D23 Convention 2013 News and Rumor Catch-all - LIVE ACTION ROUND-UP POST 51

[KapBoy77]

So looks like they are going ahead with Avatarland. Now just get it done already.

 

[taterheads]

The Avatar/Disney deal was announced two years ago:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/09/avatar-coming-to-disney-parks/

Sorry- You are right. I went and checked this one out. All I have to say is yuck! I find it a horribly bad decision!!! Not family appropriate and while the movie did well, It was a single movie with not near the following of Star Wars or Indiana Jones. This screams $500 million flop to me. Apparently they decided they needed to cater to a very finite adult fandom. I feel like Disney is making some poor decisions all at once.
Sorry this was just the nail in the coffin to the fact that I am supposed to go to WDW in Feb 2014 and at the moment with all of Disneys "changes" so far I can look forward to EPCOT Innovations being closed,Camp Minnie Mickey being closed and no jammin jungle parade at AK, Fantasy Land still being worked on, Tommorrowland being worked on, No Main Street Bakery,and no afternoon parade at MK, and Hollywood Studios having no Beauty and the Beast, no American Idol, No High School Musical, No Pixar Parade. Sorry but I am just not feeling the magic at the moment. Feels like Disney World is being ripped apart at an alarming rate.

 

[Pirate princess 2]

Avatar has been around for two years, and been up for much debate. But with the moving of FotLK and closing of Camp MinnieMickey, it's pretty clear its happening.

Not NEW news here either - but more details on Pixar's upcoming slate:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-5...nd-the-inner-mind-pixars-future-looks-bright/

This one IS new - Zootopia upcoming Disney Animated Film!

http://variety.com/2013/film/news/d23-expo-disney-reveals-animated-zootopia-for-2016-1200576434/

Thanks for sharing your info. I'm looking forward to seeing these. Glad to see not just a bunch of sequels, that they have new stories to work with. If we have to have a sequel I like the Finding Dory idea.

 

[EAWildman]

Sorry- You are right. I went and checked this one out. All I have to say is yuck! I find it a horribly bad decision!!! Not family appropriate and while the movie did well, It was a single movie with not near the following of Star Wars or Indiana Jones. This screams $500 million flop to me. Apparently they decided they needed to cater to a very finite adult fandom. I feel like Disney is making some poor decisions all at once.
Sorry this was just the nail in the coffin to the fact that I am supposed to go to WDW in Feb 2014 and at the moment with all of Disneys "changes" so far I can look forward to EPCOT Innovations being closed,Camp Minnie Mickey being closed and no jammin jungle parade at AK, Fantasy Land still being worked on, Tommorrowland being worked on, No Main Street Bakery,and no afternoon parade at MK, and Hollywood Studios having no Beauty and the Beast, no American Idol, No High School Musical, No Pixar Parade. Sorry but I am just not feeling the magic at the moment. Feels like Disney World is being ripped apart at an alarming rate.

Just so you know...you are not alone in your opinion. I don't have much interest in the movie myself...though I am interested in what kind of land Disney could create out of Pandora. And Cameron just announced that there will be 3 new Avatar films coming out in a few years. Right when the park attractions should be ready to open.

Also, EPCOT Innovations is not closing. The rumor is the Imagination building may close (no loss there unless you love Captain EO and Figment). New Fantasyland is all but done, with the exception of the Princess meet and greet (which will likely be open late 2013) and the Snow White coaster which could be early 2014. I have not heard of anything being done in Tomorrowland at all. Main Street Bakery is up and running now...with better coffee. I have not heard the afternoon parade in MK is gone. It will be replaced next year with a brand new parade with all new floats, which was needed badly. The Beauty and Beast Stage Show is still operating and I have not heard any plans to close it in the near future. I have not heard anything about American Idol going away either. Are you actually complaining about the High School Musical show going away? That was a blessing in my book. The Pixar Parade did go away...but it was so short and pointless that it needed to be taken out back. I wish they would come up with something else though...and soon.

Anyway, the point of all that is...lighten up! There is plenty of stuff to do and alot of attractions that have been plussed. Enjoy your vacation!

 

[skier_pete]

Toni Baxter announced to get window on Main Street.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ndow-on-main-street-u-s-a-at-disneyland-park/

Not a shocker.

