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

[Vicki Rickerd]

Arrivv

How did EMHs go this morning? Anyone there?

We were the first in line today just before 6. Ended up being in the second group on FOP, cuz people running ya know. Absolutely loved it. Then we went and rode EE about 5 times. Definitely worth getting up early for, though now everyone is at the hotel taking naps. Going back this evening for our fastpass for the River Journey. Park was pretty crowded when we left, people still streaming in.

 

[AngiTN]

the lighting doesn't appear to be fully functional yet. There is nights where it's really bright and others where you can't see anything. I had a couple conversations last week with some people who saw it multiple nights and they agree that it appears there is something off with the lighting.

I use the waterfalls as the marker, if you can see the water, it's working that night.

I concur. It varied during our trip too

I don't know how much black Light technology has changed, or not, over the years but I know the light bulbs I used to buy and use in lamps would last maybe 1 or 2 nights and burn out. No idea if that is the issue or not

 

[Little E]

I apologize if this has been asked and answered on this thread...I have tried to go through all the pages, but this a large thread...

We are really excited about our upcoming WDW trip later in June (18-25), and I'm wondering about two things with the new Pandora area:

1. What are crowds like later in the evening? AK is now open until 11 pm and then the EMH extends hours from 11 pm-1 am. We are staying on property, and I'm wondering if the crowds are more manageable in the evenings? We aren't typically "close the park down" folks, but is it worth it to go later in the evening? We only have 1 FP for FOP on our AK day, and so I was thinking we'd hop to AK a couple of evenings during our trip. Is this the way to go if we want to ride FOP more than once and if we want to ride NRJ a couple of times too? I don't think I can convince my crew to get up crazy early for RD and for morning EMH, so I'm wondering if the evening crowds are manageable?

2. We are curious about the Sa'tuli Canteen...is it better to hit this QS for lunch or dinner in terms of crowds? How long should we prepare to wait, and does the new ordering system really speed things along?

Any advice would be wonderful. Thank you so much!!! Again, my apologies if these things have already been discussed on this thread!!

 

[wareagle57]

Arrivv


We were the first in line today just before 6. Ended up being in the second group on FOP, cuz people running ya know. Absolutely loved it. Then we went and rode EE about 5 times. Definitely worth getting up early for, though now everyone is at the hotel taking naps. Going back this evening for our fastpass for the River Journey. Park was pretty crowded when we left, people still streaming in.

That's encouraging. I was worried people would be getting there earlier than 6 for EMH since they get there well before 7 for 8:00 openings.

 

[Gina Starr]

I apologize if this has been asked and answered on this thread...I have tried to go through all the pages, but this a large thread...

We are really excited about our upcoming WDW trip later in June (18-25), and I'm wondering about two things with the new Pandora area:

1. What are crowds like later in the evening? AK is now open until 11 pm and then the EMH extends hours from 11 pm-1 am. We are staying on property, and I'm wondering if the crowds are more manageable in the evenings? We aren't typically "close the park down" folks, but is it worth it to go later in the evening? We only have 1 FP for FOP on our AK day, and so I was thinking we'd hop to AK a couple of evenings during our trip. Is this the way to go if we want to ride FOP more than once and if we want to ride NRJ a couple of times too? I don't think I can convince my crew to get up crazy early for RD and for morning EMH, so I'm wondering if the evening crowds are manageable?

2. We are curious about the Sa'tuli Canteen...is it better to hit this QS for lunch or dinner in terms of crowds? How long should we prepare to wait, and does the new ordering system really speed things along?

Any advice would be wonderful. Thank you so much!!! Again, my apologies if these things have already been discussed on this thread!!

This is just my experience. FOP was 90 minutes all night during emh last night. Here right now and line is 100 minutes. I did online ordering and the food was ready within 2 minutes. We ate at 12:30 so pretty much peak lunch time. Might be different on a weekend

 

[Lesley Wake]

Arrivv


We were the first in line today just before 6. Ended up being in the second group on FOP, cuz people running ya know. Absolutely loved it. Then we went and rode EE about 5 times. Definitely worth getting up early for, though now everyone is at the hotel taking naps. Going back this evening for our fastpass for the River Journey. Park was pretty crowded when we left, people still streaming in.

How did the line look for NRJ after you rode FoP? Would there have been time to ride both during EMH if you got there early?

 

[Vicki Rickerd]

That's encouraging. I was worried people would be getting there earlier than 6 for EMH since they get there well before 7 for 8:00 openings.

No and when the let us go to the magic band scanners at 6:15 there still wasnt a big crowd. We didnt bring bags, but if you are there around 6, there are plenty of tables for bag check.

 

[RedSox68]

Am I reading this right -- they are actually letting people into the park at 6 AM? Wow

 

[wareagle57]

No and when the let us go to the magic band scanners at 6:15 there still wasnt a big crowd. We didnt bring bags, but if you are there around 6, there are plenty of tables for bag check.

Do you happen to know what time you got off FoP?

 

[rteetz]

Ready for a review? I will have photos and potential spoilers if you are avoiding that.

I visited Pandora: The World of Avatar on Wednesday, May 31st, 2017. Upon walking into Animal Kingdom they still had the opening day Pandora maps so I picked one up. I headed right for Pandora when I entered. There was no wait to enter the land and there was some streetmosphere in the area near Tiffins.



I loved the immediate detail on the bridge into Pandora.





Even mossy garbage cans!







The detail in this area alone is incredible. I of course had to touch the plant



I know these plants are fake but they are so realistic.







