I can not believe it's been a whole year since the opening of Animal Kingdom's Pandora: The World of Avatar. To celebrate below there this new Disney Parks tribute video, along with one of my first videos discussing our first thoughts on the park's opening day. Disney Parks has put together an awesome video, Pandora - The World of Avatar: From Beam Signing to One Year Anniversary documenting the land from its beginning through its first year. With some insights from a bunch of Imagineers. I love hearing them talk about this place. You can really get the feel of how much they've poured their hearts into it. I'm absolutely crazy about this land. I checked out my old video below, & I'm just as blown away now as I was day one. Pandora has become my biggest highlight at the parks. The immersiveness is insane. You truly feel transported. The video's long, & you can definitely tell it's one of my firsts, but check it out if you want a full rundown of the park. As well as some insight to how insane a Disney Park opening day can be.
Can't Go To Pandora? Check Out The 360 Video!!
Disney Parks just put out this awesome 360 of Disney Animal Kingdom's Pandora: The World of Avatar. I fell completely in love with this place from my first visit on opening day. If you can't see this wonder, take some time to check it out in the amazing 360 video. It's so awesome we have the ability to do things like this now. Throw some VR goggles on & this is the closest thing you'll get to being there yourself. This is by far the most immersive attraction I've ever seen to date. This land plucks you out of the real world, & tosses you right into an alien planet. Love this place! Check it out, & let me know what you think. Put it in the comments, like, & share.
Something New Walking Around Pandora: The World of Avatar
It's no secret how much I love Animal Kingdom's Pandora: The World Of Avatar. Ever since opening day, this has become one of my favorite places in the world. Or off the world, however you look at it. The level of immersion is nothing short of spectacular. My last visit I noticed something though. Besides the Drum Circle, there's no interaction with natives of the land. It's in Disneyworld, so shouldn't there be some kind of characters roaming around? Well as usual, Disney must have heard the thoughts in my head because this just popped up today. That cool power-walker thingy everyone takes pics with? Now it looks like someone will be walking one through the park. Or a toned down version at least. Talk about a awesome photo op. I just wish we all got the pleasure of manning one of these now. I at least want one for home. That thing's friggin awesome. There's also a making of the exo-suit video explaining why this one is different from the more war-monger like exo-suits from the film. All in all, it makes one of the most immersive lands I've ever seen, even more so. What do y'all think though? Excited to see some life on Pandora? Put it in the comments, like, & share.
New Disney Attractions Win Thea Awards!!
I didn't even know this was a thing until today, but apparently it is. There's not only a Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), they also give out awards. Awards for, go figure, themed entertainment. And obviously if I just heard of them, that must mean Disney has won some of said awards. Orlando Sentinel reports that Disney has picked a handful of TEA Thea Awards. First, Frozen Ever After, in EPCOT won for outstanding achievement in "attraction reimagining". Originally this was my favorite ride in EPCOT, the Maelstrom, a journey through Norway, populated by trolls. I wish I could say that this ride wasn't half the ride Maelstrom was, but I can't. This reimagining is truly amazing. The animatronics are the best I've ever seen, & the story is told flawlessly throughout the ride. Next, they picked up a couple for Pandora - World of Avatar, in which we detailed our own opening day experience here. Not only was the new addition to Animal Kingdom recognized for outstanding achievement in "theme-park area development", Flight of Passage was also recognized for it's achievement, going on to say it was "flawlessly executed". We've made it back to Pandora since opening day, & I must say, I was just as blown away the second time around. As for Flight of Passage? "Flawlessly executed", as great as that sounds, is still an understatement. That might be one of the most thrilling experiences I've ever had. Truly out of this world. Disneyland got a little love too. With Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: Breakout, the remixed Tower of Terror in Disney's California Adventure was also recognized in the "attraction reimagining" category. Even though I'm not a fan of being dropped, much less repeatedly, I always do something once. I really do want to check this out, I love me some Guardians of the Galaxy. It'll be awhile before I make it out there though. Anyway, congrats to Disney for winning these well deserved awards. The achievements recently made by these parks, is the main thing that keeps me excited to see what could possibly be coming next. With Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge & Toy Story Land right around the corner, I can't wait. What do y'all think of these awards though? Any thoughts on any of these attractions? Put it in the comments, like, & share.
