Any News on Avatar Land at AK?

The biggest thing I want to know is... I know its going to be part of AK... but will this make AK stay open later in the day now? I can't imagine AK keeping the same hours when this opens. But I can't wait for this... I'm hoping to avoid it the first year, and take advantage of all the other parks... because they should be less busy... heh

Yes it will be a part of AK, much like FurtureWorld is a part of MK, but I think that will mean it will still be stuck with the AK park hours. I imagine there will be some opening hours extension to begin with but I can't see them giving it it's own schedule. It's going to be a 'land', not a park in it's own right.

Personally I think it's just the original 'Beastly Kingdom' finally coming to fruition under a franchise (which dissapoints me just a smidge!) I posted some thoughts about this here!

I have to say I'm not sure I am in favor of the fit. But Disney doesn't usually do things badly so I'll wait and see.

Im no insider. But Ive heard bits and pieces about Pandora(which is what it will be called)

First, its under heavy lock and key. Not many people know whats going on in the land. But it will have a couple of attractions including one big time headliner. The land is visually going to be spectacular. Its going to look amazing at night as well. Thats all I got for now.

I'm still really up in the air about the Avatar themed land. Before I started work at AK, I had to go through a class where we learned everything about AK. We learned how it was perfectly themed from the markings and rocks in the ground to the flags hanging in the trees to the statues and what each meant. I thought it was amazing and then I heard about the Avatar themed land, and I just don't know how well it could fit into the whole scheme, but then again I never saw Avatar. I have full faith in Disney though, so I'm sure they will make it work.

As for the park hours, we were told that the reason AK closes so early is because the animals have to be put back into their respective pens by sunset, or else they wont go to the pens. They are trained so that when a certain sound plays, a certain group of animals, such as all the elephants or all the tigers, goes into their pen. They have to get the animals in before sunset because after that their natural instinct takes over. And since the main attraction of the park is supposed to be the animals, they have to close when the animals go in.

That being said, I worked a few shifts of EMH and I don't know how many of you guys have been to night EMH at AK but its really dark and hard to see anything. The lighting wasn't really planned out as well as everything else I guess... but I imagine that wouldn't be super hard to fix and keep the park open longer, especially if they have a crowd-pleaser like Avatar.

I wonder how difficult it would be to rope off the animal areas while keeping the other areas of the park open later.

I have to say, when I first saw Avatar I thought to myself- This is beautiful! I want to go there! I'm a bit excited to actually be able to do this! I can't imagine how beautiful it will be at night!

As for the franchising, while it upsets me to see it happening, it was only a matter of time. Disney needs to compete with WWOHP- I've had many an argument with friends lately who have started to like Universal better due to themes and thrill rides. I was even told by one co-worker that Disney is for babies- obviously I told her what she could do and we no longer talk! If franchising has to happen, I'm happy it is at least in a park where it can fit a theme since a huge part of Avatar is being one with nature and protecting their planet natural resource thieves. I was so afraid that Disney would do a Marvel land somewhere instead and that would be too similar to Universal and the Six Flags I have at home. I think as long as Magic Kingdom stays Disney-centric I can handle this being at Animal Kingdom!

I can't wait!

Yeah.... there going to have to either rope it off or something.... especially if this Land looks awesome at night. Like Lizzy said... they may pull off an Epcot with the Worlds and such.

Same here. I borrowed the DVD from friends last month and still haven't watched it.

I've seen on several Disney fan site Facebook pages that there are rumors that Avatar land is being scrapped....interesting. Could be just speculation or hopes, LOL.

I think its just hopeful thinking. I can't see Disney saying 'well we spent this money for the Avatar, but now we aren't going to use them'. On the business side, I can see a lot of investor backlash.

One thing ive learned before coming to this site, is that most Disney sites are full of posters who are just like spoiled coaster enthusiasts. If they aren't getting the rides they want, they will find anything they can smear management with. Now it might be true, about Avatar. But it doesn't change the fact that most of people on the sites reporting this are just upset that they aren't getting the rides they want. These are the same people who tried to convince people the Disney was going to sell operations of the parks either a Saudi Prince or Chinese business men.

If it is canned, oh well. I forget who it was, but one of the executives did say they had another plan, but decided to go with Avatar. So if this is canned, maybe they are going with the other plan.

Well today, Bob Iger confirmed what I had been thinking. Rumors of Avatar's demise are untrue. It will most likely open in 2015.

As i suspected, it was all a fabricated rumor by people on the internet. Like I mentioned above.

Does anybody know if they are getting rid of another area or are they just adding to the size of the park??

My personal travel agent (who'll remain unnamed lol) just sent me an email with some news about Avatar Land in AK, and told me it's not going to happen due to Disney having "creative differences" with James Cameron. So to my knowledge...yes - it's being canned. Or at least extremely postponed.

Marvel characters at Disney theme parks?

From the "Los Angeles Times" yesterday. Avatar

For the moment, Disney is focused on an ambitious theme park project based on director James Cameron's blockbuster science-fiction fantasy, "Avatar." Disney struck a licensing deal with Cameron, his producing parter, Jon Landau, and film distributor 20th Century Fox, to develop rides and attractions based on the 2009 hit.

The first "Avatar" inspired land is planned for Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Iger told shareholders that the new attraction won't likely open until 2015.

This is just me speculating....

The first picture has an area already cleared for something. Now... granted... this is Google Maps... so we dont know when exactly this was taken. But one thing that can be said is if they said development for this was going to be a total of 5 years.... and if the rumor is 2015... then were talking the start of this was in 2010. So this picture could show the development for it. Only problem I have with this location is that it is awfully close to the animals.

The second image if that area isnt it is where I think it should go. Its the farthest away from the animals, so they can keep it open later, there is plenty of room, and its where all the thrill rides are at anyways.... but my guess is the first one, or it could be a combination of both?

Have they still not done anything with PI?!? Is Jessica Rabbit still there looking all sad and lonely??

Anyway, I really cannot get excited about Avatar land. I didn't see the movie..I have no desire too and I feel like this is Disney's attempt to compete with Harry Potter by getting a movie themed land. Holy run on sentence. I'm not a fan. I may change my story when I see or hear more but for now I'm going to be obnoxious about it.

I finally watched Avatar tonight. Good movie but I'm not sure how I feel about the idea. I didn't have any "oh that would be great for the new land" moments.