Our Favorites at Animal Kingdom’s Pandora — The World of Avatar

So much has been said about Pandora — The World of Avatar since it opened on May 27th, 2017.  Countless people have enjoyed the thrills that Pandora has to offer while others have not had the opportunity to see it yet.  There are also folks who have been to Animal Kingdom and visited Pandora yet have not even seen all that is there to experience.

Some of the travelers who have journeyed to Pandora — The World of Avatar have shared some of their favorite things to do, see, and eat while there.  Take a few moments now to read what they have shared, and then tell us what you look forward to experiencing when you get to visit Animal Kingdom!

Photo Opportunities Galore

“Apologies in advance, as I’m ‘that lady’ who stops in the middle of the flow of traffic on the busiest day in the parks to take a photo,” says Shannon from PurveryorofPixieDust.com.

I may be that person, too, so I cannot fault Shannon.  Besides, Disney has done a beautifully imaginative job of creating the land known as Pandora!  Shannon continues with:

Speaking of Magic Shots

The breathtaking views of Pandora are incredible. Kayla from MommyofaPrincess.com shares, There are several PhotoPass options to help capture the beauty, but my favorites are Magic Shots. There are two that I know of available at Pandora. The first Magic Shot inserts a Banshee flying overhead. This photo spot is located near the drum area at the base of the floating mountains. The photographer will ask you to point to the sky and act surprised.

Another favorite magic shot is at night on the walkway near the bridge. This magic shot shows floating woodsprites in the photo just like in the movie. We love visiting Pandora and these special photos are a wonderful way to bring the magic to life.

Nighttime at Pandora

I love just walking around Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom; it’s beautiful during the day but really comes alive at night! The bioluminescent plants and walkways make you feel like you are in another world. The floating mountains look amazing glowing in the dark. I love checking out all the plants that Disney’s Imagineers have come up with. Make sure to stop and get photos taken by the Disney PhotoPass photographers! They do a great job of getting you and the landscape in the photo. Jenn from WillSaveforTravel.com wants you to know that Pandora is beautiful, so spend some time soaking it all in!

Pongu Pongu

My family has not visited this place yet.  It seems like a corner of The World of Avatar that some adults might find refreshing.  Let us see what Caitlin from TypicallyTwitterpated.com has to tell us about it.

Pongu Pongu means “party party” to the native Na’vi. This thatched hut provides frozen margaritas and mocktails with boba balls. If you’re looking for a decadent snack, try the dessert spring roll called ed the Pongu Lumpia. After a Mo’ara margarita, you can take photographs with a robot. What could go wrong? Be prepared for a long queue that does not have any cover or shade. However, Pongu Pongu is worth the wait.

Night Blossom

One of my favorite treats to get in Animal Kingdom is now the Night Blossom frozen beverage.  Becky Ginther of DisneyinYourDay.com says that it’s available at Pongu Pongu in Pandora and is described as “layers of Apple and Desert Pear Limeade topped with Passion Fruit Boba Balls.”  It’s sweet but not overly so, and the flavors are unique and go well together.  Plus, the boba balls are a lot of fun!  You also have the option to get it with a glowing Unadelta Seed, Pandora’s version of a glow cube, or in a souvenir Pongu mug.  The Night Blossom has become so popular that Disney also added a new version with rum to the menu, called the Rum Blossom – can’t wait to try that one the next time I’m there!

Satu’li Canteen

We had not plans to visit Satu’li Canteen.  We were in the area, and we decided to check it out and see if they had anything that we might enjoy for lunch.  Wow.  We were certainly glad that we made that choice.  There are some fun and interesting options for dining here.  Boy was pleased to get a Pandoran Sunrise in a Na’Vi Flute Cup, which is a refreshing blend of tropical juices mixed with a melon Powerade.  After he enjoyed the beverage and played the flute a bit, Boy got to take the cup home with him to enjoy again and again.

As fun as that was, for me, it was the meals that made an impression.  While my husband enjoyed the sustainable fish fillet, Boy and I savored the tender, flavorful, slow roasted, grilled beef bowl.  I think that it was piled on top of a mix of rice and grains, yet that meat was so delicious that it was all that I could see after I took the first bite!  

Do not even let me get started on the Chocolate Cake.  Cake is not the word that I would use to describe it.  It was a creamy, moussey, pile of yumminess that — I will stop now.

Enjoy the Ambiance

One of the things that Meg from TheMouselets.com finds to be such a special touch is that Pandora is so immersive that even the sounds change depending on what time of day it is! In the morning, you can hear the shuffling and squeaking of creatures waking up and beginning to move about. Midday, the land is filled with territorial cries and rustling leaves. After dark, you’ll hear the animals settling down for the night, trying to find a place to sleep. It’s these subtle details that make this land so unbelievably immersive!

Be a Part of Pandora

Become one with the Na’vi natives by wearing the Colors of Mo’ara. Both young and old Pandora explorers can choose a glow-in-the-dark face painting marking with prices beginning at as little as $15.  There is no more authentic way to immerse yourself in “The World of Avatar!”

D Marie from Post50RX.com certainly enjoyed some time at Colors of Mo’ara, and how fun is this as a way to immerse yourself in The World of Avatar?

Be a Part of Your Shopping Experience

Last June, after Pandora opened, I had the opportunity to visit the land of Pandora with the BlogHer conference.  While there, we visited the Windtraders shop.  At the time, the banshees were so popular that they kept selling out.  My kids really wanted to get one, so they saved their gift cards and had the opportunity in January to adopt one.  You are trained on how to take care of and move your banshee.  Then you have the opportunity to choose the banshee that you wish to adopt.  It’s a really fun experience for the kids, and it is well worth saving up and doing extra chores around the house to earn money for them.

Pamela WifeMotherRunner.com added that I also took a tour around the store, which is amazingly designed.  The theme is very detailed.  There is an avatar making machine, lots of Pandora memorabilia, and many items that celebrate the flora, fauna and culture of Pandora.  This isn’t just a souvenir shop.  This is a cultural experience of the Na’vi tribe.

A Glowing Moment

Take Flight

If you have not participated in the experience of riding Flight of Passage, then you are missing out on what is possibly THE best part of Pandora — The World of Avatar.  You get to link with one of the Na’vi and participate in the thrill riding an ikran.  Straddle the ikran like you are riding a horse or motorcycle, and then settle in for a ride like no other!  You will soar and dive and glide.  You will be able to feel that creature breathing between your calves.  It will be so real that you will actually feel like you are flying.  

There really is nothing like Flight of Passage.  It may seem to have a bit of Soarin’ mixed with a bit of Dinosaur mixed with a bit of Star Tours, yet it truly is a ride like we have not seen at Walt Disney World before.  

Your Favorite Part of Pandora — The World of Avatar

Do you have a favorite activity, ride, food, something else at this Animal Kingdom land?  If you have not taking the trip there yet, which of the favorites that we have shared is something which you would like to try?