Avatar experience announced for Disneyland in California

Gallery / 1 Photo
Avatar experience announced for Disneyland

Posted: Wednesday February 8, 2023 5:48pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney CEO Bob Iger today revealed that an Avatar experience is coming to Disneyland Resort in California.

Avatar experience announced for Disneyland

Bob was speaking at the quarterly earnings result call and did not elaborate on the comment.

Iger's use of the word "experience" and not "attraction" should temper expectations. Early speculation suggests this new experience may go into the former Star Wars Launch Bay.

Avatar creator James Cameron revealed in December 2022 that he had spoken to Bob Iger about ideas to update the existing Avatar attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World. News of an Avatar experience coming to Disneyland is therefore not surprising.

Avatar: The Way of Water recently crossed the $2 billion mark in worldwide revenue, one of only six movies to reach that mark.

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

Phroobar6 days ago

So I guess Paris Disney Adventure Park gets the swimming AAs for their World of Color show.

Parteecia8 days ago

Yup. In 1984 I decamped to Hawaii for the duration. ETA In hindsight I wished I'd stayed and attended some events. The traffic was nowhere near as bad as I expected.

captveg8 days ago

I also suspect a lot of local DL summer attendees will take vacations outside of LA while the Olympics are in town, meaning they'll spend their vacation money elsewhere that year instead.

MisterPenguin11 days ago

I'm thinking DAK nighttime show.

Gusey11 days ago

Do we think the AquaBots at the end of the video could be used in the Avatar Boat Ride??

wdrive11 days ago

Absolutely. And anyone planning a visit not for the Olympics will avoid that period like the plague. Higher travel and hotel costs etc

Disney Irish13 days ago

It’s possible, it all depends on when they start construction on the land itself. If it starts any later than 2027 we’re looking at 2031.

TheDisneyParksfanC813 days ago

To me 2030 would be the latest Avatar would open. The 2031-2032 timeframe would be all on the first phase of Simba.

Disney Irish13 days ago

As I understand it Avatar is taking up all of the backlot except Phils. The only thing that may remain in my opinion is some of the facades facing Hollywood Blvd to block land sight lines. As for opening 2029 is possible, but I think everyone has settled in on 2030 or even 2031 given a 3ish year construction window.

BrianLo13 days ago

I’m still on the “it’s possible-” side of “2029” for Avatar. The original came to be in 40 months. So it depends on how seriously things take off, but they really need the bus loops to “take off”. Now that said, an unannounced 2029 Disneyland project also could be a possibility. I sort of see Disney in a current headspace where they want a major attraction annually at DLR and 2 at WDW (with some consistent minor-moderate projects at all four of their Florida parks). Historically 5 years ahead of time is a little early for a D23 to be talking ahead about projects, but for a variety of reasons Avatar and Villains were discussed prematurely. Just to say a lack of announcement for a 2029 Disneyland project circa 2024 wouldn’t be altogether meaningful that one doesn’t exist. In the same way WDW could very well sneak in something major pre villains.

TheDisneyParksfanC813 days ago

Gusey14 days ago

Is it not taking up all of.the Backlot (other than PhilarMagic whose entrance is no longer in the Backlot) and the.bus loop behind?

TheDisneyParksfanC814 days ago

Since Avatar is not even taking up the whole backlot, part of me wonders if a 2029 debut is still doable.

Disney Irish14 days ago

If 2030 is the timeline for Avatar with an assumed 2027 construction start. Well then 2026 will be the year of the EGW build out. This includes not only the parking structure but the pedestrian bridge and new Harbor entrance plaza. The idea around here has been that they need a temporary entrance area and walkway while building the new one. So that is probably why Monsters is closing “early”.