You would be the one to ask -- is there currently a realistic start date for filming? Or is it still "some time in 2017"?
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Disney's Avatar Land Shows Why It's So Hard to Keep Epcot Futuristic
- Thread starter Dalek
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You would be the one to ask -- is there currently a realistic start date for filming? Or is it still "some time in 2017"?
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Still sometime in 2017 for principal cast. no confirmed specific date. I do believe Zoe Saldana has already blocked off a significant portion of her schedule for Filming though.
Cameron has already said he's done quite a bit of capture work for the sequels without the principals. Whatever the fuck that means.
echoshifting
Banned
Mine didn't. She hated that ride so much we practically had to drag her into the Gringott's ride.
I don't know, I didn't get that sense on that ride any more than I have on any similar ride. It wasn't for me. I went on a ridiculous number of theme park rides that week and I would put that one near the bottom.
This is straying from my point though, and I will circle back to keep this loosely related to the topic...that some of the rides at HP already do feel dated - especially that one - and keeping things feeling fresh and updated is just a challenge all theme parks have to grapple with, from Epcot to Wizarding World.
You're taking two very opposite ends of the spectrum to compare how movies are prepared. Cameron prep time is very clearly different from prep time for almost any other director out there.
echoshifting
Banned
Yeah it was still sponsored. Seems like most of the attractions in Epcot are sponsored, even the classic stuff.
I think they were just promoting Chevrolet iirc
TheLegendary
Member
Is that the one by the castle that uses video screens? I got the worst case of motion sickness I've ever gotten on that one so maybe that soured me but I didn't enjoy it at all. Gringotts was fun but the best part is the queue leading up to the ride. The twin dragon roller coasters in Hogsmeade is probably my favorite and there's never a long line on it. But Hogsmeade/Diagon Alley are great because of everything BUT the rides.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
I know. I just don't understand why people are surprised that a director notorious for delaying singular films are surprised when the same director is taking a long time to prep shooting four simultaneous films.
In a space of five years we will have 4 Cameron films. That's still incredibly exciting to me.
nekkid
It doesn't matter who we are, what matters is our plan.
Probably background character capture, like non-descript villagers, crowds etc.
old manatee
Banned
Who could have possibly anticipated public disinterest in the Avatar franchise? I wonder what this means for Jupiter Ascending Land.
Agreed. They are going to be so pleasing on the eyes, I can't wait.
I do admire how much care goes into his prep, I agree with you there.
And they still want this out in 2018?
1000%
FriedConsole
Banned
You go to Epcot for the food.
I wish they kept a lot of the 60's-80's futurism stuff. I love 60's-80's scifi.
I wish they kept a lot of the 60's-80's futurism stuff. I love 60's-80's scifi.
"My family didn't enjoy these rides" is different from saying that particular rides somehow feel "dated". They aren't running off of shoddy old animatronics or anything. What about them feels so old to you, and is that really of any consequence to most visitors? I mean, Disney was the gold standard for decades and they have been running off of stuff designed in the 60's. HP and The Forbidden Journey feels to me like a pretty interesting evolution of the classic video-screen rides like Back to the Future/Star Wars, but if you see any ride integrating video as "dated" I suppose I could understand.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
What original film that hasn't had a sequel film or tie-in in the following 7 years has maintained an active public interest in that intervening time?
Michael Bay says "Hi."
The notion that quality is what drove Avatar to the #1 spot is hilarious. It was a mediocre movie driven by theme park style "experience" hype that people rode over and over again. It made zero impact on the cultural landscape because there was nothing of substance there to make any impact. Nobody references the film, nobody quotes it, nobody talks about it at all. To call it a "fad" is slightly insulting to the idea of a fad. I've never seen a movie make such a splash at the box office and then utterly vanish so thoroughly.
I mean, I know better than to doubt The Cameron at this point, but making the mass audience care about Avatar 2 will be his greatest stunt yet.
Yes, what an odd craze it was. I never understood its popularity.
What did he mean by this?
