pagingretroland: Before I say anything here, the announcement from Disney Parks Blog: “We have great news to share today. At a press conference happening right now at Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob Iger and Tom Staggs just announced a long-term creative partnership with James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the fantasy world of AVATAR to life at Disney Parks. And it’ll all begin at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. James and his producing partner Jon Landau and their team at Lightstorm Entertainment will serve as creative consultants on the project and will work side-by-side with our Walt Disney Imagineers as we dream up experiences that will take our guests deep into worlds of AVATAR like never before. There are also two sequels to the record setting first film in the works, which will offer more fascinating stories, characters and locations to explore in the AVATAR universe. Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort is planned as the site of the first AVATAR-themed land with construction expected to begin by 2013. We believe Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a great fit for this project because it was created to give guests the opportunity to experience the worlds of animals and nature – real and mythical – in new ways. Disney’s Animal Kingdom also celebrates adventure, living in harmony with nature and environmental stewardship – themes that are deeply rooted in the story of AVATAR.” - Full article My response: I appreciate the desire to be big, and ambitious…but in short: Fuck this. And I know the reasoning, too, likely behind this move: sure, Avatar did big business, monetarily. But Animal Kingdom? And instead of Beastly Kingdom expansion….we get this. Disney World, basically, I think, wants a ‘Wizarding World’ killer. A movie based property expansion with huge and detailed environment plus a new ride. Only trouble…does anyone seriously think on management level there’s a following for AVATAR like there is for Harry Potter? That’s laughably bad judgement, if so. It was pretty and all…but ask someone who even enjoyed the movie if they thought the story was distinctive, original or had strong connection to audience and I can’t imagine getting a response in the positive. As the internet joke goes, swap out aliens for the Native Americans and it’s Pocahontas minus the songs and the heart of the animated film. And this is the multi-million dollar likely new project for Disney World? Count me not interested, thanks. And sad to see that this kind of corporate bullshit mindset is spreading…what makes big numbers is the best fit, a brand name, not what has the best story or promise for being original or engrossing, or hell, even what fits in the theme park getting it. Animal Kingdom has been about animals on Earth and human perception of them…..be they modern, extinct, cryptzoological or in myths and stories from world cultures (including fairy tales, in case of Beastly Kingdom that was to be). Sci-fi random crap and alien planets to be shoehorned in under the weak umbrella excuse of “themes of environmental issues” is total bullshit. Fuck this, and fuck you, Disney World management. But I guess I shouldn’t be all that surprised given the Seas with Nemo and Friends, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor and Stitch in Tomorrowland, the kiddie-fied HM interactive queue…sorry to see it progress further to this extent. Ambition and everything doesn’t need to be tied to a existing property, and such can be made to work and be a great attraction (Star Tours 2.0, recently)…but when that’s all Disney seems to be doing of late….that’s when they start seriously losing my interest. I don’t care about films likes Cars or Avatar, and adding them into the theme parks just because some executive sees the money flowing in for a movie which has a weak-ass story but is a pet project of a talented director who made a dud in that case….no thanks, count me out. Another 10 years of this (which I truly hope won’t happen) and I may well be an ex-Disney Parks customer, sadly. My feelings exactly. WHY AVATAR?!?

Sep 20 -

pagingretroland:

Before I say anything here, the announcement from Disney Parks Blog:

“We have great news to share today. At a press conference happening right now at Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob Iger and Tom Staggs just announced a long-term creative partnership with James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the fantasy world of AVATAR to life at Disney Parks. And it’ll all begin at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

James and his producing partner Jon Landau and their team at Lightstorm Entertainment will serve as creative consultants on the project and will work side-by-side with our Walt Disney Imagineers as we dream up experiences that will take our guests deep into worlds of AVATAR like never before. There are also two sequels to the record setting first film in the works, which will offer more fascinating stories, characters and locations to explore in the AVATAR universe. Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort is planned as the site of the first AVATAR-themed land with construction expected to begin by 2013.

We believe Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a great fit for this project because it was created to give guests the opportunity to experience the worlds of animals and nature – real and mythical – in new ways. Disney’s Animal Kingdom also celebrates adventure, living in harmony with nature and environmental stewardship – themes that are deeply rooted in the story of AVATAR.” - Full article

My response: I appreciate the desire to be big, and ambitious…but in short: Fuck this.

And I know the reasoning, too, likely behind this move: sure, Avatar did big business, monetarily. But Animal Kingdom? And instead of Beastly Kingdom expansion….we get this. Disney World, basically, I think, wants a ‘Wizarding World’ killer. A movie based property expansion with huge and detailed environment plus a new ride. Only trouble…does anyone seriously think on management level there’s a following for AVATAR like there is for Harry Potter? That’s laughably bad judgement, if so.

It was pretty and all…but ask someone who even enjoyed the movie if they thought the story was distinctive, original or had strong connection to audience and I can’t imagine getting a response in the positive. As the internet joke goes, swap out aliens for the Native Americans and it’s Pocahontas minus the songs and the heart of the animated film. And this is the multi-million dollar likely new project for Disney World? Count me not interested, thanks. And sad to see that this kind of corporate bullshit mindset is spreading…what makes big numbers is the best fit, a brand name, not what has the best story or promise for being original or engrossing, or hell, even what fits in the theme park getting it.

Animal Kingdom has been about animals on Earth and human perception of them…..be they modern, extinct, cryptzoological or in myths and stories from world cultures (including fairy tales, in case of Beastly Kingdom that was to be). Sci-fi random crap and alien planets to be shoehorned in under the weak umbrella excuse of “themes of environmental issues” is total bullshit. Fuck this, and fuck you, Disney World management. But I guess I shouldn’t be all that surprised given the Seas with Nemo and Friends, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor and Stitch in Tomorrowland, the kiddie-fied HM interactive queue…sorry to see it progress further to this extent.

Ambition and everything doesn’t need to be tied to a existing property, and such can be made to work and be a great attraction (Star Tours 2.0, recently)…but when that’s all Disney seems to be doing of late….that’s when they start seriously losing my interest. I don’t care about films likes Cars or Avatar, and adding them into the theme parks just because some executive sees the money flowing in for a movie which has a weak-ass story but is a pet project of a talented director who made a dud in that case….no thanks, count me out. Another 10 years of this (which I truly hope won’t happen) and I may well be an ex-Disney Parks customer, sadly.

My feelings exactly. WHY AVATAR?!?

(Source: )

"I intend to live forever, or die trying." -Groucho Marx