Disney now has rights to AVATAR for Theme park attractions/area in DAK!!(Merged)

[lighttragic]

http://www.deadline.com/2011/09/report-disney-plans-avatar-theme-park-attraction/

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.co...r=yahoofinance

Robert A. Iger, chief executive of the Walt Disney Company, plans to announce on Tuesday morning that Disney has licensed the rights to the hit movie “Avatar” from 20th Century Fox for a theme park experience, according to two people briefed on the plan.
The “Avatar” experience – plans call for more than a single ride – will be built at Animal Kingdom, the newest of the four major theme parks that make up Disney World in Orlando, Fla., according to these people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Disney did not authorize them to speak publicly.
James Cameron, the director of that science-fiction film, will collaborate with Disney on the attraction. “Avatar” sold $2.8 billion at the global box office and two sequels are in the works.
A Disney spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment.

EDIT: Disney Parks Blog post:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/09/avatar-coming-to-disney-parks/

[Aladdin6592]

I never saw the movie and don't really have interest in seeing it, but this is good news to me. Animal Kingdom does need a little bit of love and this addition coming soon after the Fantasyland expansion is what WDW needs. Hopefully this will continue to disperse and evenly distribute crowds.

[WED]

Before everybody chimes in about how this is the death of Animal Kingdom, not true to original vision, blah blah blah I would point out that

a) Animal Kingdom has always been focused on animals and their environments both real and fantasy
b) taking that fantasy angle and applying it to alien worlds is a unique approach

I imagine this becomes AK's "Tomorrowland" of sorts.

Also: this is obviously the true response to Harry Potter (or, more accurately, part of a multi-faceted approach including the Fantasyland expansion).

[Aladdin6592]

I'm all for it, though I do expect a hate brigade as well.

[Xedex]

Love it<3

[Coheteboy]

Really didn't care for Avatar but curious how they hope to pull this off. We're still several years away on this.

[KevinYee]

People left the theater dying to go to Pandora, so I think it's a natural fit for a theme park. Might be the Potter-killer they've been seeking.

(but yes, it does fly in the face of edutainment.... but I think I'm OK with it)

[Coheteboy]

Added the official blog posting to the first post:

AVATAR Coming To Disney Parks « Disney Parks Blog

[PSUMark]

Just when you think things are starting to look up...

Yes, Avatar could make for a great themed experience, but at DAK??? DAK did have the best, most cohesive theming of any park in Orlando (with the exception of Chester & Hester). There goes that...

I can kind of accept that TWDC under Iger is no longer willing to support the creation of grand, original concepts like Horizons or PotC or HM or heck, even Expedition Everest unless it's tied into a successful franchise. I wish they would at least stop bastardizing what's left of the genius of the past.

Coming soon: Lord of the Rings in World Showcase!! The Hunger Games in Adventureland!!! Twilight in Liberty Square!!!! They're popular franchises, so of course they're going to be teh awezomez and if you disagree you're obviously just a hater!!

EDITED TO ADD: In proactive response to everyone who sees this and wants to reply to it, this post was my initial, emotional reaction to a fairly shocking announcement. While I still stand by what I said, I did temper it with a follow up post, partially quoted here:

The more I think about it, the more I think this could be done in a way that's tasteful. I guess it's just an indication of my opinion on the latest from WDI that I have very little faith that it will be done in a tasteful manner. It also probably reflects that I thought the film, while visually stunning, was terribly unoriginal and overrated. If this is going to happen, I just hope it gets the necessary funding and creative control from the right people in order to be done right.

And Beastly Kingdom would have been preferable and made a lot more sense, but my guess is that's too risky for Iger which is just sad.

If you'd like to challenge my views on the matter, please take the entirety of the above into account. Thanks

[mickey11]

LOL, and you were all worried about Marvel coming to the parks! SURPRISE! I think its great, I cant wait to see the art for it.

[Coheteboy]

There's a link at the bottom of the blog post to email questions for Tom Staggs to answer. I encourage everyone to think of some good hard hitting questions and hope he answers!

[Aladdin6592]

Just when you think things are starting to look up...

Yes, Avatar could make for a great themed experience, but at DAK??? DAK did have the best, most cohesive theming of any park in Orlando (with the exception of Chester & Hester). There goes that...

I can kind of accept that TWDC under Iger is no longer willing to support the creation of grand, original concepts like Horizons or PotC or HM or heck, even Expedition Everest unless it's tied into a successful franchise. I wish they would at least stop bastardizing what's left of the genius of the past.

Coming soon: Lord of the Rings in World Showcase!! The Hunger Games in Adventureland!!! Twilight in Liberty Square!!!! They're popular franchises, so of course they're going to be teh awezomez and if you disagree you're obviously just a hater!!

And if you think it's a good idea and welcome addition you're obviously a bigoted idiot who isn't a true fan of Disney? Alright...

[WED]

Just when you think things are starting to look up...

Yes, Avatar could make for a great themed experience, but at DAK??? DAK did have the best, most cohesive theming of any park in Orlando (with the exception of Chester & Hester). There goes that...

Franchise aside, how is this any different of a theme clash than the almost there from day 1 Beastly Kingdom?

[kcnole]

I'm interested in seeing more on what they're planning here. If they do this in a major way, then it could be very interesting. If this just becomes another 3d movie then count me as not interested.

[StrikerObi]

Edit: ^ Sup fellow Seminole Disney fan

I'm excited. Animal Kingdom needs more attractions. It's still a "half day" park in most people's eyes (and it totally is unless you do all the walking trails and Rafiki's Planet Watch). I think it's a huge stab at Potterland, and combined with the Fantasyland expansion it just might be enough to compete.