The experience: A realistic science center so immersive that you believe you’ve traveled halfway across the universe

The trick: Several high-tech gadgets and a scarily realistic Na’vi avatar in a tube

Image: DisneyThe final section of the line queue is futuristic and high-tech. It’s the place where scientists honor the work of Dr. Grace Augustine from Avatar, which is to say it’s home to the Avatar Program. Here, people see eight-foot-tall blue striped Na’vi up close.

The most famous of these Na’vi is the one I call Test Tube Guy. When you enter the final portion of the line queue, you’ll see an Imagineered recreation of one of the Avatars from the film. While this isn’t technically the same one called Jake Sully in the film, it’s cosmetically indistinguishable.

Disney worked hand in hand with James Cameron to get the look and feel right on the test tube Na’vi. The water in the giant tube even bubbles appropriately. This animatronic isn’t as animated as you might expect; it basically just sits in the tube and looks all Avatar-y. Still, it’s somehow awesome due to the lifelike detail. When you watch it, you’ll believe that you’re looking at an Avatar that could come to life at any second.

The experience: Feeling like you’re a part of the Avatar Program

The trick: Building the Genetic Matching Room

Image: DisneyOne of the most inventive parts of the ride happens just before you board Flight of Passage. The Genetic Matching Room is where you watch the pre-flight videos that are basically informational in nature. Since not everyone is familiar with the world of Pandora, Disney offers two different instructional videos about how the ride will work. These clips add depth to the story of Avatar, and they also alert people to the novel nature of the attraction.

To hide the extended bouts of narration, Disney offers some clever sleight of hand. This area also hosts the Genetic Matching Room, a shiny distraction that seems incredibly futuristic. A scanner examines your body and then chooses the perfect Avatar for your body type. This choice will vary with repeated rides, and it does impact your flight, at least slightly. More importantly, you’ll feel more engaged since the genetic matching process makes you feel connected to your Avatar, much like Jake Sully in the film.