AVATAR coming to Disney Parks

[Diznee4Me]

It's a photo finish - who got this up first?

[Scar]

So it appears that Disney is out of their own ideas.

Or is it just that Cameron and FOX gave them such a great deal that they couldn't resist?

[BrerGnat]

So it appears that Disney is out of their own ideas.

More like "out of money".

Ugh. The more I think about this, the worse it sounds. Can we think of a more UN family friendly movie? This is just so wrong...

Man, you'd think Disney had NO movies that made use of the theme of nature/animals/conservation.

Major FAIL Disney...

[Goofster]

This doesn't make any sense to me. I guess this will be one section of AK that I never set foot in.

[DizneyRox]

Sounds like Harry Potter Land Part Deux... Avatar was pleasing to the eye, but I really can't imagine a whole land in a park. What's wrong with Beastly Kingdom? Oh, no sponsor... I forgot...

[Ian]

Wow ... and I thought Disney had bottomed out with Chester and Hester ....

[DVC2004]

Wow ... and I thought Disney had bottomed out with Chester and Hester ....

LOL nope.

[Stu29573]

Ok, this is so bad it HAS to be a joke. Avatar? Really? I could only watch bits and pieces of it before I decided it wasn't worth my time. It is COMPLETELY not Disney. What a waste of time, money and effort this will be. I guess I'm done with AK completely....

[McLiberal8]

Ok, this is so bad it HAS to be a joke. Avatar? Really? I could only watch bits and pieces of it before I decided it wasn't worth my time. It is COMPLETELY not Disney. What a waste of time, money and effort this will be. I guess I'm done with AK completely....

I'm just curious, why is the movie NOT Disney? Cameron created a whole new world for the movie. It's about remembering where we come from, and living, not dying, with the things around us. What is more Disney than that?

[SharkBait]

Sorry, but I'm not interested......I think I might be the only person left on earth that hasn't seen this movie.....don't plan to either...

[PirateLover]

I had all these different things multi quoted but my mind is in such a tizzy over all that's being said that I lost my direction.

I will start by saying that I did see Avatar, the visuals were amazing....and that's about it. Yes, the movie was a MASSIVE hit...but I have some pretty big "nerds" in my various circles of friends, and I don't know anyone who is an Avatar geek. Clearly they exist, but on the other hand I can't even begin to count the number of Star Wars nerd and Harry Potter nerd friends that I have.
I know at least 10 friends/families (myself included) that went to Wizarding World within the first year of opening. I don' t know a single person who would travel to WDW just because they created an Avatar land. I'm willing to take the wait and see approach because we have no idea what the sequels will be like, but I wasn't a fan of the script in the first one so my hopes aren't too high.

As for all the Pocahontas comparisons... you guys do know that she was an ACTUAL person, right? Not a figment of Disney's imagination?They certainly took liberties with her story but She did indeed befriend John Smith and may or may not have valiantly saved him from execution depending on which account of his travels you choose to believe, but they weren't lovers. The "romance" aspect of this tale has been around in writings for at least two centuries, so I really doubt James Cameron came up with the plot first (unless he's an ageless vampire?) Anyway, take away the romance and it reminded me more of that Fern Gully movie!

Lastly I am a bit surprised by the tone taken by some in this thread. Yes, people are being negative. People are allowed to be negative if they want. There is some initial shock that inevitably comes with this seemingly out of left field announcement. There are people that will always be critical-that's just a given. In particular, those unfamiliar with the Avatar property and it's success at home and abroad and the future benefits that may come from a deal such as this should not be talked down to. No one REALLY knows if this will be a boom or a bust for Disney until the gates open in 4 years. All we can do at this point is what we do best on message boards like this- speculate. Can't wait to hear the next podcast!

[Tink#64]

OK, well I'm glad to know that I'm not alone with my first reaction! Ugg! We really need "Like" buttons on here!

I'm thinking they are trying to compete with Universal & their Harry Potter World! Please! I see no longevity here! Toy Story has way more staying power & could've been targeted a bit more. I liked Avatar, but I don't see this as a good fit for WDW.

[texas211]

Great. Not. The only thing that saved the movie was special effects. I'm surprised Disney allowed this. Afterall, wasn't it a ripoff of Disney's Pocahontas? Just with blue aliens and fancy technology?

If the Avatars start singing the Colors of the... I'll lose it.

[Mogie]

Avatar? Really?

I think this might actually be a worse idea than adding real cloned Tyranosaurs and Velociraptors to Dinoland and putting them behind electric fences.

[McLiberal8]

I'm trying to stay positive. I loved the message of Avatar, and I don't think anything could make AK WORSE in my eyes, so bring it on! I'm excited to at least see some new touches to my least favorite park...

[caryrae]

Not sure if I missed it but will they make a whole new land or will they replace a current land with this Avatar land?

[dking2002]

Don't like that idea at all!!!!!

[CAS]

I only hope enough money is spent to do it correctly and with incredible detail. It's fit into AK? The whole theme of Avatar is people's relationship to nature and eachother. Isn't that how we would exactly define AK's purpose?

Perfect fit.

[Jim&AngieMarriner]

In Avatars favor, absolutely STUNNING visuals. If you are going to see a movie for eye candy only, then you are fine.

Thats it. Nothing else. Very old and tired story line where the soldier goes "native" and renounces his former heritage. Dances with wolves was much better of a story. Pocohontas in Space just isnt very original.

Anyways, I too am stuggling to see a connection between Disney and Avatar. Im coming up with nothing. Its a bit violent for Disney I would think.

I do think that one "lesson" from the movie does mesh well with AK. Dont abuse the planet just for its natural resourses. But come on Disney, there have to be better examples out there. Or if not then make one.

[Mousemates]

Anyways, I too am stuggling to see a connection between Disney and Avatar. Im coming up with nothing. Its a bit violent for Disney I would think.

Sorry, I meant to post this earlier, but I got caught up in the posts and forget about it....also forgive me if something similar got posted in the interim and I missed it....but the violence in Avatar really isn't all that different from other movies disney has featured. The following numbers are widely available from the numerous body count websites that document each on screen death in a movie. (I did not do personal counts to verify the data )

Avatar - 69 humans, 74 Nav'i, 4 hairless tar dogs, 1 blue deer, 2 avatars, 17 6-legged blue horses, 13 banshees and 1 panther dragon.

Raiders of the Lost Ark - 55 people, a monkey and 63 snakes.

Star Wars (first movie) - 115 humans, plus 9 jawas, 6 X-wings, 8 tie fighters, 3 Y-Wings, the entire planet of Alderaan.

By the way for those thinking the Lord of the Rings would be a good fit....consider that the last episode's (Return of the King) body count is reportedly as follows. 15,107 men, 205,066 orcs, 110 trolls, 7 horses, 1 worm, 1 hobbit, 1 catfish, 20 elephants, 9 Nazgul, 9 Fell Beasts, 1 giant spider, Sauron and Gollum.

So, the violence of Avatar isn't really all that different from several movies already featured at WDW.