Welcome to the Pandora: The World of Avatar information thread!
This thread will be all about the new land within Disney's Animal Kingdom from attraction overviews, FP+ reservation info, dining options, and much more.
An overview of the land
Opening May 27th, 2017 Pandora: The World of Avatar is an 11-acre themed land/area based on James Cameron's Avatar film series. The original Avatar movie debuted in 2009 and is the highest grossing film of all time. The land was first announced in 2011 with construction beginning in January of 2014, with completion May 27th, 2017. The land takes place after the original movie and the upcoming sequels featuring two major attractions, dining options, floating mountains, bioluminescent plants, and Disney's most advanced Audio Animatronic.
Backstory of the land, ships, rides, etc.
https://blogmickey.com/2017/03/offi...ries-attractions-around-pandora-world-avatar/
History of Pandora development
In 2011, James Cameron and Disney teamed up to work on Avatar themed attractions for Disney parks. Originally, Avatar was discussed to go into Disney's Hollywood Studios Studio Backlot Tour. Former Disney COO, and Parks and Resorts Chairman suggested to incorporate it into Animal Kingdom. In September of 2011 the deal was officially announced. The land cost well over $500 million with construction beginning January 10, 2014 in the Camp Minnie Mickey area of Animal Kingdom.
Why Pandora fits in Animal Kingdom
http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/why-pandora-fits-in-disneys-animal-kingdom/
Pandora Attractions
Flight of Passage- A flying virtual reality simulator attraction, where guests wear 3D glasses and learn how to ride a mountain Banshee. The ride has four separate theaters and seats in rows similar to Soarin' at Epcot.
Height Requirement - 44"
Fastpass+ - Yes
Na'vi River Journey- A boat ride through the Kasvapan River showcasing native Pandora plant life, bioluminescence, and the Shaman animatronic, Disney's most advanced animatronic ever created. The Na'vi Shaman animatronic featured within this ride will be seated crossed legged along the riverbank of the attraction, if she were to stand she would reach a height of 10 feet.
Height Requirement - None
Fastpass+ - Yes
Valley of Mo'ara- The valley is where your exploration of Pandora begins. It is where you walk under floating mountains, bioluminescence comes alive at night, and see the Pandora plant life glow.
Walkthrough attraction
ACE or Alpha Centauri Expeditions is a team of explorers, adventurers, and scientists that are bringing you to the world of Pandora. Marshall Lamm is the founder of ACE and spent time living on Pandora.
The Drum Circle show has gotten a new life in early 2018 with a revamped show!
Also check out the all new research suit as part of Animal Kingdom's 20th anniversary April 22nd! This suit has a scientist working it as he talks about the amazing land of Pandora.
As of April 18th according to BlogMickey.com the bioluminescent walkways are being repainted in advance of the 1 year anniversary of Pandora!
VisitPandora.com
Extra Magic Hours!
Both Pandora attractions are open during Extra Magic Hours!
Details regarding aspects within the land
Signage for the attractions within Pandora will be limited and the Navi Totem poles will tell guests what attraction they are entering and where they are going within the land. This is to offer a full immersive atmosphere as the real Pandora would not have signage like that.
Merchandise within the land will only be sold in Pandora, not anywhere else within Animal Kingdom. There will be daytime and nighttime merchandise for guests. Disney branded bags and receipts will not be given out within Pandora. ACE branding will be throughout your adventure.
Plants and Animals of Pandora
Direhorse - Large horselike animal seen in Flight of Passage
Mountain Banshee or Ikran - Large Banshee bird like creature which Flight of Passage is based around
Viperwolves - Small hyena/wolf like creature, can be seen in your journey on Navi River Journey
Hammerhead Titanothere - Double the size of an Elephant, not specifically seen in Pandora the land
Flaska Reclinata - Large interactive plant at the entrance to Pandora
Baja Tickler - Interior of Flaska Reclinata that you can touch in Pandora
Bladder Polyp - Small bluish cone like plants that glow at night
Chalice Plant - large pitcher shaped plant
Helicoradian - Large spiral plant seen opening and closing in Navi River Journey
Panopyro - Large pink floating jelly fish like plant seen in Navi River Journey
Vein Pod - Large oval like plant seen with in the land that glows yellowish at night and has what appears to be veins.
