Pandora – The World of Avatar

Pandora – The World of Avatar

Concept art
Location Disney's Animal Kingdom
Status Under construction
Opening date Summer 2017[1][2][3]
Replaced Camp Minnie-Mickey
Theme Avatar
Area 12[4] acres (4.9 ha)
Attractions
Attractions 2 total

Pandora – The World of Avatar[5] is a themed area currently being constructed in the south-west portion of Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. The area will be based upon the fictional exoplanetary moon, Pandora from James Cameron's Avatar film series, and will include Pandora's floating mountains, alien wildlife, and bioluminescent plants.[6][7][8] Pandora – The World of Avatar is expected to span 12 acres (4.9 ha) and feature multiple attractions, entertainment, audio-animatronics, 3-D holograms as well as retail, food and beverage outlets.[9][10][11]

Disney announced the area's development in September 2011. Construction began on January 10, 2014, with the land scheduled to open in summer 2017.[1][2][9][10][12]

Development

In early 2011, James Cameron was approached by The Walt Disney Company's chief executive officer, Bob Iger, regarding the possibility of Avatar-themed attractions in Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.[13] Originally, discussions were held about creating an Avatar-themed attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios, perhaps at the park's then-functioning Studio Backlot Tour.[14] Tom Staggs suggested to incorporate the film into a newly designed "land" at Disney's Animal Kingdom to improve the park's attraction roster.[14] On September 17, 2011, Disney entered into an exclusive, long-term licensing agreement with Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox Filmed Entertainment.[13][15] This deal was officially announced to the public on September 20, 2011, on the Disney Parks Blog.[16] The highlight of the announcement was that Disney's Animal Kingdom would receive a new themed area entirely devoted to Avatar.[8] The area is set to cost approximately $500 million.[13] Construction began in January 2014,[12] with a planned opening date between 3 and 5 years later.[9][10] The deal could see Avatar attractions added to other Disney theme parks in the future, however, there are no immediate plans to do so.[17]

Design

Construction of the floating mountains' rockwork

Pandora – The World of Avatar is designed by Walt Disney Imagineering and Lightstorm Entertainment with Avatar producers James Cameron and Jon Landau acting as creative consultants.[15][18] The area is being built in the former location of Camp Minnie-Mickey, which was originally earmarked for the Beastly Kingdom, a never-built themed land which would have been based around mythological creatures.[19]

Disney showcased a first look presentation of the land at the 2013 Japan D23 Expo.[1] In September 2011, Cameron confirmed that a flying attraction featuring "3-D projections and creature designs that were cut from the original film" was a concept on the drawing board for the area.[13] Pandora – The World of Avatar will include elements from the original Avatar film as well as its four, yet-to-be-released sequels.[18]

A major visual feature of the area are Pandora's floating mountain ranges. The mountain designs employ forced perspective to appear larger than they physically are, and are held aloft by steel beams concealed with rockwork and vinery.[20] Pandora's bioluminescent species of flora will be found throughout the area. New motion sensor technology developed by Disney Research, will allow the plant life to respond to tactile interaction from guests.[21]

Attractions

At Disney's 2015 D23 Expo, Walt Disney Imagineering confirmed two major attractions.[22]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Staggs, Tom. "First Look: AVATAR to Come to Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom". The Walt Disney Company. The Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Na'vi River Journey adds music, energy to Pandora – The World of AVATAR". Disney Parks Blog.
  3. ↑ Fickley-Baker, Jennifer (November 19, 2016). "Pandora – The World of Avatar Set To Open Summer 2017". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  4. ↑ Tribou, Richard (May 6, 2016). "What we know about 'Avatar'-inspired Pandora coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  5. ↑ Smith, Thomas (August 16, 2015). "Pandora – The World of AVATAR will be New Land at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Disney Parks Blog. The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  6. ↑ Graser, Marc (February 26, 2015). "Disney 'Pushing Boundaries' with 'Avatar' Land at Animal Kingdom Theme Park". Variety. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  7. ↑ Richwine, Lisa (21 September 2011). "Disney, Cameron to create theme-park "Avatar"". Reuters Canada. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  8. 1 2 Cody, Anthony (22 September 2011). "Disney to build Avatar attractions at its theme parks". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 Staggs, Tom (20 September 2011). "Answering Your Questions About AVATAR at Disney Parks". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 Associated Press (21 September 2011). "Disney to Build 'Avatar' Attraction in Theme Parks". Fox News. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  11. ↑ Clark, Jayne (22 September 2011). "'Avatar' land is coming to Disney World". USA Today. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  12. 1 2 Smith, Thomas. "Construction Begins For AVATAR-Inspired Land At Disney's Animal Kingdom". The Walt Disney Company. The Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Chmielewski, Dawn C.; Keegan, Rebecca (21 September 2011). "Disney to license rights to 'Avatar' for theme park attractions". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  14. 1 2 Barnes, Brooks (April 25, 2015). "Thomas Staggs: Disney's Heir, Apparently". The New York Times. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  15. 1 2 Chmielewski, Dawn C.; MacDonald, Brady (20 September 2011). "Details emerge on Disney's plans to bring 'Avatar' to its parks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  16. ↑ Smith, Thomas (20 September 2011). "AVATAR Coming To Disney Parks". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  17. ↑ Australian Associated Press (22 September 2011). "Coming to Disney World: Avatar Land". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  18. 1 2 Weinstein, Joshua L. (21 September 2011). "James Cameron on 3D, "Titanic" and all things "Avatar"". Reuters. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  19. ↑ MacDonald, Brady (July 7, 2015). "What to expect from Avatar Land at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  20. ↑ Mauney, Matt (January 8, 2016). "Animal Kingdom: A look at the 'floating mountain' illusion of Pandora". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  21. ↑ Alton, Elizabeth (August 11, 2016). "New Disney Patents Hint at Bioluminescent Plants in Avatar Attraction". Entertainment Designer. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  22. ↑ Martens, Todd (August 15, 2015). "Disney reveals plans for 'Toy Story Land' and 'Avatar' and more 'Star Wars'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  23. ↑ Graser, Marc (December 10, 2014). "'Avatar' Ride Coming to Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Variety. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  24. ↑ Martens, Todd (August 14, 2015). "Here's what Disney World's 'Avatar' land will be like". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
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