Breaking: AVATAR Land Coming to Animal Kingdom
An unbelievable announcement was made just a few hours ago! Disney's Animal Kingdom will be the first Disney theme park to receive an entire new land themed after the award-winning movie Avatar! Read More:
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DISNEY, FOX AND JAMES CAMERON TO BRING AVATAR TO LIFE
AT DISNEY PARKS
AT DISNEY PARKS
Long-term agreement will bring AVATAR themed lands to Disney parks, with the first at Walt Disney World in Orlando
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| © Disney. All Rights Reserved |
BURBANK (September 20, 2011) – Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide is joining forces with visionary filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of AVATAR to life at Disney parks. Through an exclusive agreement announced today by Disney, Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox, Disney will partner with Cameron and producing partner Jon Landau to create themed lands that will give theme park guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of AVATAR first hand. Disney plans to build the first AVATAR themed land at Walt Disney World, within the Animal Kingdom park. With its emphasis on living in harmony with nature, Animal Kingdom is a natural fit for the AVATAR stories, which share the same philosophy. Construction is expected to begin by 2013.
“James Cameron is a groundbreaking filmmaker and gifted storyteller who shares our passion for creativity, technological innovation and delivering the best experience possible,” said Robert A. Iger, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “With this agreement, we have the extraordinary opportunity to combine James’ talent and vision with the imagination and expertise of Disney.”
“AVATAR created a world which audiences can discover again and again and now, through this incredible partnership with Disney, we’ll be able to bring Pandora to life like never before. With two new AVATAR films currently in development, we’ll have even more locations, characters and stories to explore,” said James Cameron. ”I’m chomping at the bit to start work with Disney’s legendary Imagineers to bring our AVATAR universe to life. Our goal is to go beyond current boundaries of technical innovation and experiential storytelling, and give park goers the chance to see, hear, and touch the world of AVATAR with an unprecedented sense of reality.”
The agreement announced today gives The Walt Disney Company exclusive global theme park rights to the AVATAR franchise and provides for additional AVATAR themed lands at other Disney parks. The other locations will be determined by Disney and its international theme park partners. James Cameron, Jon Landau and their Lightstorm Entertainment group will serve as creative consultants on the projects and will partner with Walt Disney Imagineering in the design and development of the AVATAR themed lands.
“This exciting new venture combines the world of AVATAR with the enormous reach of Disney and the incomparable talent of Jim Cameron,” commented Fox Filmed Entertainment chairmen Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman. “While Jim is bringing audiences further into Pandora with the next two chapters in the AVATAR motion picture saga, the theme park attraction will likewise bring a new dimension to the amazing universe he created.”
“AVATAR is a uniquely powerful franchise that has global appeal with audiences of all ages. Its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures, and strong themes of family and loyalty make it a perfect fit for Disney,” said Thomas O. Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We can’t wait to give our guests the ability to journey to Pandora and explore the incredible immersive world of AVATAR in person.”
In addition to setting a global box office record, AVATAR has been hailed as one of the most innovative and visually stunning movies ever produced. With its advanced motion capture and 3-D digital projection technologies developed by James Cameron and his team, moviegoers were able to connect with the world of AVATAR in new and engaging ways.
This new venture complements Walt Disney Parks & Resorts’ strategic efforts to continue to invest in its core theme park businesses around the world while simultaneously expanding into other parts of the family vacation business.
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Wow. Just wow. What can we say... we are absolutely speechless. Can you imagine having a fantastic fantasy environment, such as the one that was presented in the movie, mixed with animals, rides and more (just like Disney does)? Also, can you believe that Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, the park which needs the most attention, will finally receive an enormous expansion? We still can't believe that.
It is true, unfortunately, we'll have to wait until 2013 just to see work starting, and this means that the new area may open in 2015 or 2016... We hope that in the meantime, Disney's Animal Kingdom will receive some attention.
With that being said, what do you think about this shocking (and great!) news? Please, share your comments!
It is true, unfortunately, we'll have to wait until 2013 just to see work starting, and this means that the new area may open in 2015 or 2016... We hope that in the meantime, Disney's Animal Kingdom will receive some attention.
With that being said, what do you think about this shocking (and great!) news? Please, share your comments!
