Am I the only one puzzled by Pandora?

[GoGoBeans]

That's your opinion. Others think it dramatically outdoes Hogsmeade (except for FJ).

I was never into HP yet I loved both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. It was the best theming and I fully felt immersed and enchanted by both. Amazing!

Avatar, Pandora, absolutely no interest. Think it sounds a bit freaky truth be told. One thing that I haven't come across in my scans, is what rides will they have? I not interested in the theming, rides though, would be in.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

One thing that I haven't come across in my scans, is what rides will they have? I not interested in the theming, rides though, would be in.

http://ew.com/movies/2017/02/20/disney-world-pandora-avatar-rides/

NOTE: I haven't watched these myself -- I want to be completely surprised.

 

[GoGoBeans]

http://ew.com/movies/2017/02/20/disney-world-pandora-avatar-rides/

NOTE: I haven't watched these myself -- I want to be completely surprised.

Thank you! Looks neat. I'll say no more.

 

[Markolodeon]

That's why I think it's really critical that the area was named "Pandora", rather than "Avatar", a name appears in a secondary role just so there's no doubt where it originated.

Good point! But I don't think I'll ever be retrained to call it Pandora, pretty sure I and many others will call it Pandora Land for however long it's there.

 

[cigar95]

Good point! But I don't think I'll ever be retrained to call it Pandora, pretty sure I and many others will call it Pandora Land for however long it's there.

Truth be told, I can handle "Pandora Land", the one that grates on my nerves is "Avatar Land", as it was used as a pejorative from day one, and because it's not at all descriptive of what's there.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Truth be told, I can handle "Pandora Land", the one that grates on my nerves is "Avatar Land", as it was used as a pejorative from day one, and because it's not at all descriptive of what's there.

I would just posit that most people -- even those who saw the movie -- may not know/recall the name "pandora" but will recognize "avatar".

 

[cigar95]

I would just posit that most people -- even those who saw the movie -- may not know/recall the name "pandora" but will recognize "avatar".

Indeed. My original concept was that the area would be named "Pandora: A Journey into James Cameron's Avatar". The common abbreviation would be PAJIJCA. I wasn't terribly far off.

Pandora - because that's what it is
":" - because Disney seems to enjoy including punctuation
Journey - because it gives the kinetic idea that Disney often likes
James Cameron - because Jim has a pretty healthy ego and I figured he'd want his name prominent
Avatar - because we want a reminder of where it all came from.

"Journey" became "World", and Jim's name isn't on it. Without looking it up, I'm not sure if the colon became a hyphen or not.

A few years down the road, we may find the title shortened to simply Pandora, if it becomes a hit and stands on its own. We'll see what the titles of the Avatar sequels are, and how popular they are - that will contribute as well.

 

[goofyernmost]

Strange camp to be in, I had never seen 20K before I rode the attraction, I didn't see "Song of the South" until years after Splash Mountain. A lot of Disney attraction were things that people had never seen before, yet, they were entertaining and some still exist today. Just because a movie was the basis of an attraction does not make it a bad attraction. Just one that some have seen. "Avatar" was one of the highest grossing movies ever, so a lot of people saw it, but, even if you didn't or didn't like the movie, the attraction might just be great or it might be awful, but, pre-judging it only deprives yourself of what might be a worthwhile experience. I never cared for Star Wars, but, I can see that it might be a really nice attractions, just like Harry Potter, in Universal, another spectacular group of attractions that I have never read any of the books about or seen any of the movies. If it's a good story, it doesn't have to be anything other then that.

 

[Cynt]

I just saw the commercial for Pandora. I rushed to Disneyworld.com on my laptop. I'M SOOOOO DISAPPOINTED. Another boat floating through the water! COME ON DISNEY that's all your creative imagineers could produce? PLEASE DISNEY let this be the LAST boat that floats through the scenes of a movie! DUMBEST IDEA EVER!! I know they have the flying ride but WHY would they make another boat that floats through the water. SMH!!

 

[cigar95]

Other than floating through the water, there's not much else that boats can do. (Well, I suppose Tinker Bell can have something to say about that . . . . )

And you'll be relieved to know that it's not floating through scenes from the movie.

 

[AngiTN]

I just saw the commercial for Pandora. I rushed to Disneyworld.com on my laptop. I'M SOOOOO DISAPPOINTED. Another boat floating through the water! COME ON DISNEY that's all your creative imagineers could produce? PLEASE DISNEY let this be the LAST boat that floats through the scenes of a movie! DUMBEST IDEA EVER!! I know they have the flying ride but WHY would they make another boat that floats through the water. SMH!!

Because people would complain even more with 2 flying rides

 

[Anal Annie]

I think it all looks very cool. Just now caught a commercial for Pandora during Chicago Fire. First time I've seen a commercial on it on TV. Super neat to watch on a 60" tv with surround sound - sure beats watching these little clips on my cell phone all to hell. Can't wait for July!!