Na'vi Drum Ceremony Full Of Energy In Pandora - The World Of Avatar
This was a really cool show. There's a lot of energy displayed at this drum show used to tell the stories of the Na'vi people. Everyone can get involved too. This is one more thing, right center stage that adds to the total immersing feel that you're in another world. If you haven't seen this, check it out. Let me know what you think of it in the comments, like, & share. Speaking of Pandora, you can see more in all of it's opening day glory from our visit here.
Disney Parks Puts Out "The Making Of Pandora" Video
This video was really cool. I could watch a whole video on how this place was made. Those floating mountains are a thing of wonder in themselves. It's bad, because part of me wants to see the ends & outs of how it all works, & the other part wants to keep the magic secret. Pandora: The World of Avatar in Disney's Animal Kingdom is a truly beautiful thing to experience. This also gives you a really good look at the two attractions as well. Give it a look, like, share, & don't forget to check out all of our opening day Pandora: World of Avatar adventures. Just click here.
The Beautiful Landscape Of Pandora: World of Avatar
This is definitely the most immersive "land" Disney has ever created. After you cross the bridge from the Animal Kingdom into the Valley of Mo'ara from either side, you feel as if you've been transported to another world. The attention to detail in making this place seem alien is totally on point. From the floating mountains to the flora everything is so realistically otherworldly. There's a giant towering plant that not only gives off a strange mist periodically & glows, it also has a heartbeat that responds to touch. Na'vi tribal art decorations are littered everywhere in the form of paintings & giant totems. Waterfalls are abundant through out the land, some falling to nowhere. There's an ACE presence as well. In the Flight of Passage there are "airlocks" cut into the mountain leading to a lab. The restaurant, like the store, is part hut, part "space station" pieces. On top of this, a giant piece of the park land is set aside for brightest glowing pathways & gardens. These are the real stars of the show at nighttime when Pandora goes all bioluminescent. It is a breathtakingly beautiful sight to behold. Here's some galleries of The Valley of Mo'ara at day, night, & inside the mountains. I can't wait to come back here on a less crowded day & really soak it all in. For all our Pandora: World of Avatar opening day adventures up to date click here. Don't forget to like & share.
Valley of Mo'ara (Daytime)
Valley of Mo'ara (Nighttime)
Valley of Mo'ara's Caves
Pandora's "Windtraders" Officially Out Of Pet Banshees
According to Chip & Co. the newest must have toy has sold out at 10.45am exactly one week after the parks opening. No word when they'll be back in stock. That's a shame because these things are amazing. This is the most entertaining toy I've ever took home from Disneyworld, & I once brought home a Deluxe Edition Black Series Kylo Ren Lightsaber. I've never got more attention than when I take this little guy out & about. I've had numerous people ask if it was real, take pictures & video, & just straight up run away in fear. Little kids even ask to pet it. It's so much fun to create that sense of wonder in people. They run at what I feel was a very fair price of 49.95, with an option to buy a "perch" for 14.95 so your new pet can be comfortable. Then working like a puppet you can move its, head, mouth, & wings. I'm pretty sure the batteries are not required for movement. However, it does make growling & screeching noises, which I think they're there for. Funny side note, it was so loud in the store we didn't even know it made said noises until we made it back to our hotel room. Here's hoping they get their stock up on these as soon as possible, as this is a sad thing to miss out on. Check out the details of our Pandora visit here.
