The Experience: Bringing the world of Avatar to life

The Trick: Following the advice of James Cameron

Image: DisneyWhen Disney approached the creator of Avatar about an E Ticket attraction, James Cameron had a simple request. He wanted, “Soarin’ over Pandora.” That may seem ridiculous in theory since you undoubtedly know that Flight of Passage is an augmented reality ride on an individual ride cart that’s basically a motorcycle seat. That sounds nothing like Soarin’, right? Well…

The similarities between the two attractions are unmistakable once you know the tricks, and you’re about to learn them right now. Disney did construct Flight of Passage as a kindred spirit to Soarin’. They weren’t about to duplicate the ride, of course, as people expect more from a Disney attraction. As such, the similarities are subtle rather than overt.

The first one is that the ride carts are on different levels. You won’t notice the feet of people flying above you as with Soarin’, but the premise is similar. To offer as much throughput as possible, Imagineers constructed the attraction room to have a tiered stage.

Image: DisneyAs for the ride cart, it’s a contraption that sweeps everyone into the air the way that Soarin’ does, but it mimics the sensation of flight in a similar way. Disney uses augmented (not virtual) reality to create the illusion that theme park tourists are riding creatures that are called Ikran aka banshees Cameron describes it this way:

“You know, riding the Ikran is a thrill. You’re going to plunge. You’re going to dive. You’re going to swoop. It’s like dreaming with your eyes open.”

Imagineer Joe Rohde adds, “In Flight of Passage, the sensation of flying is really visceral, really believable. Not only do you have the more obvious aspects of flying – the swooping and curving – but we’ve put in crosswind, air density and banking.”

Riding a banshee is no different than flying on a hand glider. You’re still hundreds of feet in the air, experience the world in a way that humans can’t on their own. Since Pandora is an alien world, the experience seems different, but the structure is similar. You see a giant projection screen in front of you, and the ride experience twists and turns based on the screen imagery. And since it’s an Avatar ride, OF COURSE it’s in 3D. The augmented reality goggles add depth to the realms of Pandora, making all forms of life seem that much more realistic and, in some instances, dangerously close.

Image: DisneyThat’s not the last Soarin’ trick, either. Disney again uses piped-in smells to accentuate the ride. In the original version of Soarin’, oranges added to the illusion that you were flying through orange groves. During Flight of Passage, you’ll start to smell ember as you approach a volcano. You’ll also receive a gentle spray as you approach the water, another bit transferred from Soarin’. Clearly, the ride is more than just the inspiration for Flight of Passage. It’s a kindred spirit and direct predecessor.

In a way, Flight of Passage is a modern version of Soarin’, which seems odd since Disney just rebooted Soarin’ in 2016. Still, James Cameron’s vision for the ride included that Soarin’ structure, only made to feel more modern thanks to an immersive ride experience based on augmented reality. The signature attraction at Pandora – The World of Avatar takes some of the best ideas from an incredible attraction and elevates them using state-of-the-art technology. It’s easy to understand why Avatar Flight of Passage is one of the most critically praised new attractions of the 21st century. It’s an instant classic.

Image: Disney