I'm really looking forward to this! The true concept of the film is what DAK is about (nature, conservation etc) so it will fit perfectly. I can't see WDI concentrating on the Na'vi people too much though. The potential here is enormous! :)
ReplyDeleteThis will be EXTRAORDINARY. It's exactly what Animal Kingdom needs and it's exactly what Disney can use to build something of Wizarding World caliber! Everything about it...the lush environment, the fantastical creatures, the environmental themes...It fits Animal Kingdom's theme and message perfectly. On top of that, it's the sort of rescuing the park needs. I cannot wait for this.
ReplyDeleteUnexpected, but nice to see that DAK is getting some TLC. :) But I can't stand the construction schedule though. :( Oh well! Must be trying to get Fantasyland over with before they start this 2nd equidistant to Wizzarding World.
ReplyDeleteThus ends our hopes for Beastly Kingdom, instead we get an entire land based on a plagiarized movie with flashy special effects.
ReplyDeleteThis might be the worst thing to happen to Walt Disney World since they built that sorcerer's hat at Hollywood Studios or closed The Adventurer's Club.
Literally gasped when I heard this bit of news. Imagine this place at night. It's going to look simply stunning! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd The Lion King plagiarized from Hamlet. Your point being what exactly? Everything is borrowed from somewhere else. The film was incredible and partnering up with Animal Kingdom is perfect. This is exactly the juice the park needed.
ReplyDeleteWell I just lost all hope for Disney. thanks for making me not want to go to DAK now. You can find me at Epcot or DHS with that extra time.
ReplyDeleteAvatar isn't even realted to animals so why is at Animal Kingdom taking up space that could be used on a sensible addition, like Australia? This is more than likely going to end up being a area where your walking into the movie. And this belongs at Animal Kingdom why? I thought walking into the magic of the movies etc was the purpose of DHS.
And Disney, quit trying to be like Universal and stop abandoning your true fan base who is willing to spend head over heels to just go to Disney or will buy your products regardless.
Avatar isn't plagiarized. Good god, would the haters of this film put it to rest already? And you praise Disney films that recycle old fairy tales or take ideas from anime, like the Lion King, so there's hypocrisy there as well. Most of Avatar came from 50's scifi novels that none of the complainers even know the name of. Note, Dancing with Wolves isn't one of them.
ReplyDeleteThis area will probably be hugely successful. Like it or not, Avatar was the one of most significant theatrical phenomenons there has ever been. No other movie has performed like that at the box office. Average movie goes went back to see it multiple times. That has happened with nothing else.
I have a ride idea! the next two movies are apparently about Avatars oceans, How cool might be using the finding nemo sub technology to go under pandoras oceans, see avatars outside your window and cities, that might be epic in a futuristic submarine ride
ReplyDeleteOMG SOARIN' over Pandora! the ideas are endless! This will rock!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhether you are a fan of Avatar or not, (personally I've never seen the movie, and have little desire to do so) this is EXACTLY what AK has been screaming out for, a major investment which has already caught the interest of the majority of people before full attraction details have even been released.
ReplyDeleteNo attraction / expansion will please everyone (theres been enough debate here regarding WWOHP to show that) and dissenters are entitled to their opinions. All I suggest is that these people wait until further details are released or even until the world itself opens. If you still dislike the world at that point no one is going to force you to go there. Disney is a commercial venture after all and this announcement makes perfect financial sense. And any increase in revenues it brings can only increase the likelyhood of further expansions across WDW.
What I'm most interested to hear is WHERE in AK this expansion will take place? will it be a completely new area or will it replace Camp Minnie Mickey (possible) or even Dinorama (we can but hope!)
it gets a big thumbs up from me, and i'm not even an Avatar fan!
(ok lecture over now...)
Awesome! An entire land based on a property that hasn't had sequels released yet!
ReplyDeleteThat worked so well for Chronicles of Narnia at Disney! So I'm sure building an entire land is just as good of an idea!! Especially since Avatar toys still line the shelves at retailers.
This is phenomenal news! I can't believe it. It is EXACTLY what Animal Kingdom needs. If you haven't seen the movie, you should. The lower your expectations, the more you'll like the movie. Just enjoy it for what it is: A decent story and SPECTACULAR visuals. I agree with the person who said it will look amazing at night. The only problem is, this park isn't open all that late. Imagine a nighttime show on Pandora!
ReplyDeletelets not get into stupid name calling here everyone...
