Supposedly Cameron is not the easiest dude to work with and that, when frustrated by Imagineering and what he considers to be their lack of progress, he simply walks away and, say, stashes himself at the bottom of the ocean. That must make for a fractured and unwieldy work process for the Imagineers on the project – a kind of stop-and-go rhythm that's harder to wrangle than one of those flying dragons.
Video game site IGN yesterday took that report and ran with it, pushing the Avatar land's opening well past 2015, due to "creative differences between Cameron and Disney's Imagineer development team."
And today, blogger Kevin Yee reads the tea leaves and all but declares the Avatar project dead.
Yee goes on to confirm rumors that Avatar's been replaced on Disney World's to-do list by an east coast version of California Adventure's Cars Land, planned for the space now occupied by Lights, Motors, Action and the Backlot Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios. That confirmation comes just a day after Yee threw a bit of cold water on such speculation, reporting that Disney Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter didn't want to dupe Cars Land in Florida, which would be enough to kill the project.
Yee's one of the better reporters out there, so if he says that project's a "go" now, I'm inclined to believe him. But I can't help but wonder what could have gotten Lasseter on board with the idea? Then again, if Avatar's not hitting its deadline (in the best-case scenario), Marvel's not coming, and Universal's raising the stakes by opening its version of Transformers next summer (check the blackout dates, folks), perhaps Disney might not have much choice but to greenlight something that's ready to go.
We do know this: Avatar was slated to go into the space in Animal Kingdom now occupied by Festival of the Lion King. If that show doesn't close in January to make room for Avatar, as is now planned, we will know for sure that the Avatar project is in trouble. And if Lights, Motors, Action closes instead early next year, we'll know that Cars Land East likely will happen, too. Keep your eyes open.
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I think the main direction they should go is immersion. It's why a Marvel Land wouldn't work for me. No real landmarks in those movies that would work.
For Cars Land, I think it sounds like a great addition to an area of Hollywood Studios that's a dead zone. However, I'm not excited to just see them repeat the same land. I'd prefer something new on another Pixar property, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, or something not tied to a specific movie (doubtful I know). I just want to see them invest in building up DHS and the Animal Kingdom to make them legitimate full-day experiences for repeat visitors.
As for Cars Land at DHS, I would rather just have an expansion of Pixar Place with other Pixar properties (Monsters Inc coaster, Incredibles attraction, etc) rather than a clone of something on the west coast. However, I understand why Orlando would want Cars Land... it has been a huge financial success for the company and is driving DCA attendance to record heights, reportedly exceeding even the company's most optimistic expectations for the park. But I hate to see the feather get plucked out of DCA's cap so soon after it finally achieved "destination park" status!
What I interpreted this news as: Disney was planning on a DHS expansion, set to start construction after Avatarland's completion; about 2015-2018. This is something that Dom's DHS expansion source comfirmed. However, the Avatarland delay is causing this DHS expansion to get bumped up. The reason why Disney is considering cancelling Avatarland altogether is because they are worried that they will have to move Avatarland to the 2015-2018 timeline. While the creative differences are a factor, the truth is disney's not sold on Avatar being bviable in 2018.
I'm not against Cars Land. It sort of makes DCA and Disney Studios into sister parks. They have almost the same rides.
Cars Land...no, that's of little interest as well. Maybe it's because I live in California, but it's more that I think a park's major attractions should be unique to that park. I don't care if Disneyland and Disney World both have the same C and D ticket attractions, but if I can find half the E tickets at my local park in a similar form I'm not going to go out of my way to visit (hence why I'm unhappy with Transformers in Florida as well). As it currently is, Disney World wouldn't even make the cut if I only had a week in Florida, as I'd rather spend my time Busch Gardens Tampa, SeaWorld Orlando, and Universal Studios Florida/Islands of Adventure. If I had 7-10 park days, then I'd add Walt Disney World onto the trip (and if I had longer, Legoland Florida would be added to complete all the major Florida Parks).
