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

[AngiTN]

Disney can't trust people to stay seated and inside Carousel of Progress they could never trust people to stay seated with moving seats.

I think the question is, is a 3 point restraint the ONLY way to keep someone seated? Not saying NO restraint at all

 

[SueM in MN]

You must transfer from a wheelchair or ecv which does limit the attraction for some. Also depending on the step down and up from the boat transferring can be difficult for even those with children in wheelchairs.

I have been told by someone in a position to know for sure that the boat in the Na'vi River experience is not wheelchair accessible, so does require a transfer, but there is a transfer device that was specifically made for the attraction.
Until someone rides it and uses it, I am not sure what it will be and how it will work.

If I had to guess, it's that the effects can cause some equilibrium issues and they don't want someone to fall over (or faint) and end up with a body part under one of the moving parts of the ride. Or, a rider starts to feel sick and wants to get off NOW which can cause injury. Looks like one would be held in there pretty securely.

I think that is probably true.

I'm guessing it's also possible that some of the restraints either have some of the special effects in them or are needed to keep guests in contact with the part that has special effects. The same way that the restraints on Stitch's Great Escape at MK carry many of the special effects (and keep guests from getting up and trying to escape in the dark).

Spoiler alert.........










Some reports I've seen have said you can feel the banshee breathing and its muscles moving. Guests would need to be kept in specific spots for that to happen.

 

[Spridell]

I wonder if this will make Disney rethink all these restraints on FOP if the vehicle never actually rises or comes off the platform.

I also think all the restraints are more for ride experience than anything else. You are on a Banchee so they want you strapped in to feel like you are on one.

 

[shh]

My biggest fear with stuff like this - any ride with the more extreme restraints - is when the ride has to stop for some reason or breaks down...I'm fine for a couple min that the ride takes. But don't even want to think about being pinned down and hardly able to move for any length of time.

 

[AngiTN]

I also think all the restraints are more for ride experience than anything else. You are on a Banchee so they want you strapped in to feel like you are on one.

That may well be the case, at least in part. And if that is part of what is preventing some guests from riding I hope they'll re-look at it. Preventing some from riding for 100% safety reasons is one thing but for any other reason, a bit less acceptable.

 

[mousefan73]

Is the restaurant seating indoor??. Anotherwards with A/C ?!? I find lack if A/C QS at AKL an can Issue. Love harambee? Markets. But outdoor in Aug? The pics are not clear if it's just a huge roof but open sides. Or enclosed

 

[Capang]

With all the what-ifs and technical problems/overheating surrounding FoP I think we will skip it. We have a FP for NRJ and that should leave us extra time to just explore Pandora. Maybe the crowds at the rest of AK won't be so big
It would be a bonus if we do get on FoP, though.
Is those of you Dis'ers going to previews report back on if the bioluminescence is working that would be great. I read that it was not up to par just yet.
Really excited to check out Pandora and thanks to @rteetz and all the others for keeping us informed and keeping this thread on topic! Great job!

 

[rteetz]

Is the restaurant seating indoor??. Anotherwards with A/C ?!? I find lack if A/C QS at AKL an can Issue. Love harambee? Markets. But outdoor in Aug? The pics are not clear if it's just a huge roof but open sides. Or enclosed

Indoor and outdoor.

 

[IrishNYC]

Love it!!! Yes... tall boots, really skinny jeans... nope... not my friends. Fingers crossed for the giant feet/calves crowd... who knew there really WAS one!!

I'll be over here in the giant calves hall of fame. Even when I was a skinny little thing, I had ginormous calves. Thanks, Dad! And they're solid, so there's no give, no squishing, no leeway at all. I'm also short, and now pooh sized. I'm spectacular!

Why do you think this is a "bash" of Pandora? This was my opinion of the land, which I stated in the very beginning. My opinion does not have to be "considerate" of anyone in this regard. I hope that some may find my post useful. I wish I had gotten the chance to read a post just like it before I went, so that I could set my expectations lower.

I took it as a bash because you seemed to be looking for things to be terrible. Looking at the floor and ceiling? Well, of course you can see it if you're looking for it. Of course you can see the vehicles next to you if you turn your head. But, you're supposed to be looking at the screen ahead of you, not all around for faults.

 

[rastuso]

I'm guessing it's also possible that some of the restraints either have some of the special effects in them or are needed to keep guests in contact with the part that has special effects. The same way that the restraints on Stitch's Great Escape at MK carry many of the special effects (and keep guests from getting up and trying to escape in the dark).

I'm guessing that it is because the seats are right on the edge of a cliff essentially. I have to wonder if the seats are supposed to do more. I simply can't believe this is really just Soarin' 0.75 with a different riding position for a lame effect to be able to happen a few times. The leg restraints make NO sense for a ride with such minor movement. I've got to believe these seats are supposed to raise up some and then move more. Not sure if anyone posted the patent for the ride, or who has the patent. It's not Disney I'm sure.

