Sorry ahead of time for the length of this post, but it has been a long time coming. I also don't care to get into the whole ticket classification discussion. Early on it was termed a C-Ticket in "leaked" blueprints, so there you go.
I am not going to be trying to sway opinions in any way about this ride. It was constructed in such a way that it will provide for the greatest of rifts in opinions from those that ride it. The ride is not long, and that point alone generates polarity among opinions. All I can add is that there can definitely be a difference in viewing it on YouTube vs. actually having ridden it.
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I won't be putting a lot of photos here as it has already been video-taped and photographed to death. I included the above as an example of some of the Na'vi totem artwork that you can see in the queue. The queue area was supposed to have been constructed by the Na'vi, to allow you to have a point of entry into their culture and their world. That is why it appears much plainer compared to FoP. The design is intricate, however, and I can't imagine the amount of hours it took to hand weave everything. It is supposed to glow at night so I imagine that the queue will be neat to see after the sun sets.
The load area is a load area, so not much to see or report on. However, our group of 4 loved the design of the reed boats. The smaller size makes them more intimate which is fitting for this shorter ride profile.
The first thing that was interesting after the ride started was the argument over whether the first Na'vi character was a screen-based figure or an AA. My wife flat out refuses to believe it is a screen-based figure - but it is. This is where this gets interesting. My wife does not like Avatar in anyway. The other girl we were with had never seen it. And at this point we had already ridden the headliner FoP. I thought that they were going to be let down by this ride, along with my other friend.
Well...it was the exact opposite. They LOVED this ride (their reactions were great to see). They thought that the screens used for the animals, Na'vi, and general creation of depth within the rainforest were all excellent. They really liked the creatures that were hopping on the leaves overhead as they found the interaction of the projections and physical props to be truly convincing. The flora and all of the bioluminescent plants were astounding and well done.
This ride really demonstrates the flaws and shortcomings of the Little Mermaid in NFL. There are no exposed areas in this ride. Every conceivable visible surface is beautiful and covered by something. Imagineering craftsmanship is on full display inside this ride.
And of course they were blown away by the Shaman of Songs. And this is one that didn't thoroughly impress me in the videos as it clearly did other people. And I thought on video her voice came off as jarring and not very enjoyable. In person though, those concerns were all washed away as her voice is much better balanced against the background chorus. I will also say that this AA actually conveys emotion in her face. The range of expressions possible by this figure is staggering. The denouement of this ride, however, is a little uninspiring; but at that point I simply closed my eyes and enjoyed the music until we unloaded. I was glad to hear echoes of James Horner's original soundtrack, as I personally loved it in the movie and it was so sad to hear of his untimely death prior to the completion of this land.
Overall, the four of us loved this ride, including the queue. And for full disclosure, I feel that it only stumbles a bit in the end. The screens though I thought were magnificently done. They were used with a degree of subtlety that I frankly really appreciated. FoP just clobbers you and all of your senses with a sledgehammer (as it should). This ride is a simple ride, where the Na'vi have given you a peak into their mysterious, bioluminescent world. And the screens are hidden within the plethora of physical sets and props, so that you are allowed glimpses of animals and Na'vi, some up close and some way off in the distance. Again, this is done to such great effect that it might not be appreciated by all, but I loved it. It really created the illusion that you were far removed from the familiar, and were given this opportunity for a quaint, private journey into the world of the Na'vi.
