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

[Katers]

We will be in AK next Friday (the day before opening). I've been hoping there could be a soft opening that day. But if their is an AP preview that day, it seems unlikely. Anyone know what day is the last scheduled AP preview day?

 

[adamreisinger]

An update: I'm in Pandora now, and -- as expected -- I didn't quite fit on FoP (for reference I'm 5-foot-10 and 56" around at my jolly belly). I was able to get forward enough for the back restraint to click in, but couldn't simultaneously get my legs forward enough for the leg restraints to work. Am I disappointed? Only in myself, to be honest, and this gives me a concrete goal to work toward for my return trip in December.

Everything else about Pandora has been amazing, and I'll have a full report later today.

 

[dina444444]

We will be in AK next Friday (the day before opening). I've been hoping there could be a soft opening that day. But if their is an AP preview that day, it seems unlikely. Anyone know what day is the last scheduled AP preview day?

Last day of AP previews is Monday. Tuesday through Thursday is media preview and then nothing is scheduled on Friday as of right now from what I remember.

 

[rteetz]

Joe Rohde posted to his instagram account a detail found in the FoP queue many people will overlook (putting the content it in spoilers but it isn't really a huge giveaway or anything, but just to be safe)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUQtM8bA-nh/

Spoiler

• joerohdeDetail you might walk past without knowing what you were seeing. When you're doing a biological population survey, you don't necessarily need to see animals in order to know that they are there. You need to see incontrovertible evidence that the animal is there. That includes scratch marks, scat and spray, fur, feathers, scales, and, of course, tracks. What you were looking at here is a "track trap," exactly like the ones we used on the Mission Himalayas #RAP survey expedition to Nepal and China. You can make one of these at home. Either put out bait, or find a pathway where you know small animals are likely to pass… They tend to like to move along edges of things, like your garden hedge, or the wall of your house. You make a kind of crowd- Control funnel leading to something like a sponge or a cloth that is soaked in black oil paint, or printers ink or stamp pad ink. These dry very slowly so they will stay wet enough all night long. Beyond the ink pad you place a piece of white paper. Everything that walks over the ink pad will leave footprints on the white paper. And you can identify the different species by checking their tracks against reference. You should put an ink pad on either side of the paper because animals go both ways. So see? You probably thought this was just Squigley junk on a piece of paper. But noooooooo! Why do that when you could create content? In the lab space for the Flight of Passage. #atdisneysanimalkingdom#animalkingdomdisney #pandora#flightofpassage #science #research#tracks #tracking #biology #wdw
• 1lorett1Totally awesome!
• laura.s.rahmanLove this detail, but I'm thinking I'm not so sure I want to know what skirts the edge of my house at night.
• everydayimagineersGreat story!
• gsalvenYou're an awesome teacher
• louprosperiYour Instagram feed is like a master class in Imagineering and placemaking.
• ahoulahanAmazing detail. Whenever I'm at DAK every little detail I see I stop and think "why is this here? What is this telling?". Totally inspired by your work, I know nothing is there by accident! Can't wait to see #pandora.

side note/question:

Is "Rohde" pronounced like "Road" or like "Roadie"? I've heard it said both ways

He's been doing a lot of in depth explanation on his instagram.

It's definitely "roadie".

 

[simnia]

I'm reading and looking at pictures but still have a question regarding the leg restraints--are they basically set up to work the same as as the back restraint? They just push up against your legs (calves) holding them firmly in place?

Is the problem with the leg restraints then that if your legs are longer/bigger feet, you can't move your feet up as far forward as needed for the leg restraints to lock? Shorter legs/smaller feet shouldn't be an issue? But the circumference of one's calves may play a role?

(yes, I understand that everyone is shaped differently and that you won't know if you can experience FoP until you have actually tried it yourself).

 

[adamreisinger]

I'm reading and looking at pictures but still have a question regarding the leg restraints--are they basically set up to work the same as as the back restraint? They just push up against your legs (calves) holding them firmly in place?

Is the problem with the leg restraints then that if your legs are longer/bigger feet, you can't move your feet up as far forward as needed for the leg restraints to lock? Shorter legs/smaller feet shouldn't be an issue? But the circumference of one's calves may play a role?

(yes, I understand that everyone is shaped differently and that you won't know if you can experience FoP until you have actually tried it yourself).

The leg restraints push up and forward in the same motion as the back restraint. Leg position (and thus hip/knee flexibility) is almost as important as leg size.