Everything I've seen/read really makes Pandora pretty much a whiff. Even sounds like their second attempt at a signature drink is just as bad as the first. Joe Rhode may LOVE how cool it looks, and how amazing his little ******* plant is at night. But "beautiful" doesn't cut it in 2017. Neither of these rides seems to provide any real thrills at all. And I argue they are a C and a D ticket. PLUS, they use screens. You know, what Universal is always looked down upon for using. It seems FoP is very much a Kong level ride without the thrills.

My desire to run down for WDW's first BIG money land in decades is pretty much gone. And it was quite high.

And with Star Wars known to be what seems to be a Space 0.75 ride, and then another dark ride that may be mostly screen based too.... I've got a bad feeling about this.

J

 

[FastPasser]

Maybe it doesn't move much at all.

Actually it does move quite a bit.

Maybe it just has wiggles and jiggles and vibrations of some sort.

It's much more than wiggles and jiggles.

they have to lock us in to keep us from falling off. Otherwise , kids would fall off of them and
who knows , theres always that one person that might try to stand up on the thing.

Exactly right.

 

[FastPasser]

I wonder if this will make Disney rethink all these restraints on FOP if the vehicle never actually rises or comes off the platform.

The main focus at this time is to get it operating to it's full potential.

 

[FastPasser]

I'll be over here in the giant calves hall of fame. I'm also short, and now pooh sized.

I think you'll be fine.

 

[BigRed98]

I'm guessing that it is because the seats are right on the edge of a cliff essentially. I have to wonder if the seats are supposed to do more. I simply can't believe this is really just Soarin' 0.75 with a different riding position for a lame effect to be able to happen a few times. The leg restraints make NO sense for a ride with such minor movement. I've got to believe these seats are supposed to raise up some and then move more. Not sure if anyone posted the patent for the ride, or who has the patent. It's not Disney I'm sure.

Everything I've seen/read really makes Pandora pretty much a whiff. Even sounds like their second attempt at a signature drink is just as bad as the first. Joe Rhode may LOVE how cool it looks, and how amazing his little ******* plant is at night. But "beautiful" doesn't cut it in 2017. Neither of these rides seems to provide any real thrills at all. And I argue they are a C and a D ticket. PLUS, they use screens. You know, what Universal is always looked down upon for using. It seems FoP is very much a Kong level ride without the thrills.

My desire to run down for WDW's first BIG money land in decades is pretty much gone. And it was quite high.

And with Star Wars known to be what seems to be a Space 0.75 ride, and then another dark ride that may be mostly screen based too.... I've got a bad feeling about this.

J

I appreciate ur post but u can't say pandora is a whiff if u didn't experience it for ur self. This land isn't all about thrills, it's about being immersed in a specific land where u can't visit anywhere else. So far majority seems to be giving it high praise.

 

[rastuso]

I appreciate ur post but u can't say pandora is a whiff if u didn't experience it for ur self. This land isn't all about thrills, it's about being immersed in a specific land where u can't visit anywhere else. So far majority seems to be giving it high praise.

Majority of those visited so far who are: Those with media credentials that would say The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is better than anything Universal has done to keep those credentials, CMs who many would agree with the former statement, and others that are obviously HUGE Disney fans, and Season Pass Holders who spend thousands a year for their family to go to Disney, so again, a biased group.

The thing they all have in common is that A: None of them stood in any real lines for the rides, B: None of them really spent any money to go to Pandora specifically, and C: Had Pandora to enjoy in a fairly small crowd.

Random guests paying $80 a day on average who may wait multiple hours for Flight of Passage just MAY not share that optimism and wonder.

The silence around Flight of Passage first made me think it was heavily embargoed. Now, I think it was many people biting their tongues

A month ago everyone was piling on how horrible Jimmy Fallon is because it's just another screen ride with very little motion. BUt, WHOA! Flight of Passage is phenomenal.

Nope, I don't buy it.

J

 

[Raetz]

My thoughts

I was lucky to go on Tuesday as a guest of a cast member. I was excited, but was not expecting it to live up to the hype.

It looks 10x better in person than it does in pic/vid. It was like walking in a giant sculpture. It was just as amazing as visiting National parks like Yosemite, Glacier, Zion etc. This is something I honesty was not expecting. Waking in the valley was just jaw dropping. Some of the plants are obviously fake, but they did an amazing job mixing the real with the fake.

Flight of passage was just wow! First off I am not a fan of screen based rides and prone to motion sickness..... there was not a hint of it for me and a everyone else in my party. One person suggested this may be do to the refreshing wind in your face I am pooh sized and at my current size I cant ride Forbidden journey. I had no problem riding FOP. I carry most my weight in my torso. The ride is smooth and exhilarating. The reason you are restrained is the whole platform moves and I think the seats are stationary on the platform. To me it feels like downhill skiing in knee deep powder. The wind in your face feels natural and really enhances the experience.

