It’s a trap a lot of even the most passionate Disney fan has fallen into, discounting the fourth park, Animal Kingdom. Often called a “glorified zoo” it’s largely gone overlooked because it is the understated of the four parks. Animal Kingdom celebrates animals and cultures from where some of our favorite animals come from, but usually it took a back seat to the other three parks. Pandora changes everything! We were provided free press passes to visit the park and share about our experience.
Pandora changes everything!
Head directly for the Tree of Life and take two lefts and you’ll start to see a change from real, but exotic plants and animals to fantasy plants and waterfalls falling from floating terrain in the sky. A beautiful array of colors and sights, Pandora has the attention to detail Disney is known for!
I spent an evening in Pandora watching the sunset and the blacklights slowly light up the park with stunning blues, purples and pink. Walking around in the evening was awesome. I walked down to the Satu’li Canteen, unfortunately I didn’t have time to eat but it looked amazing and smelled so good! Unable to use fast passes on this trip I had to decide between one of the two rides, both had a two hour wait! I opted to wait for Flight of Passage (hoping to wake early to get in line for the cruise in the morning).
The Flight of Passage is the best ride I’ve ever been on, and it’s not close. When you get on the chair which looks like a cross between a video game motor cycle and a massage chair, the restraints lock you in and you are “uploaded to your avatar” at that point you can hear your banshee breathe and you can feel it as the chair expands between your legs in unison with the sounds. You’re then whisked on an flying tour around Pandora and out over the water, you narrowly avoid some dangers before landing safely and looking out over the ocean. You’ll feel wind in your face, water splash across you, and you’ll smell the rainforest and the ocean, it’s Disney Magic at its absolute best! I would make this ride a priority even if you’re not fortunate enough to snag a Fast Pass!
The next morning I was outside Animal Kingdom waiting for it to open, sprinted right for the Na’vi River Journey. It’s spectacular, beautiful scenes as you slowly cruise along the Na’vi River at night, you’ll hear the Na’vi chanting and come across one singing! Very cool ride, especially for those who love Avatar. Cool ride, but if I didn’t have a Fast Pass I’d probably pass on this if there was any sort of line.
Bottom line, make time for Pandora, it’s so worth it! Even if you don’t ride the rides there is a ton of stuff to do and see in this incredible new land!
Sara Zielinski says
Animal kingdom looks like a great park.
shelly peterson says
What a neat place to visit. My family would love this place.
wen budro says
That Animal Kingdom sounds wonderful. Thank you for the post letting me know that it’s a worthwhile place to visit.
Margaret S Porter says
Looks wonderful! I would love to visit!
Lindsay A. says
Ohh wow, sounds like it’s DEFINITELY worth seeing! 😀 It’s been… uhh… 25 years since I was there last (yikes, lol), & I’m really wanting to go back!
Dana Rodriguez says
This looks amazing. I would love to go visit!
Erik VL says
We love Disney World and have gone the last three years in a row. Last year we only visited Magic Kingdom. We plan on going to Animal kingdom this year and cannot wait to check out Pandora. It looks AMAZING!
Lacie Love Hester says
WOW! Those pictures are amazing. After reading and seeing everything, I so want to go and see everything myself.
Shakeia Rieux says
It’s beautiful at the Animal Kingdom! I would love to take my family there, it’ll be our first time.
Bernie Wallace says
My family visited Pandora and absolutely loved it. We especially loved Flight of Passage. We can’t wait to go back.
Casey Garvey says
Id love to see the Animal Kingdom parks! This has got to be a dream vacation!
Kristie says
Wow!! I liked Animal Kingdom before but Pandora sounds AWESOME!!! Thanks for sharing! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you. Happy Spring!
desiree says
love the pic and then i would to go there
Stella says
Animal Kingdom–what a beautiful place it is! Perfect for family trips. My kids like Disney. And they will enjoy trip to this place.
Jill Jeffrey says
I went to Disney in January and got to see Pandora for the first time! It was beyond real! I really like the decoration and scenery, Disney always puts so much detail into everything.
Kim Henrichs says
Okay this looks totally amazing!! It is going high on my to-do list for Disney.
Dana Rodriguez says
I would love to visit! I have never been to Animal Kingdom and Pandora is beautiful!
Kayley says
The scenery of Avatar / Pandora was the best part of the movie, so the park should be beautiful too!
Janet W. says
We were so impressed with Pandora when we went last fall! The detail was so amazing!
Julie Waldron says
That looks like a beautiful place to visit, I love the waterfall!
Jerry Marquardt says
Animal Kingdom has always been a favorite to our whole family every Saturday. I cannot wait to see this Pandora version, any day
Katie Bellamy says
What a beautiful place to visit!
Mary Chambers says
I would love to do this
Eric V. says
Oh wow! This place looks absolutely amazing! This place would be perfect to bring my family on vacation to!
Debbie Welchert says
This looks and sounds so beautiful. I would love to someday go there with my family.
marlene a harris says
it is great my grandchildren love it . first place we go when were in florida
Casey Garvey says
I love the movie! I would love to go to disney and see this in person!
Angela Hendricks says
This looks amazing. I’ve never been but when I finally good I will be taking the family here. Thanks Enza!
Cassandra D says
I would really love to visit. Looks amazing.
Audrey Stewart says
These pictures are so amazing. I would love to go and visit there.
desiree says
i would love to do this one daay
laura says
That looks amazing!
Audrey Stewart says
I hope to visit there sometime soon.
Audrey Stewart says
Did my comment go through?
Enza Ketcham says
Yep! We got a lot…we just manually approve them. 🙂
Jana Leah says
I’ve never been to Animal Kingdom. Next time I visit Disney World, I’ll be sure to go.
donna porter says
The Animal Kingdom and Pandora sound like great places to visit. I know my family would enjoy it!
desiree says
i love t o see this it pretty
John Smith says
I think I might like this park best of all!
Darla says
The Flight of Passage ride looks so great.
MaryAnn says
We are headed to Animal Kingdom in November.
Christina moore says
I love animal Kingdom, so pretty
Toni Seese says
I would love to see Pandora in Animal Kingdom! The pictures of it are beautiful!
Leigh Anne Borders says
My husband and I went there this summer. It was truly amazing. We got to stay at the Animal Kingdom Resort as well. Such a great time! I am looking forward to going back soon.
Brandon Sparks says
I would love to take my family to visit one day..
Celeste Herrin says
We are going in November of this year and actually was able to snag a FastPass for flight of Passage! I’m so excited to check out this park! Thank you for all the wonderful information!