Avatar coming to DCA

[bdubsCEO]

I think it’s pretty odd that the are keeping Hollywoodland around just so it can be used as a bridge for Pandora. That transition is going to have to explain a lot with its visual language. Then again putting a Pandora ride anywhere in DCA would have this problem.

With almost nothing to Hollywoodland besides the street itself, I kind of view it as an extension of Buena Vista Street, since about 90% of it now is just shopping and the Animation walkthrough exhibit.

Wouldn’t be too hard to roll it back a decade or two and make it an offshoot of Buena Vista Street. Not really sure what this would accomplish other than thematic cohesion (which I would argue went out the window a long time ago in this park).

I’m usually the last person to suggest this, but this park and its theming are already so far gone that at this point… idk, just completely change everything and forego the California concept entirely. Pandora and Coco are going to decimate any semblance of a real theme, and Avengers already started that process

 

[DrStarlander]

I think it’s pretty odd that the are keeping Hollywoodland around just so it can be used as a bridge for Pandora. That transition is going to have to explain a lot with its visual language. Then again putting a Pandora ride anywhere in DCA would have this problem.

With almost nothing to Hollywoodland besides the street itself, I kind of view it as an extension of Buena Vista Street, since about 90% of it now is just shopping and the Animation walkthrough exhibit.

Wouldn’t be too hard to roll it back a decade or two and make it an offshoot of Buena Vista Street. Not really sure what this would accomplish other than thematic cohesion (which I would argue went out the window a long time ago in this park).

Hollywood Blvd. already has a lot of animation-related stuff, with Disney Jr., Animation Academy, Mickey's PhilharMagic, Off the Page... I think it would be cool if they just went hard on that theme and made it Disney Animation Ave., and made it a celebration of Disney's animation heritage.

Replace the facade of the Hyperion Theater with the actual Disney's Hyperion Studio (where Snow White was made) so the avenue is bookended where Snow What was animated and where it premiered (Carthay Circle). They could do meet and greets with classic characters, and add some whimsical stuff to the street a bit like Mickey Avenue at Shanghai. The park needs more classic Disney and kid-friendly stuff, so two birds with one stone. An easy way to give this street a unique identity and do brand-building.

 

[Freak]

I’m usually the last person to suggest this, but this park and its theming are already so far gone that at this point… idk, just completely change everything and forego the California concept entirely. Pandora and Coco are going to decimate any semblance of a real theme, and Avengers already started that process

Not necessarily? Buena Vista Street? Grizzly Peak? Cars Land (Route 66 and car culture)? Pixar Pier (Boardwalk roots but Pixar screwed that up). You can argue that Coco coming in celebrates the Hispanic heratage that came into play with California’s upbringing.

The only real outliers are Avengers and Avatar, but I don’t think the park is that far gone from its original theme. In fact I would argue it’s a little more “in tune” with the theme that you think it is. DHS is kinda like that where the core of its theme celebrates Hollywood Studio/entertainment and using it as a IP hodge-podge. Staying from the theme? Sure, but to the point to where it needs a total makeover and a name change? I would argue that would make even more of an ip hodge-podge. I say leave it as is.

 

[bdubsCEO]

Not necessarily? Buena Vista Street? Grizzly Peak? Cars Land (Route 66 and car culture)? Pixar Pier (Boardwalk roots but Pixar screwed that up). You can argue that Coco coming in celebrates the Hispanic heratage that came into play with California’s upbringing.

The only real outliers are Avengers and Avatar, but I don’t think the park is that far gone from its original theme. In fact I would argue it’s a little more “in tune” with the theme that you think it is. DHS is kinda like that where the core of its theme celebrates Hollywood Studio/entertainment and using it as a IP hodge-podge. Staying from the theme? Sure, but to the point to where it needs a total makeover and a name change? I would argue that would make even more of an ip hodge-podge. I say leave it as is.

You know, you’re right. I haven’t been in a year or so, so it’s kind of just a fuzzy concept in my head. But most of the park still works. I definitely think they need to rework Hollywood Land a little bit though.

The whiplash from a stylized but realistic depiction of Hollywood suddenly transforming into Guardians and then literally becoming a completely alien planet is going to be crazy.

Although, Pandora doesn’t look THAT dissimilar from certain places in California, honestly. They just need to make the visual transition smooth and then play a little video of James Cameron giving a thumbs up at the camera saying “hey guys, did you know Pandora is actually loosely based on the nature in California? also we shot the movies here. pretty cool!” and I think most people will accept it.

 

[Mad Dog]

DHS and DCA are both cookie cutter parks. That works if there's enough good attractions.

 

[Freak]

Random thought but I really hope they take the opportunity to have a Blue Bayou-style restaurant here. Would be such a missed opportunity if they didn’t do it!

