Pandora at Disney World...

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
I went last weekend when it opened. I think opening day they said you had to wait hours just to get to that side of the park because it was so packed...then had to wait 3-4 hours to ride each of the 2 rides they had. I kind of knew opening weekend would be bad so I naturally decided to go Sunday morning instead of Saturday....

The park opened at 8am, but we got there around 7:15am and people were already running through the park to get there quick. My family and I were able to ride the Navi River Journey, just walking on the ride. Once we got out, my wife ran to get in line for Avatar: Flight of Passage...

By that time, it was maybe 7:35am...and it took her an hour or so to get through because the ride experience itself is a show and they take you through 2 holding chambers before you actually enter the ride. (so you basically have to wait for the motion ride/movie to complete twice before you actually see it) She got me a rider switch fastpass and I was done another 20 minutes later. By this time, the lines to get on the ride were 4 hours and I walked on.

Disney really nailed the theming in this part of the park. They have fake circles that look like stains from barrels on the concrete and fake cracks in the concrete to make the area look like an old military base. Most importantly, they somehow attached fake grass in those cracks...lots of little details like that really immerse you in the place.

Otherwise, I don't really care for the movie, the franchise, blue cat people... The rides were neat and on-par with the theming. They raised the bar in Pandora.....but it's lucky for the Star Wars fans because the new Hollywood Studios additions are going to have to live up to what they did in Animal Kingdom.
 
Oct 20, 2005
10,978
44
91
I really want to check it out, but will be several years before I take a trip to Disney World. Our son isn't even 2 years yet and we have another on the way so would be kind of a waste to take them at such a young age.

By the time I can take my family, I bet a single day ticket will be like $300 per person lol
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
50,733
6,761
136
I seriously hope to never set foot in a Disney park for the rest of my life.

As a kid it was awesome. As an adult, I fear it. The thought of standing in long lines in the hot sun just to go on a 2-minute ride sounds not so fun.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
I really want to check it out, but will be several years before I take a trip to Disney World. Our son isn't even 2 years yet and we have another on the way so would be kind of a waste to take them at such a young age.

By the time I can take my family, I bet a single day ticket will be like $300 per person lol
So....2 years old is great. Kids love the rides at Magic Kingdom and there are only a few rides they're too short for. Kids get in the park free, most of the dining experiences *(buffet style meals) with characters are free for children and $30-60 for adults...but the food is decently good and alcohol is offered in most dinner restaurants now. Disney handles transportation, so you can be more laid back. The best part about taking a 2 year old to Disney is that they typically are content being strolled around and don't want to walk. If you try taking a 2.5 year old or 3 year old to Disney....walking is all they want to do and it becomes a challenge in itself. Don't miss your window of opportunity. If you have an extra-credit stroller, you also have a cup holder or two (works great for beverages at Epcot as long as your kid doesn't bounce too much and spill your liquor) The themed pools and splash pads at the resorts provide flotation vests for youngsters and both of my kids were going down the water slides before they turned 3 years old....with me at the bottom to catch them.

As a kid it was awesome. As an adult, I fear it. The thought of standing in long lines in the hot sun just to go on a 2-minute ride sounds not so fun.
I totally agree with you. Long lines are for those who didn't plan. This is where you have to know about Disney and the tricks. If you know how fast passes work and which rides/attractions are the best, you can book those 60 days out when you're staying on site, 30 days otherwise. You book the fast passes...pick a park and book 3 experiences as early as possible...then modify the times to tighten them up. You get to the parks early or when you can if you're more relaxed about it...then ride whatever has the shortest wait times between your scheduled fast passes. Some rides have 5-10 minute waits at various times of the day. Jump on them when you see them....then go on to the fast passes.....get more fast passes, one at a time after you finish the third one. (which is why you book them as early as possible and book the best rides first)

We have 2 kids and rarely stand in any lines more than a few minutes in the ride loading zones. We just don't think it's worth fighting with them and keeping them off the ropes and fences...too much work. ;)
My other advice is to only travel in cooler months. Our favorite months are October and January....80 degrees is nice and 85 is even nice considering how great the themed pools are. We were only at Disney last weekend because we were vacationing in Hilton Head Island the week before and had a few days to kill before we had to be back to work...it was a relaxed 5 hours to jump down to Orlando via car.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kaido

BudAshes

Lifer
Jul 20, 2003
13,982
3,330
146
Avatar isn't even Disney owned and the movie is old enough most kids probably haven't even seen it. How did this even happen?
 

NoTine42

Golden Member
Sep 30, 2013
1,387
78
91
Avatar isn't even Disney owned and the movie is old enough most kids probably haven't even seen it. How did this even happen?
Disney had Star Tours years before they bought Star Wars. A Disney ride doesn't have to be Disney IP (although Disneyland's beginning was Walt Disney promoting his TV shows and movies)

It may have been a reactionary response to Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. (I believe Disney had a shot at Harry Potter, but refused to give JK complete creative control)
There are also 4?sequels in the works, so the movie franchise will potentially relevant to more people.
 

ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
14,946
1,077
126
Well all tha tand the fact that 3? more are coming, I think the first one comes out next year.
 

Tweak155

Lifer
Sep 23, 2003
11,449
264
126
Disney haters just don't know how to have fun. I will definitely go a few more times to Disney World in my life without question, not to mention at least a cruise or two.
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
50,733
6,761
136
Disney had Star Tours years before they bought Star Wars. A Disney ride doesn't have to be Disney IP (although Disneyland's beginning was Walt Disney promoting his TV shows and movies)

It may have been a reactionary response to Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. (I believe Disney had a shot at Harry Potter, but refused to give JK complete creative control)
There are also 4?sequels in the works, so the movie franchise will potentially relevant to more people.

Speaking of Star Tours, somebody remade it in CG for VR:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFYXdoxyJ1E

There's a recording of the original ride by ILM for nostalgia here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nED36n2lVO0
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
Well all tha tand the fact that 3? more are coming, I think the first one comes out next year.
They have so much room for failure though....they invested tens of thousands of dollars in the theme park... If the sequel flops, they may not bother making the rest of them. Harry Potter was following a storyline laid out in the Books....same as Star Wars. I think they're struggling with the content on Avatar because it was loosely based on the Ferngully and Poccohontis, though they'll never admit they ripped off the cartoons.

poca-ava1.gif
 
  • Like
Reactions: dainthomas

quikah

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2003
4,178
729
126
They have so much room for failure though....they invested tens of thousands of dollars in the theme park... If the sequel flops, they may not bother making the rest of them. Harry Potter was following a storyline laid out in the Books....same as Star Wars. I think they're struggling with the content on Avatar because it was loosely based on the Ferngully and Poccohontis, though they'll never admit they ripped off the cartoons.

It doesn't really matter, they can just make up a story in the end if they have to. The eco message of Avatar fits Animal Kingdom quite well, so no matter what happens they can use the backstory.

If the rides are bad or the land is just a blatant movie cashgrab then I would agree with you, there is tremendous danger of failure, but all reviews I have seen do not indicate that.

Almost no one has actually seen the movie that Splash Mountain is based off of, yet it is a very popular ride, because it is fun.