"Pandora: World of Avatar" The Merchadise
"Merchandising, merchandising, merchandising!" That's what it's all about according to Yogurt of the all-time classic Spaceballs. And in Disney's Animal Kingdom, Pandora: World of Avatar doesn't come up short in that department. With a handful of items located in the two main stores of Animal Kingdom, all the good stuff is reserved for Windtraders. That's the resident store as soon as you cross the bridge into the Valley of Mo'ara. This is where they keep all the cool stuff such as the banshees, custom Avatars, Na'vi language translators, glow in the dark stuff, & much, much more. The store set-up is really cool. There's a banshee "aviary" of sorts to the left as you walk in, where you can "bond" with a banshee. Basically, you get to walk a tree-like wall of banshees to pick the won you're feelin the most. Once you find one, a assistant helps you learn the process of making it "come to life". Next to this, there's a spot where you get facially scanned. This is used to get an action figure of yourself as a Na'vi Avatar. I saved this for the next trip, but it is something I still definitely want to do. The rest of the store is set up with a jungle trading post vibe. In addition to the stuff I've already mentioned there was toy weaponry, candy shaped as random Pandoran bugs & such, passports, an assortment of plush, clothes, tapestries, & pretty much anything you could put Pandora on. There was even a place where you could put together a Na'vi tribal necklace. Not to mention every Disney Park must, Ears. There is not only a set of Na'vi ears, if you really want to go all out you can even get a tail. I had mentioned before there were constant waits to get into this store, but it was worth the wait. This place contains the most awesome merchandise in Disney Parks right now. Until Star Wars land opens up at least, then we'll just have to see. Anyway, like, share, & follow us on social media. We've got another installment on Pandora: World of Avatar coming. This one will be on the landscape of the park both at day & night. We'll also have a sit-down on YouTube to discuss everything we did on opening day, as well as some hands on with some of the merchandise we picked up. For now though check out this gallery of shots of the merchandise of Pandora. The quality of some are not so great, but I wanted you to be able to see as much as possible. For more opening day Pandora: World of Avatar click here.
Let's Talk About The Rides Of "Pandora: World of Avatar"
There a two ride attractions located in the Valley of Mo'ara. The first of the two we got to experience was the Na'vi River Journey. This was a boat ride, much like Pirates of the Caribbean or It's a Small World. However, it takes place through the much alive, bioluminescent night landscape of Pandora. Featuring viperwolves, direhorses, fan lizards, & more. This is the ride that ends with a full-size Na'vi Shaman chanting. For which the animatronics are bewildering. This is the realest audio-animatronic character I've ever seen. Walt would be very proud of this achievement. The use of screens (which I usually think is a big cop out in Disney rides) is awesome. The screens almost feel layered so you're looking at a 3-dimensional character. I don't know if they were, or they just had that good a picture, but I was impressed nonetheless. This is definitely a sight to see. Just another taste of how much they take you to another world. Check out my ride through on YouTube here.
The second ride might have been one of the most intense things I've ever rode in my life. Don't consider that an exaggeration either. You can see in corner of the picture below the device you spend the ride in. This is your "banshee", your vessel to experience Flight of Passage. It kinda resembles a futuristic motorcycle of sorts. You get in the back come up from behind to secure you. You place on your 3D goggles, & as the door lifts up you "sync" with your animal. To signify this you go through a quick plasma-like wormhole of sorts. From that point you even feel your banshee breathing between your legs. The 3D is sharp, no falters at all. If you've ever rode Soarin' at Disney's EPCOT you kind know the basics of this ride, ultra-real simulator complete with air, scents, & even water in places. Except for one major difference, this is Soarin' with a dose of rocket fuel. This thing starts at high speed & just keeps goin. This is the closest you can get to this without just finding some creature to fly on. Obviously, opening day there were long waits for this ride, but through it all I didn't hear one person say it wasn't worth the wait. Two amazing rides, helping to make this land an all around great addition to even out the face of all the parks that make Disneyworld. For more on opening day Pandora click here.
"Pandora: World of Avatar" Food Is Truly Out Of This World
We spent two meals in the Valley of Mo'ara, dining at Satu'li Canteen. In those two meals we managed to put a pretty big dent in the menu. Said menu consisted of two categories. There were Steamed "Pods" (Bao Buns) or Create-Your-Own Satu'li Bowls. We'll start off with the most intriguingly "alien" of the two, the Steamed "Pods".
This was Satu'li Canteen's version of a cheeseburger. There was a vegetable curry version too, but I'm way to carnivorous for that. I was a little worried as I usually order a plain cheeseburger & there's no option with these. It wound up being pretty good though. In the "pod" (bao bun) there was a "sloppy joe" like concoction consisting of what would usually come on a cheeseburger. So you had the cheese, meat, mustard, ketchup, & pickle all ground together. Not only did I surprisingly like this, I loved the root vegetable chips on the side. They were seasoned great. There was also a vegetable slaw with yogurt balls. Not much on slaw in the first place, but the little yogurt balls were good. That's about it for that one. Now we're onto the bowls.
