redbox proves that people will generally still make you wait in line while they decide what to swipe their bracelet on
― Sufjan Grafton, Tuesday, 28 March 2017 19:49 (seven years ago) link
Oh dear
The main thing you notice when entering Pandora is that it feels like you’re leaving one theme park to go to another. Pandora feels separate from everything else in Animal Kingdom and, while you’re inside, the flora—even the land itself—differs to create the illusion. Every single employee working in Pandora is in character. They greet you in the native language; they swear you are on another planet, not in a theme park, and they refer to James Cameron’s Avatar as a documentary and tell you detailed stories about the animal life, plant life, and mostly, how the wars that raged on Pandora finally gave way to peace and understanding.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 May 2017 17:18 (six years ago) link
Even before you get on the ride, the narrative explains everything else going on in Pandora. How humans link with Avatars, what happened in the past, and why the Avatar program was restarted in the first place by its founder, played by Sigourney Weaver, in a nice nod to the film.Like in the movies, before the ride can start, everyone has to be matched to an avatar in order to ride the banshee. A good chunk of time is spent creating that illusion and setting you up for the experience, which I won’t spoil. Then, in the attached gift shop called Windtraders, for $74.99 you can have your face scanned and actually have an Avatar of yourself made. This may sound weird and random, but it actually links back to the ride and everything else in Pandora.As the employee scans you (an employee who, again, is totally committed to the idea you’re all on another planet) they explain that these scans help collect data that’ll improve link connections on the ride, making them stronger and faster. Obviously, this isn’t true, but the fact Disney has linked a little experience to the bigger one just enriches the whole thing.
Like in the movies, before the ride can start, everyone has to be matched to an avatar in order to ride the banshee. A good chunk of time is spent creating that illusion and setting you up for the experience, which I won’t spoil. Then, in the attached gift shop called Windtraders, for $74.99 you can have your face scanned and actually have an Avatar of yourself made. This may sound weird and random, but it actually links back to the ride and everything else in Pandora.
As the employee scans you (an employee who, again, is totally committed to the idea you’re all on another planet) they explain that these scans help collect data that’ll improve link connections on the ride, making them stronger and faster. Obviously, this isn’t true, but the fact Disney has linked a little experience to the bigger one just enriches the whole thing.
Alfred can you go get your face scanned so we can see your avatar with a cocktail
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 May 2017 17:19 (six years ago) link
It's too big a ship to turn around quickly once they come to their senses, so I'll give it maybe four years before they've changed that entire section of the park into something less stupid.
― human/hutt hybrid (Old Lunch), Friday, 26 May 2017 17:21 (six years ago) link
"And what's this?"
"The Groovy Rave Forest. We have smartdrinks!"
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 May 2017 17:23 (six years ago) link
Either I have completely misjudged how the world sees Avatar, but I really don't understand why they are spending all this money to build an immersive land for a movie no one likes.
― Jay Elettronica Viva (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, 26 May 2017 17:38 (six years ago) link
I love the detail about how it's a generation after the film(s). "Yeah there are a bunch of new films coming out." "Okay so will there be any tension as to whether the whole place survives?" "Well, um, no..."
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 May 2017 17:42 (six years ago) link
Like people write multiple thinkpieces like this
http://screencrush.com/back-to-pandora-why-is-avatar-forgotten/http://www.avclub.com/article/read-how-avatar-made-27-billion-and-garnered-almos-230327
Is that all just ELITE MEDIA BUBBLE BIAS nonsense?
― Jay Elettronica Viva (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, 26 May 2017 17:46 (six years ago) link
There are four sequels coming. Avatar will be popular and remembered forever. I guarantee it. Nothing could possibly go wrong. This will be a success on every conceivable level. Cross my heart.
― human/hutt hybrid (Old Lunch), Friday, 26 May 2017 17:50 (six years ago) link
cmon whiney get yr blue on! dont be avatardy for the party!