ReplyDeletejust cos you don't agree with the comments of Austin Ray, or anyone else, it doesn't give you the right to call them an idiot.
everyone is entitled to their opinions. admittedly some may be misinformed but everyone has the right to say what they want, providing its not rascist, sexist or otherwise offensive.
Orlando Theme Park News is easily the best source of Orlando info imo and the administrators do an amazing job keeping us all up to speed on all the goings on: don't let this become another place for petty arguements!!!
@Jason
ReplyDeleteI agree a nightime show on Pandora would (probably) be special but i can't see it happening.
AK closes early because it doesn't have a nightime show: as most of these shows involve fireworks and / or special lighting effects, any show in AK would disturb and effect the wellbeing of the animals
there is a tiny hope a show could be produced that doesn't require these effects but is it possible, and would it be any good?
while animals remain at AK any nighttime show seems unlikely - and i doubt the animals will be going anywhere soon!
Okay, so I was out of line with the name calling...but saying you've "lost all hope for Disney" when they're granting a needy park an innovative and immersive experience doesn't make much sense to me.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like it at AK. As much as I would love to see an AK expansion, I would rather Avatar go to DHS. I do think the land will be amazing but I just can't see how it would fit into AK at all. Asia, Africa, Dinoland, Pandora..? Yes, there are animals and conservation themes but hey lots of movies have sci-fi animals. Some people complain that it's not Disney, but neither is Tower of Terror, Rock n Rollercoaster, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars, but they're all at DHS plus DHS (not quite as bad in being needy for rides as AK) they still could use a big expansion. I'm glad some people are excited, it just feels too awkward for me.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the comments, everybody. it is always interesting to hear your own opinions, and we encourage you to continue to do so.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as our reader "fatdonut" said, name-calling is absolutely NOT ALLOWED here on Orlando Theme Park News. This has always been (and will always be) a friendly, family-friendly place, so we will not allow these things to happen in the future. Please, note that we're not referring to anyone in particular, but be mindful that we will edit or delete comments that do not comply with the policy of the site (which is also based on good common sense).
Thank you for understanding, and once again, we're really interested to hear what you think about this subject, so feel free to share your comments, always being mindful of others.
I agree with everyone regarding a nighttime show...UNLESS, it was indoors! Just a thought (avoids the animal issue).
ReplyDeleteOn another note, where do you think Pandora will be? If you look at Google Maps or Google Earth, there's a large open section between Kali River Rapids and the Safari (they used it as a staging area during Expedition Everest construction). It's certainly large enough, but they'd have to put some creative paths and bridges to get to it because of the train, existing paths and Kali River Rapids.
Thoughts?
My guess would be the current Camp Minnie-Mickey, because it is the plot of land available that is located the farthest from the animals (leaving out the few ones found in the "Oasis"). The plot of land near Expedition Everest should be reserved for an Australian themed land, IMHO.
ReplyDeleteIf it replaces the Campt I'd be fine with that. It at least brings some mythical creatures to the area where the Beastly Kingdom was supposed to go. And it would be out of the way. I'd still rather not have this addition at DAK. DHS fits it 10x better.
ReplyDeleteYou're probably right Sam. It just doesn't look like that big of an area compared to the space behind Kali River Rapids, although I suppose they could move some canals or incorporate them into the Pandora landscape (hopefully with lots of underwater lighting).
ReplyDeleteAustin - I know what you're saying regarding DHS. Avatar was a movie afterall. I just don't think something so landscape-oriented fits into the the industrial feel of DHS. In the end, the decision has already been made so I suppose there's no point worrying about it now. :)
@Imagineer87
ReplyDeleteRock n Roller Coaster not Disney? How so? It was an idea by Disney Imagineers. Is it because Aerosmith is involved? If that's so, it's like saying the Ellen's Energy Adventure show isn't Disney because it stars Ellen DeGeneres or "O' Canada", starring Martin Short. It's a pure Disney idea.
@Summons
ReplyDeleteI think @Imagineer87 simply meant those rides aren't based on Disney characters. That's different from saying they are pre-fab rides that aren't designed by Imagineers.
With that said, Rock-n-Roller actually isn't an Imagineer-designed ride. The "show" is, but the roller coaster itself was designed and built by Vekoma. There's actually an exact replica of it at another park, although it's outside. It's called Xpress and is at Walibi World in the Netherlands. Check it out.