Pandora Spoiler Thread

[RustySpork]

The story is that you are floating down a river in a bioluminescent rainforest surrounded by incredibly beautiful sights. Why do you need more than that?

This obsession with storylines in modern attractions is concerning. Give me a slow moving experience-based dark ride any day. Y'all know that rides like Pirates and Haunted Mansion don't have stories either, right?

The ride is just terrible, it's pretty but it's terrible.

You're in a boat floating down a river completely detached from any story, no inkling of even why you're on the river. There's absolutely nothing in this ride that ties the rider into the story. It doesn't need a "storyline" per se, but it does need to pull you in as though you're part of the ride. This one doesn't even come close.

It's not even as good as it's a small world.

 

[RustySpork]

Yeesh. Yeah I am absolutely on board with pretty much any dark ride, and fine with slow and tranquil, but despite some nice aesthetics this looks utterly underwhelming, especially after all this time.

As for FoP, did they at least figure out a way to not see everyone else's feet dangling within view if you're not in the front row?

It is like Simpsons and Soarin smashed together in 3D on another planet. Dial the awesome to 11 and that's FoP. You won't see anyone's feet, but during certain scenes and in certain positions you might see some people above or below you off to the side. You have to go out of your way to look for them though.

 

[DisneyDrew]

 

[BrianLo]

crappy pics from my i phone 6
no matter what phone you have no pics do it justice, seriously
the ugly mug in the blue shirt is yours truly

So what did you think? In broad strokes.

 

[No Name]

I'm kind of kicking myself for watching that FoP video. Of course, I realize I couldn't have resisted, but now that I've spoiled part of it for myself, it won't be a total surprise when I actually ride.

Oh well. I'll forget it enough by then.

It's not even as good as it's a small world.

Wow, you don't like It's a Small World?

It seems that you have very different tastes. That's all good and fine, but know that the majority of guests will likely disagree with you on Navi River Journey, just as they do on It's a Small World.

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Huh?

What was confusing about that?

The ride is just terrible, it's pretty but it's terrible.

You're in a boat floating down a river completely detached from any story, no inkling of even why you're on the river. There's absolutely nothing in this ride that ties the rider into the story. It doesn't need a "storyline" per se, but it does need to pull you in as though you're part of the ride. This one doesn't even come close.

It's not even as good as it's a small world.

Yeah, you lost me when you implied that small world is also a ride that you find to be boring. Perhaps this style of ride just isn't for you?

 

[WDWTrojan]

Huh?

The concept of Disney parks being in the business of "telling stories" is very much a more modern Eisner-era invention, who believed thats the business Disney should be in. Mansion and Pirates don't tell a linear story, they are a series of show scenes - each immaculately and perfectly themed. Some attractions did have such straightforward stories (Mr. Toads, etc) but more often they did not until the mid-late 80s.

 

[twebber55]

So what did you think? In broad strokes.

broad strokes...
our entire family was blown away by FOP, best ride on property now
land is incredible with beauty and depth (who knew the rocks on sticks would help)
food was fantastic
usage of sound is really well done
NRJ has some neat projection
place is gonna blow up at night in terms of people

 

[RustySpork]

Yeah, you lost me when you implied that small world is also a ride that you find to be boring. Perhaps this style of ride just isn't for you?

By Disney standards Small World is pretty boring, you're in a boat with lots of interesting things to look at. To be fair though, Small World does actually somewhat pull you in to a small degree. I wouldn't say that I don't like this style of ride, because PoTC is excellent. The ride was not engaging. It was nice to look at, and there's neat tech in it, but since there's no story to make you part of the ride, you're just mindlessly looking around at the tech.

 

[twebber55]

By Disney standards Small World is pretty boring, you're in a boat with lots of interesting things to look at. To be fair though, Small World does actually somewhat pull you in to a small degree. I wouldn't say that I don't like this style of ride, because PoTC is excellent. The ride was not engaging. It was nice to look at, and there's neat tech in it, but since there's no story to make you part of the ride, you're just mindlessly looking around at the tech.

i thought Sigourney Weaver narrating the ride would ve helped in explaining what people were looking at

 

[Bob Harlem]

I went yesterday. Land is pretty small overall, like a giant facade for the two rides, but boy is it pretty. My best comparison is that River Journey is a trippy living with the land without the greenhouses (and as close as you'll get to the nighttime look without being there at night). That said, it's a good way to cool off in the summer, but not much else.

I've read a bunch of reviews and accounts of Flight of Passage and after seeing it I have to most agree with the comparisons of it to the Simpsons ride and Soarin'. It feels closer to the Simpsons ride, including the way you get put in little rooms and onto the rdie (and you can see the other pads if you strain to look, just like the Simpsons ride). Effect seems to be a lot more immersive though. I wouldn't call it the best ride ever, but it is is damn good. The 3D I could take or leave, I almost would prefer it without the 3D glasses. Someone that got on it around the same time did throw up, so it may be a mixed bag if you get motion sickness.

I did not try the food, the shop was interesting, and I don't really care for the mini Banshee puppets, but I can see how some people would like them. Overall I spent about 90 minutes there and felt I did ok.

 

[djdan888]

What was confusing about that?



Yeah, you lost me when you implied that small world is also a ride that you find to be boring. Perhaps this style of ride just isn't for you?

I understand what was being said and I agree. NRJ is a really bad ride. I am sorry. I rode it twice. I could see the string holding the little spider creatures and the screens were so obvious. It was sort of a trippy ride with some singing at the end with one nice animatronic as your payoff. Your round the corner and bam, back on the boat loading area. Many were complaining how short it was and how actually quite boring it is. Small World is a better ride. As a dark ride, not even close to being the best dark ride on property.

 

[tribbleorlfl]

crappy pics from my i phone 6
no matter what phone you have no pics do it justice, seriously
the ugly mug in the blue shirt is yours truly

I'm with you on that. I've got a Pixel, which supposedly has the best camera phone ever, and none of my shots or video match what I experienced. Perhaps a wide angle lens would help.

 

[disneygeek90]

Here's a few of my pics from Saturday. When our time slot began, it was pouring immediately. I have to say it kind of added to the ambiance and the stunning atmosphere when I entered, though.

 

[Tom Morrow]

It's a shame that the Fastpass queue misses most of the details, particularly the lab and avatar in a tube. It's like they forget that 80% of the ride's passengers will come from the Fastpass queue. (this is a fact for every WDW ride with Fastpass+)

 

[ChrisM]

crappy pics from my i phone 6
no matter what phone you have no pics do it justice, seriously
the ugly mug in the blue shirt is yours truly

Huh, I figured that guy was Phil Coulson.

 

[RustySpork]

It's a shame that the Fastpass queue misses most of the details, particularly the lab and avatar in a tube. It's like they forget that 80% of the ride's passengers will come from the Fastpass queue. (this is a fact for every WDW ride with Fastpass+)

Tis the life of a fastpass user though.

One of the real benefits of the preview was being able to take your time in the standby queue.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Huh, I figured that guy was Phil Coulson.

His first name is Agent.

 

[Scuttle]

i thought Sigourney Weaver narrating the ride would ve helped in explaining what people were looking at

The look alike for the pre show was lame.

 

[disneygeek90]

I suppose I only got to see the normal queue on Saturday because the ride was backed up. I’m thinking when it went down, they branched us into the normal standby queue to alleviate the line backing up to the front of the entrance. We basically ran through the forest area until we hit a 40 min wall in the lab. I guess it was worth the extra wait to be able to see those areas.