The addition of Pandora – The World of Avatar to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2017 added much more to do inside what was previously considered a half-day theme park. Pandora features one of the most stunning lands across Walt Disney World, making it a must-see attraction. Plus Pandora Disney World also includes one of the BEST rides at Walt Disney World.
With so much to see and do, how will you plan and prioritize your day Disney’s Animal Kingdom? This guide will give you a detailed overview of Pandora – The World of Avatar including our best tips on riding its widely popular attractions. Keep reading for our full guide to Pandora at Disney World!
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Pandora Disney World Storyline
Inspired by the 2009 film directed by James Cameron, Pandora is a moon 4.37 lightyears away from Earth. Pandora’s story takes place several generations after the great war of the Avatar films, which Pandora tour guides, scientists, and expats refer to as “documentaries.”
Pandora was previously taken over by the Resources Development Administration (RDA) who disrupted the natural balance of nature with its mining. Now, however, guests will find RDA buildings that were grown over with the earth, signaling the shift back toward balance in the Pandora Disney World land.
In fact, Pandora’s backstory is very similar to nearby Harambe Market, an area fueled by ecotourism that previously relied on the exploitation of local wildlife and selling of natural resources.
With the RDA long gone, Alpha Centauri Expeditions (ACE) and the Pandora Conservation Initiative (PCI) use this area as their headquarters for the Mountain Banshee Project, allowing guests to visit Pandora. In keeping with the spirit of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, ACE and PCI’s 3 motivating pillars focus on 1) the intrinsic value of nature, 2) transformation through adventure, and 3) personal call to action. This is the official storyline of Pandora at Disney World.
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Attractions in Pandora
Pandora – The World of Avatar features three major attractions that all focus on a deep connection with nature: the Valley of Mo’ara, Avatar Flight of Passage, and Na’vi River Journey.
Valley of Mo’ara
Centered in the heart of Pandora Disney World, guests can enter the Valley of Mo’ara in one of two ways: by taking a left before the Tree of Life after entering the theme park, or from Africa – just past the Festival of the Lion King. Guests are first welcomed by the floating mountains that loom overhead. Looking around reveals the beautiful waterfalls and colorful fauna and flora. Be sure to interact with ACE tour guides and PCI scientists scattered across Pandora to learn more about what you see.
This area in Pandora also has many interactive elements, including a playable N’avi-built drum circle and a giant Flasca Reclonada that releases water and steam when guests tap its exposed pinkish insides. Guests can also participate in Wilderness Explorer challenges and collect badges on this land.
While guests can take advantage of shorter wait times by visiting Pandora early in the morning, Pandora truly comes to life in the evening after the sun sets. This is when the landscape starts to glow, making for a truly breathtaking experience. It’s important to note that the summer months make this more difficult to experience since Disney’s Animal Kingdom closes earlier and the sun sets later. If seeing this is a priority, plan to visit around the Fall and Winter months, when the theme park closes later and the sun sets sooner.
Avatar Flight of Passage
Avatar Flight of Passage is a flying theater attraction that gives guests a chance to experience “Iknimaya,” a Na’vi hunter’s crucial rite of passage of bonding with a banshee. As the story goes, the PCI built upon the ideas, motives, and learnings of the protagonist scientists from the Avatar “documentary.” They then partnered with ACE to give guests the ability to participate in “Iknimaya,” further promoting their values of protecting, connecting, and preserving the natural world.
Flight of Passage includes a pre-show where guests receive a backstory on Pandora, the Na’vi conflicts with the RDA and information on the PCI. They also link to their Avatar before receiving loading instructions, flight visors (AKA 3D glasses). Guests then walk into the Linking Chambers, where they sit on bicycle-style seats. A PCI team member then applies restraints to guests’ back and to each leg.
Avatar Flight of Passage uses a ride simulator that many consider an advanced version of Soarin’ over the World at Epcot or Disney California Adventure. We caution motion-sensitive guests to ride this attraction since the combination of the domed IMAX screen, use of 3D glasses, and moving Link Chair may induce motion sickness. Be sure to read Disney’s Safety, Accessibility, and Guest Policies before riding.
However, guests who are up for this attraction will enjoy the magnificent flight over Pandora, full of breathtaking views of the mountains, the ocean, and the wildlife. This is easily the best Pandora Disney World ride!
Strategies to Ride Flight of Passage
There’s a good reason why even up to this day, wait times for this attraction tend to be some of the highest at Walt Disney World. While guests can purchase Individual Lightning Lanes to help save time, using one requires guests to skip most of the queue. We would argue that both the attraction queue and pre-show add to the entire experience and backstory of Pandora, so first-time visitors will want to experience both.
With that said, there are several other strategies when planning to tackle this attraction. Guests can ride Flight of Passage first thing in the morning wait times tend to balloon after the first 30 minutes of opening. Speaking with Cast Members recently, the first 30 minutes of the day tend to have less than a 30-minute wait. Walt Disney World resort guests can also take advantage of even lower wait times by utilizing Early Theme Park Entry.
Another strategy is to wait until right before the park closes when guests start to head out of the theme park. This strategy tends to work well, but more recently, wait times toward the end of the day have been very inconsistent, with guests seeing up to 90-minute waits. With that said, make sure to keep an eye on the My Disney Experience app and jump in line if wait times reach 60 minutes or less!
Na’vi River Journey
This gentle boat ride takes guests deep into Pandora’s caves alive with its bioluminescent rainforest and mystical creatures. For most guests, this will be the first time seeing the bioluminescent flora and fauna in its glowing beauty, making it another must-do Disney attraction.