 

[hakepb]

Joe Rohde on why he thinks Pandora fits the values of AK

 

[CAS239]

Joe Rohde on why he thinks Pandora fits the values of AK

Lol just clicked on this thread to post the same video. Beat me by 4 minutes

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

Strange camp to be in, I had never seen 20K before I rode the attraction, I didn't see "Song of the South" until years after Splash Mountain. A lot of Disney attraction were things that people had never seen before, yet, they were entertaining and some still exist today. Just because a movie was the basis of an attraction does not make it a bad attraction. Just one that some have seen. "Avatar" was one of the highest grossing movies ever, so a lot of people saw it, but, even if you didn't or didn't like the movie, the attraction might just be great or it might be awful, but, pre-judging it only deprives yourself of what might be a worthwhile experience. I never cared for Star Wars, but, I can see that it might be a really nice attractions, just like Harry Potter, in Universal, another spectacular group of attractions that I have never read any of the books about or seen any of the movies. If it's a good story, it doesn't have to be anything other then that.

Avatar is THE highest grossing movie of all time...and it's really not even close.
Avatar $2.788 billion
Titanic $2.187 billion
Star Wars: The Force Awakens $2.068 billion

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Avatar is THE highest grossing movie of all time...and it's really not even close.
Avatar $2.788 billion
Titanic $2.187 billion
Star Wars: The Force Awakens $2.068 billion

I don't think this accounts for whether the film has any STAYING POWER. I think that many went for the technology and haven't thought twice about it since. So not sure the box office will correlate with enthusiasm for this theme -- or for upcoming movies.

I think Pandora will be an absolute zoo when it opens and for a while thereafter, just like ANYTHING new Disney does.

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

I don't think this accounts for whether the film has any STAYING POWER. I think that many went for the technology and haven't thought twice about it since. So not sure the box office will correlate with enthusiasm for this theme -- or for upcoming movies.

I think Pandora will be an absolute zoo when it opens and for a while thereafter, just like ANYTHING new Disney does.

I can't speak to it's staying power just to the ridiculous amount of box office take it generated. Just to add a little perspective:
Avatar did more at the box office than Avengers: Age of Ultron (number 7) and Frozen (number 9) COMBINED.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I can't speak to it's staying power just to the ridiculous amount of box office take it generated. Just to add a little perspective:
Avatar did more at the box office than Avengers: Age of Ultron (number 7) and Frozen (number 9) COMBINED.

Yup! I remember when I first saw it -- we didn't like it. My brother in law was gushing at how it was going to be the next Star Wars -- an instant classic. I felt certain that wasn't right... characters not compelling, story recycled in such a transparent way, political messages that hit you over the head repeatedly, etc. My feeling was that in 5 or 10yrs, almost no one would talk about this movie or remember the details. I think I was more right than he was... so far...

Who knows what'll happen with the new films. I won't see any of them. I'm curious how many will go back for more of that story and those characters. Could be that I just don't get it at all and they'll outperform even the first installment. I admit I'll be surprised if that happens.

Guess we'll see!!

 

[BigredNole]

I am probably responding a bit late, but this is my opinion on it. AK is Nahtazu contrary to what many people think. Yes, there are animals and two trails to walk to see them. It is about education, conservation, and protecting. James Cameron is all about protecting the environment. So much so, he created Pandora to show what reaches man will go to destroy not only their world but others just to get resources they do not need.

If you dig deeper into the meaning behind Pandora, it is mocking what we are doing to our world now. We are destroying our world simply to get things that are not needed. Look at how much land is destroyed digging and searching for precious metals and gems. Look at how much forest is being torn up for excess building.

Personally, I think Pandora fits and if people understand what we are doing to our world for things that are so wasteful, it may change the way we consume those resources. Think about what it took to get that diamond that our on women's fingers. People can say there is no blood shed for it, but there is. The earth is being destroyed to get it, a little 5 yo boy is enslaved to dig it out, but everyone that has one is so proud of it. What if I said the same thing can be created in a lab with less than 0.0001% of the environmental impact?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

If you dig deeper into the meaning behind Pandora, it is mocking what we are doing to our world now. We are destroying our world simply to get things that are not needed. Look at how much land is destroyed digging and searching for precious metals and gems. Look at how much forest is being torn up for excess building.

I thought this was hitting us over the head, repeatedly, right there on the surface -- no digging required! Very preachy to me. Which I hate coming from "entertainment".

And as an aside, there's a lot of misinformation about things like deforestation out there. As an example, when you account for replanting, there is more forest acreage in the US today than there was 60yrs ago. Canada is roughly stable over time, despite their massive logging industry. Multiple sources on this.

In any case, vive la différence! Obviously what repels me probably attracts a lot of people!