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

[yulilin3]

There are fans in the outdoor queue for FoP, not sure if there are some for NRJ. Other than that I don't think I saw fans

 

[rteetz]

Create Your Own Avatar Action Figure at ACE Avatar Maker in Pandora – The World of Avatar

 

[rteetz]

There are fans in the outdoor queue for FoP, not sure if there are some for NRJ. Other than that I don't think I saw fans

There are a couple in NRJ as well based on photos/video I have seen.

 

[rteetz]

As of 10:30 EST on MDE

Flight of Passage 240 minutes
Navi River Journey 90 minutes

 

[Juliet0778]

Cool to hear how everyone is enjoying FOP. I was too chicken to do a FP because I get sick at 3d IMAX. And even Soarin' was iffy...I kept having to focus on one point. And no way I'm standing in line for hours. Maybe I'll try it next trip, but this trip I'll just enjoy checking out the land.

 

[kaybird]

Plenty of fans blowing in the outdoor queue for Na'vi River Journey. Amazing queues on both rides. We had 8 people, age range 6 through 64, Height range 44" to 6'2". Every one of us loved both rides, and all of us fit perfectly in FoP. Totally awesome experience, so very fortunate to have been there on opening day! A side note, while in the line for Pandora, was able to get the AP pin, Opening day pin, and the 250 limited edition pin set! Great new land, so beautiful both day and night!

 

[Fantasia79]

Any info on how long people are waiting in FP+ lines?

 

[anna0513]

If you can only book fastpass 30 days out you are out of luck for Flight of Passage. I've given up.

 

[belle1986]

Just to be clear on your plans, is it to do Pandora and then leave and be done with Pandora and do other things and then leave the park? Not sure how it will be tomorrow (and I am very curious as I will be there as well) but to date they have been lining people up beforehand who want to get into Pandora for the EMH, so if you leave to go do the other things you might not be able to get back into Pandora

Yes! Go to Pandora around 6pm for FOP fp,possibly standby NRJ, eat and get out to the hopefully emptier stuff left open in AK, namely Everest in the dark.

 

[Canesfan3234]

Quick thoughts from someone who was able to do both rides via fastpass.

Na'vi River Journey

I may be in the minority, but I was disappointed. Like the movie, the ride was visually stunning, but empty. You really do feel like you are on a boat in the middle of Pandora, but the ride feels like its missing something. There's no story that is typical of pretty much every slow moving ride in Disney. It felt like they spent all their resources on making something visually spectacular and forgot that the ride needed some sort of substance. The thrill rides can get away with a lack of story, but the slow moving ones need to be more than just pretty.

Side note: poor planning on the boat sizes. I know there are going to be some opening weekend bugs, but trying to fit 4 adults in one row was an absolute disaster. We were paired with a couple that were on the larger size and once they sat down my gf followed. There wasn't even enough room left for a small child. She had to get out and we waited for the next boat. Seems like 3 adults is the max per row.

Overall, it's a solid ride but for those who are going during the mass hysteria over Pandora, if you can only do one, do FoP. Personally, I would have been disappointed if I had waited in line 3+ hours for NRJ.

Flight of Passage

The easiest way to describe this is WOW. If you like Soarin, you will absolutely love this ride. Everything feels so real. The wind and surf in your face, the breathing of the banshee between your legs, everything. They left no stone unturned with this ride. I agree with others that its best not to do this ride after eating as you are a bit snug in the seat with the restraints and you really do feel like you are flying and that could cause some post ride nausea if you are full of food. I know some have had issues with the restraints being too tight, neither I nor my gf who is 4'11" had an issue with the restraints.

Pandora itself
It was hard to really get a grasp of everything because there were so many people, but it really it visually stunning. Disney hit a home run. My only complaint and maybe I felt this way because of how many people were there, but Pandora felt on the small side. As beautiful as it is, I wanted more. Felt like they left a little on the table.

The food.

We had the burger buns. They were delicious. My only complaint was that they went a bit over the top on the "earth" food theme. Sorry, I don't want vegetable chips with my burger buns. I want the option of potato chips. Vegetable chips are a cool novelty that goes with the theme, but they tasted bland and I saw a lot of people leave them virtually untouched on their plate. Groups with picky eaters are pretty limited in what they will eat in Pandora. Imo its a simple case of going to far with the theme and considering how many of the Pandora drinks have received poor reviews, I wouldn't be surprised by a pretty substantial menu overhaul in the next few months.

The store
We didn't make it in the store because the line was 2+ hours long, but the banshee puppet people were wearing on their shoulder looked really cool.

Overall, Avatar is really well done. Disney did a great job. There is room for improvement, but they should be proud of what they created.

Advice for those going over the next couple months without a fastpass. The lines for the rides are going to be 2+ hours all day every day throughout the summer.

