Disney Abruptly Cuts 'Avatar' Experience from Parks Due to Grave Financial Failure

When Pandora – The World of Avatar first opened its bioluminescent gates at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in May 2017, it represented one of the most ambitious themed land expansions in Walt Disney World history. The collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and filmmaker James Cameron brought the floating mountains, exotic flora, and immersive alien world of Pandora to life in stunning detail.

From the moment guests step through the bridge connecting them to this otherworldly realm, they’re transported 4.4 light-years away from Earth to experience the wonders that captivated audiences in Cameron’s groundbreaking 2009 film.

The land’s centerpiece attractions—Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey—quickly became fan favorites, with Flight of Passage consistently ranking among the most popular attractions at Walt Disney World.

But beyond these headline experiences, Pandora offered guests unique opportunities to interact with the world of Avatar in more personal ways. One such experience was the ACE (Avatar Creator Experience) Avatar Making Experience, housed within Windtraders, the land’s primary retail location.

The ACE Avatar Making Experience allowed guests to create personalized Avatar action figures that resembled themselves, offering a tangible connection to the Na’vi people and their world.

Using advanced scanning technology, guests could see themselves transformed into a Na’vi avatar, complete with customizable features including body type, hair style, eye color, and other distinctive characteristics. The concept promised a one-of-a-kind souvenir that would serve as a lasting memory of their visit to Pandora.

However, as with many experimental retail experiences in theme parks, not every innovation resonates with guests as strongly as anticipated. Despite the technological sophistication and the appeal of personalized merchandise, the ACE Avatar Making Experience struggled to capture the imagination—and wallets—of Disney’s Animal Kingdom visitors.

The experience, which originally retailed at $79.99, saw significant price reductions to $50 earlier in the year, a clear indication that demand wasn’t meeting expectations.

Now, as anticipation builds for the upcoming release of Avatar 3 (officially titled “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” scheduled for December 2025), Disney has made the decision to permanently close the ACE Avatar Making Experience and repurpose the valuable retail space for traditional merchandise.

This closure marks a significant shift in how Disney approaches personalized experiences within themed lands and raises questions about what the future holds for interactive retail concepts at Walt Disney World.

In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore the complete transformation of the ACE Avatar Making Experience space, examine why the experience failed to connect with guests, discuss the implications of this closure ahead of the third Avatar film’s premiere, and look at how this change fits into the broader evolution happening throughout Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including the massive Tropical Americas expansion that will bring Encanto and Indiana Jones to the park.

ACE Avatar Making Experience: From Cutting-Edge Technology to Permanent Closure

The Original Experience

The ACE Avatar Making Experience represented Disney’s attempt to merge cutting-edge personalization technology with themed entertainment retail. Located within Windtraders—the elaborate gift shop that serves as Pandora’s main merchandise hub—the experience utilized advanced 3D scanning technology to capture a guest’s facial features and body proportions.

Guests participating in the experience would step into a designated scanning area where cameras would capture their likeness from multiple angles. Following the scan, participants could customize various aspects of their Na’vi avatar, including:

• Body type and proportions to match their own physique
• Hair styles featuring the distinctive Na’vi queue (the neural bonding appendage)
• Eye color reflecting personal preference
• Skin tone and pattern variations incorporating Na’vi-style markings
• Accessories and clothing inspired by the Omaticaya clan

The finished product was a detailed action figure that bore a resemblance to the guest while incorporating the iconic features of the Na’vi people—the blue skin, larger eyes, feline-inspired facial structure, and elongated limbs. The entire process, from scanning to final product delivery, took approximately 30-45 minutes, with the finished Avatar figure ready for pickup later during the guest’s visit.

Signs of Struggle: Price Reductions and Declining Interest

Despite the technological innovation behind the ACE Avatar Making Experience, several factors contributed to its lack of popularity among Disney’s Animal Kingdom guests. The original price point of $79.99 positioned the experience as a premium offering, but many guests questioned whether the value justified the cost, especially when compared to other souvenir options available throughout Walt Disney World.

