Pandora – The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom (Flight of Passage)

Animal Kingdom is the youngest park at Walt Disney World. It’s also one of the most unique thanks to its zoo-like atmosphere.

Even though there are a variety of animals to see, including giraffes, zebras, and elephants, it’s far different than a zoo.

Animal Kingdom is known for having some of the best park food on property, thrilling attractions, exciting tours, and much, much more.

As the biggest Disney World theme park, there’s a lot to see and do, so why not take a deep dive into each land?

Here we take a look into Pandora – The World of Avatar, which was inspired by the 2009 James Cameron film, Avatar.

The land first opened in May 2017 and is one of the most stunning and popular lands across Disney World.

From riding on a banshee thanks to Flight of Passage, to being able to hang out underneath the floating mountains (aka the Hallelujah Mountains), to having one of the best Quick Service restaurants in all of Disney World (we’re looking at you Satu’li Canteen), Pandora is one land you definitely shouldn’t skip.

Believe it or not, but the area is even more impressive at night (iykyk). Now, let’s take a deep dive into the world of Pandora.

Overview

Location: Animal Kingdom
Restaurants: 3 Quick Service (1 Snack and Drink Carts, Pongu Pongu, Satu’li Canteen)
Shops: Colors of Mo’ara, Windtraders
Entertainment: None
Animals: None
Attractions: Na’vi River Journey, Flight of Passage
Trails: None
Characters: None
Popular snacks and drinks: Night and Rum Blossom (Pongu Pongu), Hawkes’ Grog Ale (Pongu Pongu, Satu’li Canteen), Pongu Lumpia (Pongu Pongu)
Not-to-miss: Flight of Passage, Satu’li Canteen, Pandora at night

Pandora Map

Dining

Pandroa doesn’t have a lot of dining, but that doesn’t mean the land isn’t worth visiting for the food. You definitely don’t want to miss the one spot for either lunch or dinner.

Quick Service Restaurants

Satu’li Canteen

Satu’li Canteen is the main Quick Service restaurant in Pandora. It’s also one of the best Quick Service locations at a Disney World theme park.

We recommend ordering one of the available protein bowls (beef, chicken, shrimp, or tofu). These also come with a base and a sauce, if you’d like.

The bases include: red and sweet potato hash, rice and beans, hearty salad, or noodles (non plant-based).

The sauces include: charred green onion vinaigrette, black bean vinaigrette (non plant-based), or creamy herb sauce (non plant-based).

The menu also features Cheeseburger Steamed Pods – Bao Buns, along with a kids version. The kids’ menu even has a hot dog wrapped in a parker house dough or a cheese quesadilla.

For dessert, the Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse with fruit curd is a popular menu item.

You can Mobile Order, which you should definitely take advantage of during peak eating times.

Tip: If you don’t want to wait in line at Pongu Pongu for Hawkes’ Grog Ale or Mo’ara High Country Ale, you can order both of these from Satu’li Canteen. Better yet, you can even Mobile order the beers!

Pongu Pongu

Pongu Pongu (aka “Party Party”) is a stand next to Satu’li Canteen that serves small bites for breakfast, along with snacks later in the afternoon and evening.

The Pongu Lumpia, a pineapple-cream cheese spring roll, is a favorite choice. If you like pineapple and cream cheese, you should definitely try this. It’s available all day.

The drinks featured are definitely worth noting as well. First, Pongu Pongu has one of the prettiest and notable non-alcoholic drinks — the Night Blossom (layers of apple and desert pear limeade topped with boba balls).

You can also get the Rum Blossom, which is just like the Night Blossom but with rum added. Pongu Pongu has a Mo’ara Margarita, as well.

But, it’s the beer that we really love. The Hawkes’ Grog Ale (the green beer) has a fruity hop with notes of apricot and peach. The Mo’ara High Country Ale is an amber ale with a spicy hop aroma.

Both of these are exclusive to Pandora and you can’t get them anywhere else. We, personally, are partial to the green beer.

Tip: Mobile Order isn’t available here, so if you don’t want to wait in a line and simply want a Hawkes’ Grog Ale or a Mo’ara High Country Ale, you can order both of these from Satu’li Canteen.

Snack and Drink Cart

As you enter Pandora from Discovery Island, you’ll come upon a snack and drink cart on the right hand side before you get to Na’vi River Journey.

The cart has your standard snacks, like ice cream, and bottled beverages.

Seating Areas

Besides indoor and outdoor seating at Satu’li Canteen, Pandora doesn’t have any seating areas. If you’ll want to sit here, though, you’ll need to order something.

Shops

There are 2 places to shop for souvenirs in Pandora.

Windtraders

Windtraders is Pandora’s big gift store that’s also the same shop you exit into after riding Flight of Passage.

Even if you don’t ride Flight of Passage, you can still enter Windtraders to shop.

In addition to finding Avatar and Pandora-themed merchandise here, there are several customizable souvenirs available for purchase.