Wilderness Explorers
Guests who take part in the Wilderness Explorers attraction will find two new pages of activities in their books that are within Pandora. No details on exactly what those activities are at this time.
Official Dedication Live Stream May 24th, 2017
#DisneyParksLIVE Will Stream Pandora – The World of Avatar Dedication Live May 24 at 8:10 a.m. ET
Opening day procedures!
May 27th, 2017 Pandora: The World of Avatar opened to the public. Crowds swarmed Animal Kingdom for the highly anticipated land. During this opening the land reached a Phase 3 controlled access closure. During that time only the following guests were allowed in.
Guests with FastPass+ for Pandora attractions
Guests with eDASGuests on VIP/DSA tour
Guests with return times for Avatar Maker
Guests returning for face paint touch-ups
Attractions closed to the general guests around 7:00PM (as of May 27th, 2017). Attractions then reopened for resort guests using EMH between 10:30PM and 11:00PM. A line of resort guests using EMH stretched back to the Festival of the Lion King queue.
Backstory and key details within the land from @Tonyz
1. The Valley of Mo’ara’s “floating” mountains aren’t exactly floating, but there’s a backstory for that. These mountains were floating but have crash landed onto the ground where they now rest. You can see the water stains from the waterfalls are actually askew, showing what orientation the mountains used to be in before they fell.
2. How do humans breathe on Pandora? As guests enter the land they encounter a large plant known as the Flaska Reclinata (or Baja Tickler). The plant is interactive and responds to guests touching it. The plant is one of many that helps detoxify the atmosphere, helping humans breathe in the otherwise poisonous air. Smack the glowing insides of the massive plant pod, set up by the Na’vi, and it spews steam and water.
3. Pandora is filled with lots of real waterfalls, but there are also two fake ones located near the very top of the very back of the land, on the facade for Flight of Passage. They fall slower than real water of that size to make them appear farther away and bigger, selling the idea of forced perspective.
4. You can find some squirting aquatic creatures in a lagoon opposite Flight of Passage. The aquatic creatures skate around on the surface of the water and if you come close they may feel threatened and spray you. And right behind those squirting creatures, if you look close enough, are some giant bugs.
5. In front of the Na’vi River Journey, just to the right of the main ride entrance, are a collection of large footprints embedded in the ground. These are full grown Na’vi footprints.
6. There’s a downed helicopter across a stream, covered in so much moss and vines you may miss it. This is a relic from the battle between the Na’vi and humans now rotting away and reclaimed by nature.
7. There are blue feather plants called puffball trees, and they get larger by absorbing toxins from their environment. They will burst once they are filled.
8. Listen to the background sounds: Hear an animal call out on your left and then hear an animal respond on your right. When the sun sets, the wildlife really gets loud.
9. There are 20-foot-tall woven totems throughout the land to represent different clans of the Na’vi.
10. As you’re exiting Flight of Passage, in the corridor on the lowest level, you may see three handprints in red paint. These are the handprints and initials of James Cameron, the director of the Avatar film, Jon Landau, producer of Avatar, and Joe Rohde, lead Imagineer for Pandora and all of Animal Kingdom.
A few for Satu'li Canteen and Pongu Pongu:
1. A tribal overlay has been given to what appears to be an abandoned, military mess hall, home to Satu’li Canteen, furthering the story of Pandora through setting. There are textiles of an alien tribal nation hanging from beams and standing in corners.
2. Shelves in the Canteen are filled with Na’vi cookware and utensils. Ten-foot “pillars” stand throughout the restaurant, some with rounded tops, others with more ornate prongs. These are Na’vi tools used for grinding berries and other food items in bowls.
3. Pongu Pongu (which means Party Party in Na’vi) is decorated with old military parts that have been turned into art. New signs are remade out of old signs that were once used by the military. See animals made from old metal parts. Gears and knives turned into colorful decoration.
4. At Pongu Pongu you will see a bunch of RDA Identification tags hanging up, and if you look closely you may even see one for Imagineer Joe Rhode.
Holidays in Pandora!
The Magic of the Holidays Meets the Magic of Nature in a Whole New Way This Year at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
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. Hope that helps with capacity.
As the DIS' Pandora expert, you did an amazing job!!