Member
Rewrite your silly article once Jim puts out A:2 Judgement Day
echoshifting
Banned
Hmmm, I don't think that's true. Star Tours still feels great to me, for instance, and Soarin I thought was fine. I think the animatronics were a big part of the dated feel to me so we will have to disagree there. I thought they were kinda jerky and awkward, nothing approaching any of Disney's new generation of bots.
But I do think not having fresh material to cycle onto those screens contributes to a dated feel. Like...Star Tours has had a random selection of adventures for as long as I can remember and just added new sequences, which they could theoretically do forever since we are now in the age of infinite Star Wars movies. Soarin just got a refresh, and they can refresh it again anytime they feel like it. That would be hard to do on Forbidden Journey because of the way it switches from screen to animatronics, and because of the reliance on a core cast of characters who are already too old to film new material and definitely not interested anyway (well, one of them might be into it).
peteykirch
Member
The Soarin refresh was a total disappointment.
From the fact the images completely bend and look like they melting if you're in one of the side sections, and the fact a lot of the "movies" are just plain CGI, and kind of shoddy CGI at best.
The third theater helped curtail massive waits, but I wasn't overly impressed with what they did for Soarin Around the World.
Star Tours also in theory you should have an opportunity for many different voyages, but you don't. My GF and I just got back from a week at Disney. We rode Star Tours 3 times in a row early in the morning, and got the same 3 adventures each time.
Indeed.
echoshifting
Banned
That is weird about Star Tours. Every time I have been on it, I ended up with a different ride. But I don't think I've ever ridden it more than once on the same day.
Soarin...like I said I thought it was fine but it didn't blow me away or anything. I don't feel like I need to ride it ever again. I can see why it would suck if you're seated at the edge of the screen.
old manatee
Banned
Terminator 2 had a classic movie as a foundation to build upon. Avatar 2 is going to be built on...Avatar.
peteykirch
Member
Yeah I guess early in the morning they aren't using all the "theaters" for Star Tours.
We went into 2 different ones, but had the same trip for each one
Darth Vader > Jakku > BB8 > Naboo
I think they should make a big portion of the park with this aesthetic. I am also a sucker for this kind of stuff. I imagine after DHS is done with their expansions they will get to Epcot.... Yeah it's wishful thinking.
TheLegendary
Member
I think during the same conference they announced that the DHS Tower of Terror isnt changing to Guardians of the Galaxy someone from Disney said that Epcot is going to be revamped. I dont know if they said how, and who knows when that'll actually be done.
SpacePirate Ridley
Member
Its true that nobody gives two flying fucks about avatar land, and disney being so freaking slow at making (and destroying in this last years) zones and rides in their parks, while universal is pumping high quality after high quality rides nearly each year, doesnt help matters eithers.
Still, wow if the new navi animatronic is not the most amazing and belivable animatronic ever built.
At least the zone is going to look cool and be super advanced from a tech side, but i dont know if that is going to bring the masses loke something like Harry Potter does.
Also epcot being not able to keep with the future just like in its old years is not because world moves faster. Its because of disney incompetence and CEO being idiots. Futureworld needs to be a fun science place that inspires kids and adults, doesnt need to be only future things for it to work well.
As a disney theme park fan is sad to see this spiral of incompetence and money grubbing hurting the theme parks legacy and the work of imagineers. And to think they were actually makibg great things when they started to retheme california adventure. And now they fucked all up buenavista street thant to GotG tower. Fuck them in the ass for that decission and fuck them even more if then one in orlando also changes.
Still, wow if the new navi animatronic is not the most amazing and belivable animatronic ever built.
At least the zone is going to look cool and be super advanced from a tech side, but i dont know if that is going to bring the masses loke something like Harry Potter does.
Also epcot being not able to keep with the future just like in its old years is not because world moves faster. Its because of disney incompetence and CEO being idiots. Futureworld needs to be a fun science place that inspires kids and adults, doesnt need to be only future things for it to work well.
