In this post we give an overview of Na’vi River Journey, a slow boat ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World. We cover the basics of the ride, how to ride it, and our thoughts on the experience. Read on to learn more!
Related Posts
This post is a quick guide to Na’vi River Journey, but we have related content that dives deeper into topics. Our Animal Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lane post covers Lightning Lane strategy in deep. The Animal Kingdom Rides and Entertainment Guide gives brief introductions to all the park’s offerings. For putting together your day at the park, we have a One Day Plan for Animal Kingdom.
Na’vi River Journey Basics
Na’vi River Journey is a slow boat ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Na’vi River Journey:
does not offer rider switch
has a Lightning Lane as part of Genie+
does not have a single rider line
is about 6 minutes long
Because it is a slow boat ride, there are no health warnings from Disney. You can view the official ride page here.
Where is Na’vi River Journey Located?
Na’vi River Journey is located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the Pandora land. Entering the park, you’ll make a left and another left (a left U-turn basically) when you get to the Tree of Life. This takes you to the bridge to Pandora. Stay on your left in the land to get to Na’vi River Journey.
The entrance to Na’vi River Journey is not noticeably marked. There are only two ride entrances in the land, so if you have any confusion a Cast Member should be able to direct you to the entrance, which looks like:
How to Ride Na’vi River Journey
Na’vi River Journey is often a good use of a Genie+ pick. If you have Early Entry and rope drop Flight of Passage, using a Genie+ pick on Na’vi allows you to head to Kilimanjaro Safaris second (thus saving you having to make that Genie+ pick).
Without Genie+ but with Early Entry, it will make sense to ride Na’vi second (after Flight of Passage, presumably) if it has a short wait. Otherwise you might want to head straight to Kilimanjaro Safaris
Without either Genie+ or Early Entry, it can be worth knocking this one out early if there’s a short wait when the park opens, otherwise you’ll probably wait until late in the day. The ride maintains decent waits most of the day if for no other reason than its proximity to the most popular ride in the park (Flight of Passage).
Because it does not have a height requirement, it does not offer rider switch. If you’re visiting Animal Kingdom with a small child this is likely to be a must-do together as a family. It isn’t scary, per se, but it is quite a dark ride.
Na’vi River Journey Ride Experience
This section contains spoilers.
The queue for Na’vi River Journey is pretty simple. It’s almost entirely outdoors. The first part is a path through the Pandora flora, similar to what you’ll find throughout the land. In the main, covered part of the queue you’ll see signs describing the animals you’ll be encountering, along with some woven artistic pieces.
If you’re using the Lightning Lane you’ll skip almost the entire queue, but you don’t have to feel like you’re missing out in our opinion. While it is cool to learn a bit about the species in line, that alone isn’t worth any sort of wait if you can avoid it.
The ride itself is a slow, dark boat ride. Along the way you’ll encounter tons of Pandoran plants and animals. You can watch a video of the ride here.
Na’vi River Journey is probably the most beautiful ride Disney has ever put together (arguably Kilimanjaro Safaris could have that crown). It’s a wonderfully relaxing and enchanting experience. It also ends with one of Disney’s finest animatronics, the Shaman of Songs.
The ride is a bit polarizing, or at least it was when it debuted. Nearby Avatar Flight of Passage is a much more thrilling experience, which left some people wanting more out of Na’vi River Journey.
Of course, not every ride should be a thrill ride. Na’vi River Journey is overall an excellent addition to the park and a great opportunity for people who might not want thrills to experience something special in Pandora.
It’s definitely a must-ride, but it’s important that you go in with your eyes open and ready to take in the scenery. If you sit around waiting for something to “happen” you might not get what you want until the very last scene.
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
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Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World Genie+ and Lightning Lane strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Epcot Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Animal Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, and Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.