Disney CEO Bob Iger introduced that Avatar is coming to Disneyland Resort. This publish shares all the pieces we all know to date (which isn’t very a lot) plus commentary and rampant hypothesis about what this might imply. (Up to date January 25, 2024.)

The unique announcement got here throughout a Walt Disney Firm earnings name. Throughout that, Bob Iger reported that Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line did notably properly, with Disney Parks, Experiences and Merchandise revenues for the quarter growing 21% to $8.7 billion.

Iger went on to say that he’s “very, very bullish” on the way forward for Disney’s theme parks. “We have now realized that after we spend money on growing capability, with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge being a superb instance of that and Pandora a fantastic instance of that, we will develop our enterprise,” he continued. Iger indicated that when you have a look at the outcomes when Pandora – The World of Avatar was inbuilt Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the year-to-year development numbers when it comes to the quantity of people that visited had been “gorgeous.”

With regard to the brand new Avatar expertise coming to Disneyland, right here’s what Iger needed to say:

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Approach of Water, which will probably be one of the crucial profitable movies of the quarter, grew to become the fourth greatest movie of all time globally with near $2.2 billion earned within the field workplace so far. The worldwide polarity of this movie will end result within the creation of extra alternatives for followers to interact with the franchise.

They’ve been doing properly at Walt Disney World’s Pandora: World of Avatar, in addition to in theaters globally and on Disney+, the primary movie is delivering very robust numbers. In the present day I’m thrilled to announce that we’ll be bringing an thrilling Avatar expertise to Disneyland. We will probably be sharing extra particulars on that very quickly.

Avatar represents yet one more core franchise for the corporate and as you have got seen, time and time once more, we now have a singular means of leveraging inventive success.

Since this, Bob Iger and different Disney Parks leaders have repeatedly talked about an Avatar addition coming to Disneyland Resort. They’ve virtually at all times referred to it as an Avatar “expertise” and never as soon as as an attraction or land. This may increasingly seem to be a distinction and not using a distinction, however in Disney vernacular, it’s essential.

January 25, 2024 Replace: After a number of substance-less teases final yr, we now have our first information in regards to the Avatar expertise at Disneyland Resort of 2024. This comes courtesy of Avatar producer Jon Landau, who was additionally closely concerned with Pandora at Walt Disney World, who shared the above picture on Instagram with the caption: “Had a fantastic day at Walt Disney Imagineering speaking in regards to the future.” So as soon as once more, one other substance-less tease.

About the one materials replace we now have acquired on the Avatar expertise got here late final yr throughout the Worldwide Affiliation of Amusement Parks and Sights (IAAPA) Expo, when an Imagineer remarked offhand that the Avatar expertise coming to Disneyland Resort will probably be at Disney California Journey.

Nonetheless, this was shortly ‘corrected’ by a consultant from Disney, who said that no announcement a few location for the Avatar expertise had been made on behalf of Disneyland Resort. That means that no matter was stated (or wasn’t) was not an official announcement.

Whereas there are different prospects for the place the Avatar expertise might go at Disneyland Resort (see commentary under), the odds-on favourite is Disney California Journey. Final summer season, the corporate cleared out Stage 17 in Hollywood Land, which is a gigantic venue in part of the park that actually wants new life injected into it.

Stage 17 presents ample area for an interactive and immersive environmental exploration, like Avatar: The Expertise in Singapore. Disney has been exploring experiential displays, and on the lookout for the suitable automobile for its personal means of getting into that area of interest. Our robust suspicion is that the Avatar expertise coming to Disneyland Resort is an adaptation of Avatar: The Expertise from Singapore (it’s proper within the title). If not and it’s going to be one thing extra, the Hollywood Backlot and its sound levels provide essentially the most viable location for no matter that is going to be.

Mainly, our guess is that an Imagineer unintentionally let slip that the Avatar expertise goes to be in DCA, forgetting that the corporate hadn’t already revealed as a lot. Desirous to make a splashy announcement, Disney walked that again with the caveat that no matter was stated was not stated on behalf of the Disneyland Resort. Phew.

Previous to this, an article by D23 provided Avatar actor reactions to the announcement, with most providing what I can solely assume is feigned pleasure for the addition at Disneyland Resort. Right here’s a consultant quote from Bailey Bass, who performs Metkayina clan member Tsireya within the movie: “I’m over the moon in regards to the Avatar growth to Disneyland [Resort]! As an enormous Disney fan and fan of the Avatar rides in [Walt] Disney World, I’m so excited for Avatar followers to have the ability to expertise the world of Pandora at Disneyland. I can not wait to see what the Avatar and Disney group creates. I already comprehend it’s gonna be awe-inspiring, jaw dropping, and magical.”

