Na'vi River Journey reviews, comments and questions

[Dutch Inn '76]

I think that is one of the worst ways, and keep in mind I haven't ridden it nor am I disagreeing with you - just making a point, to describe a ride: "It's a great place to take a nap/break in the A/C and get out of the hot Summer sun!"

To illustrate this:

Haunted Mansion:
People ride this ride because it's a great ride. Yeah, it may get them out of the heat and into the A/C but, mostly, they're riding it, even repeat riders (especially repeat riders) because: The Haunted Mansion is awesome!

Ellen's Universe of Energy (granted, closed now but for contrast): Your first time visitors to WDW are probably staying awake on this ride and trying to take it in. Repeat visitors see it, I'd argue mostly, as a place where they can take a break, cool off from the Summer heat, and maybe sneak in a nap. That speaks volumes about that ride.

When your ride is no more interesting than an air conditioned warehouse with cots and a 45min countdown timer you have a problem - a huge one. I really can't think of another attraction at another, non-Disney, park where people openly talk about getting out of the heat and sneaking a nap in.

Almost as bad: American Adventure. I like American Adventure. I actually don't go into it seeking A/C and a nap but, man, that attraction will lull me to sleep every time.

I think their point was that it's a bad ride - not that they wanted a place to take a break. When you get around to seeing it, you will agree.

Does anyone really go in an attraction solely to take a break??

 

[Brad Bishop]

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I think their point was that it's a bad ride - not that they wanted a place to take a break. When you get around to seeing it, you will agree.

Does anyone really go in an attraction solely to take a break??

No, I think people literally go (went) to Universe of Energy for naps/AC. I know I did. I've heard others on this board who've said the same. I agree that it's a bad ride, though, no matter how you mean the, "It's time for a nap on Universe of Energy"...

 

[MisterPenguin]

No, I think people literally go (went) to Universe of Energy for naps/AC. I know I did. I've heard others on this board who've said the same. I agree that it's a bad ride, though, no matter how you mean the, "It's time for a nap on Universe of Energy"...

We've used Ellen's specifically for naps. As soon as the lights went out, we lied down to sleep. It was refreshing.

 

[KBLovesDisney]

We've used Ellen's specifically for naps. As soon as the lights went out, we lied down to sleep. It was refreshing.

Back when Universe of Energy was new-ish with Ellen's Energy Adventure, it was a sight to see. But as time passed, along with several generations of cell phones (noted in one of the first cameo's of "Dream Ellen"), it got outdated. Don't get me wrong though. I loved the ride system and always though it was pretty cool, but after awhile it got to be a good "nap" go to ride in the park.

 

[JohnD]

Back when Universe of Energy was new-ish with Ellen's Energy Adventure, it was a sight to see. But as time passed, along with several generations of cell phones (noted in one of the first cameo's of "Dream Ellen"), it got outdated. Don't get me wrong though. I loved the ride system and always though it was pretty cool, but after awhile it got to be a good "nap" go to ride in the park.

I rode it one last time before it closed. Except for the dinosaurs, the rest of the ride was moving into different auditoriums watching a continuation of Jeopardy. "Boredom for $1,000, please Alex."

 

[KBLovesDisney]

I rode it one last time before it closed. Except for the dinosaurs, the rest of the ride was moving into different auditoriums watching a continuation of Jeopardy. "Boredom for $1,000, please Alex."

The dinosaur diorama was my favorite part...and was the only part I was really awake for...

 

[Brad Bishop]

The dinosaur diorama was my favorite part...and was the only part I was really awake for...

I liked the dinosaur diorama, too. I was never even a dinosaur-kind of-kid. I just thought that, and as mentioned above, the "moving theater" bit were pretty neat. The Ellen stuff was OK but didn't do a lot for me.

Getting back to American Adventure: I like that attraction and really try to stay awake but the whole thing is like some grandmother putting a warm shaw around me and gently rocking me to sleep. I actually don't think I've made it through that attraction without nodding off (not purposely) since the early 1980s.

 

[KBLovesDisney]

I liked the dinosaur diorama, too. I was never even a dinosaur-kind of-kid. I just thought that, and as mentioned above, the "moving theater" bit were pretty neat. The Ellen stuff was OK but didn't do a lot for me.

Getting back to American Adventure: I like that attraction and really try to stay awake but the whole thing is like some grandmother putting a warm shaw around me and gently rocking me to sleep. I actually don't think I've made it through that attraction without nodding off (not purposely) since the early 1980s.

After 'Drinking Around the World', my SIL passed out in American Adventure.

 

[Dutch Inn '76]

It's funny that we all pine for the old Epcot; but other than Spaceship Earth, UoE was the only (mostly) surviving ride from the opening - and people used it for naps.

I guess that tells ya why Epcot is going in a different direction.

