Seriously, Avatar makes total sense at Animal Kingdom

I'm just gonna leave this here... it seems like they're really Imagineering a case for why Avatar makes total sense at AK.

Yeah, I get their reasoning, but it still feels like they're reaching. It's a neat idea, and it looks cool from the whole two things they showed in the video, but...*shrug* Still not sure the relevance is there.

Who is this video for?

Somehow I'm less interested in not only Pandora (I guess it was possible), but also Animal Kingdom in general.

I don't know who it's for.

I really like Animal Kingdom. If I could get Simon on Everest, I'd like it even more. I always have a good time there, and they have a lot of great food options not available at the other parks.

Where was this last night, when I woke up around 2.30 and never got back to sleep? I was halfway to Sleepytown by the end of the video.

I'm sure Mr Rohde is a nice guy, and clearly talented, but whenever I see him on video I end up staring his ear, um, danglies? and that stretched out earlobe.

I love Animal Kingdom. Everest is one of my favorite coasters, the theming is exquisite throughout the park, I've never had bad food at the park.

I know that AK was to have originally included an area devoted to mythogical creatures, so I suppose Pandora is a bit of a descendant of that. I'm sure Imagineering will create a spectacular area, but Avatar just leaves me saying meh.

I've given up thinking about what belongs in a theme park. Islands of Adventure has Harry Potter which is not an island, California Adventure has Guardians of the Galaxy, Epcot... Oh Epcot...

Well, there are no islands at Islands of Adventure....

I'm convinced Mr Rohde has the best freakin job on the planet. He must be mighty special, too, cause that small appliance hanging from his stretched out earlobe is nothing like one usually sees on a Disney employee...

I think AK is underrated. It has its flaws, I suppose, but it's beautiful there. Everest is indeed a standout as well as the Safari, and the Asian/African walk-throughs are awesome.
We didn't get close enough to the wall to try to check out Pandora through the cracks, but the high stuff was visible from the lot. The back of the big show building is quite visible as well. I've always thought it strange that AK is a park where a lot of backstage is plain to see. Everest looks like a warehouse from the lot and now this.
Anyway, I have high hopes for Pandora, it should be a shot in the arm. I reckon it's going to be really spectacular after the sun goes down.

slithernoggin said:

Well, there are no islands at Islands of Adventure....

Literally? No. But each"island" does cross a bridge where it transitions.

I'm still waiting for some union, front-line cast member to make a big stink because he can't have an earring but Imagineer Joe can.

He is a genius and we need his mind, okay?

Jeff said:
I'm still waiting for some union, front-line cast member to make a big stink because he can't have an earring but Imagineer Joe can.

I certainly would if I were a CM. I grew to despise Disney over my three years living in Orlando. The magic has very glaring cracks after just a few visits. I'm sure it's great if you have kids, but I always found myself wanting so much more than WDW provides. Plus, the poor CM treatment is absolutely appalling.

I was skeptical until I got to see Joe's presentation at D23 a couple years ago. His passion and enthusiasm sold me on it. I'm so excited to see this in person!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eG_bKB0pd6w

slithernoggin said:

Well, there are no islands at Islands of Adventure....

Remember, enthusiasts revel in specificity and literalism. I remember hearing criticism of Top Thrill Dragster's drag car theme because the track goes vertical and racetracks, well...don't.

Isn't there an island on the inside of the Popeye water ride? The trough, filled with water, would make the land isolated. How is that for specificity?

We love the Flametree BBQ at AK. Our favorite quick service in Disney Orlando.

Vater said:
Remember, enthusiasts revel in specificity and literalism.

I can't speak for other enthusiasts, but specificity and literalism is what I do; fun with ASD. It took me (quite) a while to learn that answering the question "Do you want fries with that?" with "Did I order fries with that?" was not the best response.

Hadn't ever heard about the TTD criticism, but it's not surprising.

Shades: I stand corrected.

Was there a similar video made to help explain the presence of Anna and Elsa and world of Frozen at EPCOT?

I think we all get it. AK has been a gorgeous, cute little park with great food that needed a serious upgrade in order to bring it up to par with the 3 other parks.

They whiffed on securing Harry Potter, so they ended up with a mediocre (at best) film with a stunning visual environment for this Joe fellow to play in.

And now we get to go "Soarin" on a dragon.

And AK can stay open past lunch.

It makes total cents.

With some dust settling, it will be a win. I would imagine Harry Potter would have gone to bolster Hollywood Studios, and who knows (with such success) how Star Wars would have worked out, or if it would have even been a thing, although it does seem like Kathleen Kennedy was George's target for the franchise.

Now they have Avatar at AK to make it grand, and Star Wars to turn Hollywood Studios into a literal Mecca.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm glad that Disney didn't get Harry Potter and he wound up just where he did.