Month: May 2017

While visiting Pandora: The World of AVATAR during our special preview, we did get to drink and grab a dessert from the Pongu Pongu kiosk.

Quench your thirst the Pandoran way at an otherworldly pit-stop offering Na’vi-inspired refreshment.

Are your expeditions at Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey leaving you parched? Hike to the corner of Windtraders where you’ll find Pongu Pongu—when you spot a friendly expat serving out-of-this-world drinks, you’ve come to the right place.

Meaning “Party Party” in the language of the Na’vi, Pongu Pongu welcomes weary travelers to try our “bioluminescent” frozen cocktail, indigenous beers—or even a sweet snack you won’t find elsewhere!

While most of Pandora is simply huge and awe-inspiring to look at, I found fun and charm around this one corner of the land. Pongu Pongu exhibits a kooky character in a land heavily filled with conservation messages and fantastic plant-life.

Probably why Dinoland U.S.A. has always been my favorite area in Disney’s Animal Kingdom is because it doesn’t take itself to seriously, and neither does Pongu Pongu, understanding that its a drink stand run by a human tour company with the purpose of serving tourists.

It has an eclectic charm with traces of the world’s heritage abounding. Even though you are in the remnants of a military facility, they are clearly long gone and now we’re just here to have a good time on vacation.

Pongu Pongu has two serving windows and no seating area, but it is just steps away from the outdoor seating area at the Satuli Canteen.

So, how are the drinks and the long-advertised Lumpia snacks? Let’s find out…

Pongu Pongu Menu

The menu includes one non-acloholic and one alcoholic frozen drink, two specialty beers brewed just for this land, the Pongu Lumpia dessert, and bottled water.

Night Blossom – Non-Alcholic Specialty Beverage ($4.99, $18.25 with souvenir cup and glow cube)

Mixture of Limeade with Apple and Desert Pear flavors topped with Passion Fruit Boba Balls. Can be served in a souvenir Pongu Mug with glowing Unadelta Seed

I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. It is very sweet, but the mix of limeade, apple, and pear flavors make for a unique and refreshing combination. It is quite a bit more if you want the plastic souvenir cup and glow cube, but otherwise, I think it is a good value based on the size of the beverage. It also takes an awfully nice picture.

Mo’ara High Country Ale ($8.25 16oz, $9.50 22oz, $18.50 with souvenir mug and glow cube)

Draft Beer 16oz. Rich amber color with a spicy Hop aroma and notes of Caramel, Toffee and Nuts

The high country ale is the darker amber colored beer. It’s a more bitter beer with notes of a nutty flavor and caramel and toffee. Though not as highly carbonated as the grog, it is still heavier than the average IPA, but doesn’t have the over-bitterness that a Jai Alai would have. There’s prevalent hop, but this isn’t a full IPA, and I’m not talking Indigenous Pandora Ale…

Hawkes’ Grog Ale ($8.25 16oz, $9.50 22oz, $18.50 with souvenir mug and glow cube)

Draft Beer 16oz. Golden Ale with a brilliant green color and flavors of Wheat and Citrus followed by a creamy finish

Tasting notes are very carbonated, tastes like a lighter wheat beer with light citrus notes. Very drinkable, highly themed to the land. Slight creamy finish that isn’t as off-putting as it sounds, the beer is balanced but not overly crafty and shouldn’t be avoided by those without advanced beer palettes.

Pongu Lumpia ($4.59)

A pineapple cream cheese spring roll

This was what I was most anticipating from the food lineup on Pandora and I have to say it was just alright. Served warm, the spring roll doesn’t really hold together well after a bite or two. The flavor is there, and is certainly enjoyable if you like cream cheese and pineapple flavors. Your dessert money may be better spent inside of Satuli Canteen honestly and I’ll let you know once we (hopefully) get in there on Saturday.