As a disney theme park fan is sad to see this spiral of incompetence and money grubbing hurting the theme parks legacy and the work of imagineers. And to think they were actually makibg great things when they started to retheme california adventure. And now they fucked all up buenavista street thant to GotG tower. Fuck them in the ass for that decission and fuck them even more if then one in orlando also changes.
fixedpoint
Member
I'm biased but I hope they stick to the dream, of which that's a big part of course. Don't try to drink around the world though, margarita cart is dangerous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-laS4m-Y5LA
fallengorn
Bitches love smiley faces
Yeah, I really wouldn't have given this much thought if they didn't show off the animatronics.
Star Wars is going to be awesome.
VistraNorrez
Member
The Jakku and BB8 parts are permanent for now (in the interest of having everyone see the new stuff). The other 2 parts are just bad luck I guess. When Star Tours 2 first premiered in took me 10 rides to see every vignette. But it only took my wife 4 rides. They are prepping a new scene for Ep 8. So I assume they'll make that permanent. And then the same for every movie after. But if they keep this going, the random elements are going to go away. It's a shame because the variety of it is supposed to be a big deal.
Tom Nook Sawyer
Member
Disney confirmed just two days ago they're imagining "Big things' for Epcot's future.
And Epcot is awesome, just has a few problems. Also, that article is ridiculous as already pointed out; not sure why we're even discussing Gizmodo clickbait.
This is even dumber than the article. Avatar land is an expansion of an existing park with a MASSIVE budget; DCA was an entirely new park does on a show-string budget (by Disney standards.)
Regardless of whether Avatar is relevant these days or not, the land will do very well just by being one of the best themed and unique lands in the world
And Epcot is awesome, just has a few problems. Also, that article is ridiculous as already pointed out; not sure why we're even discussing Gizmodo clickbait.
This is even dumber than the article. Avatar land is an expansion of an existing park with a MASSIVE budget; DCA was an entirely new park does on a show-string budget (by Disney standards.)
Regardless of whether Avatar is relevant these days or not, the land will do very well just by being one of the best themed and unique lands in the world
There will be a River Journey canoe ride and a flying with a Banshee ride.
Concepts:
Trying to do this on mobile is a pain in the ass. Ugh.
That floating mountain is really on point.
Skel1ingt0n
I can't *believe* these lazy developers keep making file sizes so damn large. Btw, how does technology work?
I... .... I think you're agreeing with me?
I'm not surprised he's taking his time to prep shooting four (though I did think it was three) simultaneous films. I really like Cameron's style - and I like that he's always changing the game and bringing blockbusters when people are clamoring for duds. I, personally, really liked Avatar and am excited for the sequels.
I'm just saying that - I fear - that something could delay the sequels further and, unfortunately, age could very easily get the best of a man who is retirement age. It wouldn't be CRAZY to suggest these films might get delayed again and start shooting in, say, 2019. Assuming two years of special effects, the first film wouldn't be released until Jim is almost 70. With the final entry coming out around ~74.
Again, LOTS of older directors still shooting out instant classics. Hopefully Cameron kicks ass and the Avatar sequels are incredible. I'm just saying, for myself, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if we either don't see four sequels, or we end up seeing some in a different capacity than we expect today.
XGRaViSmOrSX
Member
What Epcot could have been still breaks my heart. It hit it's peak for me in the mid/late 90s. It's been downhill in futureworld since. The worlds are also slowly regressing to the point of being a waste of time on my visits now. I used to call Epcot my favorite park, but unless you go while an event is happening (food and wine/garden festival) it's a total borefest.
Bring back the days of the sega pavillion, and robots that scanned and drew your portrait. I want to see some cool future shit, not another ride re imagined with disney characters, which does nothing to really add to the park as a whole...fuck you for taking away the maelstrom
Bring back the days of the sega pavillion, and robots that scanned and drew your portrait. I want to see some cool future shit, not another ride re imagined with disney characters, which does nothing to really add to the park as a whole...fuck you for taking away the maelstrom
The fad that will destroy the box office come Avatar 2...
jstevenson
Sailor Stevenson
that's amazing
AnotherDayAnotherDollar
Banned
That part of the park was supposed to be Beastly Kingdom. I hope they repurpose it to bring that back to life, as well as a zootopia land.
jstevenson
Sailor Stevenson
no, they pulled the permanent Jakku/BB-8 now.
They are random and in the rotation.
