PHOTOS: Disney Launches Countdown to Pandora – The World of AVATAR Merchandise

WDWNT on March 6, 2017

width=

As we inch closer to the opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar in summer 2017, Disney has announced a new limited edition pin collection coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park starting today, March 2. This item is the first AVATAR related item to be sold at Walt Disney World, marking a milestone for the project.

March, April, and May Pin Releases for Pandora: The World of AVATAR Countdown

March, April, and May Pin Releases for Pandora: The World of AVATAR Countdown

There will be one new pin released each month from March to May. The first pin in this collection (above left) will be released on March 2. The second countdown pin (center) will be released on April 6. The final individual limited edition pin (above right) will be released on May 4. Each individual pin will have an edition size of 1,250 and will be released at Discovery Trading Company in the park.

width=

Artist Dylan Cole designed the travel posters which inspired this pin collection. Attendees may recall getting a first look at the travel posters during the D23 Expo in 2015. Dylan provided design work on Disney’s “Maleficent,” and is currently Co-Production Designer for the upcoming “Avatar” motion picture sequels. Today, guests may see these posters near Tiffins restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.

width=

The final two pins in this collection, called “Completer pins,” will only be found in the five-pin boxed set containing all five travel posters. The boxed set will have an edition size of 250, and will be released during the opening of this new land on May 27.

There will be a purchase limit of two limited edition pins, per style, per guest, per release. These pins will not be available via Shop Disney Parks app or the Disney Parks online store.

VIDEO: Latest AVATAR Ad Shows Guests Walking Around Pandora for the First Time

WDWNT on March 6, 2017

The latest ad for Pandora: The World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom gives us our first really good look at the landscape of the area, showing guests walking under the mountain, and a sweeping shot of the mountain range and area below towards the end. Take a look:

Here are some stills of interest from the video:

width=

width=

width=

Above is some of the woven art of the Navi, which Disney had created by real artisans (from this world).

width=

The shot at the end gives a sweeping look of the finished exterior product inside of the land.

width=

Pandora: The World of AVATAR opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on May 27th, 2017.

VIDEO: Imagineer Joe Rohde Explains How AVATAR Fits in Animal Kingdom; A New Look Inside Pandora

WDWNT on February 23, 2017

Today, Disney has released a new video showcasing Pandora: The World of AVATAR. In this video, Imagineer Joe Rohde explains how AVATAR will fit into the park, a question many a guest has asked over the last 6 years:

Here are some fantastic stills of water flowing through Pandora, marking the first time we have seen this landmark in construction:

width=

width=

width=

Pandora: The World of AVATAR opens May 27th, 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Nighttime Lighting & Projection Mapping Test for Pandora – The World of AVATAR at Animal Kingdom

WDWNT on February 16, 2017

With the announcement of the opening date for Pandora: The World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom made this week, we decide3d it might be a good time to go check on the nighttime lighting tests that are regularly occurring as night falls over the park.

width=

We arrived at dusk and it was a beautiful night.

width=

width=

As night fell, we could see a plethora of blue light cascading over the mountains and trees of Pandora.

width=

width=

width=

width=

width=

width=

width=

There was also another projection mapping test occurring as we left.

width=

For a much clearer and better look at all of these lighting tests, please watch our video below (it offers views that my iPhone 7 Plus can not):

BREAKING: Leaked Image Reveals Ride Vehicle for AVATAR “Flying Banshee” Attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

WDWNT on February 6, 2017

Concept Art for Flight of Passage attraction, Pandora: the World of AVATAR at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park

Concept Art for Flight of Passage attraction, Pandora: the World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park

Since the Flight of Passage attraction was announced, we have wondered how Disney would achieve such an attraction, where guests were promised that they would get to ride on a “real Banshee” from the AVATAR film series. Well, the following image was sent our way courtesy of an inside source and is a screen cap of some footage of Imagineers testing out the new ride which will open with Pandora: the World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom this Summer.

width=

Now, obviously, it is not the clearest image, but so is the nature of such leaked things. You can see that 2 people are mounted on a Banshee creature and are riding the attraction with the large Soarin’ type projection screen in front of them.

It might be possible to seat more than two guests on each, but it is unclear due to the clarity of the image. I would assume that children 7 and under would need to ride with someone 14 or older, as is the rule with many other attractions at Walt Disney World.

This is the structure to which the dozens of Banshees will be mounted, holding guests while they fly in Flight of Passage, Pandora: The World of AVATAR

This is the structure to which the dozens of Banshees will be mounted, holding guests while they fly in Flight of Passage, Pandora: The World of AVATAR

The image above, from the Disney Parks Magic Christmas Celebration, appears to show the ride system before the installation of the Banshee vehicles that will face the large screen.

We were promised that we would be able to feel the Banshee breathing and all of its motions below us when we ride the attraction. Based on the leaked image above, I may actually believe the Disney PR machine for once. If each guest really is boarding their own personal animal, I think we are in for something truly amazing. I think even the most bitter AVATAR project detractors will have to look at this as impressive.

