All of Pandora is tied together with a storyline involving Alpha Centauri Expeditions, a travel company who made a deal with the native Na'vi to showcase the Valley of Mo'ara to travelers from across the universe in exchange for preserving their native culture and heritage. To go along with this storyline comes one of Pandora's most unique attributes: it has absolutely nothing to do with Disney. Cast Members wear ACE branded nametags, Fastpass Plus Touchpoints festure the ACE logo instead of the traditional Mickey emblem and merchandise bags only mention Pandora and not Walt Disney World. The goal is for total immersion and on the majority of circumstances, they have succeeded.
Na'vi River Journey is a slow moving boat ride down a bio-luminescent river showcasing the incredible beauty and majesty of Pandora. It is a short boat ride that clocks in around 4 and a half minutes, but it is quite stunning.
The signature piece of this attraction is the Na'vi Shamen who sings her song to boats passing by. The Shamen is probably the most impressive audio animatronic Disney has ever made. Her range of motion is absolutely stunning and makes the ride a must try.
First off, Flight of Passage has without a doubt the best queue line Disney has ever built. There are so many unique details and elements of this queue, you can't help but marvel at the craftsmanship involved.
*Update* So after some effort, I finally did get to ride Avatar Flight of Passage. The ride features two preshow rooms, one of which is interactive. The second gives you safety information and how to board the attraction's unique ride vehicle.
The ride itself is best described as a fusion of Soarin' and Star Tours. The ride vehicle simulates a breathing Banshee, which is a nice touch. The Link Chair vehicle dips, tilts and does an excellent job of simulating the sensation of flight. Add in 3-D and special smell and water effects and you have a very unique attraction that is absolutely worth your time. I never recomend waiting in 3+ hour lines if you can avoid it, but this is a must do attraction. It is one of the best at DAK and Walt Disney World in general.
Even though I did get to ride, I still issue a word of caution that I originally wrote below.
Now if only they make Flight of Passage a bit more accessable...
Written by Chris Coburn