Na'vi River Journey reviews, comments and questions

Cesar R M

Cesar R M

Well-Known Member
MichWolv said:
I rode the River Journey twice. Yes, I'd like it to have been a bit longer, but I think the larger deficiency is the "what the heck is going on" element. It could be fixed by on board audio, by signs in the queue, by a welcome message from the Navi delivered via screens in line, or even by an informational pamphlet from the PCI. As is, there's really no possible way to figure it out even if you try, until you ride the thing. And even then, it's not quite clear. The lack of story didn't bug me, but the lack of context did. The "Field Guide" provided a bit, but I'd have liked more.

That being said, I enjoyed it, and I think it's exactly the type of ride DAK needs -- friendly to all ages, no scare or thrill, interesting things to see, and indoors.
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I wonder why they dont just add a small glass with a projector (emulating a 3d projector of star wars) that shows the ACE boss, narrating certain parts of the ride and acting like Bear Gills "and oh wow! theres a special species to your left!".
 
DisneyJunkie

DisneyJunkie

Well-Known Member
Cesar R M said:
Incorrect, because int he majority of the times.. you only see the POV of what the videomaker wanted. A video is a fixed representation of a fixed POV.
If the videomaker decided to just look at the left,you will lose all the center and right parts. If you look at the center, you will miss some on your left and right.

This is in no way a representation of the experience in person. Where you can tune your eyes and move you around.



Ok, we get it. You do not like slowrides, you like action and trill rides. Good thing theres expedition Everest and Kali for you!
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Often, the video of the ride captures exactly what is necessary to get the gist of it. The little side, peripheral details generally have no bearing at all on anything; at least not enough to alter the original feelings. Particularly is this true when the videomaker is aware of trying to bring in as much of the attraction as they can instead of the sole, head-on view.
 
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JimW

JimW

Premium Member
DisneyJunkie said:
You are the incorrect one. Often, the video of the ride captures exactly what is necessary to get the gist of it.
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I think the key word here is often. Knowing that I'd be riding this ride during the previews, I intentionally avoided the ride videos so that I wouldn't come in with any expectations. I rode it. I'm still conflicted about the ride. My earlier posts regarding the ride reflect that.

However, I would strongly disagree that a video of this ride There are so many visual elements going on that a person couldn't possibly experience it all during a single ride. That remains true after a second or third ride.
 
DisneyJunkie

DisneyJunkie

Well-Known Member
JimW said:
I think the key word here is often. Knowing that I'd be riding this ride during the previews, I intentionally avoided the ride videos so that I wouldn't come in with any expectations. I rode it. I'm still conflicted about the ride. My earlier posts regarding the ride reflect that.

However, I would strongly disagree that a video of this ride There are so many visual elements going on that a person couldn't possibly experience it all during a single ride. That remains true after a second or third ride.
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I certainly agree that there are probably other little details here and there that are missed by a simple video viewing. But, I believe the video (as I said) captures the gist of what you can expect from the attraction: A slow-moving boat ride, sans any narration, with some beautiful light effects and a highly advanced animatronic figure.
 
JimW

JimW

Premium Member
DisneyJunkie said:
I certainly agree that there are probably other little details here and there that are missed by a simple video viewing. But, I believe the video (as I said) captures the gist of what you can expect from the attraction: A slow-moving boat ride, sans any narration, with some beautiful light effects and a highly advanced animatronic figure.
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Sorry if I missed this, but have you ridden the ride?
 
Dizney Crew

Dizney Crew

Active Member
I think for the most part YouTube POV's do most rides justice, honestly I "rode/watched" the NRJ about a dozen times before actually riding it, and honestly I'd say the videos covered about 90% of what you see on the ride. Either way watching the YouTube video's don't make me not want to ride anything, even if a ride looks lousy in a video I still want to experience the ride for myself. Just my 2 cents on the topic
 
DisneyJunkie

DisneyJunkie

Well-Known Member
Dizney Crew said:
I think for the most part YouTube POV's do most rides justice, honestly I "rode/watched" the NRJ about a dozen times before actually riding it, and honestly I'd say the videos covered about 90% of what you see on the ride. Either way watching the YouTube video's don't make me not want to ride anything, even if a ride looks lousy in a video I still want to experience the ride for myself. Just my 2 cents on the topic
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Thank you. I've ridden certain attractions and viewed them on YouTube, which forms the basis of my opinion. It doesn't always work, such as with rides like Space Mtn, RnRC, ToT, and so on that are partly based on building up excitement and giving you an adrenaline rush. But it pretty much always works with the slower attractions like Buzz, Peoplemover, IaSW, and now with NRJ. And even with NRJ, I'd ride it at least once to see if the experience matches the impression from the video.
 
JimW

JimW

Premium Member
DisneyJunkie said:
Thank you. I've ridden certain attractions and viewed them on YouTube, which forms the basis of my opinion. It doesn't always work, such as with rides like Space Mtn, RnRC, ToT, and so on that are partly based on building up excitement and giving you an adrenaline rush. But it pretty much always works with the slower attractions like Buzz, Peoplemover, IaSW, and now with NRJ. And even with NRJ, I'd ride it at least once to see if the experience matches the impression from the video.
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I agree with you on almost all fronts, except for NJR. For me, there's enough going on that requires lateral head movement which may or may not be caught on video.

I decided to not watch any videos of the ride before I rode it for myself. Afterwards, I watched a variety of ride videos. Almost each one revealed something that I missed during my original ride.

