Links, WDW 40, AvatarLand..Oh MY!

Hello ALL!

It's that time again where another month has came and went as we say goodbye to September! Boy! Talk about this month went by so fast. I don't about you but it sure did for me! :O

Well, this post I have lots to say, so hold on folks for this here post is one of the wildest in the errr ummm....wrong quote...LOL! ;)

Anyways, here's your TOP 'Monthly Links' for the month of : "September"

- http://randydorney.blogspot.com/2011/08/steel-force-sim-pre-opening-in-progress.html

- http://randydorney.blogspot.com/2011/09/themagicals-first-tweet-meet.html

- http://randydorney.blogspot.com/2011/07/announcing-soarin-simulation.html

- http://randydorney.blogspot.com/2011/06/live-coverage-littlemermaid-star-tours.html

- http://randydorney.blogspot.com/2011/07/forums-permanently-closed.html

Walt Disney World 40 years!


October 1, 1971 marked Walt Disney World Grand Opening. This is a huge milestone for the Disney Company when it opened as Walt Disney himself was working on this project before he saw it opened.

This project was known as the "Florida Project" as Walt Disney was presenting on the TV broadcast on "World Of Color". As well, we heard many times the quotes about the 'blessing of size'.

As the term 'blessing of size' seems to be a dull saying that doesn't match the imagination of the projects that the Imagineers have been working on before that's now coming to past.

This also keeps in line of the quote of Walt Disney, "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world." "It's something that will never be finished. Something that I can keep developing...and adding to."

A long summary about the Walt Disney World Park & Resorts is this Official Timeline: (*This image is large, so please be patient as it loads.)



Which brings me to this, recently the Walt Disney Company announced a new theme park land that will be part of Disney's Animal Kingdom....'Avatarland'.

Avatarland coming soon to Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World:



Late announcing news but here goes! This one announcement has made me and a lot of Disney fans in TOTAL shock! The news of Disney adding a new theme land based off the movie "Avatar" by James Cameron has a lot of mix reviews from all sides of media and fans. Many believe this is the revamp of "Beastly Kingdom" that the Disney Imagineers was doing before through surveys back in 2006 and 2008. Even concept art was released about the park but was cut out when Animal Kingdom opened.

Here's the article that Disney Parks Blog announced on their website:

We have great news to share today. At a press conference happening right now at Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob Iger and Tom Staggs just announced a long-term creative partnership with James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the fantasy world of AVATAR to life at Disney Parks. And it’ll all begin at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

James and his producing partner Jon Landau and their team at Lightstorm Entertainment will serve as creative consultants on the project and will work side-by-side with our Walt Disney Imagineers as we dream up experiences that will take our guests deep into worlds of AVATAR like never before. There are also two sequels to the record setting first film in the works, which will offer more fascinating stories, characters and locations to explore in the AVATAR universe. Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort is planned as the site of the first AVATAR-themed land with construction expected to begin by 2013.

We believe Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a great fit for this project because it was created to give guests the opportunity to experience the worlds of animals and nature – real and mythical – in new ways. Disney’s Animal Kingdom also celebrates adventure, living in harmony with nature and environmental stewardship – themes that are deeply rooted in the story of AVATAR.

The design phase on the Disney’s Animal Kingdom project has just begun so stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more details.

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

Also a great Q & A with Tom Saggs (Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts) that you can read here as well: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/09/answering-your-questions-about-avatar-at-disney-parks/

Closing Thoughts:

As I come to an end writing this post, I have some exciting news about the upcoming Tweet Meet that I will be doing for Themagical!

Mark your calenders for "October 16th, 2011" as I will be in Hershey, PA to have my FIRST tweet meet at Hershey's Chocolate World!

More details coming soon!

Have a great weekend!


Reighard