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Na'vi River Journey is an attraction in the Pandora section of Disney's Animal Kingdom.

History[edit]

Although a land based on the James Cameron film Avatar was original announced in 2011 ^[1]. It was not until the D23 Expo in 2013 that guests began to get an inkling of the attraction that would eventually be known as the Na'vi River Journey ^[2]. At this time, Tom Staggs announced that in the new land, guest would be able to "wander through a nighttime jungle of bioluminescent plants that are alive with light and sound. ^[2]. By November 2016, Disney announced that the D-Ticket boat ride attraction would be titled Na'vi River Journey, and that it would be a family friendly alternative to the E-Ticket Flight of Passage ^[3]. When discussing the boat ride attraction, production designer Joe Cashman explained:

On May 27, 2017, Na'vi River Journey officially opened to guests ^[4]. Since opening the attraction has not seen any major changes.

Plot[edit]

The Na'vi River Journey begins with guests boarding reed boats and heading into the depths of a mystical rain forest. After being granted passage by a Na'vi warrior, the boats set off in search of the Shaman of Songs. Inside the biolumenecent rain forest, guests come face to face with viperwolves, Woodsprites, flying fan lizards and panpyra, all while the ethereal music of the Shaman can be heard in the distance. Back in the forest, guests also see Na'vi warriors riding by on the back of horse-like creatures. At the climax of the attraction, guests encounter the Shaman, who performs her musical ceremony as they pass by.

Fun Facts and Trivia[edit]

• Disney partnered with Panasonic in the creation of the projections used in the Na'vi River Journey ^[5]

• The Shaman of Songs animatronic is the most advanced animatronic Disney has ever created ^[6].

References

1. ↑ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/09/avatar-coming-to-disney-parks/
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/09/avatar-coming-to-disney-parks/
3. ↑ http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/avatar/news/06nov2015-disney-unveils-new-details-and-concept-art-for-navi-river-journey-coming-to-pandora---the-world-of-avatar.htm
4. ↑ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/02/just-announced-pandora-the-world-of-avatar-will-open-may-27-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/
5. ↑ http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/avatar/news/04jan2017-panasonic-and-disney-form-strategic-alliance-for-projection-technology-at-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-resort.htm
6. ↑ https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/29/15702592/pandora-world-of-avatar-navi-river-journey-ride-review