 

[abooch]

Im in pandora as we speak. Had the 12-2 window. Got on line about 10:50 and was all the way back over the bridge by the birds holding the exit signs. Got into Pandora by 11:10. Hopped on standby FoP right away and the sign said 15 minutes. Nobody was in the que but took about 40 minutes from start to finish. Not sure how many theaters they had operating at that time. I'm currently in line again but there's a lot more people. Sign said about a 25 minute wait. I'll update how long it takes

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm reading and looking at pictures but still have a question regarding the leg restraints--are they basically set up to work the same as as the back restraint? They just push up against your legs (calves) holding them firmly in place?

Is the problem with the leg restraints then that if your legs are longer/bigger feet, you can't move your feet up as far forward as needed for the leg restraints to lock? Shorter legs/smaller feet shouldn't be an issue? But the circumference of one's calves may play a role?

(yes, I understand that everyone is shaped differently and that you won't know if you can experience FoP until you have actually tried it yourself).

Yes thry are just like the back restraint. They are flat across and swing out to keep your legs forward.

 

[adamreisinger]

I know some people were asking about crowd size with the AP previews and D23 previews overlapping today. Don't worry. At check in I saw the D23 guest list -- there are about 15 people (plus potentially a plus-1 for each) in each 2-hour timeslot. It's a completely negligible addition. I will say seeing how few people were on the list made me feel lucky I got selected.

 

[Lost Yeti]

Well, I had an amazing day yesterday. I was one of the lucky ones to go on the D23 "Behind the Scenes" experience with Joe Rohde. Sorry for the length.

I'm pretty sure all of Pandora was closed off for this event (except for CMs of course), if not then it sure seemed that way. Joe clearly has a lot of passion for his work and he did a wonderful job of informing us of the story behind the land, cultural influences, hidden facts in the queues, visual illusions, etc. His favorite illusion is in the spoiler below

Spoiler

The two highest waterfalls on the mountain range above the FoP attraction are not actually water. If you look closely, the "water" flows at a slower rate than the waterfalls below to assist with the forced perspective. Joe stated that its actually a very simple illusion that could have been done in "Ben Franklin's time". It is so simple and so convincing - I couldn't tell that it was not real even after hearing this!

The land was meant to avoid marquees for the attractions from the very beginning of the project. The totems near the entrance to each line essentially act as marquees. These are actually hand woven and absolutely incredible. Anyway, there's a lot more but I don't want to give away too much for those that have yet to experience Pandora.

We were able to ride each ride one time while with Joe, but I was able to fit in 3 more FoP rides during the 3-5 preview. Some thoughts, observations, and info (some spoilers):

Spoiler: Pre-show info

It appears that they have gotten rid of the decontamination portion of the 1st pre-show video. It did not play once during my 4 rides yesterday, but it was definitely there on Monday.

Spoiler: FoP queue

Joe said that the queue for FoP will have some small details added prior to the public opening. This will take place in the cave portion with the tribal paintings.

- I have now ridden FoP 5 times and I have yet to see someone told that they cannot ride
- On that note, yesterday there were CMs with pictures of the actual ride vehicle describing the restraints and possibility that someone may not be able to ride if the restraints do not lock. They were not doing this when I was there on Monday.
- Regarding strobes - you can place your hand over the top portion of the vehicle (between the two tiny red dots on the very top of your display) and block those LEDs entirely. I tried this after feeling kind of dizzy following the strobe effect at the end of the ride and it worked pretty well. Note that I have no history of seizures or other ill effects from strobes and that you can still see some flashing lights in the corner of your eyes from other ride vehicles.
- I can say that FoP seating location does change your experience (beyond what one would assume). I did not feel that some seats were "better" and had an amazing experience every time.

All in all another great day at WDW.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I know some people were asking about crowd size with the AP previews and D23 previews overlapping today. Don't worry. At check in I saw the D23 guest list -- there are about 15 people (plus potentially a plus-1 for each) in each 2-hour timeslot. It's a completely negligible addition. I will say seeing how few people were on the list made me feel lucky I got selected.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Well, I had an amazing day yesterday. I was one of the lucky ones to go on the D23 "Behind the Scenes" experience with Joe Rohde. Sorry for the length.

