Avatar Flight of Passage

Avatar Flight of Passage is a 3D flying simulator attraction within Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Set in the Avatar universe, the attraction allows guests to take flight on a native mountain Banshee and soar across the landscape of Pandora.[4]

Avatar Flight of Passage
Avatar in the standby queue
Disney's Animal Kingdom
AreaPandora – The World of Avatar
Coordinates28.3554°N 81.5921°W / 28.3554; -81.5921
StatusOperating
Soft opening dateMay 26, 2017 (2017-05-26)[1]
Opening dateMay 27, 2017 (2017-05-27)[2][3]
General statistics
Attraction type3D flying simulator
DesignerWalt Disney Imagineering
Lightstorm Entertainment
ThemeAvatar
MusicJames Horner
Simon Franglen
Duration4.5 minutes
Height restriction44 in (112 cm)
Audio-animatronicsYes
Fastpass+ available
Must transfer from wheelchair
Assistive listening available
Closed captioning available

Development

Work on Avatar Flight of Passage began in 2012 and involved staff from Walt Disney Imagineering, LEI (Lightstorm Entertainment Inc., co-founded by James Cameron), and Weta Digital. All of the footage in the ride is original, with Executive Producer Amy Jupiter revealing, "Everything you see in the attraction’s main show was original to this production. We were fortunate to be able to use the model and texture assets from the first film during our templating/visualization process. We were also able to use animation cycles for our [background] characters."[5] Weta Digital provided the main ride film footage.[6]

Ride experience

In the attraction's storyline, the humans and Na'vi are attempting to restore the banshee population to natural levels, after the mining tactics caused by the Resources Development Administration generations prior. Alpha Centauri Expeditions (ACE) has reactivated the avatar program through the Pandora Conservation Initiative as a method of conducting research, and allows guests to link with an avatar to fly on an Ikran (known as a "Banshee" by humans) to partake in the Na'vi's tribal coming-of-age tradition.[7]

Set within the remains of a former Resources Development Administration facility, the attraction invites guests into the ACE lab where guests are linked to an "avatar" and fly aboard a banshee across the Valley of Mo'ara.[8]

Warning cards

On February 27, 2018, after four incidents had occurred,[9][10] Disney added warning cards for riders before entering the ride. The cards were similar to those on Mission: Space and warned riders about fear of heights, motion sickness, and the seating restraints.[11] These cards were removed in late 2018 and have been replaced with a pre-recorded message which communicates similar information to guests. The message plays only in the queue room immediately before the ride experience.

Reception

Avatar Flight of Passage was ranked in the Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards for best new ride of 2017 with 15% of the vote, to come in second place.[12]

Golden Ticket Awards: Best New Ride for 2017
Ranking
2[12]

References
  1. Wolf, Colin. "Disney's Pandora: The World of Avatar is now in soft-opening mode". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  2. "Pandora – The World of Avatar to Open May 27, Star Wars Lands Coming in 2019 - The Walt Disney Company". The Walt Disney Company. February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  3. Smith, Thomas (February 7, 2017). "Just Announced: Pandora – The World of Avatar Will Open May 27 at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  4. Graser, Marc (December 10, 2014). "'Avatar' Ride Coming to Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom". Variety. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  5. McGowan, Chris (June 25, 2018). "AVATAR: FLIGHT OF PASSAGE: A Cinematic, Multi-Sensory 3D Experience That Soars". VFX Voice. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  6. Murphy, Mekado (July 31, 2017). "Inside Avatar, the Theme Park Version". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  7. Porges, Seth (April 26, 2017). "Everything You Need To Know About Disney's New 'Avatar'-Themed Land". Forbes. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  8. Martens, Todd (April 29, 2017). "What it's like to walk, ride and fly through Disney World's new Pandora park". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  9. "Disney's Avatar Ride causes woman to pass out, according to new report of theme-park injuries". Fox News. July 19, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  10. "Disney: 2 health issues reported at Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom, report says". Orlando Sentinel. January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  11. "PHOTO: Guests Riding Avatar Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom Now Given Warning Cards". WDW News Today. February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  12. "Park and ride winners" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
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