Opened in 2017, Animal Kingdom’s Pandora – the World of Avatar is one of the newest additions to Disney World. It is based off the visually striking world created in director James Cameron’s 2009 epic adventure film Avatar. With floating mountains, waterfalls, a rainforest, and eye-popping flora and fauna, Disney really has brought the world of Pandora seen on screen to life. I was fortunate to see it in the daytime and at night when everything is lit up. It is spectacular at all hours of the day.
Table of Contents
Entrance to Pandora
Once you enter Animal Kingdom, Pandora is located to the left of the Tree of Life. According to Disney’s website, at 12 acres, it is as of this writing the largest addition ever made to Animal Kingdom. This becomes apparent as you enter the area and see just how massive in scope it is.
The entrance is marked by a sign from the fictional organization Alpha Centauri Expeditions detailing what can be seen in Valley of Mo’ara, the main area of Pandora.
Right off the bat, before you even walk into the main area, there are incredible, eye-popping plants all around. These plants, invented by Disney Imagineers, are side-by-side with natural vegetation. They fit in so well and look so real that it’s sometimes hard to tell which plants are real and which ones are not.
Valley of Mo’ara
The second you set foot in the Valley of Mo’ara, it is total immersion. The focal point is the floating mountain range that soars into the sky above. At 156 feet/48 meters tall, the gargantuan structures are capped with green shrubs and have waterfalls cascading down the sides. It is quite a sight to behold.
All of the larger-than-life blooms are astonishing in size, shape, and color. There are many different paths you can take to discover them all.
There is so much attention to detail, and so much storytelling in the design. You really have to look up, down, and side to side to soak it all in. Disney Imagineers traveled to Bali and Jakarta to study landscapes, environment, and architecture of the indigenous people. While there, they learned weaving and carving techniques from local artisans and have implemented it all into Pandora’s designs. Many of the designs in the area are hand-carved.
Make sure you look at everything closely. You can find some really neat things underneath tree trunks and branches.
And it’s not just the flora – even the fauna seem real. I loved these blue snail-like creatures swimming in one of the waterfalls. They spit water at guests every few minutes.
Swotu Wayä Na’vi Drum Ceremony
Disney parks are known for their live performances, and Pandora is no exception. The Swotu Wayä Na’vi Drum Ceremony features three performers who play giant drums in a tree-like structure made of winding roots. The performances are fun, joyous celebrations that get the whole audience energized.
Windtraders Shop
The Windtraders shop is packed with items inspired by Avatar and Pandora.
There are toy banshee birds, glow-in-the-dark clothes, artifacts, backpacks, coffee mugs shaped like the floating mountains, a build-your-own Na’vi-inspired jewelry station, and more.
Spread around the shop are statues and figurines depicting characters and scenes from Avatar.
Also inside the store is the ACE Avatar Maker, a booth where a staff member can scan your face to make you into a poseable action figure inspired by the iconic blue characters of Avatar. Guests select which body type and hairstyle they want, and about half an hour later, they can pick up their specially customized action figure. There are examples set up around the store so you can see how other people’s figures turned out.
Pandora Utility Suit
Right outside the Windtraders Shop is a Pandora Utility Suit just like the ones in the Avatar movie. This was a popular photo op spot. Imagine piloting one of these!
Satu’li Canteen
Though I did not dine at the Satu’li Canteen, I took a peek inside and discovered that the attention to detail is just as strong here as it is in the rest of Mo’ara Valley. The interior is meant to look like a former mess hall. It contains designs inspired by the movie including decorated totems and sinewy root-like chandeliers.
On display are items and utensils the Na’vi would have used to prepare and eat food. Each piece has a placard explaining its use as if it is an artifact in a museum. It was a nice touch!
According to Disney’s website, the restaurant serves beef, chicken, fish, and tofu bowls as well as bao buns. You can see the chefs cooking food behind what looks like a hand-woven partition.
The View at Night
Pandora is magnificent in the daytime, but it is truly otherworldly and magical at night. The plants become bioluminescent and glow fantastic colors against the dark night sky. The floating mountains rising up behind them are bathed in blue light. It feels like exploring a new planet for the first time.
The flowers are beautiful in the daylight, but at night, their vibrant colors really come to life. They truly look like real bioluminescent plants. It’s a breathtaking sight to take in.
Final Thoughts
Pandora is one of the most visually striking areas in Disney World. It looked magnificent in both the daytime and nighttime. It is such an immersive experience, and all of the designs and the flora and fauna look so real and authentic. Next time, I hope to go on the Na’vi River Journey and the Avatar Flight of Passage rides – I’ve heard those are both spectacular.
If you go, have a great time, and be sure to soak in all the incredible details!
(All photos taken by Clara Juliette)
Pin it!
Clara hopes to share her love of exploring cultures and inspire others through the power of storytelling. In addition to writing and travel, she loves psychology, nature, green tea, and cats.