Earlier in 2024, Disney implemented significant price reductions, dropping the cost from $79.99 to $50—a nearly 40% discount. In the theme park industry, such dramatic price cuts typically signal that a product or experience is underperforming and needs intervention to clear inventory or boost participation.

The markdown suggested that Disney was attempting to stimulate interest in the experience before making more permanent decisions about its future.

Several factors likely contributed to the experience’s struggles:

1. Time Investment: The 30-45 minute commitment required for the experience competed with attraction wait times and other activities guests wanted to experience during their limited park time.
2. Price Point: Even at the reduced $50 price, the cost remained relatively high for an action figure, particularly for families with multiple children who might each want their own personalized Avatar.
3. Appeal Limitations: The experience primarily appealed to hardcore Avatar fans, rather than the broader Disney’s Animal Kingdom audience who might visit Pandora for the attractions without deep investment in the Avatar franchise.
4. Technology Concerns: Some guests reported that the final products didn’t always capture their likeness as accurately as hoped, leading to disappointment and negative word-of-mouth.
5. Location Within the Experience: Positioned inside Windtraders, the ACE station competed for attention with a wealth of other Avatar-themed merchandise that offered instant gratification without the wait time.

October Announcement: The Beginning of the End

In October 2024, reports began circulating that the ACE Avatar Making Experience had permanently closed. At that time, Disney hadn’t made an official announcement, but clear signs pointed to the experience’s demise.

Black curtains were erected around the scanning area, and retail baskets were strategically placed to block access to where the selection machines had previously stood. Stanchions surrounded the entire area, preventing guests from entering and making it clear that the space was no longer operational.

For observers of Disney theme park operations, these visual cues sent an unmistakable message: the ACE Avatar Making Experience would not be returning. The use of temporary barriers suggested that Disney was in the early stages of determining what would replace the experience, using the interim period to plan the space’s next iteration.

Complete Transformation: From Interactive Experience to Expanded Merchandise Space

The New Configuration

Following the October closure, Disney has now completed the transformation of the former ACE Avatar Making Experience area into additional retail space for Windtraders. The remodel reflects Disney’s decision to prioritize traditional merchandise sales over the interactive personalization experience.

The current configuration includes several key changes:

Visual Aesthetics: While the retail baskets that initially blocked the scanning area remain, Disney has replaced the black curtains with a green curtain that creates an more integrated look within Windtraders’ environment.

This green curtain features a special quality—it reflects shadows and colors from around the shop, creating dynamic visual interest that changes as guests move through the space and as the shop’s elaborate Pandora-inspired lighting shifts throughout the day.

Merchandise Shelving: Where the ACE kiosk once stood—the area near the registers where guests would complete their Avatar customization—Disney has installed new merchandise shelving. This prime real estate near the point of sale allows for strategic product placement, showcasing impulse purchase items and featured merchandise to guests as they prepare to check out.

Wall Displays: Additional merchandise now lines the wall space that was previously dedicated to the Avatar making experience. This expanded inventory allows Windtraders to offer a broader selection of products or increased quantities of popular items, addressing stock issues that may have occurred during peak visiting periods.

The transformation represents a straightforward approach to retail space optimization—converting an underperforming specialty experience into conventional merchandise displays that require less operational overhead, no technical maintenance, and offer immediate revenue generation.

Strategic Timing: Ahead of Avatar 3’s Premiere

The timing of this permanent closure and space conversion carries particular significance given the upcoming release of Avatar 3: Fire and Ash, scheduled to premiere in December 2025. Under typical circumstances, one might expect Disney to maintain or even enhance Avatar-related experiences ahead of a major film release that could drive renewed interest in the franchise and increase visitation to Pandora – The World of Avatar.