I'm pretty sure all of Pandora was closed off for this event (except for CMs of course), if not then it sure seemed that way. Joe clearly has a lot of passion for his work and he did a wonderful job of informing us of the story behind the land, cultural influences, hidden facts in the queues, visual illusions, etc. His favorite illusion is in the spoiler below

Spoiler

The two highest waterfalls on the mountain range above the FoP attraction are not actually water. If you look closely, the "water" flows at a slower rate than the waterfalls below to assist with the forced perspective. Joe stated that its actually a very simple illusion that could have been done in "Ben Franklin's time". It is so simple and so convincing - I couldn't tell that it was not real even after hearing this!

The land was meant to avoid marquees for the attractions from the very beginning of the project. The totems near the entrance to each line essentially act as marquees. These are actually hand woven and absolutely incredible. Anyway, there's a lot more but I don't want to give away too much for those that have yet to experience Pandora.

We were able to ride each ride one time while with Joe, but I was able to fit in 3 more FoP rides during the 3-5 preview. Some thoughts, observations, and info (some spoilers):

Spoiler: Pre-show info

It appears that they have gotten rid of the decontamination portion of the 1st pre-show video. It did not play once during my 4 rides yesterday, but it was definitely there on Monday.

Spoiler: FoP queue

Joe said that the queue for FoP will have some small details added prior to the public opening. This will take place in the cave portion with the tribal paintings.

- I have now ridden FoP 5 times and I have yet to see someone told that they cannot ride
- On that note, yesterday there were CMs with pictures of the actual ride vehicle describing the restraints and possibility that someone may not be able to ride if the restraints do not lock. They were not doing this when I was there on Monday.
- Regarding strobes - you can place your hand over the top portion of the vehicle (between the two tiny red dots on the very top of your display) and block those LEDs entirely. I tried this after feeling kind of dizzy following the strobe effect at the end of the ride and it worked pretty well. Note that I have no history of seizures or other ill effects from strobes and that you can still see some flashing lights in the corner of your eyes from other ride vehicles.
- I can say that FoP seating location does change your experience (beyond what one would assume). I did not feel that some seats were "better" and had an amazing experience every time.

All in all another great day at WDW.

question about the illusion in your spoiler (as I love things like this)

Spoiler

when you say "water" does that mean it is a liquid other than water and that is why it flows slower (so more viscus) or that it isn't even really something flowing at all, but just made to look like it?

 

[Lost Yeti]

question about the illusion in your spoiler (as I love things like this)

Of course

Spoiler

Not liquid at all. They are nothing more than spinning spools with fabric attached to them. Other than speed, which was done on purpose, it's very hard to tell the difference.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

- I have now ridden FoP 5 times and I have yet to see someone told that they cannot ride
- On that note, yesterday there were CMs with pictures of the actual ride vehicle describing the restraints and possibility that someone may not be able to ride if the restraints do not lock. They were not doing this when I was there on Monday.

Sounds like they are trying to adjust to perhaps more people than previously expected not being able to ride? Hope they get that test seat out there soon...

 

[wilkeliza]

Sounds like they are trying to adjust to perhaps more people than previously expected not being able to ride? Hope they get that test seat out there soon...

They had this when we went on 1st AP preview but only if you asked. They all had photos and a spiel.

 

[Lost Yeti]

Sounds like they are trying to adjust to perhaps more people than previously expected not being able to ride? Hope they get that test seat out there soon...

I think they are just trying to reduce the amount of disappointment.

It's a tricky situation. I don't believe adjustments can be made without excluding other individuals. If the restraints are adjusted to accommodate larger individuals it will come at the expense of no longer accommodating children. They are trying to hit that sweet spot that would result in only a small percentage of individuals not being able to ride (a single digit percentage as FastPasser. has mentioned in the past).

Just realized I forgot to mention that the pictures were shown before anyone entered the line. I'm sure most probably assumed that, but just clarifying.

 

[Spridell]

At my preview on Thursday night CM's had the photos out and showing everyone the pics of the seats as soon as they entered Pandora

 

[TravelingTotMom]

I'm in line for the 3-5 preview now, and cast members are walking down the line with photos of the Flight of Passage seats and explaining the restraints.

 

[rteetz]

Pandora merchandise at the island mercantile

https://twitter.com/blog_mickey/status/865932654650302464

 

[JDUCKY]

Im in pandora as we speak. Had the 12-2 window. Got on line about 10:50 and was all the way back over the bridge by the birds holding the exit signs. Got into Pandora by 11:10. Hopped on standby FoP right away and the sign said 15 minutes. Nobody was in the que but took about 40 minutes from start to finish. Not sure how many theaters they had operating at that time. I'm currently in line again but there's a lot more people. Sign said about a 25 minute wait. I'll update how long it takes

All rooms have been running today.