The remainder are roughly the identical concept. The D23 piece goes on to point that though specifics in regards to the Avatar expertise stay below wraps, it “guarantees to be as wonderful as these discovered at Walt Disney World Resort.” The article additionally quotes James Cameron, who stated he was “thrilled to speak with Bob Iger about extra alternatives for folks to step into the wondrous world of Pandora.”

Added Jon Landau, associate and COO of Lightstorm Leisure and producer of the Avatar movies, “Along with Disney’s Imagineers, and with future Avatar movies already in manufacturing, we’re enthusiastic about the place we would give you the chance take future company.”

Some Disney followers have seized on the road that the Avatar expertise at Disneyland will probably be “as wonderful” because the one at Walt Disney World, concluding that this implies it’ll be Pandora. We’d cease properly wanting that.

Learn in full, this text is clearly a puff piece, meant to generate pleasure amongst followers with out really saying something. There’s nothing essentially mistaken with it–D23 is a fan membership and its position is sustaining momentum amongst Disney fanatics. That is in furtherance of that. Saying, “you would possibly wish to mood your pleasure, as a result of this isn’t going to be pretty much as good as Pandora at Animal Kingdom” wouldn’t serve that objective and could be at odds with the article as a complete.

What’s extra noteworthy, for my part, are the stealth edits that had been achieved to the article. Initially, the article headline stated “Pandora Coming to Disneyland Resort.” That was up to date to “Avatar Expertise Coming to Disneyland Resort.” Likewise, no less than one actor quote was modified from mentioning Disneyland to “Disneyland [Resort].” The insistence on utilizing “Disneyland Resort” might be a bizarre vernacular factor, or it might be deliberate–as a result of this Avatar expertise shouldn’t be coming to Disneyland [Park].

Much more fascinating than this text is what occurred within the “background” on the identical time. Disney introduced that Bruce Vaughn is returning to co-lead Imagineering. Vaughn was the co-head of Imagineering throughout growth of the unique Pandora – World of Avatar, and might be returning for his undertaking administration experience on that.

To that time, even throughout the earnings name Bob Iger was very deliberate in calling this a brand new Avatar expertise coming to Disneyland Resort. Not a brand new Avatar attraction or Pandora – The World of Avatar, and never coming to Disneyland Park.

As we’ve identified numerous occasions up to now, Iger is a grasp wordsmith who’s nice at sticking to the script, and in addition is cognizant of what completely different phrases imply. (For instance, he acquired the title of “Pandora – The World of Avatar” appropriate, moderately than calling it “Avatar Land” or “The Theme Park in Florida With Blue Alien Intercourse Cats By Jimmy C.”)

If this had been Chapek, we wouldn’t be parsing phrases–he wasn’t as on-message and fumbled with phrases on a regular basis. In Chapek-speak, “Avatar Expertise” might imply all the pieces from a brand new blue churro to a complete third gate.

Nonetheless, since this is Bob Iger, our guess is that ‘expertise’ was chosen purposefully as a result of this isn’t a brand new attraction or land, however moderately, one thing else. What’s anybody’s guess. It might be a brand new Meta Quest VR sport in Downtown Disney, an overlay of the Boudin Bakery Tour, walkaround mech swimsuit dude in Pixar Pier, or build-a-banshee store.

Clearly, a few of these prospects are jokes. Whereas an Avatar Expertise (like a Meta Quest VR sport) changing the previous ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney makes a ton of sense, even that feels a bit on the small aspect to tease on an earnings name–and Bob Iger ended up mentioning this Avatar Expertise twice. As soon as originally of the decision within the quoted half above, and once more whereas answering an analyst’s query on the finish.

Provided that and the consequential nature of this name as Iger’s first again as CEO–one detailing cost-cutting, restructuring, and his large ambitions for the long run–it appears unlikely that Iger would’ve drawn consideration to an addition to Disneyland Resort except it’s one thing of consequence. That’s doubly true given how properly Avatar: The Approach of Water has carried out and James Cameron’s popularity as a demanding perfectionist. I don’t assume he’d be notably happy with an Avatar-themed bread tour.

With that stated, I’m struggling to provide you with different methods Avatar might match into the present theme parks and lands at Disneyland Resort. Maybe a nighttime spectacular or projection present?

Possibly a reimagining of Hollywood Land that efficiently shoe horns Avatar in with out making it the fully-fledged (and thematically incongruous) Pandora – World of Avatar? There are at present a number of empty buildings within the backlot, and these might be transformed into Avatar experiences to extend capability. (One of many said targets of Iger and D’Amaro, per the earnings name.)