However, Disney’s decision to close the ACE experience and convert the space to traditional merchandise suggests several possible strategic considerations:

Anticipated Merchandise Demand: Disney may be anticipating that Avatar 3 will generate significant demand for conventional Avatar-themed merchandise—toys, apparel, collectibles, and accessories. By converting the ACE space to traditional retail, Windtraders gains the capacity to stock a broader variety of products that could appeal to fans excited about the new film.

Operational Efficiency: Managing a technologically complex personalized experience requires specialized staff training, technical support, and maintenance. As Avatar 3 potentially drives larger crowds to Pandora, Disney may prefer to allocate cast members to general retail operations rather than the more specialized ACE experience, ensuring faster guest throughput and more efficient store operations.

Learning from Experience: The ACE Avatar Making Experience’s underwhelming performance likely provided Disney with valuable data about guest preferences. Rather than assuming a new film release would revive interest in the personalized experience, Disney appears to have concluded that guests prefer traditional merchandise options.

Future Plans: While nothing new has been officially announced for this space, the permanent closure doesn’t necessarily mean Disney has abandoned the concept of interactive retail experiences. The company may be evaluating different approaches or technologies that could prove more appealing to guests in the future.

The Broader Context: Major Changes Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The closure of the ACE Avatar Making Experience represents just one small change in what is shaping up to be a transformative period for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The park is currently undergoing its most significant expansion and reimagining since Pandora opened in 2017.

DINOSAUR Attraction Reaches Extinction: February 1, 2025 Closure

Less than two months remain until DINOSAUR—one of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s original opening day attractions—permanently closes on February 1, 2025. This closure marks the end of any dinosaur presence at the park, as DINOSAUR represents the last remaining vestige of the prehistoric creatures at Animal Kingdom following the earlier closure of other DinoLand U.S.A. attractions and experiences.

DINOSAUR, which takes guests on a thrilling time-traveling adventure to rescue an Iguanodon from extinction, has been a beloved attraction since the park opened in 1998. The ride features impressive animatronics, dramatic near-misses, and an exciting race against time as a meteor approaches Earth.

For many guests, DINOSAUR represents a nostalgic connection to the park’s early years and embodies the type of thrilling, narrative-driven dark ride that Disney excels at creating.

The confirmed February 1 closure date makes the transformation feel increasingly real for fans who have been following the gradual dismantling of DinoLand U.S.A. While many understood that change was coming, having a specific date creates an emotional urgency for those who want to experience DINOSAUR one last time before it disappears forever.

Tropical Americas Land: Bringing Encanto and Indiana Jones to Animal Kingdom

The closure of DINOSAUR and the broader DinoLand U.S.A. area makes way for Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s massive expansion: Tropical Americas Land. This new themed area will bring two major intellectual properties to the park—Encanto and Indiana Jones—creating an entirely new section that celebrates the biodiversity, culture, and adventure of Central and South America.

Construction Progress: The project recently hit a significant milestone with the erection of the first vertical beam in the new land, signaling that construction is moving from groundwork and preparation into the visible building phase. This visual progress allows guests to see the transformation taking shape and builds anticipation for the completed land.

Permit Activity: Disney has filed a permit for work at a site believed to be the courtyard area for the new Indiana Jones ride that will replace DINOSAUR. The permit, valid for one year with easy extension options, allows work to begin immediately following the ride’s closure on February 1.

General contractor Whiting-Turner—which has successfully completed major Disney projects including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Tron Lightcycle/Run, and recent EPCOT updates—is listed to complete “general construction” for the project.

The permit lists the work address as “600 DinoLand Drive,” slightly removed from the “594 DinoLand Drive” address listed for the new playground area also being built as part of the project. This location corresponds to the courtyard area that, in released concept art, looks vastly different from the current DINOSAUR attraction entrance, suggesting significant thematic transformation is planned.

Pueblo Esperanza: Concept art for the new land features Pueblo Esperanza (Spanish for “Town of Hope”), which will serve as the central hub for Tropical Americas.

