Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest-ID-79729.asp" target="_blank"><b>Latest: Imagineer Joe Rohde Talks about Avatar and Disney's Animal Kingdom</b></a> <p>The Official Disney Park Blog talkes to Imagineer Joe Rohde, most known for heading the initial creation of Animal Kingdom, about several topics on the heels of his receiving the Buzz Price Thea Award recognizing a career of distinguished achievements. Among the questions is one asking what he's looking forward to next. His response includes a comment about Avatar which Disney has announced is coming to Animal Kingdom:</p> <p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">When I think about the AVATAR story and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, I see the value systems that underlie both. We have the opportunity to tell that story in a way that will make the AVATAR experience feel like a natural part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">All of us who are designers have an opportunity to take the work we are given and make it something unexpected. That’s how we help the company to grow and expand into new areas.</p> <p> </p> </p>
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt If, and that's a big IF, Disney and Imagineering follow the path that they've been taking recently with projects like the DCA expansion, DLP's Dreams, the DLH remodel, and the New Fantasyland at WDW, Avatar-land has the potential to be the ambitious storytelling blockbuster that WDW has been missing since Animal Kingdom opened. What I'm seeing is a return to designing realms that have something for everyone, rather than the previous mode which dumbed down every experience to appeal to parents with small children. Yes it's another film franchise and blah blah blah, I'm actually feeling slightly optimistic about this project.
Originally Posted By tashajilek I hope so Hans, i hate the whole Avatar idea and think even Oz land is a better Disney fit. I will give Avatarland the benefit of the doubt and hopefully it will be amazing. Anything in Dak would be a hell of a lot better than that horrible Dinoland Usa!
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I guess it all depends on what's considered a "fit" for Disney. The company's theme parks are pretty diverse - from Animal Kingdom to EPCOT to DCA to DisneySea to DSP to Disneyland.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>Anything in Dak would be a hell of a lot better than that horrible Dinoland Usa!<< I actually think that Dinorama is quite well done. I know that I'm in the minority, but there's a lot of detail there, and it does a fantastic job of evoking a very specific atmosphere. While the theme that they chose might not be the greatest, the execution of it is top-notch (which is how I'm starting to feel about Carsland; the Avatar area would likely be the same).
Originally Posted By TP2000 Joe Rohde lost me when he puked out the "value systems" line, that silly 21st century buzzy catch phrase that is the cliche of every bad cocktail party chatter with mid-range state college professors or those who just want to sound like college professors. This corporate-canned article, likely heavily fabricated to get the right phrasing and messaging out, is just a way for Disney's PR hacks to poke a hole in the growing online rumor that Avatarland is facing serious challenges regarding theme and story and relevance. Poor Mr. Rohde is a paid messenger in this scenario, still trying to play it off as though he were a free artist not controlled by a corporation. Also, his distended ear has always creeped me out, so maybe that's why I'm kind of harsh with him.
Originally Posted By tashajilek "Also, his distended ear has always creeped me out, so maybe that's why I'm kind of harsh with him" Ewww, i just looked him up to see the ear!
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Yep, the ear is seriously groady! As for Avatar ... it could be done well I suppose, but the franchise (potential franchise?) leaves me cold. Lots of pretty colors and lights with a PC message, but not much substance. As a theme park area I just don't think it will age well, both thematically and physically. I don't see WDW wanting to invest in the maintenance required to keep "Pandora" bright and vibrant.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I am still skeptical that we are going to see anything big come from Avatar. Even though Disney has been talking about it again in fairly general terms, I am hearing that not much work is being done in terms of planning.
Originally Posted By matthewdort Yeah, Joe Rohde's statement meant a whole lot of nothing. Nothing more useless than corporate speak.
Originally Posted By danyoung >While the theme that they chose might not be the greatest, the execution of it is top-notch...< You said it all here. Yes, they did a nice job with the theme. But the theme itself is flawed. A mall type carnival within a Disney theme park is just not a good fit.
Originally Posted By disney pete Avatar has the potential to be really good but as a lot of you have said lets see.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt It's funny how the recent discussions about the bigger projects always start off the same way, with plenty of skepticism to go around, and then right before they open everyone talks about how excited they are. I predict the same for Avatar-land.
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>We have the opportunity to tell that story in a way that will make the AVATAR experience feel like a natural part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.<< I'm starting to get sick to my stomach the way current modern day Imagineering is taking the element of "story" to such new heights .. that I think they are getting lost with it. I hope they don't forget that the best attractions built by first generation imagineers created ... offered great BACK story! You inundate a ride with too much story from beginning to end .. watching OTHER characters play out their roles ... puts the rider into the passive position of watching a ride unfold. It is FAR MORE INTRIGUING .. and FAR MORE **personal** and **stimulating** to the individual rider .. to make THEM the central character. I HOPE they have not forgotten this element in creating superior attractions meant to stick around for the longhaul! It's B.A.C.K.story is what they want to put serious focus on! And give The Rider .. the ability to make the adventure THEIR OWN!
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub If you really want to feel "sick" take a look at the preview merchandise on display for the opening of Carsland,HollywoodLand,and MADT Party. I just "digitally previewed" the future of Disney and find myself with a migraine. The pics were on DisneyGeek but I assume they will be available on LP soon. I was hoping for a Carsland license plate frame or a Welcome to Carsland Postcard or a new DCA Map. What type of merchandise would you want for the grand re-opening of DCA? I realize that was off topic but just wanted to say I am sorry you are feeling virtually sick and hope you will feel virtually better soon! It is a topsy turvy world for the future of all things Disney.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Hans the skepticism/excitement sentiment is tarnished with the damage the online media created with the intense dislike for the original DCA. It seems everybody has to "like" everything now after they have allowed themselves to be critical. Honestly it is more fun to criticize online but usually the real world experience has a little of yes I like it but I don't love it! I am preparing for a trip to WDW for Easter and a trip to DL for the DCA Re-Open...I just want a land with no construction to visit!
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 Things that I have seen that Joe has had his hands on turn out pretty nice. I'm looking forward to see how things end up turning out.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Hans the skepticism/excitement sentiment is tarnished with the damage the online media created with the intense dislike for the original DCA. It seems everybody has to "like" everything now after they have allowed themselves to be critical.” I certainly hope that I’m not coming across that way, but then again I liked the first iteration of DCA and held out hope that it would eventually grow into a more legitimate Disney theme experience. Look where we are now. “Honestly it is more fun to criticize online but usually the real world experience has a little of yes I like it but I don't love it!” So true, which makes me wonder exactly how much of the criticism is a direct result of the immediacy of social media rather than just Disney producing mediocre work. It's almost comical to imagine what the online reaction would have been to the New Matterhorn in 1978 or Big Thunder in ’79, for example. Over the years, the changes created by those additions/alterations have become Disneyland icons, however the announcement that the Matterhorn would be dramatically altered and that one of the original Disneyland attractions was being ripped out surely would have caused quite the stir with online Disney fans back in the day.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Wow. Icky ear. That might be all I think about when I hear or see anything about Avatarland ever again. Thanks Joe.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom If this new "land" in DAK was going to be such a hit you would think we would be hearing something about it in the media. Instead crickets.
