‘Avatar’ coming to Disney California Adventure at Disneyland | What to know
“Avatar” is coming to Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. Here’s what we know about this upcoming project from Walt Disney Imagineering.
What will California Adventure’s ‘Avatar’ attraction be?
Details about the “Avatar” project remain scarce, with Disney calling it a “destination” and “experience” rather than using words like “ride” or “show.” Concept art (below) depicts a boat ride of some sort.
The project will be rooted in 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water,” 2025’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” and other future installments rather than 2009’s original “Avatar” film.
The area will be part of Disney California Adventure, and will be completely different from Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which opened in 2017 in Florida. That land depicts the Valley of Mo’ara from the first movie, and features the Flight of Passage simulator ride and the Na’vi River Journey boat ride plus a counter-service restaurant.
As seen in more concept art, California Adventure’s version will differ from Animal Kingdom’s.
“This new and thrilling excursion will bring all the action, excitement, and wonder of ‘Avatar,’ taking guests all the way to the wide-open seas of Pandora,” said Ali Rubinstein, global management executive of creative development at Walt Disney Imagineering, in August 2024. “This is going to be a dynamic, intense, and emotional experience on a grand scale that we know our guests will love.”
When will Disneyland’s ‘Avatar’ ride open?
Disney has not announced an opening date for the “Avatar” attraction coming to California Adventure. Construction for the project will begin in early 2026.
Disney first teased its plans to bring “Avatar” to Disneyland Resort in spring 2023 and formally announced the project in summer 2024.
Where will the ‘Avatar’ ride be located in California Adventure? Will anything close to make room?
The “Avatar” attraction at Disney California Adventure will be located in what is currently a section of the park’s Hollywood Backlot area.
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, a family-friendly dark ride, will permanently close in early 2026 as Disney prepares for the upcoming “Avatar” experience.
Other attractions in Hollywood Backlot include Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Disney Theater (currently home to “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!”), and the currently empty Hyperion Theater (previously home to “Rogers: The Musical,” “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion,” and “Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular.”) Disney did not mention those venues closing.
Analyzing the models at D23
At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2024, Imagineering displayed what seem to be three versions of an architectural centerpiece for the “Avatar” land for California Adventure, each a revision of the last as the creative process has progressed (or, at least, that’s the story told in the display). Notes with feedback from various artists and supervisors were strewn throughout the “workspace.” If this narrative is to be believed, the team may currently be developing the version of the model presented in the middle of the display.
The earliest model (far right on the desk) was accompanied by a sticky note dated June 21, 2023 and reading “Good start – less like movie locale?”
The model on the opposite end of the desk was displayed with notes dated Aug. 21, 2023 from someone who signed their name “C”:
- “This version is interesting”
- “Needs stronger magnetic force lines (see Ref 1)”
- “Try more depth with perspective on next one”
The reply was displayed underneath: “Thanks for the notes! As a wise man once said — ‘This model will never be complete as long as there is imagination …,’” alluding to a Walt Disney quote.
Another stray sheet of paper on the desk was dated Oct. 18, 2023 with the following notes:
- “Would like to try a more ancient version — more distressed.”
- “Going to need the walkway clearances on exit under rockwork”
- “When is the structural review?”
- “Live foliage to [illegible]”
- “Casey — What do you think about seeing the backside of water?”
Yet another adjacent page labeled May 2, 2024 read:
- “Chris — need new ride plan”
- “Facility will be updated on next version”
- “Floating mountains — floatier this time, location TBD via sightlines”
- “Schematic color only NOT! final”
- “Natural/artificial waterfalls still evolving”
Finally, the model in the middle of the desk was accompanied by the following notes:
- “Team – We need a meeting to decide the geographical location on Pandora”
- “Please photograph so Dylan can update art. Thanks! C”
“Dylan” is presumably Dylan Cole, the concept art director for the original “Avatar” film and the production designer of “Avatar: The Way of Water,” the latter being a role he will continue for “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and the unnamed fourth volume in the series. Cole also developed concepts for Animal Kingdom’s Pandora, and seems to be collaborating with Imagineering again for the California Adventure counterpart.
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