Pandora: The World of Avatar Announcement, Construction, & Preview Discussion

[Alicia]

I captured the moment I adopted my banshee on video. I've uploaded that while I'm working on my full video, photo report and review. Thought I'd post it here so you can see the adoption process, and the Banshee pledge. (Sorry, it's kind of hard to hear. The store was packed!)



I'll post some pics and my review in the review thread when it's all ready, probably tomorrow.

 

[Mad Dog]

I fall on both sides of the fence on this one... Plants or Potter... heaven!

I guess if they planted a couple of Palm Trees in front of Gringotts, you'd have any easy decision.............By the way, they were planting all new trees on Portofino's Piazza while we were there. The replacements seem much fuller & larger then what was there previously.

 

[jtsalien]

The beers sound bitter not hoppy.

The Grog Ale isn't too bitter. But it still gets a big old Meh from me. If you've bought overpriced green beer on St Paddy's, you've had this beer already.

 

[Brian G.]

I asked one of the CM's at Satu'li about the Country Ale and he said it was hoppy.

It was not.

It was fine, but they need to learn their beers.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I asked one of the CM's at Satu'li about the Country Ale and he said it was hoppy.

It was not.

It was fine, but they need to learn their beers.

As someone who enjoys DANK JUICY OPAQUE DIPAS yeah "hoppy" usually means bitter or flavor. I still want SNW to have Konkey Dong from HHB as their exclusive beer....

 

[Mad Dog]

I asked one of the CM's at Satu'li about the Country Ale and he said it was hoppy.

It was not.

It was fine, but they need to learn their beers.

Was that the same CM that dresses up as Peter Cottontail for Easter?

 

[jtsalien]

I asked one of the CM's at Satu'li about the Country Ale and he said it was hoppy.

It was not.

It was fine, but they need to learn their beers.

I will say a CM helped me pair the perfect sauce with my beef bowl. So they're not totally useless right now

 

[Teebin]

I captured the moment I adopted my banshee on video. I've uploaded that while I'm working on my full video, photo report and review. Thought I'd post it here so you can see the adoption process, and the Banshee pledge. (Sorry, it's kind of hard to hear. The store was packed!)

You lost me with this one Alicia... I winced, rolled my eyes and pursed my lips at this video. And don't get me started on the damned pledge malarkey...

I suppose it was the best that Disney could come up with in lieu of not having a wand that selects you...based on set-in-stone canon...

:saywhat:

 

[Alicia]

You lost me with this one Alicia... I winced, rolled my eyes and pursed my lips at this video. And don't get me started on the damned pledge malarkey...

I suppose it was the best that Disney could come up with in lieu of not having a wand that selects you...based on set-in-stone canon...

:saywhat:

Oh the pledge and "adoption" process is dumb... But I love the looks of jealousy on everyone's faces when they see the banshee on my shoulder around the park. It's really fun to play with while waiting in lines too. Of course, I love puppeteering, so that may have something to do with it.

 

[rhino4evr]

I asked one of the CM's at Satu'li about the Country Ale and he said it was hoppy.

It was not.

It was fine, but they need to learn their beers.

I find that 90% of the restaurant server population still have no idea what an IPA even is. I think the word "hoppy" is even used in the menu description of the green beer.

I used to "inform" servers about the difference between beer styles, but the misses told me it embarrasses her, so I hold my tongue.

Interesting that it's Terrapin brewed. I was expecting something brewed in Florida.

To add more complaining...

It drives me kind of crazy that restaurant managers spend so much time training their staff about the food and their wine list, but for some reason the beers are never properly explained to most servers. I've seen this mistake at all sorts of restaurants, even so called "gastropubs". If I ask for a something hoppy and you recommend a blue moon, we are gonna have problems.

 

[rhino4evr]

Oh the pledge and "adoption" process is dumb... But I love the looks of jealousy on everyone's faces when they see the banshee on my shoulder around the park. It's really fun to play with while waiting in lines too. Of course, I love puppeteering, so that may have something to do with it.

no doubt these will be a HUGE hit, and will be seen all over Orlando, not just at WDW.
that being said..having to take a "pledge" actually makes me NOT want to buy one, as it seems like a giant waste of time. I don't like wasting time, or pretending to care about some form of marketing spectacle to help sell more dragon puppets.