The bowls consisted of 3 steps. First, there was the protein. There's a choice between slow-roasted sliced grilled beef, chopped wood-grilled chicken, sustainable fish fillet, or chili-spiced crispy fried tofu. We went for the first 3. My favorite protein was the beef with the chicken a close runner up. The fish was decent, yet a little under-seasoned for my taste. Second, you select your bowls base: quinoa & vegetable salad, red & sweet potato hash, mixed whole grain & rice, or Romaine & Kale Salad. I'm not a salad person, so the first time around we tried the red & sweet potato hash. I don't dig sweet potatoes, but nonetheless this was tolerable. Especially the reds. Next time we just doubled down on mixed whole grain & rice& yogurt balls mentioned before. Finally, the third step to the bowl was the sauce. These were very much like salad dressing which yours truly does not care for. That being said the wife seemed to like them all. There was a charred onion chimichurri, a black bean vinaigrette, & a creamy herb dressing. Now came my favorite part of any meal, dessert.
The dessert, or "Ber'ri" as it's labeled on the menu consists of two options, both amazingly delicious. The top one is a blueberry cream cheese mousse with passion fruit curd. I don't like fruit & I loved this thing. In contrast however, my wife that does like fruit, didn't like this at all. Said it tasted too much like candy. This was the strangest, yet most delightful thing I tried all day. It definitely has the feel of an alien type fruit. The bottom one is a chocolate cake with a crunchy cookie layer, banana cream, & goji berries. This was really good, but the "chocaholic" that I am can't believe I'm about to say I prefer the first. I would not have even placed the banana cream though until I read it just now off the menu. It tasted like cookie shell & creamy chocolate.
Last but not least, the drinks. I'm not a beer drinker, but part of me wanted to at least sample the "local" brews, Hawkes' Grog Ale & Mo'ara High Ale. However, we went, & came back again, for a Dreamwalker Sangria. That would be that blue concoction you see above. It's a refreshing white sangria with a hint of blue curacao. They used the right word when they say refreshing, this is probably the most refreshing alcoholic beverage I've ever tasted. This drink is why we didn't get to visit Pongu Pongu, the local waterin hole to get a Mo'ara Margarita, it was just too good. Then what Disney Theme Park restaurant would be complete without a signature refillable cup? That would be the wood cup with flute you see above, I even heard some people getting their flute to actually work. Nothing beats a drink & a toy combo.
All in all I really enjoyed this place for what it was. It was far lighter food than I'm used to eating at Disneyworld all together. It seemed like a great spot for lunch to keep you going through the park without weighing you down. The atmosphere is awesome which I will include in the landscape entry coming soon, along with entries for the merchandise, & rides. So follow us on social media, like, & share. There's more to come from our trip to Pandora: World of Avatar. For all of it click here.
"Pandora: World of Avatar" Opening Day 5/27/17
We attended the opening day of Pandora: World of Avatar in Disney's Animal Kingdom, & it was an amazing day. I've never attended an opening day event at any of the parks, but unlike most I knew I was in for some heavy traffic. What I got however, blew me away. Upon entering the Animal Kingdom, about an hour & a half early, we we're herded with many others to the far right pathway after entering the gates by Rainforest Café. It was in this area that I realized the Force was with me that day. I figured some of the people who got "magic hours" (extra hours before & after park openings for people staying in Disney Resorts) had Fast Passes & we're using them. Sure enough I snagged a 8-9 Fastpass while waiting to get in. At this point it's 8 'o clock, time to open, & we see no one else is being let into Animal Kingdom's gates. The line starts to slowly move & we're hearing the land is reaching capacity so they're letting people a little at a time. In line for about 35 mins. we finally make it to the bridge. There we were told anyone with a Fastpass will get let in 10 mins. before pass time. That was our big break of the day, considering we were told that wait stayed at least 5 hours to get back in all day. So needless to say, from 8:45am on thru 11:00pm we were staying the remainder of the day in the Valley of Mo'ara, Pandora.
