While visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom recently, we noticed a 25-minute posted wait time for Na’vi River Journey and decided to join the queue. As just one person operating this site, I’m usually running around Walt Disney World from news story to news story, and I don’t often stop to ride rides, especially when the lines are more than 30 minutes. However, I decided to stop and ride Na’vi River Journey during a recent visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and noticed some updated informational plaques in the queue. We’ll also take a look at the dreaded B-mode for the impressive Shaman of Songs Audio-Animatronic.
Updated Informational Plaques in Na’vi River Journey Queue
Unlike the highly themed Flight of Passage queue, the Na’vi River Journey queue is more understated. You’ll walk through a brief winding walkway through some foliage before entering a covered area. A series of switchbacks is protected from the sun and rain, but offers relatively little in terms of “scenes”. During your time in the queue, be sure to check out the plaques installed on handrails. These plaques offer information about the flora and fauna you may spot during the attraction. The informational plaques were first installed back in 2017, but they have since been updated.
The updated plaques now have a stone-like finish versus the old wood look. In my opinion, it offers a bit more contrast, making it easier to read. Here’s a look at the plaques, along with the corresponding flora and fauna from the attraction (where applicable).
Na’vi Woven Map
Na’vi belonging to the local Omatikaya clan created the ceiling of this structure using weaving techniques that have been passed down since their earliest history.
The intricate design is actually a map of the thick rainforest that stretches beyond the Valley of Mo’ara. The blue weaving represents the Kapsavan River, which winds its way through some of the most beautiful areas of the rainforest.
Viperwolf
NA’VI NAME: Nantang
HABITAT: Rainforest and savanna
AVERAGE SIZE: 2.26m long, 1m in height
Often seen along the banks of the Kapsavan River, this nocturnal, six-legged carnivore is similar to Earth’s wolf, and usually hunts in packs. A skilled predator, the Viperwolf has leathery paws and opposable thumbs which allow it to climb trees while pursuing prey. With its mostly black coloring and low-slung head the Viperwolf is able to keep itself well-hidden while hunting.
The Viperwolf can be spotted early on in the ride. Unfortunately, it is simply seen on a screen. That said, the screen is translucent, which means that there is some depth retained in the scene.
Fan Lizard
NA’VI NAME: Kenten
HABITAT: Rainforest
AVERAGE SIZE: 45cm folded, 1m unfurled
Often found on or near large ferns within Pandora’s rainforests, this nocturnal omnivore possesses a unique defensive mechanism against prey. When it’s disturbed the spine-like structure sitting on its back will unfurl into a beautiful bioluminescent disk. The fan lizard will then shoot up into the air and float gently down to a new location.
Guests can spot the fan lizard in a few different spots throughout the attraction. When we rode, the fan lizards weren’t putting on the best show, but they’re typically found gently floating above the boats.
Warbonnet Fern
NA’VI NAME: Eyaye
BOTANICAL INFO: Herbaceous, fern-like plant
SIZE: Up to 7.61m high, 7.67m wide
This cyan iridescent plant is commonly found across Pandora, including along the banks of the Kapsavan River. – The leaves with bioluminescent lines and arrow-like patterns are used for directional markers and navigation, and the Na’vi often use the leaves from this plant for decorative headwear.
Spot the impressive warbonnet fern on the shores of the gentle river that you’re floating down. They are a wonderful addition to the lush bioluminescent rainforest that we travel through.
Panopyra
NA’VI NAME: Tawtsngal
BOTANICAL INFO: Succulent and leafless, attaches itself to plants
SIZE: Up to 8.7m high, 13.2m wide
Panopyra is classified as zooplantae as it has a nervous system that gives it an organic intelligence similar to primitive animals. Its cup-shape catches water and minerals from dew and fog. It usually grows attached to other plants and has vines that can sense and catch its prey. The Na’vi collect the liquid that gathers in it and use it as a healing drink.
A number of large, glowing panopyra can be found in the area.
Located above guests’ heads, the Panopyra is a glowing, half-lilypad, half-jellyfish creature.
Hexapede
NA’VI NAME: Yerik
HABITAT: Rainforest, savanna, mountainous regions
AVERAGE SIZE: 1.7m long, 2.31m in height
Similar to Earth’s gazelle, this six-legged dark blue herbivore is known for its beauty and gentle nature. Its head boasts a retractable membrane attached to twin horns. This patterned membrane serves as a defense mechanism, flashing to make the hexapede appear larger to nearby predators. Hexapedes are often seen in the area surrounding the Kapsavan River.
The Hexapedes are rather elusive, and this was the only somewhat usable photo I could snap of them. Just like the Viperwolf, they’re represented on a screen.
Helicoradian
NA’VI NAME: Loreya
BOTANICAL INFO: Herbaceous plant with nervous system
SIZE: Up to 8m high, 2.5m wide
Unlike anything on Earth, this unique Pandoran plant can reach eight meters in height and grows into a singular orange spiral leaf. Due to an animal-like nervous system it will respond to touch by coiling up and retracting into the ground. This response is both a defense mechanism and a way to trap insects and small animals to feed upon.
Direhorse
NA’VI NAME: Pali
HABITAT: Rainforest and grasslands
AVERAGE SIZE: 4 23m long, 4.2m in height
The direhorse is very similar to an Earth horse and plays an important role in the lives of the Na’vi, who ride on the animal’s back. With six legs and two long, thin antennae on either side of its skull, the direhorse has a gentle demeanor and is adaptable to most Pandoran environments. Spotting dire-horses in the rainforest usually means that the Na’vi are in the area.
As we get closer to the Shaman of Song, we can see Na’vi walking in the distance through the forest. This is where we’ll see the direhorse too, walking with the Na’vi as seen in the background screen of the photo below.
B-Mode Screen Shaman of Songs
In addition to spotting the flora and fauna on the ride, it was our first time capturing the B-mode screen for the Shaman of Songs at the end of the ride. It’s better than nothing, but man, it is a letdown given how wonderful the actual Audio-Animatronic is, and the fact that other “living” creatures seen in the ride are mostly screens.
As we turn the corner, we can see that the Shaman of Songs is not in her normal spot. Instead, there is a hole where she should be, and a screen is set a distance behind her sitting spot. The screen plays a video of the Shaman of Songs going through the motions. The audio remains the same and it appears that the Audio-Animatronic was lowered into the ground.
Here’s a look at where the Audio-Animatronic is supposed to be.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
Hi there! Fun fact: The Shaman sits on a tracked scooter so she can scoot back into a maintenance bay behond the screen when she needs some TLC