As Teebin says, the wand choosing makes sense on a "story" level in the Potterverse. This just screams "Me too!"

 

[Alicia]

no doubt these will be a HUGE hit, and will be seen all over Orlando, not just at WDW.
that being said..having to take a "pledge" actually makes me NOT want to buy one, as it seems like a giant waste of time. I don't like wasting time, or pretending to care about some form of marketing spectacle to help sell more dragon puppets.

As Teebin says, the wand choosing makes sense on a "story" level in the Potterverse. This just screams "Me too!"

If you're in a hurry they will let you just grab one and go to checkout. I'm pretty sure the adoption process is more about teaching you how to use the controls than anything. Making me promise to protect the environment is a little heavy handed, and I wonder if that part lasts very long with the line backups this creates.

 

[jtsalien]

So I'll post a more detailed review in the thread. But very quickly:

• Pictures do no justice. Very impressive in person.
• I echo everyone else, hands down best simulator in Orlando.
• FoP pre-show looks cool, but boy is it painful to watch.
• River Journey is neat, but underwhelming.
• Beer was mediocre, bowl was pretty good.

So worth the time and money? Probably not. But a solid to very good addition nonetheless. Look forward to coming back.

 

[Teebin]

It's really fun to play with while waiting in lines too.

What did you do with the puppet when you went on attractions, if that is what the lines were for?

 

[Alicia]

What did you do with the puppet when you went on attractions, if that is what the lines were for?

Back in his box in the bag... But for future trips, he will fit in the on-board storage compartment for Dinosaur and Everest by himself no problem. Probably just keep wearing him for Kilimanjaro. For FoP he just goes in the cubbie of course.

I was able to fit the entire box with him in it in the on-board storage bag on Dinosaur, so no one should have any issues with them at Animal Kingdom.

 

[SpyderDan]

If you're in a hurry they will let you just grab one and go to checkout. I'm pretty sure the adoption process is more about teaching you how to use the controls than anything. Making me promise to protect the environment is a little heavy handed, and I wonder if that part lasts very long with the line backups this creates.

Wow, really? Borders a little too much on brainwashing to me lol.

 

[Mr. EPCOT]

I saw that, but he stated they had better beers at the Nomad? That's Lager city.

I love me some Kungaloosh!

 

[rhino4evr]

If you're in a hurry they will let you just grab one and go to checkout. I'm pretty sure the adoption process is more about teaching you how to use the controls than anything. Making me promise to protect the environment is a little heavy handed, and I wonder if that part lasts very long with the line backups this creates.

well that's good to hear. Not to be difficult, but lecturing me about the environment while handing me a toy made of plastic (I assume) is kind of silly.

I care about the environment, but being at a theme park isn't really my idea of having an "eco-friendly" vacation.

I wonder how many of those dragons will end up at the lost and found at the end of the day? Seems like it will be an easy item for kids to "forget" in those storage bins.

 

[Alicia]

well that's good to hear. Not to be difficult, but lecturing me about the environment while handing me a toy made of plastic (I assume) is kind of silly.

I care about the environment, but being at a theme park isn't really my idea of having an "eco-friendly" vacation.

Oh boy, then do not walk into the Circle of Life show in The Land at Epcot. Whoa boy, you think this is some hypocritical b.s., let us not forget Simba lecturing Timon and Pumbaa on the dangers of building a resort in a show at a park in the busiest resort in the world!

Hey, at least you can donate a dollar and get a conservation pin from any vendor in DAK and they match it towards conservation efforts (as well as conservation education, like this!)

 

[tielo]

Hey, at least you can donate a dollar and get a conservation pin from any vendor in DAK and they match it towards conservation efforts (as well as conservation education, like this!)

So that's how they pay for land outside WDW to exchange it to ruin it at WDW. That is smart although not why Walt bought it. They paved paradise to put up a parking lot, roads and an area to light up fireworks.