Avatar: The Line

We're still waiting in line to go on the big Avatar ride in Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park here. This ride is new and popular so there's no Fast Pass yet for it. It's cool because there's a lot of neat stuff to check out in the line queue.

When the line enters the research facility, you know you're getting close! Well, not that close. According to the time-stamps on the picture files, there was still about fifteen minutes until we got on the ride. It seemed like longer though.

This part of the line wrapped around various research desks with all kinds of random science desk stuff. Check out that tiny floating rock! It's in the middle of this picture, see it? I know you're distracted by the enormous jar of pee.

Do you think they coordinated this with real scientists, or did they use the it-just-looks-cool method?

There was a clever mirror and magnet effect here that made the pointy metal sphere appear to be floating around in this capsule. You could kind of tell what was going on but it still looked really neat.

Oh! Big blue guy in a tank! That's what they call an "Avatar!" This ride lets you um, be one of those things, I think.

Random science person desk. Just snap a picture and check it out later for "Easter Eggs?" Not sure what I'm looking for here.

Busted! I see the same book twice on these shelves. Who has two copies of the same book? I guess those could have been Xmas presents, where two different people gave them the same gift, and that's how they wound up with two of the same book. Does that make this more realistic?

Giant screen shows fake random park guests enjoying the research of riding the banshees. Cheesy but neat.

Giant art on the wall. We're almost in the ride! That's going to be us in a minute or so.

Okay we're on the ride. The explanation video is part of it, and the less you know going in, the better experience you'll have. I'll just simply say it was okay. If you go to the Animal Kingdom park, this is something you must do, and don't let the long line wait scare you away.

The ride exits into the gift shop, of course. This place still feels like it could be in the Avatar world but also like it typical gift shop, too.

They have a scanning tech that will make you an action figure of your very own Avatar! Like what YOU would look like as a big blue creature. Maybe I should have asked if the tech could work on Minty, wouldn't that be awesome?

I guess these things are called "Wood Sprites". I like the Alpha Centari Expeditions logo in the corner, like this is a real thing from the future.

This purse is good for holding all of your blue makeup. Might be a little small, you're going to need a ton of blue makeup.

Floating rocks mug. Haha was this in the background of the move somewhere?

These plushies were adorable! I might have gotten one if given a few more moments of thought. Maybe next time.

I should point out that like the Star Wars merchandise, these Avatar items are only available in this one place. So if you want something make sure to get it while you are here. It won't be in Disney Springs like you think it will.

Plush Banshee! What was the thing from the movie about picking your personal Banshee? It's been a while since we've seen it. You probably should re-watch it before you come here.

Here's the cool looking action figure version. Gotta have the "roaring action". Does sound count as an action?

 These are the big expensive puppet Banshee figures. They sit on your shoulder and a wired handle controls the movements. Looked pretty cool.

 These things looked really cool but we're not quite big enough fans of this movie to get one. Maybe when the sequels come out...

I'm not going to use the word "bust" to describe this statue in the gift shop. Because like the blue aliens from the movie, it's not wearing a shirt. And you can clearly see her um,... bust. Oops, I said it.

Outside the gift shop is the big evil mech suit the villain was stomping around in. All decked out with Xmas lights. Pretty sure that's not how it looks all year long, but really cute to see right now.