The artwork shows a vibrant village setting with a carousel, lush tropical vegetation, and architectural details inspired by Central and South American design traditions. This area will likely house retail, dining, and character meet-and-greet opportunities in addition to serving as the gateway to the land’s major attractions.

Anticipated Opening: While Disney has not announced an official opening date for Tropical Americas Land, most industry observers expect it to debut sometime in late 2027 or 2028.

This timeline would allow for the extensive construction required to not only build new attractions but to completely transform the existing area’s thematic presentation from dinosaurs and roadside Americana to the lush, culturally rich environment of the tropical Americas.

Animal Kingdom’s Role in Walt Disney World’s Expansion Era

The Tropical Americas transformation represents just one component of the unprecedented expansion currently underway at Walt Disney World Resort:

Magic Kingdom Additions:

• Piston Peak area (inspired by Planes: Fire & Rescue)
• Villains Land (a completely new themed area celebrating Disney villains)

Hollywood Studios Transformation:

• Muppets area transitioning to Monstropolis (Monsters, Inc. themed land)

Hotel Construction:

• Construction and renovation projects at over a dozen Disney resort hotels

Additional Projects:

• Numerous smaller projects scheduled for completion in 2026 across all four theme parks

This expansion era represents Disney’s response to increased competition from Universal Orlando Resort (particularly with the upcoming Epic Universe theme park) and demonstrates the company’s commitment to enhancing the Walt Disney World experience with new attractions, lands, and experiences that leverage popular intellectual properties.

What the ACE Closure Tells Us About Disney’s Retail Strategy

The permanent closure of the ACE Avatar Making Experience and its conversion to traditional merchandise space offers insights into Disney’s evolving approach to theme park retail:

Prioritizing Operational Efficiency

Disney’s theme parks have always balanced innovation with operational practicality. While the ACE experience represented an innovative approach to personalized merchandise, its technical requirements, staffing needs, and time commitment created operational complexities that didn’t justify the revenue generated. By converting the space to traditional retail, Disney gains:

• Simplified operations requiring less specialized training
• Reduced technical maintenance and support requirements
• Faster guest throughput during busy periods
• More flexible inventory management options
• Lower operational costs per square foot of retail space

Data-Driven Decision Making

The ACE experience’s price reductions and ultimate closure reflect Disney’s data-driven approach to retail operations. The company continuously monitors sales figures, guest feedback, and operational metrics to evaluate whether experiences and products meet performance expectations.

When the data indicated that ACE wasn’t resonating with guests—even at discounted prices—Disney made the business decision to pivot rather than continuing to invest resources in an underperforming offering.

The Challenge of Personalization at Scale

While personalized merchandise holds theoretical appeal, implementing such experiences at theme park scale presents significant challenges:

• Time constraints: Theme park guests operate under tight schedules, making lengthy personalization processes less appealing
• Technology limitations: Scanning and customization technology must work flawlessly thousands of times per day
• Price sensitivity: Personalization premiums must align with perceived value
• Instant gratification: Traditional merchandise offers immediate purchase satisfaction

Disney’s experience with ACE suggests that while guests appreciate personalization in concept, the practical execution must overcome these challenges to succeed—a difficult balance to achieve.

Traditional Merchandise Remains King

Despite decades of experimentation with interactive and experiential retail concepts, traditional merchandise continues to generate the most reliable revenue in theme park retail environments. Guests consistently purchase:

• Apparel (t-shirts, hats, spirit jerseys)
• Plush toys and action figures
• Accessories (pins, magnets, keychains)
• Home goods (mugs, ornaments, kitchenware)
• Specialty items (lightsabers, magic wands, ears)

By converting the ACE space to accommodate more of these proven sellers, Disney makes a pragmatic choice that likely improves the overall financial performance of Windtraders while better serving guest preferences.