 

[StuckInKS]

So what is all of this about Star Wars and Tomorrowland? Id it DL, WDW or both?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I am a little nervous about their Tomorrowland plans regarding Star Wars. now, I LOVE me some Star Wars, don't get me wrong, but "Star Warssing" it up too much would destroy the charm of Tomorrowland. I am all for a major Star Wars Land at DHS, no problems there. I know DL has limited space, and a second Star Wars ride would be okay, but if they convert the entire land ("skin" as the article puts it), I will be very upset.

They wouldn't dare re-theme Space Mountain or anything...would they?

See... This is EXACTLY how I end up getting into trouble.

This "plan" represents all that is BAD with how Disney has been run since the day MGM opened...

This idea represents the cheapest, shortcut way to sell tickets off Star Wars and then cross promote the hell out if it for the next nine years.

I can't even fully wrap my grey matter around it... So I'll stop. If I were more calm I could throw out ten "reasons/excuses" that the PR department could spin...but enough with that...

Just take the idea of a "skin"

A cheap, overpriced, semi-permanent cover for an electronic device...produced quickly to capitalize on whim and while providing the illusion or a piece of hardware...is without actual substance.


Hmmmm...I fear that's exactly the point.

 

[EAWildman]

The imagineering area at D23 has a curious collection of crates stacked up on display. They have "Orange Harvest" on the sides in a Return of Jedi font. Underneath that "logo" are the words "Speculation beyond Imagination." This is an obvious play on the code name for the "Return of the Jedi" production which was "Blue Harvest: Horror beyond imagination." Why "Orange Harvest?" Florida is certainly known for its oranges (of course, so is California).

One crate is empty with an R2 shapped hole in the side. Another create has "Lightsaber Assortment: Lot of 12, 6 blue, 5 green, 1 purple" on the side. Another box has "Rancor Food" and "Contents already spoiled" on the side. Another box has "Contents: 1 protocal droid," on the side.

Clearly, Disney is working up attractions for the parks...the US parks at that!

 

[Polydweller]

Toni Baxter announced to get window on Main Street.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ndow-on-main-street-u-s-a-at-disneyland-park/

Not a shocker.

No she isn't but Tony Baxter is. He really does deserve it, a true Disney legend.

 

[Potterholic85]

Lots of Star Wars speculation. From what I've heard (granted, what I've heard has only been on here), there isn't going to be any theme park announcements at D23. Could it just all just be for the new movie that'll be coming out eventually?

 

[Mac4life30]

Okay, so obviously, proven by my post count, I'm new to DisBoards, so I'm not entirely up to date on everything. But I'm really not understanding why Avatar would be coming to the parks.

I have no clue!!!! But I am not happy about it.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

This thread was a really good idea, keep the info coming guys! Wish I was there, but if not, I really want to hear all about it.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Sorry- You are right. I went and checked this one out. All I have to say is yuck! I find it a horribly bad decision!!! Not family appropriate and while the movie did well, It was a single movie with not near the following of Star Wars or Indiana Jones. This screams $500 million flop to me. Apparently they decided they needed to cater to a very finite adult fandom. I feel like Disney is making some poor decisions all at once.
Sorry this was just the nail in the coffin to the fact that I am supposed to go to WDW in Feb 2014 and at the moment with all of Disneys "changes" so far I can look forward to EPCOT Innovations being closed,Camp Minnie Mickey being closed and no jammin jungle parade at AK, Fantasy Land still being worked on, Tommorrowland being worked on, No Main Street Bakery,and no afternoon parade at MK, and Hollywood Studios having no Beauty and the Beast, no American Idol, No High School Musical, No Pixar Parade. Sorry but I am just not feeling the magic at the moment. Feels like Disney World is being ripped apart at an alarming rate.

Disney is desperate for a couple of things...

Franchise with sequels in the pipeline to drive merchandise...
And somebody to pay part of the cost.

I'm on record of saying that "avatarland" has stagnant written all over it because of little potential for longterm fan following... So I won't labor that point.

But in Cameron they get both things in their criteria...
And I fully believe the biggest part is construction at animal kingdom not entirely on their dime. It's obvious they don't wish to spend the needed capital in animal kingdom... Because its been needed since day 1 and that was 15 unbelievable years ago.

They have repeatedly put bandaids on hatchet wounds...and just hope it gets drug along behind the rest of the property.

Avatar being their "choice" shows you just how little choice they have...as they wouldn't invest the potter franchises or Tolkien because they weren't for sale on the cheap.

I think disney gets something they deem as not as expensive...while Cameron gets a forum for his great franchise that is very blah and not great. And double edged Hollywood ego stroke.

