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

[ABE4DISNEY]

How were you able to include 3 other people if none of them have an MDE account? To do my confirmation I had to select the members off my friends/family list and I believe it stated that they needed to be linked to you prior to inviting. Unless somehow you have 3 people signed up under your MDE account and the system just knew to include them all?

Okay, maybe I misspoke about this but not sure--bad with technology. I am the only one with a MDE (email) account and make all the FP selections. I have my DH and two kids listed with mine. I am always able to choose FP's; their names are just listed there with mine. They have never opened their own email accounts. All of our May plans are listed with all the FP's, but there is no place to select their names under the Pandora FP. It just says 1 guest. When I click on that, it is just me and my other family members are not listed as usual.

 

[Billabongi]

So the folks who went today, were you getting in an hour earlier like folks reported on Saturday? Trying to figure out when to show up tomorrow.

 

[wilkeliza]

Okay, maybe I misspoke about this but not sure--bad with technology. I am the only one with a MDE (email) account and make all the FP selections. I have my DH and two kids listed with mine. I am always able to choose FP's; their names are just listed there with mine. They have never opened their own email accounts. All of our May plans are listed with all the FP's, but there is no place to select their names under the Pandora FP. It just says 1 guest. When I click on that, it is just me and my other family members are not listed as usual.

How did you book. Is it on DVC or AP. I might call because it sounds like you only got a reservation for yourself and not everyone.

 

[Lost Yeti]

So the folks who went today, were you getting in an hour earlier like folks reported on Saturday? Trying to figure out when to show up tomorrow.

My thoughts exactly. Haven't heard much about how today went. Anyone? Bueler?

 

[FastPasser.]

Here you go, who's Bueler?

What a difference 24 hours makes. Yesterday was a mess, both from the guests and CM perspective. Some CMs who were just doing their jobs were being treated rudely by a small percentage of guests. Some CMs listened to guests while they raised their voices describing their displeasure with this that and the other thing. And some CMs even told me that they were embarrassed because they had to tell guest things that didn't reflect the reality of the situation. Plus the rain didn't help matters, we were soaked. But there was some fault on both Disney and guests. It was not a magical day for too many people.

But, that was yesterday and today was completely different. To begin with, it didn't rain. FoP was operating much more reliably which meant that everyone got a FP no matter when they arrived, which is the way we'd like it to be. I didn't hear any complaints, and got plenty of thumbs up.

I wasn't supposed to be there today, but was requested to come in at the last minute because someone called in. Really, it's Sunday, it's Mothers day and I had already worked more days than I usually do. But I'm so glad I reluctantly said "I'll be there" because it was a really good day and hopefully the way the rest of the AP/DVC previews will go.

 

[Lost Yeti]

Thanks for the update, FastPasser.. Glad things went well today and sorry that you guys sometimes have to deal with emotional guests. Let's hope the rest of the days go as well as today went.

 

[johnnyblz20]

So the folks who went today, were you getting in an hour earlier like folks reported on Saturday? Trying to figure out when to show up tomorrow.

Yes, we did the 6-8 time frame and we started going in at 4:55. Very quick and easy process to get in. Definitely recommend going straight to FOP if your FP says you can. Don't wait. We were first 100 people in probably and waited maybe 5-10min to get on the ride, but after doing the ride, eating, and going through standby line to look at everything we saw the line and it was very backed up and probably at least an hour wait. The ride FOP is easily best ride Disney has ever done and probably best one I've done out of every amusement park! Na'vi river ride was good but nothing special

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Here you go, who's Bueler?

What a difference 24 hours makes. Yesterday was a mess, both from the guests and CM perspective. Some CMs who were just doing their jobs were being treated rudely by a small percentage of guests. Some CMs listened to guests while they raised their voices describing their displeasure with this that and the other thing. And some CMs even told me that they were embarrassed because they had to tell guest things that didn't reflect the reality of the situation. Plus the rain didn't help matters, we were soaked. But there was some fault on both Disney and guests. It was not a magical day for too many people.

But, that was yesterday and today was completely different. To begin with, it didn't rain. FoP was operating much more reliably which meant that everyone got a FP no matter when they arrived, which is the way we'd like it to be. I didn't hear any complaints, and got plenty of thumbs up.

I wasn't supposed to be there today, but was requested to come in at the last minute because someone called in. Really, it's Sunday, it's Mothers day and I had already worked more days than I usually do. But I'm so glad I reluctantly said "I'll be there" because it was a really good day and hopefully the way the rest of the AP/DVC previews will go.

Thank you for your response and glad you had a good day!

And the "Bueller?" Comment is a quote from the movie Ferris Bueller's day Off is all

 

[gemologygal]

For those who've been on it, is there a strong dropping feeling (like fast drops on a roller coaster) on FoP? I could not do Gringotts or 7DMT, but can do Soarin and Star Tours with no fear.

 

[FastPasser.]

Glad things went well today and sorry that you guys sometimes have to deal with emotional guests.