― Yoni Loves Chocha (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 26 May 2017 18:01 (six years ago) link
sorry
Planning a DW trip for next year. Now I feel like I have to go to animal kingdom just to check out this nonsense
― Moodles, Friday, 26 May 2017 18:19 (six years ago) link
This will be a great addition to the Disney Parks...for me to poop and/or apply other bodily wastes on.
― human/hutt hybrid (Old Lunch), Friday, 26 May 2017 18:26 (six years ago) link
― Jay Elettronica Viva (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, May 26, 2017
nine years later!
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 26 May 2017 18:29 (six years ago) link
Hollywood Studios, which was dead when I visited in December save for the (admittedly impressive) Imperial stormtrooper march, is supposed to transform into a Star Wars park iirc
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 26 May 2017 18:30 (six years ago) link
I think they're just building a Star Wars subdivision.
― human/hutt hybrid (Old Lunch), Friday, 26 May 2017 18:36 (six years ago) link
yes Paris Disney is adding a new Star Wars section in the regular (non studio) park, replacing the star tours thing.
Avatar thing sounds crazy
― droit au butt (Euler), Friday, 26 May 2017 21:01 (six years ago) link
~$75~ to be turned into an Avatar? Jesus. May as well pony up for actual plastic surgery
― Yoni Loves Chocha (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 26 May 2017 21:11 (six years ago) link
Trump may get silent treatment in Hall of Presidents
― pplains, Friday, 26 May 2017 23:41 (six years ago) link
esp considering the avatars in the movie looked nothing like the real people (blue Sigorney Weaver avatar not exactly a dead ringer for Sigorney Weaver) and this probably has all the sophistication of a Skyrim character creator
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Sunday, 28 May 2017 21:34 (six years ago) link
I request Alfred to buy one of these spots so we can all visit and stay for free.
https://www.disneygoldenoak.com/
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 9 June 2017 18:27 (six years ago) link
I'm so obsessed with that fucking singing Na'vi shamen animatronic. It's horrifying and sexual and beautiful and sickening
― kurt schwitterz, Friday, 9 June 2017 19:11 (six years ago) link
We need you to go to Florida and create the unauthorized sequel to Escape From Tomorrow, except, you know, good.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 9 June 2017 19:14 (six years ago) link
It's horrifying and sexual and beautiful and sickening
I've been called worse
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 9 June 2017 19:29 (six years ago) link
Tower of Terror was always a pretty lame ride, but the new GotG reboot of it is even worse.
#realdisneytalk
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Friday, 9 June 2017 19:49 (six years ago) link
i liked tower of terror, because we got on it with our 5 year old, not realizing what it was like, because there was no line, and then my wife and kid almost died from screaming while on it.
― akm, Friday, 9 June 2017 20:38 (six years ago) link
I rode it for the first time since '94 in January and it scared the shit out of me.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 9 June 2017 21:05 (six years ago) link
I liked ToT, sad to see it go.
― Moodles, Friday, 9 June 2017 21:43 (six years ago) link
The ToT was worth it for the gorgeous queue
― kurt schwitterz, Friday, 9 June 2017 22:22 (six years ago) link
True
― Moodles, Saturday, 10 June 2017 00:34 (six years ago) link
Okay Alfred, if you could handle the booking
https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-star-wars-theme-park-in-florida-will-include-a-comp-1796952453
For example, you may see Chewbacca around talking to Hondo. They’re up to no good and could be recruiting a group of people to go on a mission. So then you’d go on the Millennium Falcon ride, one of two in the park. Based on how you and your crew does on that ride (the ride will allow each individual person to have their own job aboard the Falcon), you could get some extra republic credits afterward, or maybe a stern talking-to. If you’re really, really bad though, bounty hunters might hunt you throughout the park, like a new one named Harcos.There will also be a Cantina—it was a hinted there may be booze there—and the music will be courtesy of a new DJ. It’s Rex, the former pilot of Star Tours.That’s just one example of how things will work. However, another major announcement has to do specifically with Galaxy’s Edge in Walt Disney World in Orlando. There, it was announced, Disney is planning a 100 percent immersive Star Wars hotel. That means everyone there will act like they are in Star Wars. You become a citizen once you check in, and every minute of your experience will be Star Wars. You may even have the option to dress up as the character you want to be.
