***Official*** Pandora: The World of Avatar Information Thread

[Accident]

I'm skeptical at the 6 hours. I've heard 4 hours.

The line is easily 6-7 times longer than soarins. and about triple the space mountain queue (counting both sides as 1).

the whole soarin ride is just the last spot where you finally have hope you might be next. First you spent some time outside on a winding path getting up to the middle of the moutains. It's about the length of kali queue. Then you go inside for your first switch back room that is about the size of great movie rides indoor queue. Then you enter the phosphorous switch back rooms after first passing the bottle refiller and water fountain (which you'll need you ahven't seen a/c yet). That is about the size of great movie rides indoor room again. Then you get the little tease of the lab with the avatar which is similar in size to 1 of the star tours rooms with a line. Finally you can see the final sorting but first you have to do the switchback room with the painted avatars on the wall. then you get sorted into your queue line which appears to hold enough people for 4 rides and based on ride length, that last spot alone can be up to an hour wait. Then you go into the preshow that distracts you for another 10 or so minutes with 2 rooms to get choosen and decontaminated.

Fastpass is the long winding path (kali style, side by side), then when you get inside you split off to a different hallway that can hold people, looks just like soarin's hallways before you ride. then you get merged in with standby for the queue line (and there is 2 sets so my guess is you go into the closer to fastpass lines and don't merge).

This is easily a 1-2 hour fastpass queue + 6-7 hour standby queue. In other words, on opening day in order for the ride to clear out by 2am, the are going to have to stop people going into it about 8pm if the line stretches all the way to the ride entrance under the tree. Oh and it just hit me, there is also ropes out under the tree that can probably hold another 30-40 minutes of line..

I'm going back thursday, I'll run a simple video of what it's like just walking through standby as they are using fastpass for the previews and standby is free to explore and see the queue.

 

[disprincess2213]

For those of you who have been, we have our AP preview and DH and I would love to ride fop but we have DD who is four and not tall enough so we would need to do Rider switch. We are trying how to figure out if it is worth it for us to both go or not go at all because we don't want her to wait over an hour for both of us to ride with not much for her to do... What are your experiences?

 

[beesly]

Also it doesnt' seem like there has been training on what a person should to do to help get it to lock or any engineering instruction on how the seat is really designed to function. In my case I got locked in but after I got locked in, both CMs said, what did you just do so we can tell others...

At yesterday's preview, there were CMs stationed at the entrance to Pandora and at the entrance to FOP with photos of the ride vehicle with the restraints highlighted. I heard the CMs telling people to slide all the way forward on the seat. I didn't hear if they gave any other instructions/tips for the leg restraints.

 

[FastPasser.]

it isn't the real percentage information Disney has.

I can't divulge the actual percentage, yes, I do know what it is, but it's in the single digits and very low at that.

 

[FastPasser.]

I'll be back tomorrow and will report on how it went today and tomorrow.

I posted that on Monday. Just like Sunday, everyone at the Monday preview was given a FoP FP. AFAIK that was the case for the first two sessions yesterday. And as I was there for the last two sessions, I know that it was also the case. I expect the same outcome today.

It's hoped that the test seat will be installed by later this week.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I don't get the design of this seat at all. It's not friendly to tall or large people and I dont' see why it has to be like this. Design is definitely interfering with function in this case. I get they tilt you forward and you are on a ledge so they need to make sure you don't do something like jump up and fall to your death if startled.

Also it doesnt' seem like there has been training on what a person should to do to help get it to lock or any engineering instruction on how the seat is really designed to function. In my case I got locked in but after I got locked in, both CMs said, what did you just do so we can tell others...

Obviously I haven't been on the ride yet but it feels like it is set up to increase the sensation of being in a living creature and part of that is through effects in the restraints

Maybe they can have alternative one that maybe doesn't give the full effect but let's more people ride

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I don't get the design of this seat at all. It's not friendly to tall or large people and I dont' see why it has to be like this. Design is definitely interfering with function in this case. I get they tilt you forward and you are on a ledge so they need to make sure you don't do something like jump up and fall to your death if startled.

Also it doesnt' seem like there has been training on what a person should to do to help get it to lock or any engineering instruction on how the seat is really designed to function. In my case I got locked in but after I got locked in, both CMs said, what did you just do so we can tell others...

As to the training part - from reading reviews it seems like some have been really good and some less so - but I suppose this preview period is for them as well to figure out what works best and how best to communicate it

I will say that the uncertainty around it I think is creating the most frustrating. If it was as simple as someone taller than X or weighing more than Y I think it would be easier to deal with and prep for

 

[yulilin3]

How the heck was that video made? Was the camera looking through the 3D glasses?

On the videos description they say it was a go pro mounted on the chest.