Rode the river Journey twice....really enjoyed it. The second time was much better because I just soaked it in a turned off the analytical part of my brain. The animatronic was Wow!

Hope they get all the bugs out of the FOP or Disney is going to have a PR nightmare.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Majority of those visited so far who are: Those with media credentials that would say The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is better than anything Universal has done to keep those credentials, CMs who many would agree with the former statement, and others that are obviously HUGE Disney fans, and Season Pass Holders who spend thousands a year for their family to go to Disney, so again, a biased group.

The thing they all have in common is that A: None of them stood in any real lines for the rides, B: None of them really spent any money to go to Pandora specifically, and C: Had Pandora to enjoy in a fairly small crowd.

Random guests paying $80 a day on average who may wait multiple hours for Flight of Passage just MAY not share that optimism and wonder.

The silence around Flight of Passage first made me think it was heavily embargoed. Now, I think it was many people biting their tongues

A month ago everyone was piling on how horrible Jimmy Fallon is because it's just another screen ride with very little motion. BUt, WHOA! Flight of Passage is phenomenal.

Nope, I don't buy it.

J

I think you have some valid points - particularly around crowd levels. Will the rides seem *as* good if you have waited hours to ride them? Also, just the land itself, will it look as immersive and impressive if you are standing shoulder to shoulder with people and not really able to take in the scene really

I also get what you are saying about the media and being Disney fans - I will say though that there are people like Craig from the DIS who, while a big Disney fan - he is also a huge Universal fan and has been quite critical of Disney of late and views Universal as going beyond Disney in immersiveness, etc. ... so when I see how positive he is about it and how he said Universal needs to take notices, etc. - that carries a lot of weight with me

 

[Disneylover99]

My biggest fear with stuff like this - any ride with the more extreme restraints - is when the ride has to stop for some reason or breaks down...I'm fine for a couple min that the ride takes. But don't even want to think about being pinned down and hardly able to move for any length of time.

Yep. Me too. When I realized you're locked into place at 3 points I recognize, this is not the ride for me. I'll happily send my family riding while I look around.

 

[Rachel95x]

My thoughts

I was lucky to go on Tuesday as a guest of a cast member. I was excited, but was not expecting it to live up to the hype.

It looks 10x better in person than it does in pic/vid. It was like walking in a giant sculpture. It was just as amazing as visiting National parks like Yosemite, Glacier, Zion etc. This is something I honesty was not expecting. Waking in the valley was just jaw dropping. Some of the plants are obviously fake, but they did an amazing job mixing the real with the fake.

Flight of passage was just wow! First off I am not a fan of screen based rides and prone to motion sickness..... there was not a hint of it for me and a everyone else in my party. One person suggested this may be do to the refreshing wind in your face I am pooh sized and at my current size I cant ride Forbidden journey. I had no problem riding FOP. I carry most my weight in my torso. The ride is smooth and exhilarating. The reason you are restrained is the whole platform moves and I think the seats are stationary on the platform. To me it feels like downhill skiing in knee deep powder. The wind in your face feels natural and really enhances the experience.

Rode the river Journey twice....really enjoyed it. The second time was much better because I just soaked it in a turned off the analytical part of my brain. The animatronic was Wow!

Hope they get all the bugs out of the FOP or Disney is going to have a PR nightmare.

This is reassuring to hear! FJ is the only ride I could not ride at universal and never had any trouble at Disney. Just wondering where abouts on the leg do the leg restraints make contact with you?

 

[FastPasser]

It looks 10x better in person than it does in pic/vid.
It was like walking in a giant sculpture. It was just as amazing as visiting National parks like Yosemite, Glacier, Zion etc.
This is something I honesty was not expecting.
Waking in the valley was just jaw dropping.
Some of the plants are obviously fake, but they did an amazing job mixing the real with the fake.
Flight of passage was just wow!
The ride is smooth and exhilarating.
Rode the river Journey twice....really enjoyed it.
The animatronic was Wow!

All great comments and because you pretty much said what I would have, I'm off the hook from having to do a review.

When I realized you're locked into place at 3 points I recognize, this is not the ride for me.

I think once you try the test seat, you'll change your mind. While it is three points, you're free to move from the waist up. To me, it doesn't really feel like your locked in.

My biggest fear with stuff like this - any ride with the more extreme restraints - is when the ride has to stop for some reason or breaks down...I'm fine for a couple min that the ride takes. But don't even want to think about being pinned down and hardly able to move for any length of time.

That actually happened to me on FoP, it stopped after about 60 seconds into the ride. There was about a ten minute hold. We were tilted in the maximum downward position and it wasn't uncomfortable. You could just let go of the handlebars and sit up straight. I have to think that if they know that it's going to be down for an extend time, they can release the restraints so that you can leave.