Zootopia vs. Avatar: Former Imagineer’s comments fuel speculation among Disneyland fans

A former Walt Disney Imagineer’s suggestion that a Zootopia‑themed land might be a better fit for Disney California Adventure than the Avatar experience Disney has announced has ignited a debate among fans online, months before D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, where Disney typically unveils major updates coming to its parks worldwide.

To understand whether a pivot is realistic, KTLA spoke with theme park creators and Disney fans, Carly Caramanna and Gavin Doyle.

Caramanna, a theme park journalist and author of “The Unofficial Disney Parks Retro Cookbook,” said the rumor has “legitimate legs,” noting that large‑scale projects often evolve behind the scenes.

“Disney has emphasized that the Avatar project is still in early development,” she said. “It’s been more than three years since it was announced, and details remain scarce. That opens the door for shifts based on audience demand and franchise performance.”

Disney first teased an Avatar experience for the Disneyland Resort in 2023, following the success of “Avatar: The Way of Water.” In 2024, Josh D’Amaro, the former chairman of Disney Experiences and current Disney CEO, said the land would draw from both “The Way of Water” and the third film, “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”

Concept images shared at the time suggested the addition would include a water‑based attraction.

Fan reaction has been mixed. Some welcome the blockbuster franchise, while others argue that a second Avatar-themed land wasn’t exciting.

In this handout photo provided by Disney Resorts, a view of the new Pandora: World of Avatar attraction inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom during the dedication ceremony on May 24, 2017, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom inside the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by David Roark/Disney Resorts via Getty Images)

Disney opened its first Avatar‑themed land, “Pandora – The World of Avatar,” at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom in 2017. The land is inspired by James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster “Avatar.” Since its opening, the land has been widely praised, with many visitors calling it a “home run” for Disney Imagineering.

Still, the release of “Zootopia 2” only intensified the debate, with fans echoing Shull’s belief that the franchise could be a stronger match for DCA.

For now, Disney has not announced any changes to the planned Avatar land. The project is expected to take over the area currently home to Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, which Disney confirmed will remain open into 2027. The attraction was originally slated to close this year.

At the time, former Disneyland president Thomas Mazloum said the “Avatar” project would proceed as planned and would not be delayed by the adjustment.

Caramanna called the delayed closure “fascinating,” saying it adds fuel to ongoing speculation.

“It’s impossible to ignore that Avatar’s third installment was a box office success while also diminishing since previous releases domestically, while ‘Zootopia 2’ significantly outperformed the original film,” she said. “And at the end of the day, with so many projects in motion at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, it’s not surprising that this simply could be a delay to stagger ride closures.”

“I don’t believe the delay has anything to do with the speculation of Avatar being canceled,” Doyle said. “The delay of the closure was a smart move after they realized they could get another year out of the ride. Previously, it felt like they were closing the ride far earlier than they needed to.”

He added that construction logistics, including the need to complete the new parking structure and overpass walkway, limit how soon Disney can begin work on the site.

The question of thematic fit remains central to the fan debate. While Shull argued that Zootopia would align better with Disney California Adventure, Doyle said neither franchise fits cleanly.

“While I agree that Avatar doesn’t fit organically into a theme park based on the dreamers of California and themed to classic Hollywood, I don’t see how Zootopia fits any better into the park,” he said. “Disney California Adventure has made many moves in the past few years away from the ‘California’ part of the experience, so much so that I don’t think they judge the fit to the theme as much as how a new experience would enhance the park experience.”

Still, the decision to keep the Monsters, Inc. ride open longer has fueled speculation among fans who are watching closely for signs of a shift.

Looking ahead, both expect D23 to be a pivotal moment.

“I expect that we will get updates on all the new rides coming to Disneyland in the coming years,” Doyle said. “If they don’t mention Avatar, it will be a far bigger signal that the project isn’t happening. We know there are active plans for future additions to Disneyland Park as well. Perhaps we will finally get some sort of Tomorrowland update.”

Caramanna agreed that the Anaheim resort’s long‑term expansion will be a major storyline.

“I do expect Disneyland Forward expansion details to be a major piece of news to come out of this year’s D23,” she said. “Since the potential Avatar land is the one we know the least about, I’m eager to learn more.”

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