In recent months, I have shared details about many of the innovative and creative merchandise products that will immerse guests and connect them like never before to Pandora – The World of Avatar. Today, I’m happy to announce a new way guests can create a truly unique memento at ACE Avatar Maker inside Windtraders. I caught up with Cody Hampton, merchandise product developer, who shared how this experience is connected to this exciting new land.
“We were inspired by the breathtaking Avatar Flight of Passage attraction when designing ACE Avatar Maker,” explained Cody. “During the attraction, guests are connected with an avatar for first-person flight on a banshee over the moon’s incredible landscape. We thought guests would love to see what they actually look like as a human/Na’vi hybrid. Using a digital process, guests can now create and personalize their own avatar action figure.”
At ACE Avatar Maker, the natural feel of Windtraders gives way as guests step into a futuristic transformation booth. Guests are greeted by an Alpha Centauri Expedition Scan Technician who uses a state-of-the-art, facial capture scanner to enter data into the Hybrid Digitizing System.
After an image is captured, guests select their avatar’s body style from four different choices. Both youth and adult sizes are offered. They also choose eye color, facial striping pattern, and hairstyle.
Throughout the experience, the technician shares interesting details about the Na’vi. For example, Na’vi naturally have yellow eyes; or the Na’vi gene for dark hair is so strong that it is always dominant in the creation of an avatar.
Once the customization process is completed, guests receive an ACE identification tag. This keepsake card is used about 30 minutes later at the ACE Avatar Maker Fabricator inside Windtraders where guests receive their completed action figures. Cody told me the packaging was inspired by the Amnio tank that is seen in the Avatar Flight of Passage queue.
We also offer four accessory sets that can be used with the poseable action figures.
Reservations are required for this experience, and can be made on a first-come, first-serve basis inside Windtraders.