 

[Jerroddragon]

Random thought but I really hope they take the opportunity to have a Blue Bayou-style restaurant here. Would be such a missed opportunity if they didn’t do it!

I agree it would be amazing but doubt it if the building isn't going to be bigger then the Tangled ride

 

[Freak]

I agree it would be amazing but doubt it if the building isn't going to be bigger then the Tangled ride

I think the Avatar ride is going to be a little bigger than the Tangled ride lol. Maybe you’re mistaking this for the Coco ride thread?

 

[Jerroddragon]

My bad

The Coco ride would make sense but Avatar is one I never even thought of before. Lets hope someone high up at Disney see's this

 

[TheUniC6]

I think the Avatar ride is going to be a little bigger than the Tangled ride lol. Maybe you’re mistaking this for the Coco ride thread?

Speaking of size, DCA will be the first application of the Shanghai pirates tech in the states. IMO It's possible it might be scaled down a tad from Shanghai and made modular to cater to the DLR audience, while disney collects data, and uses it to refine when the ride system gets scaled back up for when its ported over to WDW hopefully for Moana.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Something I was thinking about recently...As much as I'd probably enjoy the proposed Avatar boat ride more, I wouldn't be upset if they used the Hollywood Backlot space as Monstropolis rather than Avatar, and wait to build the boat ride on the Simba plot. It would also allow them to reuse their work on the Muppet-Vision 3D replacement.

It would probably also allow them to build the attraction in concert with the Eastern Gateway rather than having the wait for the new bus loop to be completed.

 

[TheUniC6]

Something I was thinking about recently...As much as I'd probably enjoy the proposed Avatar boat ride more, I wouldn't be upset if they used the Hollywood Backlot space as Monstropolis rather than Avatar, and wait to build the boat ride on the Simba plot. It would also allow them to reuse their work on the Muppet-Vision 3D replacement.

It would probably also allow them to build the attraction in concert with the Eastern Gateway rather than having the wait for the new bus loop to be completed.

Avatar going in the backlot was probably done at James Cameron's discretion. He had objections full stop to the PPH hotel looming over Simba and the cost to block it out would have been astronomical. Plus they can get it into DCA faster to cross promote with Part 4. So the backlot was the path of least resistance for Avatar.

 

[Clive]

Avatar going in the backlot was probably done at James Cameron's discretion. He had objections full stop to the PPH hotel looming over Simba and the cost to block it out would have been astronomical. Plus they can get it into DCA faster to cross promote with Part 4. So the backlot was the path of least resistance for Avatar.

Genuinely asking here: Source?

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Avatar going in the backlot was probably done at James Cameron's discretion. He had objections full stop to the PPH hotel looming over Simba and the cost to block it out would have been astronomical. Plus they can get it into DCA faster to cross promote with Part 4. So the backlot was the path of least resistance for Avatar.

Make it an expansion to Disneyland then. You still get the DCA sweep with Coco, Stark Flight Lab, Avengers, and the Door Coaster + Monstropolis theater show.

Then Simba can be the (probably inevitable at this point) Zootopia expansion. Now, rather than an impediment, the Pixar Pier Hotel can be part of the theming.

 

[Viator]

I actually have a thought about Avatar--but I think it might be quickly shot down. My main wondering is if certain opportunities might actually force Avatar to go somewhere other than either Hollywoodland, or the DCA Expansion area. And be something that could headline something larger.

Call it dumb speculation, but I actually kind of wonder if Avatar gets repositioned for Toy Story Lot, with Zootopia being a quick fill-in for Hollywoodland.

 

[Freak]

I just starved for a new themed thrilling coaster at DLR at this point. Don’t give a rat’s rear if it’s Avatar, Tron, Star Wars, The Acolyte, or freaking Bluey. I want some new thrill at DLR. I was so pissed when those Monsters Inc and Tron rumors fell through in 2013.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

I just starved for a new themed thrilling coaster at DLR at this point. Don’t give a rat’s rear if it’s Avatar, Tron, Star Wars, The Acolyte, or freaking Bluey. I want some new thrill at DLR. I was so pissed when those Monsters Inc and Tron rumors fell through in 2013.

This is also why I think Monstropolis would be good for the backlot, so you coaster fiends have some red meat.

And selfishly because I don't want my beloved Avatar franchise to be pigeonholed to one attraction in a compressed land.

 

[Jerroddragon]

DCA has a perfect spot for a coaster

Redo Grizzly, make it a mine cart coaster and while I know people do love the water ride 3 months out of the year its closed and most the time unless its summer...the lines are under 40 mins.

A Coaster would get lines everyday and just use the space better. The only real neagtive is a assume the back road you can walk would need to go but I'm willing to lose the road if it means we can get a new themed coaster at DCA


Back to Avatar, I think for the space they are using its going to do very well, like Coco. But yeah this area would have made much more sense as Zootipa or Monstropolis