In the end, I get how someone might decide to dismiss this ride without actually riding it. However, I would understand how someone may appreciate it after riding it.
 
Cesar R M

Cesar R M

Well-Known Member
JimW said:
I agree with you on almost all fronts, except for NJR. For me, there's enough going on that requires lateral head movement which may or may not be caught on video.

I decided to not watch any videos of the ride before I rode it for myself. Afterwards, I watched a variety of ride videos. Almost each one revealed something that I missed during my original ride.

In the end, I get how someone might decide to dismiss this ride without actually riding it. However, I would understand how someone may appreciate it after riding it.
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Splash Mountain requires you to turn your eyes to the sides a lot too.
Same with the mine train.. having the scene of the cave pretty continuous with the chars moving on both your sides.
 
JimW

JimW

Premium Member
Cesar R M said:
Splash Mountain requires you to turn your eyes to the sides a lot too.
Same with the mine train.. having the scene of the cave pretty continuous with the chars moving on both your sides.
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I agree with you, Cesar. Both of those rides require you to look around. I'm sorry if I gave any impression to the contrary.
 
Daveeeeed

Daveeeeed

Well-Known Member
I would like to put my thoughts in here as I have actually ridden it (Sunday May 28th).

First of all very cool technology for the ride, but its "look at that" style does not work as the ride is far too short. Frozen: Ever After at least benefits from it being a bit more fast paced. The eye candy is wonderful, but your craving so so much more. As a C-ticket, this ride is decked out for sure. Winnie The Pooh for instance doesn't feel too short though, and I think it's just because River Journey is gorgeous to look at.

I will say though that I loved how it was not a book report ride, and the discs were actually a spectacular effect. Not to mention the Shaman AA.

But it was too damn short... too me this is a C-ticket that is almost a D albeit a super detailed one unlike Peter Pan etc, but I'd still never wait more than I would for Pooh for this too. To point out a couple of other negatives I also feel the Shaman AA was haphazard more so than Kong at IOA -- to the point that I honestly thought 15 seconds more of just eye candy after it could have helped a ton. The first NA'VI AA I don't know if it was just because it just opened, but it looked really bad... but the other screens worked pretty nicely with the surrounding environment. The waterfall was superb actually!
Again, had it had a story or a longer ride time it could have helped make this a D in my mind.

It also felt more Fantasyland style with its queue... reminded me of the short, but pretty ones in Disneyland Paris' Fantasyland for SWSA & PDJ, as minor dark rides while Flight of Passage may have the best queue in Orlando. I never thought I would say this, but I honestly think Frozen: Ever After is a superior attraction.

But NA'VI River Journey is a fantastic C-ticket (though it doesn't feel like a D I suppose you could call it that, but then I suppose it wouldn't be a very good D, right?), but I would never wait more than 30 minutes for it even in the busiest times of the year much like I wouldn't for Snow White's Scary Adventures. It does help fill in that indoor family ride C-ticket gap that Animal Kingdom has always had. But now the park needs a true E-ticket zero height requirement family ride more than ever now, so I am excited for the park's future.

If they decide to go the IP route... a Jungle Book ride with Shanghai Pirates tech would be awesome... or for a short height requirement, an indoor "cable car ride" in Africa would be neat!

To summarize, I think NA'VI River Journey is underwhelming, but on the bright side I would say Flight of Passage more than makes up for it. Now FoP is an out of this world ride!!!

Of course this is my opinion and I hope you all make your own, but it's almost offensive hearing people say that the land is going to be utter trash and that people are being paid/silenced. That is not true, and I for one just admitted its faults, but I also think it is one of the best lands in the world now.
 
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Magenta Panther

Magenta Panther

Well-Known Member
^I bet Iger will never okay a Jungle Book or Pride Lands ride. They're too Disney, and Iger hates Disney.

Iger: "Tangled? Ehh...give it a bathroom. "Frozen"? Yep, international phenomenon, but just shoehorn something about into Norway. I mean Norway has snow, right? Relevant enough. It's just a dumb Disney cartoon anyway. Lion King? A theater with puppets will do - much cheaper than AAs, and hey, the movie is 2D. So irrelevant, so yesterday. I mean, why should be spend real money on something like that when we haven't even updated Peter Pan's Flight? So what if it's popular, let the dumb rubes stand in huge lines to get into it and stare at a tinfoil volcano - suckers! Who cares about all that old junk in the vault? They're all part of that old dead guy's legacy.

"Now as for MY legacy...all my brilliant purchases - we're talking WHOLE LANDS, people! Marvel! Star Wars! Stick the latter into the Animation Courtyard - who cares about animation, even though it's what built this company that pays me more in one year than that old dead guy ever got in his life! And I bought the rights to use Avatar! Put it in AK - the alien blue kitty cats are, like, animals, right, and also mythical, kind of? Close enough! Screw Beastly Kingdomme! I'm so edgy and 'with it'. I'll even stick minor Marvel characters into the Tower of Terror, one of Imagineering's masterpieces, but heck with that, it doesn't sell enough merch! Merch and platforms, and brands, that's the focus, people! And raising park prices and squeezing the park guest out of every cent they've got - uh, I mean, offering new features consisting mostly of cupcakes. Let the rubes complain - long as the stockholders love me, who cares?"

As a Simpsons episode, Iger practically writes himself.
 
britain

britain

Well-Known Member
I don't know how I got this idea, but I thought NRJ included Shanghai pirates "front of boat is on different track than back of boat" system. As I see in these videos, it looks like traditional flume system.
 

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