Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is, by most accounts, one of the most popular rides at Walt Disney World. From consistently long waits to an experience that is equal parts exhilarating and beautiful, the attraction has been a hit from day one. Often described as Soarin on steroids, the attraction places guests on a link chair that is meant to simulate flight on the back of an Ikran, or banshee. The ride system bounces and tilts to give guests the sensation of flight, but Imagineers wanted to create a more intense version of the ride.

In the finale episode of the intriguing documentary called The Imagineering Story on Disney+, Avatar creator James Cameron talks a bit about the Flight of Passage attraction. “I felt early on that it was too rough, that the ride was too rough”, Cameron said. He went on to say that he felt like Flight of Passage was “trying to compete with hardcore iron rides and hardcore simulator rides for an adrenaline rush”.

While it’s unclear at what point of development this conversation occurred in, it seems like it was after the ride type was settled on. Ultimately, Cameron said that he and Disney found compromise after he asked them to back off on the thrills, saying that they met in the middle between his vision and what the Imagineers wanted.

Having experienced the attraction, it’s interesting to think that there was a more intense version of the ride in development. It’s a very thrilling attraction as is, while still finding balance with calming, gliding portions over beautiful vistas. What do you think? Would you like to ride a rougher version of Flight of Passage or do you prefer it as is?

To stream The Imagineering Story, visit DisneyPlus.com.

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