Let’s take a peaceful journey, friends, to Na’vi River Journey.
This slow-moving boat ride may not be the biggest thrill in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but it provides a calming break from the crowds (and the heat!) while you cruise through Pandora. And while the animatronics are top-notch (and it SMELLS amazing), this ride just isn’t some people’s favorite. In fact, a TON of you guys told us that Na’vi River Journey wasn’t great — but others insisted it was elite. So…is Na’vi River Journey Disney’s most divisive ride?
We decided to get to the bottom of this mystery! We asked a bunch of our readers on Twitter whether they loved or hated this trip through the bioluminescent rainforest. And we got a LOT of great responses!
People seem to really love or hate Na'vi River Journey – what about you? pic.twitter.com/bjY35XpXSP
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) March 24, 2021
Others mentioned that it just wasn’t something they were keen to ride again, calling it a “one-in-done.” One reader acknowledged that it was “beautiful, but once was enough for me.” Another response made us chuckle, classifying “it’s a small world” as a more repeatable ride. Whatever floats your boat, right (get it)?!
And lastly, some of our readers thought the ride was just plain BORING. Ouch! One specified, “It’s always been a bit boring to me but we still ride it if we have time.” That’s fair! Another explained that while “the Shaman figure is AMAZING, she’s pretty much the only thing worthwhile about the ride.” Guys, no matter how you feel about Na’vi River Journey, you’ve gotta acknowledge that the Shaman of Song animatronic is seriously impressive. Right?
Okay, let’s look at the flip side! Those in camp Na’vi seemed to have one general opinion: that the ride was super peaceful. One called it “a great ride to just tune out the outside world for a few minutes.” Between the darkness and soothing music, it does seem like a great place to close your eyes and breathe! Another reader insisted that “it’s as close to meditation as you’ll get in the parks.” So if ya need some time to yourself in Animal Kingdom, it seems like you can just head over here!
Readers also pointed out that it’s a great option for “little kids that can’t handle Flight of Passage.” If the big thrills are a little too much, Na’vi River Journey still offers immersive theming and a taste of Pandora for the simulator-averse.
And lastly, there was a group kinda in the middle. The “meh” group, we’ll call it. And as one reader put it, “How do you love or hate the most ‘meh’ ride in WDW? It just isn’t….anything. Not inspiring enough, not cool enough, not thrilling enough, not thematic enough.” Some of you guys just didn’t feel passionate enough about this ride to pick a side! It just exists — and that’s a-okay, too!
No matter how ya feel about this ride, it seems like you’ve got a group of people on your side! The overall opinion on Na’vi River Journey seemed pretty split. Is it boring or relaxing? That’s up to you! Let us know what YOU think, and stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news!
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Are you a fan of Na’vi River Journey? Let us know in the comments!








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