Adopt a banshee

Banshee’s are a big part of Avatar. You even “ride” one during Flight of Passage. So of course Disney has the option for guests to adopt a banshee.

To be clear, this is a stuffed animal banshee, which you must bond with before you can take it home. There is also a pledge you sign. You can even wear your banshee on your shoulder.

Colors of Mo’ara and The Outpost Shop (at the park entrance across from Joffrey’s) usually have a few banshees you can adopt. But, if you want more color options and the full experience of adopting a banshee, you’ll want to visit Windtraders.

Avatar Maker

The Avatar Maker is exactly what it sounds like — you can see what you’d look like as an actual Avatar.

You get to make an Avatar action figure customized specifically to you. The overall customization process takes around 5 to 10 minutes, but the creation of the action figure can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.

You can also find several pre-made Avatar action figures. This isn’t a cheap experience at $79.99, but it certainly is a unique souvenir.

Make Na’vi Jewelry

Windraders also offers Na’vi jewelry-making. You can design either a bracelet or a necklace.

The are a variety of beads, feathers, crystals, totems, and pendants to select. Bracelets and necklaces are priced at $19.99 each (plus tax). Included in that price are 8 beads and one feather or one crystal.

You can purchase more beads, crystals, totems, or pendants for an additional price.

Colors of Mo’ara

Colors of Mo’ara is a merchandise kiosk located near Na’vi River Journey.

Face painting used to be available here, but right now you can only find select merchandise.

Attractions

There are 2 popular attractions in Pandora, with one being on of the most

Na’vi River Journey

Na’vi River Journey isn’t the most exciting ride, especially in Pandora, but it sure is gorgeous.

This is a slow-moving boat ride that takes you through a series of caves and a bioluminescent rainforest. Both come alive with the sights and sounds of Pandora.

The attraction also has one of the most impressive audio-animatronics at Disney World — the Na’vi Shaman of Songs. You don’t want to miss seeing her.

Na’vi River Journey can sometimes have a long wait, so if you’ve purchased Genie+, you’ll want to take advantage of the Lightning Lane. There is also a Standby Line available.

Flight of Passage

Flight of Passage draws in the crowds — and for good reason. It gives guests the chance to experience what it would be like to fly on a banshee, as seen in Avatar.

If you’ve never been on the ride before, you just might walk away speechless. That’s how impressive the technology and attraction are.

You sit on a motorcycle-style ride vehicle that simulates a banshee, as you take a 3D flight around Pandora. Keep in mind that Flight of Passage can cause motion sickness.

The ride is breathtaking and beyond realistic. So much so, you can even feel your banshee breathing!

This is the most popular attraction in Animal Kingdom, so if it’s at the top of your list you’ll want to have a plan. You’ll probably want to rope drop it or purchase an Individual Lightning Lane.

Wait times sometimes decrease later in the day or near park close, since Flight of Passage is where most guests head upon park open.

Entertainment

Pandora isn’t necessarily known for its entertainment, but there may be something for you to enjoy from time to time.

Pandora Drummers – Swotu Wayä (currently unavailable)

The Pandora Drummers, aka “Swotu Wayä,” are drummers who entertain guests daily by playing Na’vi- inspired music in the drum circle area that’s located in the heart of the Mo’ara Valley inside Pandora.

These drummers currently aren’t playing and it remains unclear if they will return to Pandora. But, we hope they do, because they add yet another cool aspect to the land.

Activities

While the following isn’t technically an “activity,” it’s something we think you should add to your list when exploring Animal Kingdom.

Pandora at Night

There is nothing quite like Pandora at night. The whole land lights up in the evenings.

It’s like walking into a glowing neon forest. From the pavement, to the plants, to the floating mountains, the entire land truly comes to life as soon as the sun sets.

That said, keep in mind that depending on when the park closes each day, it might not be dark enough to see the land glowing.

Animal Kingdom is known for closing the earliest out of all the theme parks and sometimes it’s still daylight when it does.

Disney PhotoPass Photographer

There are several PhotoPass options in Pandora, including in front of the waterfalls and floating mountains.

Just keep your eyes peeled for Disney PhotoPass photographers as you walk around, because there are multiple stationed in different areas.

Pandora Floating Mountains Overlook

Waterfalls Near Avatar Flight of Passage

Entrance to Pandora and Floating Mountains Waterfall

Don’t forget to ask if they have any fun Magic Shots!

Remember: unless you have Memory Maker, Memory Maker Day One, or a PhotoPass entitlement with your Annual Pass, you will have to pay to download or print these photos.

Restrooms

There are 2 restrooms in Pandora.

One between Pongu Pongu and Satu’li Canteen:

And the other near Colors of Mo’ara:

Animal Relief Area

You can find an open outdoor relief area for guests visiting with service animals on the walkway from Pandora to Africa.

Pandora Checklist

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What’s your favorite thing about Pandora in Animal Kingdom? Tell us in the comments!