Flight of Passage needs maintenance

[TXAKDisneyFan]

We rode FOP on Wednesday Nov 27 and again on Nov 30 (twice each day). The ride has several issues and needs maintenance. Other attractions have obviously needed work (or had nonfunctioning features that aren't/won't be addressed), but I can't recall any other rides having such significant issues.

The scene when you first enter the floating mountain (before the bioluminescence) has been out of focus for years, but it appears to have gotten worse; and now the opening scene (when you first enter Pandora) is also out of focus. We're a party of six and were in different rooms and seating positions for all four rides this trip, and the blurriness was worse than ever. (We go to WDW ~6 times a year, but hadn't ridden FOP since April 2024.)

Additionally, the ride mechanics sound awful. I don't recall which rooms we were in for each ride, but the first room had 3 seats blocked off. There was a grinding noise on Wednesday (Nov 27), which was noticeably worse on Saturday (Nov 30). On our third ride, we got through the "decontamination" part of the preshow before the CMs had us leave and go into a different preshow room. I had seat 3 in the new room, and the display on my seat didn't work. The seat still moved but the display was black and the breathing effect wasn't working. The grinding noise was very loud, especially when the seats leaned forward.

ETA: My husband also reminded me that the screens in the pre show rooms have burnt in images.

 

[melissa70]

We rode FOP on Wednesday Nov 27 and again on Nov 30 (twice each day). The ride has several issues and needs maintenance. Other attractions have obviously needed work (or had nonfunctioning features that aren't/won't be addressed), but I can't recall any other rides having such significant issues.

The scene when you first enter the floating mountain (before the bioluminescence) has been out of focus for years, but it appears to have gotten worse; and now the opening scene (when you first enter Pandora) is also out of focus. We're a party of six and were in different rooms and seating positions for all four rides this trip, and the blurriness was worse than ever. (We go to WDW ~6 times a year, but hadn't ridden FOP since April 2024.)

Additionally, the ride mechanics sound awful. I don't recall which rooms we were in for each ride, but the first room had 3 seats blocked off. There was a grinding noise on Wednesday (Nov 27), which was noticeably worse on Saturday (Nov 30). On our third ride, we got through the "decontamination" part of the preshow before the CMs had us leave and go into a different preshow room. I had seat 3 in the new room, and the display on my seat didn't work. The seat still moved but the display was black and the breathing effect wasn't working. The grinding noise was very loud, especially when the seats leaned forward.

That’s terrible! They should keep everything running ship shape with all the money they make! I love FOP

 

[Genie+]

The ride has several issues and needs maintenance.

You know for the first time ever I noticed mechanical crunching noises coming from the corner of our room. The whole ride it was loud screeching and crunching sounds. Needs a few gallons of WD-40 or something It opened 2016 iirc.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

This ride makes me so nauseous as it is. Being out of focus or blurry sounds like it would just be the death of me.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

This ride makes me so nauseous as it is. Being out of focus or blurry sounds like it would just be the death of me.

It's never bothered me (rides don't tend to give me motion sickness - I could ride Guardians all day no problem), but on our third ride I thought the kid next to me was going to lose his lunch. Poor kid looked miserable.

 

[Sheryl2059]

I suppose that is why, for such rides, I either dont eat lunch or only do so after a few hours. Like swimming.

 

[MamaMermaid]

I don't wear the 3D glasses any more... makes it worse, personally.

 

[hertamaniac]

What they should do is upgrade the film/scene in my opinion. It's time since the Way of Water came out and could use the transition over to correct/fix these issues.

 

[ucf_knight]

We rode FOP on Wednesday Nov 27 and again on Nov 30 (twice each day). The ride has several issues and needs maintenance. Other attractions have obviously needed work (or had nonfunctioning features that aren't/won't be addressed), but I can't recall any other rides having such significant issues.