What really got people was the line to get into pandora itself. It was 95% in the sun and people were waiting 3+ hours just to get in. W

However, I did notice that on both saturday and sunday, there was a lull in the entry line around 3:30 PM that lasted until about 5:30. That seemed to be the sweet spot where the people who had been in line since 9:00 am were leaving in mass and the people who were trying to get in to see Pandora at night had yet to arrive. During that 2 hour period, the line to get in averaged from 45 minutes to 5 minutes. Best of luck to anyone going in the couple weeks for the first time and enjoy.

 

[yulilin3]

If you can only book fastpass 30 days out you are out of luck for Flight of Passage. I've given up.

Just letting you know that I have managed to get fp for FoP 30 days out a couple of times for June, so it is possible. Just have to check at 7am on your 30 day mark

 

[Canesfan3234]

After reading the latest on the crazy crowds with the opening of Pandora, I am wondering how the rest of AK is. Is the whole park crazy busy as well? We are arriving this weekend and planning for a half day at AK next week. Now I am wondering if it is even worth it to try. Any thoughts? Thanks!

The lines are longer than normal due to people going to AK for Pandora but bailing on that plan upon seeing the line. Assuming you can get Fast passes for the main non-pandora rides you should still be able to do everything you want to do in AK that isn't pandora.

 

[SgtTibbs]

I have a FoP FP+ for 9:30pm. I plan to arrive at AK around 9:00pm (via the express bus skipping the front gate) use the "People who have FP's" line to enter Pandora, wander around Pandora until 10:15pm'ish (just before my FP window closes) and then ride. Any major flaws in that plan based on what people are experiencing?

 

[anna0513]

Just letting you know that I have managed to get fp for FoP 30 days out a couple of times for June, so it is possible. Just have to check at 7am on your 30 day mark

I think because we are going 4th of July week it may be more difficult.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Advice for those going over the next couple months without a fastpass. The lines for the rides are going to be 2+ hours all day every day throughout the summer.

Just one thought to add to this... lines for NRJ on multiple occasions over the opening weekend were 90min or under. It's a 90min wait right now on MDE.

No guarantee as to how this will shape up over the whole summer, but particularly given less than stellar reviews for NRJ, not sure if this one will see 2+ hour waits throughout...

 

[yulilin3]

I think because we are going 4th of July week it may be more difficult.

Just be on the look out at 7am on your 30 day mark

 

[anna0513]

Just one thought to add to this... lines for NRJ on multiple occasions over the opening weekend were 90min or under. It's a 90min wait right now on MDE.

No guarantee as to how this will shape up over the whole summer, but particularly given less than stellar reviews for NRJ, not sure if this one will see 2+ hour waits throughout...

I've seen fastpass for that. I'm thinking my only hope is to get there at rope drop and run right to Avatar Flight of Passage.

 

[River Country]

well here is the question I have. If you you have FP's which I do have them for both FOP and NRJ on different days do you still have to wait in line to enter Pandora?

 

[PrincessV]

After reading the latest on the crazy crowds with the opening of Pandora, I am wondering how the rest of AK is. Is the whole park crazy busy as well? We are arriving this weekend and planning for a half day at AK next week. Now I am wondering if it is even worth it to try. Any thoughts? Thanks!

I found the rest of the park to be as crowded as I'd expect on memorial Day weekend - definitely not out of the norm. Wait times dropped by a lot as it got later, too. It never felt congested or overcrowded to me - I was in AK from 2pm-7:20pm before entering Pandora, and then again after Pandora from around 9:30-11pm.

"Pandora was really immersive... LOVED it... except for those FANS... kept me cooler, but REALLY took me out of the story... what a miss..."

Pretty sure this would be said by no one.

I'll say this: I found the custodial staff wearing regular park custodial costumes far more "disruptive" to my sense of immersion than some fan-generating air movement on the paths would feel!

However, I did notice that on both saturday and sunday, there was a lull in the entry line around 3:30 PM that lasted until about 5:30. That seemed to be the sweet spot where the people who had been in line since 9:00 am were leaving in mass and the people who were trying to get in to see Pandora at night had yet to arrive.

Yep, that's what we saw on Sunday (5/28), too.

 

[Liljo22]

Quick thoughts from someone who was able to do both rides via fastpass.

Na'vi River Journey

I may be in the minority, but I was disappointed. Like the movie, the ride was visually stunning, but empty. You really do feel like you are on a boat in the middle of Pandora, but the ride feels like its missing something. There's no story that is typical of pretty much every slow moving ride in Disney. It felt like they spent all their resources on making something visually spectacular and forgot that the ride needed some sort of substance. The thrill rides can get away with a lack of story, but the slow moving ones need to be more than just pretty.

Don't think you are in the minority(maybe a slight minority). Getting a lot of reviews that its visually stunning but too short with no story.

Also, about the room for improvement comment, a couple of people in the know have said there is a possible expansion planned with an additional E ticket ride. That should help spread the people more but with no announcement yet, I don't see it coming anytime before SW is done.