The Resorts Gal Guide to Na’vi River Journey at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Na’vi River Journey is an attraction in Pandora, World of Avatar, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This slow-moving boat ride sends guests in search of the Na’vi people who inhabit the area. Below, we’ll discuss the specifics for experiencing Na’vi River Journey during your Walt Disney World vacation.
For starters, Disney describes this attraction as:
On this visually stunning and mysterious river, you’ll glide through a series of caves and into a bioluminescent rainforest, alive with the sights and sounds of exotic plants and creatures on all sides—even overhead. Soon, you’ll join the legendary Na’vi Shaman of Songs, who demonstrates her deep connection to the life force of Pandora—and sends positive energy out into the forest through the power of her music.
Here are a few quick reference details for Na’vi River Journey.
Na’vi River Journey | Disney’s Animal Kingdom |
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Location: | Pandora, The World of Avatar |
Height Requirement: | Any Height |
Lightning Lane: | Yes, through Disney Genie+. |
Early Theme Park Entry: | Yes |
Extended Evening Hours: | Yes (But it’s rare for this park to offer extended evening hours.) |
Ride Type: | Slow-Moving Boat |
Seats Per Vehicle: | Two rows per boat, 2-3 per row |
Rider Switch: | None |
Good For: | Everyone |
Scary Factor: | Low |
Must-Do List: | Medium |
Perfect For: | All Ages |
Special Mention: | Great place to cool off in the heat of the day. |
Additional Info: Guests must transfer from a wheelchair or ECV to board the ride vehicle. An audio description and handheld captioning are available.
Ride Review
Na’vi River Journey opened in 2017 along with the rest of Pandora, World of Avatar. It has a standby queue and a Lightning Lane. The attraction sits near Avatar Flight of Passage.
If you’re using Genie+ and purchasing an individual Lightning Lane for Flight Of Passage, purchasing it around the same time frame as your selection for Na’vi River Journey would be wise. You can then experience both attractions while touring the area.
A few rules are posted at the entrance and throughout the queue. Na’vi River Journey does not have a height requirement. But it’s important to remember Disney’s rules when riding with children. All children under seven must be accompanied by someone who is 14 years or older.
The majority of the queue is under a large canopy, and a few fans blow overhead in the outdoor portion. But it can feel suffocating if you find yourself in a long line during the hottest part of the day. Of course, that’s anywhere outdoors in Florida, not just the Na’vi River queue.
You’ll be assigned a row on one of the reed boats when you get to the ride’s loading area. Each party rides with their group. However, sometimes cast members will pack multiple groups onto the same row. So if you’re a party of one or two, don’t be surprised if you find yourself riding next to strangers. Typically, four people sit in a row, and there are two rows per boat. Two sets of boats load at the same time.
As you float down the river, a pleasant Na’vi tune plays in the background. The banks are surrounded by lush landscaping, flora, and wildlife. These large leaves overhead resemble giant lily pads. Look closely, and you might notice the footprints of creatures who roam the nighttime jungle.
Some of the exotic animals that call Na’vi River Journey home are woodsprites, fan lizards, viperwolves, and direhorses. Below, we see a few in a video projection that serves as one of the background scenes.
Toward the end of the ride, you’ll encounter the Shaman of Songs, who is singing the lyrics of The Shaman Song in the Na’vi language.
As you approach, the chant will become louder, and you will have a close-up view of the incredible animatronic.
You’ll then continue through the caves until you reach the unloading area.
The Resorts Gal Spin on Na’vi River Journey
We give Na’vi River Journey the red light. You’ll want to pause, check out the wait times, and then decide whether or not to proceed. If the line is less than 30 minutes, we would likely wait. But anything over that might not be worth it unless you’ve never experienced it. It’s been our experience that tons of people use Lightning Lane for this attraction. So we often find ourselves waiting in standby longer than usual because so many guests are walking through the Lightning Lane while we wait.
Our main issue with Na’vi River Journey is that the ride lacks a backstory or present theme. It’s a peaceful and calming ride, but most are left wondering if they missed something. Unfortunately, you didn’t.
Our traffic signals:
Green Light:
This is an attraction that you must do regardless of the wait. Or it’s an attraction that we deem suitable to experience anytime.
Red Light:
We recommend stopping to check the posted wait times and making a quick judgment call on whether or not to wait.
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In the Comments
Do you have any questions about Na’vi River Journey? Do you hope to experience this attraction on your vacation? What do you think of the ride? Let us know below in the comments.