The attraction queue starts in the forest before spending the majority of the queue in a large native hut-like structure. Guests then enter boats that fit 8 passengers to start their journey through the Kasvapan River.
The attraction itself is a relaxing 4.5 minute boat ride with endless views of plants, insects, and creatures native to Pandora. With so much to look at, there is a reason that Walt Disney World guests want to ride it over and over again, leading to long wait times. Toward the end of the journey, guests get to join the legendary Na’vi Shaman of Songs, an incredible 10-foot-tall creature that moves gracefully and sends positive energy into the forest through her music.
Strategies to Ride Na’vi River Journey
It’s important to note that this queue is not nearly as detailed as the queue in Flight of Passage, so guests using Lightning Lane will not miss out so much on the queue experience. Taking this into consideration, another strategy for this attraction is to ride Flight of Passage first while reserving a Lightning Lane to ride Na’vi River Journey afterwards.
With that said, Na’vi River Journey tends to have more fluctuating wait times recently compared to years past, so make sure to keep an eye on wait times on the My Disney Experience mobile app.
Dining in Pandora Disney World
Pandora Disney World offers two quick service dining options: Satu’li Canteen and Pongu Pongu. Let’s dive into both of these options.
Satu’li Canteen
Satu’li Canteen is arguably one of the best quick service options in all of Walt Disney World in terms of its value and taste. Located inside a former RDA mess hall, this Quonset-hut structure is now a peaceful dining facility decorated with Na’vi art and cultural items as well as more hints on Pandora’s backstory.
As the story goes, Satu’li Canteen supplies travelers with food crafted from Pandora’s natural abundance of flora and fauna, adding to the spirit of ACE, PCI, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Satu’li canteen features international-inspired cuisine, vegetarian options, and specialty drinks and beers. Lunch and dinner feature the same items, with most options being bowl-style dishes with multiple choices for protein, vegetables, and grains. Be sure to check the online menu for a full list of options.
Bowl dishes start at $13.29 and kids’ meal options start at $7.29. While guests are able to order at the restaurant, utilizing the mobile ordering system on the My Disney Experience mobile app is a great way to cut down on wait time. Lunch service generally begins at 10:00am and stays open until park closing.
Pongu Pongu
In keeping with Pandora’s story, this popular drink stand was started by an expat who fell in love with Pandora and never left. It’s hard to miss, with a decommissioned RDA fighting machine greeting guests. Translating to “Party Party” in the language of the Na’vi, Pongu Pongu offers refreshing alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
The signature drink here is the Night Blossom, a non-alcoholic frozen limeade-apple drink with popping boba balls. Alcoholic drinks include 2 types of beer and 2 mixed drinks: the Rum Blossom and the Mo’ara Margarita. Pongu Pongu also serves a breakfast item, several snack items, and assorted Coca-Cola products. Mobile orders are accepted through the My Disney Experience mobile app.
Shopping in Pandora Disney World
Visitors to Pandora at Walt Disney World can visit two merchandise shops: the larger and more comprehensive Windtraders and the smaller Colors of Mo’ara kiosk.
Windtraders
Conveniently located at the exit of Flight of Passage, this former RDA structure now houses a nature-inspired shop with an assortment of Pandora-themed merchandise. Guests can find a variety of clothing, hats, glow-in-the-dark items, pins, and plushes.
Windtraders is one of the only places in Pandora that depicts how big the Na’vi are. Here, a life-sized Na’vi bust sits along the wall. The only other places this can be experienced include Na’vi River Journey and the Flight of Passage queue.
For $69.99, guests can also adopt a banshee after completing a special bonding ceremony. To be clear, these banshees are small mechanical shoulder puppets that guests can control with a small remote.
Guests can also design their own Na’vi bracelet or necklace with a variety of Pandora beads, feathers, crystals, totems, and pendants. Bracelets and necklaces are priced at $19.99 and include 8 beads and 1 feather or 1 crystal. Additional beads, crystals, totems, or pendants can be purchased for an additional fee.
Here, guests can also design their own avatar through the ACE Avatar Maker. For $79.99, guests can capture their facial features and upload their unique data profile onto the Hybrid Digitizing System. They can then customize their avatar’s body, eye colors, facial striping patterns, and hairstyles, and add accessories. No reservations are required – simply visit the ACE Avatar Maker booth. The customization process takes about 5-10 minutes, but the creation of the avatar can take around 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete. Pre-made avatars can also be purchased for an identical price.
Colors of Mo’ara
The final offering in Pandora is Colors of Mo’ara. Located close to the Na’vi drum circle, the previous home to a Pandora face-painting experience is now a merchandise kiosk and contains some of the items guests find at Windtraders. Lately, most of the items here have been toys.
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Pandora jewelry, which can understandably be mistaken for Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, can be found in many stores, including: Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom, Legends of Hollywood in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Ring Carvers and Port of Entry in EPCOT, Riverside Depot in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Arribas Brothers and the Pandora Jewelry store in Disney Springs.
Where or not guests are familiar with the Avatar films, visiting Pandora – The World of Avatar in Walt Disney World is worth it. Pandora offers stunning backdrops, two very popular attractions that guests of all ages can enjoy, one of the most affordable and tasty meal options at the Disney resort, and a wide variety of merchandise to cater to all types of guests.
Pandora – The World of Avatar, which opened in May 2017, replaced Camp Minnie Mickey which operated from 1998 to 2014.
Pandora – The World of Avatar is located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
