Will the popular Flight of Passage attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom receive an update? It’s possible according to recent comments from Avatar: The Way of Water director James Cameron.
In an interview with Variety, Cameron said that he has spoken to Disney CEO Bob Iger about updating Flight of Passage with a new story. Cameron’s response below followed a question from Variety about a water ride coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in honor of the new film.
“When Bob Iger came back a couple weeks ago, I did send him an email and say, ‘You know, we can do “Avatar 2” and 3 motifs and put them into the physical hardware of “Avatar Flight of Passage.” “He liked that idea. So nothing has been decided. But, you know, we would like to carry that along and update it from time to time with things that flow back out of the new movies. Because I think there’s a good synergy between the physical base where you can go and just kind of meditate and be on Pandora and how the movies progress the story and bring in new imagery.”
Updating Flight of Passage would be a relatively simple task compared to other attractions. Flight of Passage is all about placing a guest on the back of an animal. What that animal is, or what story it’s involved in, can change depending on what’s on screen. Obviously, it’s a bit more technical than that, but updates to the pre-show videos, the main video, and the other effects would be all that’s necessary.
Theoretically, Flight of Passage could operate like Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Star Tours is a more basic motion simulator that places guests in a random series of Star Wars scenes. That randomness has kept the old attraction fresh, and makes repeat rides much more enjoyable. Flight of Passage could surprise guests with each visit – will you ride a banshee or some sea creature?
We’d like to see a new attraction added to Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom instead of an addition or a replacement of the experience at Flight of Passage. A third attraction was rumored to be in Pandora long before it ever opened, but that was reportedly cut due to budget concerns.
Is the release of Avatar: The Way of Water (and upcoming releases of more Avatar movies) enough reason to add a third attraction?
