My Problem with Na'vi River Journey

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[rattyeely]

I think adding a narration track would be a really simple fix for this ride. Get one of the people who played the scientist in Flight of Passage, and have them explain that you're trying to find your way to this super important Navi music ceremony but you have to go by river. The one Navi figure is implied to now be trying to stop you/disapproving of your journey, adding some tension. Along the way, the narrator gives lore about the difference Pandora life forms you're seeing. And then at the end you finally do find the Shaman of songs.

[droowpy]

I personally think that River Journey could’ve gotten away with a lack of story if it was just at least 4 minutes longer. Floating around Pandora is super cool and I like that it’s a ride that just exists on vibes and vibes alone, but it’s just too short.

[inkwadnito]

The weird thing about River Journey is that it didn’t feel like a true river ride. It felt like we were being pulled on a motorized track, not ‘floating’ down a river.

[danielaviera]

I have a cheaper fix: in the queue add info about the spiritual practice of meditation, and have people do breath work to the beat of the music on the ride. That sets the mood for the ride and adds an educationally element that turns a mid ride into an excellent meditative experience

[matthodgeto]

When I rode the ride for the first time a year ago, we were looking forward to the animatronic, and were telling others in our party about how it was the most advanced one Disney had ever made. Then, when we got to that part of the ride, it had been removed for maintenance and was replaced with a digital projection.

[singserpent]

Disney really needs to stop being lazy and use more practical effects. We NEED more practical effects, NOT digital ones, please.

[friendlyneighborhooddisnerd]

I 1000% agree. I've always felt that Na'vi river journey was too reliant on projections. I'm a little worried that Tiana's Bayou Adventure will have those horrible projection-faced animatronics. I really hope that doesn't happen.

[Glormoni]

I think what also gets me about River Journey is how often the animatronic goes down for maintenance. With a ride hinging on a grand finale like the Shaman, it makes me feel actively irritated on the ride when I FINALLY get to the Shaman after waiting for 2 hours, and I’m greeted with a projection on a screen instead. It makes me feel like the whole time was wasted when I could’ve been doing anything else whatsoever and had a better use of my time.

But then again, it seems like Disney is okay with letting animatronics see better days and with how ridiculously complicated and, I imagine, expensive the Shaman is to maintain, I feel like making sure the grand finale is up at all times isn’t the highest thing on their priorities list.

[MrBeardsley]

My sister’s family went to Disney World last spring, her and her husband’s take on Navi River Journey was basically “it was dark and relaxing, we wished it was longer, ” and my then 7yo nephew’s take was “I don’t remember that one.” So not exactly ringing endorsements.

[ZOB]

"It's very clearly a showcase of technology and special effects, but there's nothing to sort of go around that, no secondary draw" is exactly the problem with the Avatar movies in the first place.

[whit-ness]

Having the ride lead to that single animatronic is even more of a letdown when the ride is in B-mode. The last time I went to Disney I rode it on two different days and she was down both times. ):

[emilyzugay]

Digital effects date themselves so fast😭. I really hope that Tiana’s Bayou is filled with life and physical sets!

[xenyakodo]

I feel like a really easy option to tie the ride together would be to add a few small animatronics of a single small Pandora creature which starts by running up to the boat near the start, and then fleeing various predators alongside the river, before hiding in the comfort of the Shaman’s grotto at the end. This would give something to draw the eye and give a feeling of progression. The theming of the environment would make it really simple to conceal tracks for the animatronic to run along, and the scenery can be used to naturally hide sections where one version of the creature is replaced by the next. It also gives a better use of the projections, as the prey creature could react in real time to the big beasts being depicted - giving them a better connection to the physical set. Don’t mind me, though. I’m just an ideas guy.

[dc_mischief]

I love your idea of a Na'Vi holiday as the story line. Maybe something that encourages the healing of the planet after RDA left? Something to celebrate Pandora's vibrant and varied life? We could call it... Life Day!

[MollyKillers]

Back in the good old days (2019) my family went to Disney World and we got lucky as the night before our Animal Kingdom day I was checking stuff out on the app and an early fast pass opened for Na’vi River Journey. Our fast pass was for about an hour after the park opened. As we got near the land we saw a cast member with a sign saying the line for the river ride started here and they were telling people the wait was almost four hours. We walked into Pandora and onto the ride and as we got off and walked back into Pandora my mother turned to us and said something I still believe. She said “that was an okay ride… if I had to wait four hours for it it wouldn’t have been but as for us it was okay”. I haven’t ridden the ride again since that first time but that’s still how I feel. It was fine and I don’t regret riding it but I also probably wouldn’t ride it again unless it was a walk on situation.

[smalls]

I always forget about the corkscrew on Living With The Land. Must be because the Gs always make me black out.

[foxyfoxington]

My biggest problem with the river journey is the glaring lack of Aang.

[wolfstriker]

"Wait, what day is it today? (sees its the 28th of Jan) OH SON OF The closest Dallin has come to swearing.

[areynaschmidt]

Wow, you put all of my thoughts into words. I used to do figure finishing (overnight artistic maintenance) at DAK and I have such a deep love for Pandora and the Shaman specifically 💙 I wish her surrounding ride would support the incredible marvel that she is!

[IcyDiamond]

Me and my family has only ever gone on this ride once on all of our Disney trips, because we’re always so focused on getting onto Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest, to be fair we usually only go to Animal Kingdom for like a day, but still