When Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom launched Pandora – The World of Avatar, we knew we needed to make a visit right down to Orlando to test it out. After watching the “making of” movies on the finish of the Avatar film, I used to be unusually excited for an individual that doesn’t spend a whole lot of time in theme parks.
Since I’m not an enormous fan of rides, I hadn’t anticipated a theme park go to this a lot since our first time on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Common Orlando. However the theming and craftmanship appeared so in depth that I had excessive expectations.
Effectively, these expectations have been met and exceeded! Fingers down, we thought Avatar Flight of Passage was the perfect trip at Animal Kingdom — heck, it’s undoubtedly the perfect trip at Walt Disney World! It’s no shock this made it to the highest of the record for our finest rides at Disney for teenagers too! (Though we haven’t had an opportunity to go to Galaxy’s Edge but.)
Pandora – The World of Avatar
However first, let’s look inside Pandora – The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom — or Avatar land or Pandora land as some may name it. Opened in Might 2017, Pandora raised the bar and expectations for all future “lands”.
While you enter Animal Kingdom and get to the central “Tree of Life”, cling a left and observe the crowds to Pandora – The World of Avatar. You’ll first encounter the Valley of Mo’ara and shall be instantly entranced by the floating islands and the eye to element given all through this part of the park.
It undoubtedly helps to have lately seen the film in order that all the pieces has a little bit of a well-known look.
You’ll want to make a beeline for Avatar Flight of Passage as a result of that’s the place the traces are the longest. However don’t fear, it’s completely definitely worth the wait (I did inform you it’s the finest trip in Disney World proper?)
Avatar Flight of Passage Experience Information
Every thing about Avatar Flight of Passage is superb from begin to end. After we joined the queue (at 7:30 am earlier than the park was even formally open), we have been instructed to anticipate a 1.5 to 2-hour wait. I don’t suppose we stood nonetheless for longer than a minute or two all the time and we completed the trip earlier than 9:00 am.
On a return go to, we purchased particular occasion tickets to Animal Kingdom After Darkish and we have been in a position to trip Flight of Passage a number of occasions in a row with zero wait — it was so definitely worth the ticket value! See this information for learn how to trip Avatar Flight of Passage with out the wait.
All all through the primary a part of the queue you’re busy trying left and proper taking within the elaborate environment and the floating islands of Pandora.
As soon as you progress contained in the constructing, you’re greeted by the glowing vegetation of Pandora as you wind your means by the limitations of the road.
Quickly, you enter the lab and are launched to the scientific research of the world of Pandora. It helps to have seen the film right here as a result of it can make much more sense.
Once more, the extent of element is beautiful. Every thing seems like actual scientific samples and gear — particularly right down to the Na’vi “Avatar” floating in its tank.
In case you haven’t seen the film, the premise of the trip is that you can be linked to a Na’vi Avatar, identical to what occurred within the film. So you can be mentally linked with a Na’vi, taking up their physique as your individual. As soon as linked, you’ll participate within the coming-of-age ritual of using a banshee (a dragon-like creature.)
You’re taken into particular person rooms in teams and assigned a spot to face. You’re then “scanned” and matched with an Avatar. It’s a very cool expertise that’s just like a Kinect the place you see the define of your physique and also you see if you’re a “match.”
Subsequent, you’re shuttled into the following room to see your Avatar match and given directions about using a banshee. When you’re entered the trip room, you first retailer your belongings in a cubby after which mount the trip car the identical means you’ll get on a bike.
In reality, in some methods it’s just like using a bike simulator arcade sport that leans back and forth.
You lean ahead into the trip car and put in your flight “goggles” (3D glasses.) Nearly instantly, you’re immersed on the earth of Pandora. You simply overlook that you’re on a simulator trip as a result of the world introduced in entrance of you is so actual.
In your flight, you dip and lean and “fly” throughout the attractive world of Pandora. The graphics are beautiful and the trip engages almost your entire senses. As you fly previous water, you’re feeling the spray of the mist.
As you cease within the nighttime forest, you’ll be able to odor the air round you. However probably the most superb impact is that while you pause, you’re feeling the banshee respiration beneath of you as you’re feeling the strain pushing out and in towards your legs. I’ve by no means skilled something prefer it.
As we exited the trip, all lets say was “WOW!”
The one draw back was that I did get a bit of little bit of movement illness throughout a number of the flying scenes and want to shut my eyes every now and then. It wasn’t that dangerous although as a result of I nonetheless rode the trip a number of occasions in a row after we did Animal Kingdom After Darkish.
Satu’li Canteen
Chances are you’ll wish to seize a meal on the Satu’li Canteen, situated simply exterior of the Avatar Flight of Passage trip exit. I seen that they observe an identical expediting course of that I noticed in Common’s Volcano Bay.
First they’ve greeters handy you a menu and as soon as you decide, you’re directed to a cashier to position your order after which a station to choose up your meals. It wasn’t crowded in any respect after we have been there however I think about this course of turns out to be useful at lunch and dinner when it’s crowded. In addition they provide cell ordering by the My Disney Expertise app.
We’ve eaten each breakfast and dinner on the Satu’li Canteen and thought each have been excellent for theme park meals. A wholesome and fascinating choice of choices with very beneficiant parts.
After fueling up, we headed out to check out the second trip in Pandora — The World of Avatar.
Na’vi River Journey
Sadly, the road on the Na’vi River Journey trip doesn’t transfer as rapidly or is almost as entertaining as Avatar Flight of Passage. Fortunately, most of it’s shaded and normally, the road isn’t as lengthy both, however it would be best to regulate the My Disney Expertise app to examine for wait occasions.
It is a quite simple trip and appropriate for all ages, however nonetheless a tremendous expertise. You’ll board a ship for a sluggish and peaceable cruise by the Na’vi River, the place you will note the glowing vegetation and creatures of the rainforest.
Then you can be entertained by the music of the animatronic Na’vi Shaman of Songs. The trip is over fairly rapidly however it’s nonetheless a lot extra immersive than different Disney rides.
Afterward I heard some individuals complaining concerning the trip not being definitely worth the wait however I used to be nonetheless impressed. Chances are you’ll not wish to wait hours, however undoubtedly give it a attempt.
Have a look for your self:
Be sure to give your self time to benefit from the different points of the Valley of Mo’ara, just like the Na’vi-built drum circle and totems that may be discovered all through the land.
And even in case you come early to beat the crowds, it would be best to discover time to return at night time to see the bioluminescent vegetation gentle up.
Ideas for Visiting Pandora at Animal Kingdom
- Arrive early. Even when the park opens at 8 am, you’ll wish to arrive by 7:30 am. Likelihood is, they’ll allow you to by the gates and you’ll be within the queue earlier than the park opens.
- Head straight to Avatar Flight of Passage — traces close to the opening will be as much as 270 minutes so it would be best to hit this primary.
- Keep at a Walt Disney World Resort — it will get you the “Additional Magic Hours” so you’ll be able to have time in Pandora with fewer crowds. Though, proper now these further magic hours are from 11pm to 1am so it might not work as properly when you have youthful youngsters.
- Buy a Lightning Lane cross for Flight of Passage to shorten your wait.
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Be aware: We got one-day media passes to expertise the Disney Parks and facilitate this evaluate. All opinions are my very own.
