Welcome to Pandora-The World of Avatar!

So yeah,I am just getting around to writing about this now. But Disney's new Pandora-The World of Avatar area at Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, is AMAZING!!!

I got to go to cast preview with my friend before the area was open to all guests so I got a more laid back, less crowded feel of everything. It was nice getting to be there before the massive crowds began.
 

Attractions

When we went there we got to ride both of the new attractions, Navi River Journey and Flight of Passage.

Na'vi River Journey is a slow moving boat cruise through the bio luminescent rainforest of Pandora where the Shaman of Songs can be heard singing near the end. The Shaman of Songs figure is very well done, it is like a real 10 foot tall Na'vi is standing in front of you.The bioluminescent effects throughout the ride make it seem like you are immersed into this foreign world. There are also other effects to showcase the wildlife that lives in the rainforest which is very cool.

Whereas Na'vi River Journey is a slow moving family oriented boat ride, Flight of Passage is a more thrilling experience. Let me tell you, Flight of Passage is like no other ride I have ever been on! To simplify it, it is like a version of Star Tours and Soarin' put together. You sit on a seat reminiscent of a bicycle, a "link chair" to link you to your Avatar, and scoot up to the handles in the front. A restraint then lowers, locking your back and legs into place. It is snug but not uncomfortable.

You then put on your "flight goggles" and are set to go! This ride makes it seem like you are soaring and flying on a real banshee! There are even effects to make it feel like an animal is breathing between your legs as it flies! The soaring and swooping motions made me feel like I could even bank and sway into the turns, as if I was controlling my own banshee. With added scents, wind in your hair, this ride is very realistic to what I imagine the experience of riding a banshee would be like.

This ride MUST NOT BE MISSED! I know the wait will probably be long, but it is SO WORTH IT. My friend and I even went back another day once the park was open to all guests and waited 2 hours in the standby line just to ride this ride. But don't worry!

There is much to see and explore in the queue as well while you wait! Why not even do what we did and grab one of the delicious "Night Blossom" drinks from the Pongu Pongu around the corner and bring it in line with you! Which brings us to the next best thing about Pandora....THE FOOD!

Food

Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse

The food in this new area is amazing. The one new quick service restaurant, the Satu'li Canteen,has many different, and healthier options, then what you would expect to see in a theme park. There are different rice bowls with chicken,beef,fish and tofu which come with your choice of a vegetable slaw and boba balls, along with options for other sides, like sweet potato hash!

The option I chose, was the cheeseburger steamed pods in a bao bun. This was a mixture of ground beef,cheese,ketchup,mustard and pickle stuffed inside a pastry type shell and steamed. It came with a vegetable slaw with boba balls as well as vegetable chips. No french fries on this menu! These cheeseburger pods were delicious and packed with flavor! The vegetable chips were a welcome healthier addition to my meal which I enjoyed.

If you are looking for another vegetarian option, they offer vegetable steamed pods, which are different veggies stuffed inside the same type of pastry shell and steamed. For dessert we chose to share each of the options. There is a chocolate cake with a cookie layer and a banana cream topping, as well as a blueberry cream cheese mousse. These were both good, but neither stood out as much to me as the Night Blossom drink from Pongu Pongu....

Cheeseburger Pods and Pandoran Sunrise

Drinks

For a drink at Satu'li Canteen to drink with my meal, I chose to try the non alcoholic, Pandoran Sunrise, which was "tropical juices blended with powerade melon". It was very good! The drink I would recommend the most though would be the "Night Blossom" from the outside drink stand, 'Pongu Pongu' which in english translates to 'Party Party". The Night Blossom is a purple and green colored slushy type drink flavored with apple,pear and limeade and topped with passion fruit flavored boba balls! This drink is delicious and a great refresher on a hot Florida Day!

Night Blossom in front of the #PandoraMossyWall

Me with a Banshee up for adoption

Overall impression

Overall, Pandora is a very well done new area added to Animal Kingdom. With the fabulous new attractions and delicious food it is not to be missed. Some more welcome things that add to the experience are the new Wilderness Explorers badges you can now earn and there is an adoption rookery where you can adopt your very own banshee to bring home with you.

A new Instagram hotspot has also blown up, the #PandoraMossyWall is THE place for pics while in Pandora. When you are not waiting in one of the long lines for one of the attractions, there are also drummers sometimes out performing, as well as a plant you can touch and steam comes out of its top!

Don't forget to visit Pandora at night in addition to the day time. At night, the whole land has a completely different look as the trees and plants come alive with bioluminescence! My photos DO NOT do the land justice at night at all! So be sure to check it out!