I don't have any current plans to visit Florida, and I absolutely will not be visiting until at least 2014 (when Fantasyland is done), but I must say that based on what I've seen it's time for Disney to step up their game. With the high admission price and the aggressiveness of their competiton, I have a really strong feeling if they don't do something they'll start losing visitors. Beastly Kingdom would be great for Animal Kingdom (and is a land I'd love to see), but I think their best shot at a significant attendance increase would be to develop a Star Wars Land for Hollywood Studios and have it ready by 2016-2017 (right around when the 3D re-releases end).
Though there's obviously less of a financial outlay in designing a restaurant from scratch than there is in an attraction, it's probably worth remembering that such a thing is on the cards for construction in Paris in the near future. I imagine Lasseter et al will be watching closely to see how successfully it fares.
A Cars Land East thing would be ok, but really, they should do a Pixar Land there. Seriously, they already have the theming in and around Toy Story, put in a Monsters Inc. ride, an Incredibles ride (seriously, why have they not done a thing with this franchise is beyond me), and a version of Radiator Springs Racers. Turn Hollywood Studios into a mandatory full day park.
I am not one to say that Disney has to be running scared with all of the development Universal is doing, but let's face facts, if the 2 Universal parks become full day parks, that starts taking away time people would spend in Disney. I mean, you go down there for a full week, if 2 days are in Universal, then Disney will have you for 5 days at the most (and they want you for more than that.) Eventually, Disney will start feeling the pinch if they don't do something other than the Fantasy Land revamp.
Lets start by just saying what we all want to say. Anything south of Echo lake that's not Star Wars related closes so we have room for a Star Wars Land. What would you want in Star Wars land? I personally want a Cantina next to Star Wars, American Idol and Sounds dangerous become expanded Jedi Academy , and we take Indiana Jones and turn it into a combination of Spiderman and Buzz Lightyear where you get into Jedi starfighters and fight the separatists . While we're discussing this , I think Disney should take this opportunity and put some awesome Star Wars games in Disneyquest.
Well sadly I've run out of space . I have so much more to say but I've run out of room. I would talk about this on the discussion board but I don't have an account. Can people under 18 get a Themparkinsider account ?
Star Wars is a joke now unfortunately. Robot Chicken, Star Detours, the new Trilogy... nothing serious about it anymore. While I love the characters and the new Star Tours, it's all about satire now.
Another idea that I like (this one isnt mine. Read it either here or over at disboards) is a land or attraction featuring the different iterations of Mickey Mouse from TV, big screen, and books. The poor guy needs a ride featuring him. Include the rest of the classic crew and you could have a land that would rarely need an reboot.
I also don't understand all the "don't clone it in Florida" talk. Whether or not you like it WDW is the main Disney resort and they need to continue filling all those rooms. On top of that WDW has the most land that can be developed, so I kind of question why it would go to Cali first.
I hope Avatar stays on the shelf. I really think it is a blessing in disguise!
I mean you can you can make the entire city of Monstropolis (there can be tons of detail there)
I still think Avatar has potential to make a great land at Animal Kingdom, so I'm not going to celebrate its demise.
Disney definitely needs a fresh, new movie franchise to stir up some excitement. I still don't know the details of what they can and can't use in Orlando, but the Avengers would be spectacular....
With Gringott's finally going vertical and what seems to be Transformers taking shape very quickly, Disney should figure something out fast. I would love nothing more than to see two juggernauts going at it to create the most advanced theme parks in the world.
I know Tron Legacy wasn't as popular as they hoped, but that movie has so much potential for rides.
-cars land
-pixar land
-star wars
-marvel (really would hate it to leave universal)
-any other land
-then avatar ( I really do not want it in any disney park. Avatar should not be in Disney it's really stupid, doesn't even fit animal kingdom at all bc its modern day animals not blue monkeys and it doesn't fit the target market at all everybody loves star wars over avatar and any other movie. This let it die and not come back to life.
Theme park lands and attractions are already 3D, so Avatar seems like kind of a waste, unless you can somehow manage to make an entire section of Animal Kingdom EXTRA 3D.