No need to say sorry, it comes with the territory and the phrase "if you can't take the heat", yada, yada, yada, applies.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

For those who've been on it, is there a strong dropping feeling (like fast drops on a roller coaster) on FoP? I could not do Gringotts or 7DMT, but can do Soarin and Star Tours with no fear.

For me, I would answer yes to this question. There are certainly a few spots where you get that 'dropping/flying' feeling.

 

[HMfan82]

I did the 3-5 preview today and had a blast.

We got in line around 1:15pm and the line was just reaching Island Mercantile. They started scanning our bands and walking us in just before 2 and got our FoP paper fastpasses from 2 to 2:15 so we headed straight to the ride.

FoP was awesome! It was like Soarin with a personal seat and more 4D effects to make it more immersive. Just to add for people worried about the restraints, I am 6'4 315lb with most of the size in my belly, and was able to ride. The leg restraint came up to my calf and was a little snug but fine. The back restraint did not lock on by itself so the CM came over and was able to give it a small push to get it to lock in and it felt fine. This ride definitely went up high on the list of favorite rides at Disney world.

The river ride was also stunning. The projections came out good and used perfectly, and the overall look was gorgeous with all the glowing plant life. The shaman animatronic was unbelievable. The movements were so life like. We ended up doing that ride 2 times just to take it all in.

I did not try any of the specialty drinks but we tried the bowls in the quick service area and they were good. I had the beef with sweet potato hash and the vegetable slaw and the whole thing tasted good.

After seeing so many people with banshees we had to buy one. They gave us the option in line to skip the experience of bonding with your banshee and grabbed one for us in the color we wanted. They had just sold the last of the display perch for it for the day but we are local so eventually we will come back for it.

Overall the land was stunning and worth the wait. Even though I personally was not exactly a big fan of the movie, I still had a lot of fun with the area and was amazed at all the detailing.

 

[ziravan]

No need to say sorry, it comes with the territory and the phrase "if you can't the heat", yada, yada, yada applies.

Well I was with the morning group yesterday and y'all had tons of suits there.

I was telling everyone, CM and suits alike, how impressed I was.

It's an amazing addition.

Between this and Happily Ever After, with Star Wars and Toy Story on the horizon and supposed money being pumped into Epcot, Disney is really stepping up its game.

People say all the time that Disney used to be magical and lost its pixie dust.

Between the nostalgia for Wishes on Thurs, being pleasantly surprised by Happily because I was prepared to hate the show that replaced Wishes on principle, and the Pandora preview, Disney knows how to use its magic when it wants to do so.

I hear this all the time, "Walt would be rolling over in his grave."

Let me say this about Pandora: Walt is up there nodding approvingly.

 

[rteetz]

So there's a video on YouTube of parts of Flight of Passage. I'm not going to post it as I feel it's not going to be online for very long.

 

[wilkeliza]

So there's a video on YouTube of parts of Flight of Passage. I'm not going to post it as I feel it's not going to be online for very long.

The last half was very interesting. It really shows how much the whole room moves based on how much their camera moved in the storage bin.

 

[Cinderella94]

So there's a video on YouTube of parts of Flight of Passage. I'm not going to post it as I feel it's not going to be online for very long.

The last half was very interesting. It really shows how much the whole room moves based on how much their camera moved in the storage bin.

Shoot! I wish I could find it. I must be searching with the wrong terms

ETA: Found it! That was very cool!

 

[wilkeliza]

Shoot! I wish I could find it. I must be searching with the wrong terms

I just searched flight of passage and it was the 2nd or third.

 

[FastPasser.]

For those going to the previews, and only if FoP continues to operate as it did today, which BTW, is still not 100%, there is no need to arrive super early. The last email had a NRJ FP time of 5pm, so some people were in line at 3:30. The gates opened at about 5:10 for the 6 to 8 time slot.

 

[BobHarlem]

Very pretty area. The ride is closer to Simpsons than soarin', it even loads in little bays like the Simpsons ride does. (OR Back to the Future if you haven't been there in a while) The way the vehicle goes up or the wall comes down, the pad the bikes ore on just move up and down more, unlike Simpsons where the pad the bikes are sitting on moves up and only the vehicles tilt themselves. It very much reminded me of how I felt the first time I rode Back to the Future. You can even see the other ride stations if you look for them like on BttF/Simpsons (But similarly for both, you have to strain to see them and it's not obvious)

Navi River was basically walk on most of the time. Like a trippy living with the land without the greenhouses.

That said there isn't really much to do there other than the rides, although they were more or less kicking people out when it got dark. They did NOT show the nighttime lighting at all. The land is pretty small, more of a giant beautiful facade for the rides than anything.

 

[FrancoFun]

The last half was very interesting. It really shows how much the whole room moves based on how much their camera moved in the storage bin.

Woah boy. Just when I thought I'd be able to give the ride a try, as @yulilin3 had been so helpful in reassuring me. Looking at that amount of movement, I am pretty sure I would not be able to handle the "drops."