If the intention is shortly growing park capability, comparable prospects contain using current areas. One other prime piece of actual property is the Innoventions constructing in Tomorrowland. That’s basically flex area, and though it has a DVC lounge, that solely takes up a small portion of the constructing.

One potential situation with all of those ideas is getting James Cameron on board. Once more, he’s a perfectionist. Longtime followers would possibly recall that there have been appreciable delays between the announcement of Pandora – World of Avatar for Walt Disney World, and graduation of building. The rumors on the time instructed that Cameron and his insistence on high-quality sights performed a job. It’s thus troublesome to see him getting on board with utilizing ugly, deserted buildings as a showcase for the Avatar franchise.

Who is aware of, although. Imagineering’s R&D lab has a number of cool ideas, and if they might reskin a type of to be the Na’vi, perhaps that may work.

One out of left subject reimagining concept that I actually like is an overlay of Grizzly Peak. Properly, I don’t really like the thought–I like Grizzly Peak and don’t wish to see this occur–however I feel it is sensible and is a viable overlay.

Modeled after Northern California’s Nationwide Parks, this space is essentially forest and is sufficient of a clean slate that the Na’vi might be weaved into Grizzly Peak comparatively simply. Soarin’ might be redone to have an Avatar-based movie (though the thought of the sights is analogous, it couldn’t be the identical as Flight of Passage) and Grizzly River Run might have Na’vi Audio Animatronics and different stuff added.

It’s a extremely imperfect resolution, but it surely appears essentially the most smart out of the accessible choices if Imagineering goes to embark on a everlasting reimagining. Disney California Journey is now basically a ‘studio park’ second gate anyway, so a forest of Pandora theme would doubtless be deemed shut sufficient.

Accordingly, it is usually attainable that it is a new themed land or attraction that expands one of many current parks. We don’t wish to foreclose that chance primarily based on semantics. In any case, Bob Iger did guess large on Avatar – The World of Avatar a number of years in the past and he was additionally behind the acquisition of twentieth Century Fox. Furthermore, primarily based on his social media posts, it appears like Iger has a private affinity for Avatar and James Cameron.

Avatar: The Approach of Water is a rousing success, with James Cameron (but once more) proving his haters mistaken whereas filmgoers soil themselves in delight whereas having fun with the sequel. With a half-dozen or so sequels already introduced, it looks as if Avatar is a bona fide franchise that’s strategically essential to Disney in the long run. Whereas the media continues to hammer on (and be mistaken about) Avatar’s lack of cultural impression, the films have been large hits that’ll proceed to rake in billions on the field workplace.

If this “Avatar Expertise” coming to Disneyland Resort is a brand new attraction or land, it could make sense for this growth to happen at Disney California Journey. We doubt that the remaining growth areas in Disneyland are sufficiently massive for an Avatar space or attraction.

One left subject chance is that an Avatar space might be a part of the illusory third gate that’s been teased as a part of DisneylandForward. The possibilities of DisneylandForward are really exciting. Nonetheless, it’s actually all about paving the way in which for future developments of an unsure nature by giving Disney extra autonomy over land use by enjoyable the DRSP. Up till now, Disney has basically been saying, “give us authority to construct no matter we wish, then we’ll let you know what, if something, we’re going to construct.”

Attaching concrete plans for Pandora – The World of Avatar to a brand new gate would possibly make DisneylandForward extra compelling, and enhance the probability of its approval. That appears fairly far-fetched, however there aren’t a ton of different nice/fascinating choices, and that may give DisneylandForward momentum.

Finally, it’ll be fascinating to see how this performs out. Primarily based on their current public statements and interviews, it’s fairly apparent that CEO Bob Iger and Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro have large plans for future growth on the home parks. That is one thing we cowl at size in Bob Iger Wants to Build Big Expansions at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. It’s fairly clear that main issues are on the horizon. The questions are what and the place, and it could appear that “Avatar” and “Disneyland Resort” are two of the obscure solutions.

I’ve gotta admit, I used to be initially skeptical that this could quantity to an precise addition of substance (or permanence), however I’m turning into more and more satisfied that’s the case. I wouldn’t be in the least stunned if no matter occurs happens in phases, with a short lived “expertise” main as much as the debut of a large-scale land, with each being introduced concurrently on the 2024 D23 Expo in Anaheim. We’ll proceed monitoring this growing story and supply updates and evaluation as extra particulars are revealed, so keep tuned!

Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site resorts in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and plenty of different SoCal cities!

Your Ideas

What do you consider Disneyland Resort getting an Avatar Expertise? What kind do you anticipate this ‘expertise’ to take? Assume it’ll be an attraction, clone of Pandora – The World of Avatar, Boudin Bakery Bread Tour overlay, or one thing else totally? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even once you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!