AVATAR land - the specifics

[startraveler]

Okay, I'm starting to get excited it might be opened when I get there. Does anyone have knowledge about accessibility accommodations? I assume there will be a way to avoid stairs, but is there alternative seating for wheelchair users or does everyone need to climb on to a bicycle type seat? Thanks. Got my fingers crossed. I' m one of those weirdos that liked the movie.

 

[Coaster Lover]

The Pandora media event is scheduled for May.

Yeah! I have May 5th in the "guess the opening date" contest, so I might not be THAT far off! Softs by Earth Day possibly?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Pardon my ignorance and lack of searching skills... I haven't kept up with the Avatar plans very well. Are we still expecting one major E-ticket Soarin'+ simulator (with height restriction) plus one family boat ride? Any dining confirmed (or rumored strongly enough to be all-but-confirmed)? We're working out our plans for August and allocating time to DAK is going to be tough.

 

[Master Yoda]

Pardon my ignorance and lack of searching skills... I haven't kept up with the Avatar plans very well. Are we still expecting one major E-ticket Soarin'+ simulator (with height restriction) plus one family boat ride? Any dining confirmed (or rumored strongly enough to be all-but-confirmed)? We're working out our plans for August and allocating time to DAK is going to be tough.

Yes, yes and just quick service.

The environment itself will sort of be an attraction, but that is more of a marketing spin vs what you were asking.

 

[ABQ]

Yes to all three of those. Except not sure about the height restrictions

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Yes, yes and just quick service.

The environment itself will sort of be an attraction, but that is more of a marketing spin vs what you were asking.

Thanks. My understanding is that the environment will stand out most notably at night. With the late sunset in August, I doubt we'll be in the parks much after dark with the toddler.

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks. My understanding is that the environment will stand out most notably at night. With the late sunset in August, I doubt we'll be in the parks much after dark with the toddler.

Well you can depending on the toddler. You generally just have to plan for a more relaxed day after.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Well you can depending on the toddler. You generally just have to plan for a more relaxed day after.

She'll be almost 3 at the time of the trip but she's already been three times. We've experimented with different strategies and "plenty of sleep" has been the only way to keep our sanity. We usually do a 9a - 1p block in the mornings and a 4p - 8p block in the evenings after a good nap. She won't sleep past 7a no matter what we do so she really needs to be in bed at a good time.

Back on topic, should I assume tiered Fastpasses? I'm guessing Flight of Passage, Rivers of Light, and Expedition: Everest as Tier 1 for sure. Kilimanjaro and the boat ride possibly. Everything else Tier 2?

 

[Master Yoda]

She'll be almost 3 at the time of the trip but she's already been three times. We've experimented with different strategies and "plenty of sleep" has been the only way to keep our sanity. We usually do a 9a - 1p block in the mornings and a 4p - 8p block in the evenings after a good nap. She won't sleep past 7a no matter what we do so she really needs to be in bed at a good time.

Back on topic, should I assume tiered Fastpasses? I'm guessing Flight of Passage, Rivers of Light, and Expedition: Everest as Tier 1 for sure. Kilimanjaro and the boat ride possibly. Everything else Tier 2?

Hard to say until stuff opens. That configuration sounds reasonable, but both attractions in Pandora being tier one at opening would not surprise me.

 

[DisneyRoy]

Last I knew there wasn't tiers at Animal Kingdom. Are we thinking they may be added as a result of Pandora opening? Or have we heard confirmation of that?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Last I knew there wasn't tiers at Animal Kingdom. Are we thinking they may be added as a result of Pandora opening? Or have we heard confirmation of that?

Just speculation at this point but I'd be shocked if it didn't happen.

 

[BrianLo]

Just speculation at this point but I'd be shocked if it didn't happen.

Tiers are more for a park with major attraction priority discrepancies or a limited number of sought after FP. I cautiously want to say that while attractions will initially prove very popular, neither is such a capacity mess that people would always prioritize them. Especially with some of the height requirements for Flight of Passage.

Epcot tiers exists because there are really only three desirable fast passes. Which would basically mean a limited number of people would have a great fastpass lineup and a much larger group nothing of value at all. If/when Epcot has two more valuable/desirable FP, I think the tiers will go away.

 

[wdrive]

Tiers are more for a park with major attraction priority discrepancies or a limited number of sought after FP. I cautiously want to say that while attractions will initially prove very popular, neither is such a capacity mess that people would always prioritize them. Especially with some of the height requirements for Flight of Passage.

Epcot tiers exists because there are really only three desirable fast passes. Which would basically mean a limited number of people would have a great fastpass lineup and a much larger group nothing of value at all. If/when Epcot has two more valuable/desirable FP, I think the tiers will go away.

This is what I'm hoping.