The scene when you first enter the floating mountain (before the bioluminescence) has been out of focus for years, but it appears to have gotten worse; and now the opening scene (when you first enter Pandora) is also out of focus. We're a party of six and were in different rooms and seating positions for all four rides this trip, and the blurriness was worse than ever. (We go to WDW ~6 times a year, but hadn't ridden FOP since April 2024.)

Additionally, the ride mechanics sound awful. I don't recall which rooms we were in for each ride, but the first room had 3 seats blocked off. There was a grinding noise on Wednesday (Nov 27), which was noticeably worse on Saturday (Nov 30). On our third ride, we got through the "decontamination" part of the preshow before the CMs had us leave and go into a different preshow room. I had seat 3 in the new room, and the display on my seat didn't work. The seat still moved but the display was black and the breathing effect wasn't working. The grinding noise was very loud, especially when the seats leaned forward.

I felt that the ride was blurry and out of focus but thought it was just me. Some parts I'd take my 3D glasses off and the drop in quality wasn't that noticeable so I figured it was just me. Does anyone know why that happens over time to a film like this?

 

[LisaDKG]

We were really surprised how blurry or out of focus it was when we rode last week. We thought maybe we got a bad batch of glasses?

 

[BrightMorningStar]

That’s terrible! They should keep everything running ship shape with all the money they make! I love FOP

Or...in general, just with the prices they charge.

 

[AngieInOH]

I couldn't agree more! Many blurry spots and things just not in focus generally. There was an article I read awhile back that indicated it was due to the 3D glasses that need to be replaced but are very costly.

Very sad because this ride is amazing, and the blurriness really takes away from it.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Ha! I thought it was just me and my vision getting worse. We went when it first opened and I couldn't believe how sharp and immersive it was, but the last time we rode in 2022 it was terribly blurry. Sad to hear it wasn't just my prescription, I really love FOP and it was my favorite ride even after ROTR opened.

 

[Sheryl2059]

If it uses the standard 3D method, and old glasses are an issue (countless numbers of cleaning cycles), then perhaps it would be possible to bring your own. Typical 3D glasses arent expensive. But it depends on the system they use for the ride.

 

[JoJoGirl]

I rode this morning and noticed the same thing! At least it’s not just me.

 

[TikiRob]

Oh, I'd love to just bring my own glasses! I've also heard it is the multiple projectors that are not performing as they once did.

 

[elvispursley]

Well, good to know that my already bad eyesight isn’t getting worse. I seriously thought I needed a new prescription! Very blurry in areas indeed!

 

[Sheryl2059]

Only way to see which is which needs empirical evidence with their provided sets and a newer and better cared for set of yours. Would be an interesting experiment for someone to perform. Then again I dont know near enough about the projection or display systems they employ. Would make for interesting reading as well as any outside data on such systems' prolonged use even with good maintenance.

 

[SL6827]

There's now a financial incentive for Disney not to shut this ride down for the maintenance.

 

[Chuck96]

FoP opened in May of 2017, and I first rode it about a year later in March of 2018. It was perhaps my favorite experience at Disney to date, enjoying it with my son and wife after a three hour wait (it was Spring Break week). It genuinely felt moving and transportive.

So much so, we've visited several times since, often prioritizing FoP as the first and last ride of our trips (at least for my son and I). As early as 2021, we started seeing the blurriness, especially in the bioluminescent cave, so that has been a pretty persistent problem. We haven't ridden it since summer 2023, but plan to early next year. I am sad to hear about the growing technical issues. It's our favorite ride, and the marquee ride at our favorite park. It really needs visual and aural clarity to work.

But this is a larger Disney issue. They seem to have allowed ride maintenance (both preventative and repair) work to lag or fall off (outside of safety). I understand the business case (wait until it breaks), but it falls very short of Walt's perspective. As Mickey Mantle said about giving 100% every single time he played - it might be the first time someone has ever come to see a Yankee game or him play. Every day (and probably almost every ride) is someone's first time experiencing the ride. If it can be special (and FoP was very special on my first ride), it should be special.