The reveal of the mountains is incredible. The detail is just stunning. I could just stare for an hour or longer checking out the detail put into this.





The land is incredibly dense and it makes you feel you've exited the theme park and into a new area thats real.





















Continued in the next post...

 

[Juliet0778]

Windtraders has sold out of Banshees. It can take up to three weeks to get some more in stock.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/windtraders-is-all-out-of-banshees-in-the-rookery/

OH, crap. We'll be there in 2 weeks and my son has his heart set on a banshee. I hope they get them in faster!

 

[rteetz]

Review continued...

It looks like a real park not a theme park.



Satuli Canteen I never made it to try food. I only sampled things from Pongu Pongu.





Line for windtraders. I did wait in it. It took about 10 minutes to get inside. I only bought my Banshee at this point. They didn't do the full spiel with me tho.









At Pongu Pongu I got the night blossom with the special glow cube. I also got the lumpia. I really liked the night blossom. The Lumpia was good but I would rather share it with someone as its a bit much for just me.





See anyone familiar?







Next up is Navi River Journey. The ride has incredible detail. I love the effects they out into it. I also love the AA, it's just stunning how fluid it is. My biggest and really only complaint is length. I wish it was about 30 seconds or so longer.









This was in the queue and I tweeted at WDWToday about it. Hopefully it was quickly taken care of.



Now Flight of Passage with FP...

The ride is incredible. One of my new favorites at WDW. They took Soarin screen tech and improved it to be something so incredible. Yes on the ends you can see the other theaters but you can't really see the ceiling or floor like you can in soarin. I did not see anyone removed from the ride nor did I hear anyone talk about fitting.









I will have my reviews of nighttime and the FoP queue later.

 

[Tiki Birdland]

tension puppets

Not sure I understand exactly how they'll be controlled. Has someone posted a video on how they're supposed to be controlled?

 

[rteetz]

Not sure I understand exactly how they'll be controlled. Has someone posted a video on how they're supposed to be controlled?

There are videos out there. The banshee has a wire that is supposed to wrap around the back side of your body and you control with your hand. Three simple controls. Head, mouth, and wings.

 

[dizneeat]

I will have my reviews of nighttime and the FoP queue later.

I really enjoy your reviews so far! Can't wait for more.

 

[wilkeliza]

Not sure I understand exactly how they'll be controlled. Has someone posted a video on how they're supposed to be controlled?

There are wires inside black plastic covering that go down to a remote. The remote has 3 actions (a dongle to move the head back and forth, a trigger to open the mouth and make it roar, and a trigger to open and close the wings). They are called tension puppets because each movement is made by taking an already tight cable and pulling on it a little to make the movement. So when you pull the trigger for the wings it pulls that wire tighter to lift the wings, when you pull the trigger for the mouth to open similar. If the cable is not tight then using the joystick or the trigger won't tighten it enough to make the movement happen.

 

[jade1]

Thanks rteetz very nice job. Looks amazing.

 

[AngelDisney]

Review continued...

It looks like a real park not a theme park.



Satuli Canteen I never made it to try food. I only sampled things from Pongu Pongu.





Line for windtraders. I did wait in it. It took about 10 minutes to get inside. I only bought my Banshee at this point. They didn't do the full spiel with me tho.









At Pongu Pongu I got the night blossom with the special glow cube. I also got the lumpia. I really liked the night blossom. The Lumpia was good but I would rather share it with someone as its a bit much for just me.





See anyone familiar?







Next up is Navi River Journey. The ride has incredible detail. I love the effects they out into it. I also love the AA, it's just stunning how fluid it is. My biggest and really only complaint is length. I wish it was about 30 seconds or so longer.









This was in the queue and I tweeted at WDWToday about it. Hopefully it was quickly taken care of.



Now Flight of Passage with FP...

The ride is incredible. One of my new favorites at WDW. They took Soarin screen tech and improved it to be something so incredible. Yes on the ends you can see the other theaters but you can't really see the ceiling or floor like you can in soarin. I did not see anyone removed from the ride nor did I hear anyone talk about fitting.









I will have my reviews of nighttime and the FoP queue later.

Thanks for the review! Love the pics!! Can't wait to read the rest of your review!

 

[rteetz]

Nighttime review and Flight of Passage Queue...

Upon walking into the land you see the Flaska Renatta (something like that) glowing and still smoking as it does during the day. You also start to see some go the other plants glowing. Now mind you on this night not all of the plants were cooperating but it still looked very nice.



They had the projections on the mountains to make it look like those were glowing as well.





The ground was glowing but there were areas not cooperating as well.









This area in my opinion is the best during the night.





Now I did both rides during EMH but this would be my first time in the FoP queue. I loved the queue. It was of course quite long but it was incredibly detailed and I highly recommend everyone see it at least once.







This AA in the queue is stunning.





Now on my second ride on FoP the seat seemed to have different affects that were not there the first time I rode. I loved both experiences. I was on the second level the first time in seat 15, and third level in seat 4 on my second ride.

Overall thoughts...

I love Pandora. It is so incredibly detailed and just a fantastic addition to my favorite park. The NRJ could have been a bit longer but is good as is. FoP is just awesome and will be a must do. I still need to try out Satuli and Mobile ordering. As for day vs. night. I liked day best because you can see all of the incredible details but you definitely should see both. They are both unique and really cool in their own ways.

I will be doing a full trip report with even more photos if you are interested.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

great photos @rteetz! well put about the land feeling more like a park than a theme park