And here is why..
As far as I could see, the main attraction of Cars Land, Radiator Springs Racer, seems to be similar to Test Track. I would see too many comparisions.
Also, they spent all that money on that stunt show. Why not keep it around for a bit longer?
As for Avitar Land, it will probably still happen. I think Disney wants to get Fantasyland done first
Some really quick wins.
Replace Honey I Shrunk the Kids with a Pixar playground - almost any Pixar movie works. While at it, get rid of Studio Catering and use the space as open area and for air movement into an expanded playground. Retail is also a good fit here.
Retheme NY street as Pixar. I would lean to Toy story but that is already taken. Up is a good fit. Or maybe a section for each movie. It was built for easy retheming for Studio shoots. Prove it.
Open up the theater by San Francisco that has been dormant for years. Pick a movie and make a stage show. The latest movie fits and quick and relatively easy to retheme. (If I remember, the theatre needs upgrades bad.
Retheme Sci-Fi to Best of Pixar. It already is built for movies and they own the movies.
Radiator Springs takes over Lights Motor Action and is the climax of the build-out. I hate re-use oc DCA but it should be close to shovel ready and ties the other items together with an E-Ticket.
GG
Tear down Lights, Motors, Action and build something unique that nobody has ever seen before. Something that we don't already know because we haven't seen the movie, haven't read the book, haven't Tivo'd the TV show.
There, I made my wish upon a star.
With that being said, Cars Land shows that, Disney has many properties that can use...
What would be really cool is an Indiana Jones Adventure, or some other type of ride, in Florida, preferably in Adventureland somewhere or something. I would definitely go down there for that. Dinosaur, and the Indiana Jones stunt show are great and all, but a movie series like that deserves more tribute.
Carsland should be unique to DCA but a similar ride racing through Monaco or Tokyo from cars 2 would be awesome!
Done for minimal price compared to avatar or beastly kingdom, highlights under utlized properties and creates a full day park.
Done for minimal price compared to avatar or beastly kingdom, highlights under utlized properties and creates a full day park.
I have no idea when I would ever get back out to SoCal again (it has already been 20+ years), so I would love to have a Cars land in FL. Although I think it would be great to have it as part of a larger Pixar area.
And Mark, I understand what you're saying, but that same logic can apply to the tons of people on the West Coast who can't afford to visit & experience the great unique attractions in WDW.
I think DHS should get something as innovative, immersive, & fun as Cars Land, but it should be something new! Star Wars Land, another Pixar land, even the Lion King idea.
Cars Land is probably one of the most detailed & themed land in a Disney park, I don't think it should just be copied, instead use that as a blueprint to create ALL NEW lands that are JUST as impressive.
"(9/7/12) Despite the rumor from IGN claiming that the Avatar project may have hit a speed bump, local sources say that the early prep work projects are moving full steam ahead, with deadlines to keep. "
So, it looks like Avatar-land, as much as people might not want it (like I said, I am lukewarm on it at best) is still moving forward. Slowly, but moving forward.
I do, however, find the irony that now it is Universal moving at light speed on a project while Disney is moving slowly. Usually it is the other way around, but this time Universal is really outpacing Disney. If Avatar-land really still is happening, I wonder if Harry Potter phase 2 will be done before Disney STARTS building the Avatar expansion.
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Disney, Please DO NOT bring Cars Land to Florida. It was an amazing addition to California Adventure but keep it exclusive to the West Coast. Its one thing to clone a popular attraction (Transformers in Orlando), which I'm fine with since Transformers is my 2nd favorite ride.
But cloning an entire land seems like you've lost some of your creativity. Give us something new to get excited about.
-Pixar World (with the long awaited Incredibles Ride)
-Star Wars Land
-Marvel (Pony up and buy the rights from Universal)
Speaking of which, as much as I LOVE the Spiderman ride; nothing would make me happier to see a Batman ride takes its place. I'd love to travel around Gotham in the Batmobile and do battle with the likes of Joker, Bane and Scarecrow.