 

[yulilin3]

For those of you who have been, we have our AP preview and DH and I would love to ride fop but we have DD who is four and not tall enough so we would need to do Rider switch. We are trying how to figure out if it is worth it for us to both go or not go at all because we don't want her to wait over an hour for both of us to ride with not much for her to do... What are your experiences?

If everything is working properly and they load you fast, the entire experience, from entering the queue to exiting is about 30 minutes

 

[yulilin3]

post from another person who is Pooh Sized

Many people have been messaging me and asking about fitting on Flight of Passage at Pandora...the Banshee Ride.
YOU SHOULD TRY TO RIDE! THERE ARE ONLY 8 PEOPLE, WHO YOU WILL NEVER SEE AGAIN, IN THE ROOM! DON'T BE WORRIED ABOUT BEING EMBARRASSED! JUST GO TRY!! THE AWESOMENESS OF THE RIDE IS WORTH THE RISK OF IT NOT WORKING OUT.
STANDBY LINE IS PRETTY COOL TOO...LONG BUT COOL. So, it's not a waste of time.

Bottom line...I don't think weight is too much of a factor. My pear shape hips fit and did the 3 click lockdown.
Legs...too wide..too long...too short are the issue for the behind the knee lock down points.
Consider being brave enough to TRY, your "Right" of Passage!

John Panda's answer

I cannot agree more with this post. As a big wide guy, I certainly can relate to not wanting to be embarrassed - but seriously - it's in our heads.
I tried and as fate would have it, I fit. I mean, when it was done I think I heard the Tupperware freshness seal zsssst sound as it unlocked but it was a great experience.

A lot of bigger folks ask - will I fit? You really can't tell from a photo.

 

[LauraLea]

My DH had to leave the ride. He is large with long legs, but not nearly the largest man in our group. His problem was due to arthritis in his back and knees. He just could not contort both his back and legs into the position needed to get the restraints to fasten. I was so concerned at first about his size, but after reading reviews was pretty sure he would fit. However, the poor man struggles to put his own shoes and socks on just because he cannot bend. I wish he could have tried the seat before getting on the ride.

Laura

 

[bluefunnel]

My wife, even though she was a bit embarrassed, is still thinking about taking another trip soon to try again but making a few adjustments(she's determined to ride it). Wearing more flexible shoes(as I brought up before), and riding it first thing, two weeks of walking in heat and salty foods can cause some calf swelling.

I am hoping the test seat has an accurate locking function. When I first heard about it, I was worried it would be more to test for wheelchair transfers.

 

[SueM in MN]

I forgot 1 VERY important piece about flights of passage....

There is a strobe light in your eyes when it starts and ends.. If you have any sensitivity to strobe lights, DO NOT RIDE or be prepared to close your eyes when the ride starts. You'll feel when the ride seat is moving to know when to open them and the second time your banshee stops is when you want to close them again until you feel the restraints unlock.

Nobody including disney has been warning about this.

edit: the effect makes it so you can't see the wall moving to start the ride.. it's well done but not the greatest choice in how to pull it off. It's a screwed up detail that will impact someone.

second edit: They will come and check the restraints and when the CM leaves the room is when you want to close them at the start, you don't have to sit there closed while the restraints are locked. It's not a subtle strobe, it's designed to make you not see the wall open and suddenly the screen working.

I wonder if they don't say it as they aren't true strobes. The 1st one is basically fast blinking leds for a second and the final one is in the video itself and not lights. Similar to "hyper speed" in Star Wars movies.

This is copied from the disABILITIES FAQs thread. The actual information was summarized from information on the Epilepsy Foundation and other medical websites.

Epilepsy
Most people think of strobe lights when they think of seizures, but most people with seizures don't have any problems with strobe lights.
WDW doesn't actually use any lights that are technically strobe lights (i.e, fast, regular flashes of light) and they do not have any warnings for seizures and/or strobe lights on any attractions. Where they do have flashing lights, they are always irregularly flashing, which is a different situation.
Most true strobe lights flash many times per second, but slowing to 5 flashes per second or less means that the majority of even photosensitive epileptics are not going to have a problem. Only about 3-7% of people with epilepsy are photosensitive and have problems with lights; of those, only about 5% would have a problem with a light flashing 5 times per second or less.

This is something to talk to your doctor with, but in for most people with epilepsy, the lights at WDW won't cause any problems.