But what do you think? Are you excited for Flight of Passage and Pandora: The World of AVATAR?

PHOTO REPORT: Disney’s Animal Kingdom 2/1/17 (AVATAR, Rivers of Light, Lots of Animals, New Merchandise, Etc.)

WDWNT on February 6, 2017

Our latest photo report brings us to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to see the latest progress on Pandora: The World of AVATAR, Rivers of Light, and more around the park. Let’s take a look…

Wild Places and Parking Spaces

width=

The large dirt barrier behind Pandora: The World of AVATAR is still quite visible from outside of the park. Trees should be planted here fairly soon.

width=

I didn’t realize that they had installed electric vehicle parking at Animal Kingdom, but it is there, located just behind the handicap section.

width=

Pandora looms in the distance…

width=

Pandora: The World of AVATAR

width=

The AVATAR area continues to speed towards an expected May 2017 opening, although Disney is just saying Summer 2017 at this point.

width=

Pandora, as seen from the top of Expedition Everest.

width=

If you want more photos of Pandora: The World of AVATAR, be sure to check out our latest post on it here. Also, the video update below:

Wings and Things

width=

The former Terra Treats allergy friendly menu is gone, replaced by beer and wings (for the most part)…

width=

width=

width=

The clearly labeled display wings… I’m not sure of there real order is that small, but if it is, it is $2 a wing.

width=

width=

width=

Meanwhile, the Harambe Popcorn cart is now selling merchandise: music CDs and binoculars.

Rivers of Plight

width=

On most days, the Discovery River Theater is open for guest seating. It’s starting to sound like we won’t see Rivers of Light until AVATAR opens though.

width=

width=

All of the FastPass+ signage is up and ready to go when the time comes.

width=

width=

width=

If you haven’t seen our video of the show being tested earlier this month, take a look below:

This Park Has Animals at Least

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Latest Progress & Projection Mapping on Pandora – The World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

WDWNT on January 29, 2017

It’s time to check in on the latest progress on Pandora: The World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where more and more details are being revealed and Disney is preparing to illuminate the massive land in the evenings for guests. Let’s check it out…

width=

From a far, we can see the entrance to the land just over the bridge, as well as the floating mountains, but not really much else.

width=

width=

The second set of construction walls was open for some reason, giving us a glimpse further inside.

width=

Sadly, all we can see is a construction fence.

width=

width=

There is one structure on the horizon, one we suspect to be a restroom facility, but we could be wrong.

width=

width=

The strange plant structure by the entrance continues to get new details added each time we visit.

width=

width=

For a better look, please check out the video provided below:

width=

Upon returning in the evening, we could see that all of the lighting on the bridge to Pandora was turned on.

width=

I will say, if the level of detail on the bridge and the strange plant structure are any indication, then we are really in for something special here.

width=

As we were leaving the park, we noticed that a projection mapping test was taking place on the floating mountains above the land. We suspect that there will be a nightly lighting show much in the same vein as Cars Land, but this one using projection mapping technology similar to the Tree of Life Awakenings and Once Upon a Time.

width=

width=

It may be just a grid now, but some bright, bioluminescent projections could really make this something special to behold every evening in the park.

width=

width=

So, who’s excited to visit Pandora this Summer? What part of the project are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments below!

PHOTOS, VIDEO: December 2016 Aerial Flyover of Pandora: The World of AVATAR As It Nears Completion

WDWNT on January 8, 2017

 

After the exciting inside look at Pandora: The World of AVATAR that we got to see on the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Celebration special, we decided it might be a good time to take to the skies and take a look at Animal Kingdom’s newest land from above and see how it is coming along.

The below video is the longest of the sort that we have filmed to date, as we fly around the entire perimeter of the land, giving you a 360 degree view of Pandora just months ahead of its Summer 2017 opening.

The video, as well as the photos below, show a project rapidly approaching completion (finally). Hopefully the land will be open to guests by Memorial Day 2017, or at the very least by the 4th of July.

It appears that the full fleet of boats for the Navi River Journey are being loaded in this week. This indicates that the ride is likely finished and now they will begin cycling a full fleet of boats inside of the attraction.

Very little scaffolding remains on the mountain range, meanwhile, Pongu Pongu Refreshments, Windtraders, and Satuli Canteen appear to be just about finished from the exterior

Pongu Pongu Refreshments is the small building on the right side of the above photo, just north of the hangar-looking building, which is home to Satuli Canteen. We believe that Windtraders is the small building to the right of the Canteen, but we have been unable to confirm that as of yet.

Even from this angle, never intended to be seen by a guest, the mountains appear to be floating.

Pavement has been laid finally, no longer leaving dirt trails between the sights of Pandora.

The large cranes were moved off-site in the last two weeks, leaving the skyline of the park closer to its finished product.

So, what do you think of Pandora: The World of AVATAR? Are you excited yet?