So for the only moment of the day everything sped up & we were onto our first ride. However, we will be covering the rides, merchandise, landscape, & food in further entries. This post is strictly for the madness that was opening day. A very controlled madness much to Disney's credit, but madness nonetheless. After our refreshing river ride we found ourselves in what do we do next mode. That's when we figured we'd get the shopping out of the way. Sounds easy enough right? Wrong. there was a 2 hour plus line just to get into Windtraders, the resident store of the Valley of Mo'ara. Which we had to brave as I had some specific things in mind, opening day merch, a Na'vi translator, & most importantly adopting a Banshee. More on that to come in further posts. I was amazed at how many people were standing in line just to see what to spend money on. This line, like all the others, stayed like this throughout the day. Eventually becoming the smallest wait time of 30- 45 minutes.
After the store it was onto nourishment. In the course of which we found the line going out the doors of the Satu'li Canteen surprisingly was the fastest moving line of the day, both times we went to eat. We ate almost everything on the menu which we will share with you in further posts, right before we set out to finish our adventure, braving a 5 hour line for Flight of Passage & returning to the Na'vi Journey river ride one more time via a 3 hour line.
All in all it was a jam-packed day. We used the little bit of time we had yet to get some good night-time landscape pics of the park all lit up in it's bioluminescence glory. I don't regret it at all as it was an amazing experience. Most everyone was taking all the waiting very well, with very few exceptions. Things I've learned from this time around? At least one Fastpass on opening day is a must, annual passholders get all the cool exclusive merch for opening day, get ready to wait around a lot, & it is probably worth it to stay in a Disney Resort for opening days to take advantage of the extra "magic" hours. So that was the craziness that was opening day. Can't believe how many different people touched the Valley of Mo'ara in just that day. It was definitely a sight to behold. Anyway, like, share, & keep looking as we'll have more to come with further details of Pandora: World of Avatar. Find it by clicking here.
Pandora Dedication Streamed Live Today
Join Avatar creator James Cameron & Disney CEO Bob Iger as they kick off Pandora: The World of Avatar. I can't wait. The official opening is Saturday May 27th & we'll be there. First, here's a look at some of the show we're expecting, with drums & what seemed to be totems representing the different Na'vi clans. You can tell how they talk even the people who helped bring this to life are amazed by it. Anyway, check it out.
Ever Wonder How Disney's Imagineers Dream Up Something Like Pandora: The World of Avatar?
Disney Parks released a short video today showcasing some of the inspiration behind Pandora - The World of Avatar. Follow Imagineers to Bali & Jakarta as they find inspiration for an alien world right here on planet Earth. They also go more into the immersive design of the spectacle that will by all means convince you that you've entered a whole new world. Exciting is hardly the word for me. The park's Grand Opening is May 27th in Disney's Animal Kingdom & we''ll be there in the middle of the craziness. Let us know in the comments below if there's anything in particular you want to see or know about the park when we're there.
Another Pandora: World of Avatar Video Showcasing The Native Plants & Animals
Why isn't May 27th here yet? I can't take another one of these videos. The word of the day today is, immersion. It seems like that was their main goal. With every sense they want you to feel as if you're on another planet. They explain how they're going to be tricking your senses through the use of light & sound to fell like you're in an area heavily populated with wildlife. This place just looks more & more stunning with every glimpse they give us. Like I said before, I can't wait. We'll be there on the 27th, opening day with pics, videos, descriptions, product demos, & ride reviews for you every step of the way. Let us know if there's anything special on your minds about Pandora in the comments, & we'll try to figure it out (Like how we don't need breathing masks.), don't forget to like & share.
Two New Pandora: World of Avatar Videos Released
First, Disney Parks released a behind the scenes video where you get to hear about the world of Pandora straight from the creators. Disney Imagineers partnering with Lightstorm Entertainment have formed a "Super Team", & then went on to create a land that is literally out of this world. You can hear their excitement in what you can tell is an achievement they are not only proud of, but one even the creators themselves are in awe of. Check it out:
Second, Inside the Magic has put up a video of the unboxing of their press invitation & video for the homeland of the Na'vi. In it you get to see some of the detail to the storytelling involved in this land from previews of both ride attractions & a look at who the Na'vi are as a people, including language samples. The biggest highlight from the package though is a visitors reel hosted by Alpha Centauri Expeditions guide, Kam Demarco. These videos have me counting down the days until May 27. Check out this one too & let us know what you think in the comments.
