Avatar Land

**Mike0510** · 02-19-2012, 09:50 AM

Hi all, any news yet on the new Avatar Land expansion for DAK?

I wonder where it will be located, what attractions will be in there, when it will be open etc

**robinjava** · 02-22-2012, 03:19 AM

I'm don't know what I think about this

**yankeesusa** · 02-22-2012, 08:04 AM

Is the expansion official yet? They may not even go through with it with gas prices going up. They may just be focused on finishing their current expansion of fantasy land.

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**Shadow Jedi Rhy** · 02-22-2012, 08:41 AM

This is still in the very blue sky phase, personally I hope it never happens b/c it's a huge waste on a property that doesn't fit in AK (or WDW) at all.

**Winkster** · 02-22-2012, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by Shadow Jedi Rhy

...I hope it never happens b/c it's a huge waste on a property that doesn't fit in AK (or WDW) at all.

Well said!!

**brngbakdrmfndr** · 02-22-2012, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by Shadow Jedi Rhy

This is still in the very blue sky phase, personally I hope it never happens b/c it's a huge waste on a property that doesn't fit in AK (or WDW) at all.

I don't necessarily agree. While Disney's choice to bring in another franchise is questionable, environmental conservation is the obvious underlying theme in Avatar, which fits in nicely with the story Animal Kingdom is trying to tell. Plus it fills the mystical creatures niche that was originally planned for AK. While I question the longevity of the Avatar franchise, it will be interesting to see what they do with it.

**Mike0510** · 02-22-2012, 11:06 AM

Any expansion of one of the parks must be considered a good thing. Populations are increasing and although the economic crisis has certainly affected attendances in the long term the parks are only going to get busier.

I say good luck to Disney for trying to keep things fresh and interesting.

**Shadow Jedi Rhy** · 02-22-2012, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by Mike0510

Any expansion of one of the parks must be considered a good thing. Populations are increasing and although the economic crisis has certainly affected attendances in the long term the parks are only going to get busier.

I say good luck to Disney for trying to keep things fresh and interesting.

See, I disagree with this. Disney should not just be looking to expand for the sake of expansion, if so they lose a lot of what makes them different. This Avatar concept is strictly a knee jerk response to what Universal has done with Harry Potter, Universal got a new toy and it hurt some of Disney's profits so they went out to try and get a new toy, that is not what Disney does best, nor what it has done in the past.

On top of that we're still in a somewhat precarious economic situation, so I don't think with what I'm hearing on the news is $5.00 a gallon gas that this is the best time to go on a half a billion dollar spending spree on a largely unproven commodity in a park that already has to move its parade back to keep people in the park closer to closing time. How about a nighttime parade or World of Color like show to keep people at AK longer at a fraction of the price instead?

This is all obviously opinion but I think Disney could achieve its aims by spreading such a large sum of money around to all the parks instead of another huge capital investment off one movie that may or may not have staying power.

**Mike0510** · 02-22-2012, 02:23 PM

Hi Shadow Jedi, giggled when I read your comment about the potential price of fuel in the US, we have been paying around £6 or €9 for a gallon of fuel for a few years now.

The AKL is actually the largest of the parks due to the safari areas but I agree that space is at a premium.

**Shadow Jedi Rhy** · 02-22-2012, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Mike0510

Hi Shadow Jedi, giggled when I read your comment about the potential price of fuel in the US, we have been paying around £6 or €9 for a gallon of fuel for a few years now.

The AKL is actually the largest of the parks due to the safari areas but I agree that space is at a premium.

Yeah, I really don't envy what some folks pay for fuel that's for sure.

**RachaelK** · 02-22-2012, 04:11 PM

I don't think Avatar Land is the best theme to go into AK , mind you the Dino theme isn't quite right either . They have Africa and Asia and there is many more continents that they could have used as a theme for fantastic area's for example Australia with a Great Barrier Reef exhibit - would fit in with the Nemo show . Antarctic would be a fabulous theme area , you could have the Matterhorn Bobsleds ride they have in Disneyland .
I can't understand why they started with a good idea Africa + Asia and then they have made a hotchpotch of the rest of the park .

**Freshee61** · 02-22-2012, 05:02 PM

I for one too am for the avatar theme if they ever decide to go through with it. It's funny that a lot of people on this site don't like this movie or etc when this movie was loved loved by so many. I liked the movie and think whatever disney has in mind to do with it at AK will turn out just fine.

**HannahLeigh** · 02-22-2012, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by RachaelK

I don't think Avatar Land is the best theme to go into AK , mind you the Dino theme isn't quite right either . They have Africa and Asia and there is many more continents that they could have used as a theme for fantastic area's for example Australia with a Great Barrier Reef exhibit - would fit in with the Nemo show . Antarctic would be a fabulous theme area , you could have the Matterhorn Bobsleds ride they have in Disneyland .
I can't understand why they started with a good idea Africa + Asia and then they have made a hotchpotch of the rest of the park .

I never quite understood that either. Africa, Asia, and DinoLand? Since when is DinoLand a continent?

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**yankeesusa** · 02-22-2012, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by Shadow Jedi Rhy

See, I disagree with this. Disney should not just be looking to expand for the sake of expansion, if so they lose a lot of what makes them different. This Avatar concept is strictly a knee jerk response to what Universal has done with Harry Potter, Universal got a new toy and it hurt some of Disney's profits so they went out to try and get a new toy, that is not what Disney does best, nor what it has done in the past.

On top of that we're still in a somewhat precarious economic situation, so I don't think with what I'm hearing on the news is $5.00 a gallon gas that this is the best time to go on a half a billion dollar spending spree on a largely unproven commodity in a park that already has to move its parade back to keep people in the park closer to closing time. How about a nighttime parade or World of Color like show to keep people at AK longer at a fraction of the price instead?

This is all obviously opinion but I think Disney could achieve its aims by spreading such a large sum of money around to all the parks instead of another huge capital investment off one movie that may or may not have staying power.

I agree with you. Except for the part about fireworks at ak. They will never do fireworks there due to the animals.

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**Shadow Jedi Rhy** · 02-22-2012, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by yankeesusa

I agree with you. Except for the part about fireworks at ak. They will never do fireworks there due to the animals.

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See, I was thinking more on the lines of a large scale water show like World of Color from Disney's California Adventure except with maybe a bit more of an animal or even conservation overlay. I mean basically every Disney movie ever has had animals in it in some way, so maybe even focus on the animal sidekicks or something. Or if all else fails, they can always try a nighttime parade, I think anything that keeps people at AK longer than 3pm is probably a good thing and what Disney is really trying for. I also do agree with you that fireworks would definitely not be the best idea. I couldn't even imagine how something like Illuminations would effect animals