know if there will be additional attractions as well.

Also in response to the bold text, The current Harry Potter land has 3 rides. The main attraction is called "Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey" it starts with a complete walkthrough of Hogwarts castle and then you board vehicles and it's a full length thrill ride. Pretty fun too! In addition there is "Dragon Challenge" and "Flight of the Hippogriff" both are redressings of attractions that got incorporated into Harry Potter land but they did a really good job of tieng them into the universe. For example Flight of the hippogriff used to be a pretty basic family coaster but they redid the area around it and themed it to Hagrid's hut and surrounding area and added an audio animatronic buck beak.

The whole area is very well done which is amazing because it was supposedly done on a small budget compared to what Disney spends but is far more impressive than anything Disney has built stateside in the past 15 years.

 

[Hot Coldman]

We still need the Kingdom Hearts ride. People are gathered into a room, strapped into seats, and then they're beaten around the head for 20 minutes whilst colourful lights go off and 'Simple and Clean' plays on a loop.

(Avatarland seems premature, at least wait until 2/3 are out)

 

[StrikerObi]

Why all the talk about adding Star Wars to the parks? Disney's Hollywood Studios already as Star Tours, and the area around that is themed to both Endor and Tatooine. It's not a full "land" but it would be silly to add a Star Wars land to any of the other parks at this point, since Star Tours already exists at Hollywood Studios.

We still need the Kingdom Hearts ride. People are gathered into a room, strapped into seats, and then they're beaten around the head for 20 minutes whilst colourful lights go off and 'Simple and Clean' plays on a loop.

(Avatarland seems premature, at least wait until 2/3 are out)

This land will be in development for a long time and they don't plan to open it until around the time that Avatar 2 is released in theaters.

 

[Hot Coldman]

This land will be in development for a long time and they don't plan to open it until around the time that Avatar 2 is released in theaters.

Erm, yeah, I know. I mean wait until Avatar 2 is done before you even start building shit. You can't just base it around the first film, and even if Cameron is pumping his ideas for expanding the mythos into the park and the films you could end up seeing some dodgy stuff he's throwing into the park so they actually have something to build when he'd rather spend time to refine it for the films.

Starting after the sequels gives them a better base to build on, is what I'm getting at. Rather than one film full of stuff that is solid, they have two/three films. But Iger wants it done sooner, so it'll happen sooner- or never, of course