 

[skier_pete]

SO this post teases that an announcement will be made about Star Wars tomorrow.

http://www.movieweb.com/news/disneys-d23-expo-teases-secret-star-wars-orange-harvest-project

I look at all the stuff that they have (protocol droids, rancor milk, lightsabers, the cantina band) and it all references Tatooine. I think that this means we may get the announcement of the Mos Eisley Cantina theme restaurant coming as a first step to Star Wars land.

They are also being 100% certain that there will be no Episode VII announcements during the convention, but that doesn't mean there will be no theme park announcements!

Also, look for Captain America coming to a ship (and possibly theme park) near you.

http://www.scpr.org/blogs/economy/2...s-d23-expo-expects-to-draw-more-than-45000-v/

Looks like it for today. I should be able to keep updates tomorrow. I think Saturday will be the big news day.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

If true... At least that would be something.

MGM has stagnated... Yet again. Toy story mania is what it is... A mediocre experience with a ridiculous WDW sized line... And that American idol thing is horrid.

I like toy story mania... But it's really just buzz light year on speed with a little more fun. Not earth shattering.

Which means we're back to where we were five years ago...last significant change was rock n roller coaster...just 14 short years ago.

Even a simple restaurant would be a positive step

 

[thegib95]

See... This is EXACTLY how I end up getting into trouble.

This "plan" represents all that is BAD with how Disney has been run since the day MGM opened...

This idea represents the cheapest, shortcut way to sell tickets off Star Wars and then cross promote the hell out if it for the next nine years.

I can't even fully wrap my grey matter around it... So I'll stop. If I were more calm I could throw out ten "reasons/excuses" that the PR department could spin...but enough with that...

Just take the idea of a "skin"

A cheap, overpriced, semi-permanent cover for an electronic device...produced quickly to capitalize on whim and while providing the illusion or a piece of hardware...is without actual substance.

Hmmmm...I fear that's exactly the point.

This plan is bull, not sure about any source on any of this but it doesn't match up with anything Disney is teasing at the expo...
So cool down and take this for what it is, someone making things up to stir a pot.

There are plans for all new Star Wars experiences that do not have anything to do with tomorrow land.....

 

[taterheads]

Disney is desperate for a couple of things...

Franchise with sequels in the pipeline to drive merchandise...
And somebody to pay part of the cost.

I'm on record of saying that "avatarland" has stagnant written all over it because of little potential for longterm fan following... So I won't labor that point.

But in Cameron they get both things in their criteria...
And I fully believe the biggest part is construction at animal kingdom not entirely on their dime. It's obvious they don't wish to spend the needed capital in animal kingdom... Because its been needed since day 1 and that was 15 unbelievable years ago.

They have repeatedly put bandaids on hatchet wounds...and just hope it gets drug along behind the rest of the property.

Avatar being their "choice" shows you just how little choice they have...as they wouldn't invest the potter franchises or Tolkien because they weren't for sale on the cheap.

I think disney gets something they deem as not as expensive...while Cameron gets a forum for his great franchise that is very blah and not great. And double edged Hollywood ego stroke.

You said it way better than I ever could have. Now Tolkien....I would be so excited. Could you just imagine?! That would be awesome...a little too fantasy for AK but it could be awesome somewhere if done right! You can tell where my fandom lies

 

[djacobs]

My first post...but something caught my eye with the other d23 posts: the imagineering booth is called JOURNEY INTO Imagineering. Awful similar to a certain pavilion in Epcot that is rumored to being closed after the first of the year for a major redo. Maybe this is a hint about what maybe coming to Epcot.

 

[skier_pete]

My first post...but something caught my eye with the other d23 posts: the imagineering booth is called JOURNEY INTO Imagineering. Awful similar to a certain pavilion in Epcot that is rumored to being closed after the first of the year for a major redo. Maybe this is a hint about what maybe coming to Epcot.

THere's also one display there that has Figment in it. Hard to believe they plan on getting rid of figment in that case, huh?

 

[Donald_Quackers]

Avatar has been around for two years, and been up for much debate. But with the moving of FotLK and closing of Camp MinnieMickey, it's pretty clear its happening.

Not NEW news here either - but more details on Pixar's upcoming slate:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-5...nd-the-inner-mind-pixars-future-looks-bright/

This one IS new - Zootopia upcoming Disney Animated Film!

http://variety.com/2013/film/news/d23-expo-disney-reveals-animated-zootopia-for-2016-1200576434/

Thanks for posting this -- I just wish they'd make another Incredibles movie. Now to go see Planes.