Director James Cameron has taken actress Whoopi Goldberg on a tour of the new Avatar-themed zone at Disney Animal Kingdom, Orlando, Florida. He showed her around the park, created to look like the magical planet of Pandora from Cameron’s 2009 film Avatar, revealing details of what guests can expect when the park opens on 27 May.
Pandora — the World of Avatar features a number of sites unique to the world of the movie, including its floating mountain ranges and glowing bioluminescent rainforests, plus a number of rides and attractions, such as the family-friendly Na’vi River Journey and the Avatar Flight of Passage over the alien planet of Pandora.
“We have a mixture of Earth plants and exotic Pandoran foliage that’s been sculpted by sculptors. It gives the illusion of a real ecosystem,” Cameron says during his talk with Goldberg for ABC programme The View.
“It’s fine to see something in a movie where you know it’s a visual effect, but when you’re standing in it and you’re looking around in every direction, you’re on Pandora everywhere you look,” he says.
Cameron has worked closely with Joe Rohde and his team of Disney Imagineers on the realisation of the area. He says the setting for Pandora — the World of Avatar is in the future, long after the existing film and its four sequels – which do not have release dates yet – take place, in a time when Pandora’s Na’vi inhabitants and humans are at peace. “The Na’vi have welcomed us to Pandora to help us understand nature and ourselves better.”
Cameron says: “This whole land will light up at night. All these plants will glow purple and cyan and these beautiful colours. I think it’s even more magical at night.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2017 issue 2
Promotional feature: IDEATTACK
IDEATTACK is working on a magical destination resort in Hunan Province, China.
Founders Natasha Varnica and Dan Thomas walk us through the fairytale experience
Science centres: Sparks Fly
The Wolf Museum of Exploration +
Innovation (MOXI) is a brand new science
centre in Santa Barbara, with a refreshing
approach. CEO Steve Hinkley tells all
Theme parks: Speed Demons
PortAventura’s COO Mark Robinson on the
company’s latest investment – Ferrari Land
Promotional feature: Simworx
UK-based attractions manufacturer Simworx is building on its global
portfolio with a range of new projects in Dubai, China and Spain
Attractions: That’s the Spirit
Jameson’s visitor experience centre has
been revamped by BRC Imagination
Arts. Tom Anstey went to Dublin and
talked to the team about the project
Promotional feature: FORREC
FORREC has worked with some of the world’s
most recognisable characters and IPs. Here Steven Rhys
shares some tips on bringing those cherished worlds to life
Director James Cameron has taken actress Whoopi Goldberg on a tour of the new Avatar-themed zone at Disney Animal Kingdom, Orlando, Florida. He showed her around the park, created to look like the magical planet of Pandora from Cameron’s 2009 film Avatar, revealing details of what guests can expect when the park opens on 27 May.
Pandora — the World of Avatar features a number of sites unique to the world of the movie, including its floating mountain ranges and glowing bioluminescent rainforests, plus a number of rides and attractions, such as the family-friendly Na’vi River Journey and the Avatar Flight of Passage over the alien planet of Pandora.
“We have a mixture of Earth plants and exotic Pandoran foliage that’s been sculpted by sculptors. It gives the illusion of a real ecosystem,” Cameron says during his talk with Goldberg for ABC programme The View.
“It’s fine to see something in a movie where you know it’s a visual effect, but when you’re standing in it and you’re looking around in every direction, you’re on Pandora everywhere you look,” he says.
Cameron has worked closely with Joe Rohde and his team of Disney Imagineers on the realisation of the area. He says the setting for Pandora — the World of Avatar is in the future, long after the existing film and its four sequels – which do not have release dates yet – take place, in a time when Pandora’s Na’vi inhabitants and humans are at peace. “The Na’vi have welcomed us to Pandora to help us understand nature and ourselves better.”
Cameron says: “This whole land will light up at night. All these plants will glow purple and cyan and these beautiful colours. I think it’s even more magical at night.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2017 issue 2
Promotional feature: IDEATTACK
IDEATTACK is working on a magical destination resort in Hunan Province, China.
Founders Natasha Varnica and Dan Thomas walk us through the fairytale experience
Science centres: Sparks Fly
The Wolf Museum of Exploration +
Innovation (MOXI) is a brand new science
centre in Santa Barbara, with a refreshing
approach. CEO Steve Hinkley tells all
Theme parks: Speed Demons
PortAventura’s COO Mark Robinson on the
company’s latest investment – Ferrari Land
Promotional feature: Simworx
UK-based attractions manufacturer Simworx is building on its global
portfolio with a range of new projects in Dubai, China and Spain
Attractions: That’s the Spirit
Jameson’s visitor experience centre has
been revamped by BRC Imagination
Arts. Tom Anstey went to Dublin and
talked to the team about the project
Promotional feature: FORREC
FORREC has worked with some of the world’s
most recognisable characters and IPs. Here Steven Rhys
shares some tips on bringing those cherished worlds to life
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
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