 

[gustaftp]

When your ride is no more interesting than an air conditioned warehouse with cots and a 45min countdown timer you have a problem - a huge one. I really can't think of another attraction at another, non-Disney, park where people openly talk about getting out of the heat and sneaking a nap in.

I actually think that the lack of anything that is quiet and pleasant and a way to get off your feet for awhile is somewhat of a problem at non-Disney parks. Universal seems to think they have to ratchet the excitement up for almost everything, which really just gets tiring. I don't like being overstimulated, and sometimes need a break. People need a place to recharge for a bit while touring the parks. So I don't see it as a huge problem -- as much as Ellen overstayed her welcome there.

 

[Dutch Inn '76]

I actually think that the lack of anything that is quiet and pleasant and a way to get off your feet for awhile is somewhat of a problem at non-Disney parks. Universal seems to think they have to ratchet the excitement up for almost everything, which really just gets tiring. I don't like being overstimulated, and sometimes need a break. People need a place to recharge for a bit while touring the parks. So I don't see it as a huge problem -- as much as Ellen overstayed her welcome there.

Ain't that the truth! USO is practically a torture chamber. The rides are so rough...

 

[JohnD]

I actually think that the lack of anything that is quiet and pleasant and a way to get off your feet for awhile is somewhat of a problem at non-Disney parks. Universal seems to think they have to ratchet the excitement up for almost everything, which really just gets tiring. I don't like being overstimulated, and sometimes need a break. People need a place to recharge for a bit while touring the parks. So I don't see it as a huge problem -- as much as Ellen overstayed her welcome there.

I'll find that out soon. As I'm going to Universal for the first time in several weeks.

 

[gustaftp]

Back to tho Na'vi River Journey - why do people feel the need to be directly hit over the head with a "story"? Can't it just be beautiful for the sake of being beautiful?

I waited to explore Pandora until dusk/dark. It made for a very natural transition to get on this ride, which simply seemed to be a continuation of the exploration I was already doing, just on a boat instead of on foot. I think my jaw needed to be picked up off the floor of the boat. It was 100% pure eye candy, and I enjoyed it tremendously. I thought it was very well-executed. Sometimes rides with storylines can tend to be rushed with plot points, so it was nice to have a ride in which I could just soak in all the rich details.

Perhaps it is just because the time of day I visited, but I consider it to be an exploration of the richly-detailed Pandora land you are already in. It doesn't need a "story" - you are left to draw up a story, much the same as if one was to float down a river in their own land.

Creating something beautiful for beauty's sake isn't a bad thing, in my opinion.

 

[Cesar R M]

We've used Ellen's specifically for naps. As soon as the lights went out, we lied down to sleep. It was refreshing.

Imagine the opportunity to rehash a similar ride, but with dream based ride.. to really get you to nap for a bit..
and sell it for a few bucks extra while your kids have the fun outside

 

[Herah]

Back when Universe of Energy was new-ish with Ellen's Energy Adventure, it was a sight to see. But as time passed, along with several generations of cell phones (noted in one of the first cameo's of "Dream Ellen"), it got outdated. Don't get me wrong though. I loved the ride system and always though it was pretty cool, but after awhile it got to be a good "nap" go to ride in the park.

Ellen didn't have a cellphone. That was a cordless landline. Cellphones in 1996 were small flip phones, and didn't work well indoors.

 

[KBLovesDisney]

Ellen didn't have a cellphone. That was a cordless landline. Cellphones in 1996 were small flip phones, and didn't work well indoors.

So...it was more outdated than I thought .

Landlines still exist?

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

We rode for the first time this past Tuesday. We had a FP for 1:05-2:05, used it at around 1:45. It had a 75 minute wait at the time. Definitely enjoyed its impressive effects, beautiful vibrant colors, soothing music, and LOVED the animatronic at the end. In the (probably waaay far off) future if it had less than a 20 minute wait, we would wait and ride it. Can’t imagine spending another FP on it. It just didn’t do much for us. A ride on YouTube is good enough.

 

[SuperStretccch]

It's funny that we all pine for the old Epcot; but other than Spaceship Earth, UoE was the only (mostly) surviving ride from the opening - and people used it for naps.

I guess that tells ya why Epcot is going in a different direction.

Don't forget Living with the Land, which I really hope stays or gets plussed rather than being replaced. I enjoy it and it's pretty much the last piece of original Future World besides SSE.

 

[KBLovesDisney]

My cell phone in 1995 (when Ellen's Energy Adventure film sequences were made) was MASSIVE.
View attachment 288348

Remember carphones? Those things had the best reception and you never lost a signal.

 

[djdan888]

It is such a letdown after experiencing FoP. I really feel like all energy was focused on FoP and River Journey was an afterthought. We know Disney can do great dark rides . Even IASW has more movement and color, and variety than this. No excuse for not having more variety and more animatronics. Not sure why the wait time is always at 75 minutes. I would figure word of mouth would have gotten around by now.