More On Pandora-The World of Avatar's Na'vi Translators
Want to go to Pandora but don't know how to speak the language of the natives? Disney Parks blog says don't worry they've got it figured out. They released more information on the Na'vi translator that will be available at "Windtraders" in Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom. They have merchandise product developer Cody Hampton saying this about the device, "This device was originally developed by Alpha Centauri Expeditions founder Marshall Lamm. The Na'vihave no written language, so the translator will be a helpful tool for any human visiting Pandora. Guests using the translator can learn how to pronounce 90 Na'vi words using interchangeable translation cards. The device also lights up at night, which makes it perfect for nighttime explorations on Pandora." The article went on to say that the translator will be sold in a set that comes with 15 translation cards, and that there will be additional cards sold in trading packs that will include 8 randomly selected cards. There will be nouns, adjectives, animals, landscapes, phrases, plants, and gear. They were all based on audio recordings from Lightstorm Entertainment and Dr. Paul Frommer, the creator of the actual Na'vi language used in Avatar. So, looks like we have one more thing we have to get when we go to Pandora. Official opening day is May 27th and we'll be there. I can't wait to tell you how this thing works. What do you think you think? Is this a cool addition for the park to be even more interactive? Let us know in the comments and don't forget to like and share.
What's To Eat In Pandora: World of Avatar?
Disney let out some details of the various refreshments & nourishments that will be available in Pandora: World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom. They kept Pongu Pongu tight lipped in only letting us know that the name of the refreshment bar means Party Party in it's native Na'vi. They also let us know it will feature indigenous beers, an exclusive sweet snack, & even more curiously, a "bioluminescent" frozen cocktail.
Disney was more forthcoming about Pandora's fast-casual restaurant Satu'li Canteen even displaying some pictures which I've collaged together at the bottom. The Satu'li Canteen will feature wholesome grains, fresh vegetables, & hearty proteins with an on stage grill.
They give us a little backstory on the place letting us know it was the main mess hall of the Resources Development Administration base in the Valley of Mo'ara. It's now been beautifully redesigned into a dining room decked out with various Na'vi items filling every nook & cranny.
An interesting menu to say the least invites diners to start with quinoa & veggie salad, red & sweet potato hash, mixed whole grain & rice, or romaine & kale salad. Starring wood-grilled chicken, slow roasted beef, sustainable fish, or chili-spiced tofu. The bowl is then topped off with charred onion chimichurri, black bean vinaigrette, or creamy herb dressing. On a stranger, more unique note, they'll have steamed "pods" - Bao buns with cheeseburger or veggie curry served with root veggie chips & crunchy vegetable slaw. Don't despair kiddies, there's something for you too. Kids will have grilled chicken or beef, fish or tofu with greens or rice, a hot dog wrapped in dough, cheese quesadilla, or a steamed "pod" (cheeseburger).
Originally coming from Chipandco.com, they also went on to mention that Satu'li Canteen will be the first in the park to offer mobile order with the "My Disney Experience" app. This lets guests preorder their food & bypass what will surely be some long queues. After ordering they will hit "I'm Here" on the app & then be alerted to pick up their food from a designated window. This feature is supposed to roll out among other eateries later this year.
So there you go. I'm excited. Like I said Snipes n Snarfblatts will be there opening day & now I have even more to look forward too. Can't wait to share it with y'all, but until then what sounds the like the most yummy, can't wait for, item to you? I gotta have a "pod". Write yours in the comments & don't forget to like & share.
ABC Features Pandora in Disney's Animal Kingdom
ABC put up a first look at Avatar. Coming soon to the Animal Kingdom, Pandora will be a good portion of the Animal Kingdom representing the land of James Cameron's Avatar. From the glowing plants to the floating mountains Pandora has been painstakingly recreated to every fine detail. It's told almost everything in the park is an amazing piece of special effects technology. We're getting a fast-casual restaurant, 2 attractions, a store, & a spot for drinks. All surrounded by the beautiful landscape of the Na'vi people. Pandora opens on May 27 of this year & we're trying to be there opening day. Until then, here's a link to ABC's first look: