Just got back from the first of two previews, and I know there has been a lot of reviews already (I am clearly no one special so just have the regular AP and DVC previews) - Just thought I'd note a couple thoughts.
Beautiful - as others have said, the whole area is a work of art, no question about it, just walking around it was fascinating.
Flight of Avatar (rode it 3 times) was fantastic, absolutely fantastic. Somewhere between Star Tours and Soarin as far as "feel" but wow, the visuals and experience, including the que are stunning.
River ride - um, neat, beautiful for sure, and the animatronic at the end is ... insane. BUT .... BUT ... BUT ... Wow is that thing short ! For us it was a walk on (literally, they were sending empty boats) But, if the wait was any more than 10 mins ... I am not sure I would be very happy, I mean, maybe once, maybe. But there was not much there, it was SHORT, both in physical length (space) and time, I think the ride was a little under 6 minutes, but you move SLOW ... really really slow. Slower than people mover, or splash, or pirates, like really slow. So there isn't much to the ride, it was pretty, but ultimately disappointing.
The whole area, initially very impressive, but as I have thought about it more, I am less and less impressed with it. We had a two hour preview, with walk on's (Flight took more time to just absorb the awesome que than it would have taken to just walk through with the few people in line), we were done in an hour and a half. We looked at each other and felt a bit bad for leaving, but we were done. I guess I was just hoping for more, more to DO. My wife said it needed two more rides / attractions. Now, most people aren't going to just get walk on's, so of course they are going to end up spending more time there, but I am not sure that makes it any better, it might make it worse (that people are going to end up spending HOURS doing what should / could be done in 1.5).
Dunno, we will see how it all pans out, I also had a conversation with a CM today that apparently Flight might end up looking more like star tours with variable tours/locations in the future, which would improve its longevity. But I am not sure what impact this will have long term. I mean, they spent I am sure a TON of money there, and clearly a lot of time building this and designing it. I guess I just figure if they are going to put that much time and money into something they should build more attractions ? Or more total attraction value ? I am sure Flight will continue to be popular for some time, its quite impressive, but the river journey I was far less impressed with, and very much doubt its long term appeal.
Didn't get to experience it at night, which promises to be a whole other visual experience, but my over all assessment was ... "Good" a solid B. Flight of Passage, A+, The visual appeal of the Area A (I don't think the forced perspective works well, its the only knock on the visuals) Na'vi River C - (and that's first impression, over time I think this will go down), total amount to do D+.
(Also gets me a bit concerned about Toy Story Land and Star Wars land, which both promise 2 attractions I think, like Pandora, but, at least SWW stunning visuals and immersion)
My thoughts, Flight of the Avatar, totally worth a good solid wait, Na'vi river - I'd skip it if it were more than a few minute wait.