What’s Next for Windtraders and Pandora

With the ACE Avatar Making Experience now permanently closed and the space converted to merchandise displays, several questions emerge about the future of retail and interactive experiences in Pandora – The World of Avatar:

Will Disney Introduce New Experiences?

Disney’s statement that “nothing new has been announced for this space” leaves open the possibility that future plans may be in development, even if they’re not yet ready for public announcement. Potential directions could include:

• Pop-up experiences: Temporary installations tied to Avatar film releases or special events
• Character meet-and-greets: Using the space for Na’vi character appearances during peak periods
• Photo opportunities: Installing a themed photo backdrop for guests
• Alternative personalization: A simplified, faster version of custom merchandise creation
• Demonstration areas: Showcasing new merchandise lines or special collections

Avatar 3’s Impact on Pandora Visitation

The December 2025 release of Avatar 3: Fire and Ash will provide a significant test of the franchise’s drawing power and could influence future decisions about Pandora’s retail offerings. If the film generates renewed enthusiasm for the Avatar universe and drives increased visitation to the land, Disney may reconsider whether interactive experiences like ACE could succeed with a refreshed approach or improved execution.

Conversely, if Avatar 3 fails to generate the anticipated enthusiasm—or if Pandora visitation remains steady rather than spiking—it would validate Disney’s decision to prioritize conventional merchandise over specialized experiences.

The Broader Future of Interactive Retail at Disney

The ACE closure doesn’t necessarily signal Disney’s abandonment of interactive retail concepts. The company continues to operate successful personalization experiences elsewhere:

• Droid Depot (Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge): Build-your-own droid experience
• Savi’s Workshop (Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge): Custom lightsaber building
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique: Princess makeover experience
• Legacy Lightsaber Hilts: High-end collectible lightsaber selection

These experiences differ from ACE in important ways:

• They tie to franchises with passionate, dedicated fan bases
• They offer hands-on building rather than passive scanning
• They create experiences as much as products
• Their price points align with perceived value

Future interactive retail concepts at Disney will likely incorporate lessons learned from ACE’s shortcomings while building on the successful elements demonstrated by these continuing experiences.

Evolution and Adaptation in Theme Park Retail

The permanent closure of the ACE Avatar Making Experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Windtraders shop and its replacement with traditional merchandise space represents a pragmatic business decision based on performance data and guest preferences. While the experience offered innovative technology and the appeal of personalized souvenirs, it ultimately failed to resonate with the broad spectrum of guests visiting Pandora – The World of Avatar.

The timing of this closure—just before the premiere of Avatar 3: Fire and Ash in December 2025—initially seems counterintuitive. However, Disney’s decision reflects confidence that traditional merchandise will better serve anticipated demand and operational needs during what could be a high-traffic period for Pandora.

This change occurs within the broader context of major transformation at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including the February 1, 2025 closure of DINOSAUR and the ongoing construction of Tropical Americas Land featuring Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions.

These larger projects demonstrate Disney’s commitment to evolving the park while the ACE closure shows the company’s willingness to make difficult decisions when experiences don’t meet expectations.

For Disney fans and theme park enthusiasts, the ACE experience’s closure offers valuable lessons about the challenges of implementing personalized retail at scale and the enduring appeal of traditional merchandise. While innovation remains important, successful theme park retail ultimately depends on understanding guest priorities, operational practicalities, and the delicate balance between novelty and proven concepts.

As Windtraders settles into its new configuration with expanded merchandise space, guests visiting Pandora can still immerse themselves in the bioluminescent beauty of the Valley of Mo’ara, soar on a banshee above the alien landscape, and journey down the Na’vi River.

The loss of the ACE experience doesn’t diminish Pandora’s core appeal—it simply refocuses the retail component on what works best for guests and Disney’s operational goals.

Whether future iterations of personalized experiences will return to Pandora remains to be seen, but for now, the transformation is complete: the ACE Avatar Making Experience has become part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom history, replaced by shelves of merchandise ready to meet the needs of guests exploring the wonders of Pandora.