More attractions that people want to ride should lessen the need for tiered Fastpass systems.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Tiers are more for a park with major attraction priority discrepancies or a limited number of sought after FP. I cautiously want to say that while attractions will initially prove very popular, neither is such a capacity mess that people would always prioritize them. Especially with some of the height requirements for Flight of Passage.

Epcot tiers exists because there are really only three desirable fast passes. Which would basically mean a limited number of people would have a great fastpass lineup and a much larger group nothing of value at all. If/when Epcot has two more valuable/desirable FP, I think the tiers will go away.

I don't think Epcot has anything to do with it. Animal Kingdom is going to look a lot like Hollywood Studios:

Tier 1
Nighttime spectacular (Fantasmic and Rivers of Light)
Thrill ride with height requirement (Rock'n'Roller Coaster and Flights of Passage / Expedition Everest)
High demand ride with no height requirement (TSMM and Na'vi River)

Tier 2
E-ticket with crazy high capacity so no need to be Tier 1 (Tower of Terror and Kilimanjaro Safaris)

It's obviously not a perfect analogy but I think DAK will look a lot more like Hollywood Studios than it will Magic Kingdom or Epcot.

This is what I'm hoping.

More attractions that people want to ride should lessen the need for tiered Fastpass systems.

Maybe. I think it's more likely that there are a very few attractions (i.e. three of them) that people REALLY want.

 

[BrianLo]

It's obviously not a perfect analogy but I think DAK will look a lot more like Hollywood Studios than it will Magic Kingdom or Epcot.

Maybe. I think it's more likely that there are a very few attractions (i.e. three of them) that people REALLY want.

Exactly. Animal Kingdom already has more than three attractions people want FP for though. RoL/Flight of Passage/Na'vi River Journey are going to be three more. Touring plans actually seem to recommend Kali, Kili and Dinosaur, so now you are talking 7 potential tier 1 attractions, which defeats the point.

I just perceive tiers to be more of a regression than a progression. I'm not sure why people think three more desirable attractions will cause the park to regress in order to properly disseminate FP. The only way is if these new additions collectively increase demand on the park more than they add capacity (both standby/FP+), which unfortunately I don't expect Pandora to be that big. Not to mention the extended park hours, which massively increases park "capacity".


I've at least heard nothing about tier introduction beyond fan speculation.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I just perceive tiers to be more of a regression than a progression. I'm not sure why people think three more desirable attractions will cause the park to regress in order to properly disseminate FP. The only way is if these new additions collectively increase demand on the park more than they add capacity (both standby/FP+), which unfortunately I don't expect Pandora to be that big.

I didn't say I want there to be tiers. It makes planning very difficult. I think you're vastly underestimating what the crowds will be like. Unless they go big with cast and passholder blackouts, I expect near-Potter level madness. No, Avatar is not as big as Potter. But the Disney AP base is much larger than Universal's and they've been waiting for this for a long time. Add cast and DVC to that mix and it's going to be a zoo (pun intended).

 

[BrianLo]

I didn't say I want there to be tiers. It makes planning very difficult. I think you're vastly underestimating what the crowds will be like. Unless they go big with cast and passholder blackouts, I expect near-Potter level madness. No, Avatar is not as big as Potter. But the Disney AP base is much larger than Universal's and they've been waiting for this for a long time. Add cast and DVC to that mix and it's going to be a zoo (pun intended).

Sorry, didn't mean to imply you wanted tiers.

I'm one of the very pro Pandora people, I think that's established. I just think Animal Kingdom is currently so under-visited that it can handle a huge influx without breaking. We've been hearing what a ghost town the place is with the extended hours. It currently has a massive amount of capacity compared to DHS.

Even Potter madness did not break IOA. The rest of the park received respectable dividends, but it was only the land itself that was the true madhouse.


Of course, I'm not talking about week one, or even month one. Week one will always be a mad house, even if Disney gave us a poo emoji spinner it would be madness. That's what AP blackouts are for. I'm talking long-term ops revisions necessitating fast pass tiers. The gains will be healthy, but they won't be Potter.

That's all kind of a compliment to Animal Kingdom, that it is starting at a much more healthy place for a park to be at. To see the effects of an extremely popular new addition on a very unhealthy park, stay tuned for 2020-ish.

It sure would be nice to be wrong. For Disney to learn people actually just want them to add high quality new offerings at a more frequent pace with this land absolutely exploding. I'm an optimist, but I'm not JT.

 

[wdwmagic]

Pandora - The World of Avatar gets an official opening date

 

[Minthorne]

Pandora - The World of Avatar gets an official opening date

I made a special little trip together 5/27 -6/2 hoping this might happen!

 

[andysol]

Hell ya. This land is going to be ridiculous. No other word for it.