If you do encounter flashing lights and are concerned, the Epilepsy Foundation recommends covering one eye and turning/looking away from the direct source of light. The reason for covering only one eye and looking away from the direct light is to prevent both eyes from sending exactly the same information to the brain.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Not sure if this was posted here or not but Disney Food Blog has their full review up of both Satu’li Canteen and Pongu Pongu

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2017/...-animal-kingdoms-pandora-the-world-of-avatar/

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2017/...-animal-kingdoms-pandora-the-world-of-avatar/

Overall pretty positive reviews, but definitely some things they liked better than others. I also wish people felt more positive about some of the signature drinks

 

[JennLTX]

Any line can reach 6 hours... it's more that they never do because people just aren't willing to ever wait that long for some ride or experience. The last time I remember a 6 hour line in Walt Disney World was to meet Elsa soon after the Frozen movie came out.

And that's what I keep thinking: the line for that and for Frozen Ever After were motivated by, I would argue, the most popular Disney princesses ever and their incredibly devoted fan base. So those lines never surprised me. Exciting as FoP no doubt is, and as cool as the land clearly is, I just don't see the majority of visitors being nearly as motivated and thus willing to stand in line for THAT long. I could be completely wrong, and banshee purchases don't happen this trip because we'll be there one week after the grand opening and the lines for the rides and the store wind up every bit as insane as feared, but I've got my fingers crossed!

 

[DonaldDuck77]

The line is easily 6-7 times longer than soarins. and about triple the space mountain queue (counting both sides as 1).

the whole soarin ride is just the last spot where you finally have hope you might be next. First you spent some time outside on a winding path getting up to the middle of the moutains. It's about the length of kali queue. Then you go inside for your first switch back room that is about the size of great movie rides indoor queue. Then you enter the phosphorous switch back rooms after first passing the bottle refiller and water fountain (which you'll need you ahven't seen a/c yet). That is about the size of great movie rides indoor room again. Then you get the little tease of the lab with the avatar which is similar in size to 1 of the star tours rooms with a line. Finally you can see the final sorting but first you have to do the switchback room with the painted avatars on the wall. then you get sorted into your queue line which appears to hold enough people for 4 rides and based on ride length, that last spot alone can be up to an hour wait. Then you go into the preshow that distracts you for another 10 or so minutes with 2 rooms to get choosen and decontaminated.

Fastpass is the long winding path (kali style, side by side), then when you get inside you split off to a different hallway that can hold people, looks just like soarin's hallways before you ride. then you get merged in with standby for the queue line (and there is 2 sets so my guess is you go into the closer to fastpass lines and don't merge).

This is easily a 1-2 hour fastpass queue + 6-7 hour standby queue. In other words, on opening day in order for the ride to clear out by 2am, the are going to have to stop people going into it about 8pm if the line stretches all the way to the ride entrance under the tree. Oh and it just hit me, there is also ropes out under the tree that can probably hold another 30-40 minutes of line..

I'm going back thursday, I'll run a simple video of what it's like just walking through standby as they are using fastpass for the previews and standby is free to explore and see the queue.

I wonder if there will be a new policy about you being able to ride as long as you get in line before official close time. Or maybe the ride will "break down" each night an hour or so after close.

(ETA: sarcasm above)

 

[Lost Yeti]

I'll be there all day, we can regret it together
TBH I love craziness at the parks, personally I don't have to be anywhere else or do anything so I just sit and enjoy the madness. I for sure will be there for the change from dusk to dark, I cannot wait

I hadn't thought about the "dusk to dark" period. You have me strongly thinking about it now

I am hoping the test seat has an accurate locking function. When I first heard about it, I was worried it would be more to test for wheelchair transfers.

THIS is the big question about the test seat. It would not be as useful without an accurate mechanism. Has anyone noticed where the calf mechanism comes from? Does it comes from underneath the floor? Actually, I don't recall seeing the back pad when getting on either.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

I wonder if there will be a new policy about you being able to ride as long as you get in line before official close time. Or maybe the ride will "break down" each night an hour or so after close.

I would really doubt that. Disney hasn't done that yet to an attraction to my knowledge. When I lived near Disneyland, I remember getting in line for Nemo Submarine Voyage right after it opened, and we got in line 5 minutes before the park closed (9 p.m.). We didn't ride the attraction until close to 1-2 a.m. I can't remember the exact time. It has been many years.

 

[Madonna3]

. In my case I got locked in but after I got locked in, both CMs said, what did you just do so we can tell others...

So what did you do?

 

[DonaldDuck77]

I would really doubt that. Disney hasn't done that yet to an attraction to my knowledge. When I lived at Disneyland, I remember getting in line for Nemo Submarine Voyage right after it opened, and we got in line 5 minutes before the park closed (9 p.m.). We didn't ride the attraction until close to 1-2 a.m. I can't remember the exact time. It has been many years.

I would doubt it too. Just "talking" through things. If I was going to wait in a long line, it would be from just before park close until whenever I get there. I am sure others would agree.