There will also be a Cantina—it was a hinted there may be booze there—and the music will be courtesy of a new DJ. It’s Rex, the former pilot of Star Tours.
That’s just one example of how things will work. However, another major announcement has to do specifically with Galaxy’s Edge in Walt Disney World in Orlando. There, it was announced, Disney is planning a 100 percent immersive Star Wars hotel. That means everyone there will act like they are in Star Wars. You become a citizen once you check in, and every minute of your experience will be Star Wars. You may even have the option to dress up as the character you want to be.
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 16 July 2017 00:31 (six years ago) link
As someone asked:
Can I threaten a kid and get my arm cut off in the cantina?
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 16 July 2017 00:32 (six years ago) link
Plus a slew of other Orlando things
https://io9.gizmodo.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-ratatouille-and-tron-are-all-1796952726
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 16 July 2017 00:33 (six years ago) link
Meanwhile out here
A new, completely immersive Super Hero universe coming soon to Disney California Adventure park https://t.co/CmbXxoV5m7 #D23Expo pic.twitter.com/0R5aj186mO— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) July 15, 2017
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 16 July 2017 00:35 (six years ago) link
My 50th birthday is in 2023. Might head for Orlando with a fistful of acid and start looking for droids.
― pplains, Sunday, 16 July 2017 00:36 (six years ago) link
Maybe they'll let it cross over into that Avatar thing and bounty hunters can burn the place down.
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 16 July 2017 00:38 (six years ago) link
Hmm. I return in November!
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 16 July 2017 02:33 (six years ago) link
Huh to a lot of those things. Immersive experiences with cast in character reads a little Renn Faire.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 16 July 2017 04:16 (six years ago) link
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DLto4rwW0AAaSsH.jpg:large
― Οὖτις, Monday, 9 October 2017 18:12 (six years ago) link
currently plotting trip to Disneyland in February, kids are reaching ideal age-range
kinda dreading Star Wars land though. Do Stormtroopers walk around carrying guns cuz if so I am so not into that.
― Οὖτις, Monday, 9 October 2017 18:13 (six years ago) link
Star Wars stuff won't be open in February
― Moodles, Monday, 9 October 2017 18:19 (six years ago) link
awesome
― Οὖτις, Monday, 9 October 2017 18:20 (six years ago) link
the pirates have guns, though
― you are juror number 144 and we will excuse you (Sufjan Grafton), Monday, 9 October 2017 18:22 (six years ago) link
right, but that's in the ride, which I'm less concerned about
it's the "armed guys walking around while we all have fun" dynamic that feels fundamentally un-Disneylike to me
― Οὖτις, Monday, 9 October 2017 18:24 (six years ago) link
― Οὖτις, Monday, October 9, 2017
I saw the stormtrooper parade at Hollywood Studios – it's pretty good! My nieces loved it.
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 9 October 2017 18:24 (six years ago) link
you might still see stormtroopers. I would treat the whole park as a ride.
― you are juror number 144 and we will excuse you (Sufjan Grafton), Monday, 9 October 2017 18:27 (six years ago) link
it's called March of the First Order or some shit
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 9 October 2017 18:31 (six years ago) link
that ramones pic is a photoshop but here's a real pic of them at the park!
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cc/ac/e0/ccace0e2865061c4b037e22bed4731eb.jpg
― kurt schwitterz, Monday, 9 October 2017 18:43 (six years ago) link
!!
― Οὖτις, Monday, 9 October 2017 18:44 (six years ago) link
is that Joey on the left w his shades off?! I don't think I've ever seen a picture of him w out sunglasses.
― Οὖτις, Monday, 9 October 2017 18:45 (six years ago) link