(edit - actually I don't know what WDW is up to, but Disneyland's Star Tours is random again)
Hale-XF11
Member
I remember Epcot as a kid in the '80s and being amazed by all the futuristic stuff.
Then I went to visit Epcot many years later in 2001 and was taken aback by how ancient every attraction now looked. It was kinda depressing, but also fascinating because the whole park felt like a time capsule.
That's pretty damn impressive. Glad to see that animatronic tech has gotten so much better.
Then I went to visit Epcot many years later in 2001 and was taken aback by how ancient every attraction now looked. It was kinda depressing, but also fascinating because the whole park felt like a time capsule.
That's pretty damn impressive. Glad to see that animatronic tech has gotten so much better.
The power of advertising
Jeff Albertson
Member
Doesn't particularly matter about the film if the area is done well.
That boat ride looks like it could be fantastic.
One of my favourite rides of all time is splash mountain, which always has queues and Is based on a movie that 90% of the people riding it have likely never seen
That boat ride looks like it could be fantastic.
One of my favourite rides of all time is splash mountain, which always has queues and Is based on a movie that 90% of the people riding it have likely never seen
Disney's animatronic work is really impressive. The Talking Mickey that you can meet is jarring.
Technically not animatronic-but the work that goes into making the experience lifelike is awesome:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knyw8tAGPFo
Fixing Epcot:
Epcot IS the world showcase. Don't mess with that by putting in more tributes to fictional characters. The 'future' Tomorrowland wannabe areas need to be a tribute to our future colonization efforts. Most of it would be themed to Mars colonization. As such the entire front of the park needs to have its floors replaced with bouncy castle floors to simulate 1/3 gravity.
Epcot IS the world showcase. Don't mess with that by putting in more tributes to fictional characters. The 'future' Tomorrowland wannabe areas need to be a tribute to our future colonization efforts. Most of it would be themed to Mars colonization. As such the entire front of the park needs to have its floors replaced with bouncy castle floors to simulate 1/3 gravity.
Hale-XF11
Member
That's so cool. Really takes meeting the characters IRL to the next level.
I was thinking of heading down to Disney World next year, but given the state of construction in the parks I wonder if I should hold off to 2018 at the earliest. I wasn't the biggest fan of Avatar but it would be cool to see it when I go. And fuck knows when Star Wars Land is ever going to open.
peteykirch
Member
I really wish they would expand World Showcase there is at least spots for 8 expansion pads for new countries.
They also need to completely revamp Innoventions because it's a complete let down now.
I wouldn't be upset to see Inside Out take over the Imagination Pavilion, but would much rather they find a way to bring back the charm of the original Figment ride.
Mission Space is already showing its age and could use a revamp.
They also need to completely revamp Innoventions because it's a complete let down now.
I wouldn't be upset to see Inside Out take over the Imagination Pavilion, but would much rather they find a way to bring back the charm of the original Figment ride.
Mission Space is already showing its age and could use a revamp.
Why not?
I mean, I don't understand why they're building it in the first place, but why would it matter if it opens 6 months before the sequel? It's not like the park will disappear after 6 months. It'll still be there after the movie releases.
At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the sequel gets postponed another year or two.
What Epcot could have been still breaks my heart. It hit it's peak for me in the mid/late 90s. It's been downhill in futureworld since. The worlds are also slowly regressing to the point of being a waste of time on my visits now. I used to call Epcot my favorite park, but unless you go while an event is happening (food and wine/garden festival) it's a total borefest.
Bring back the days of the sega pavillion, and robots that scanned and drew your portrait. I want to see some cool future shit, not another ride re imagined with disney characters, which does nothing to really add to the park as a whole...fuck you for taking away the maelstrom
Yeah the place is totally pointless for me now except for the food. Went this September. None of the rides were very good (did them all except Figment) and walking around World Showcase was the pits in the extremely hot weather. Even the aquarium was depressing with the extremely tiny enclosure for the poor manatees. I'd go around World Showcase again for the food, but only when it's cooler. HS is also a waste for me nowadays due to my newly-gained motion sickness, at least until the new lands open.
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