Secrets of Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney has released a video celebrating the third anniversary of Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Behind the Magic Pandora

Two of the lead creative partners responsible for developing the land: Joe Rohde, portfolio creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, and Jon Landau, producer of “Avatar” and its sequels. These two visionaries assembled a team of thousands to turn a wondrous cinematic digital world into a complete physical environment that inspires and thrills.

Pandora: The World of Avatar is the newest themed land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. The land is inspired by James Cameron’s Avatar film and is set a generation after the events in the Avatar film.

Disney began planning Pandora back in 2011 jointly with Cameron. Construction started 10 January 2014 in the former location of Camp Minnie-Mickey which itself had originally been the location for the never built Beastly Kingdom, a land based around mythical creatures. If you have ever wondered why there is a Dragon on the Animal Kingdom logo, Beastly kingdom is the reason. Pandora: The World of Avatar officially opened 27 May 2017.

A major visual feature of Pandora is the Valley of Mo’ara and its floating mountains surrounded by lush vegetation which is a mix of real plant species and sculpted Pandora flora. The whole land is spectacular at night when everything is lit up and the flora and even the pathways glow in the dark.

The land has two rides, Na’vi River Journey which as it’s name suggests is a gentle boat journey through the Kapsavan River showcasing the beautiful and spectacular flora and fauna of Pandora. 3D holograms and animatronics are used throughout the ride to bring guests right in to the world of Avatar.

The second ride is a 3D flying simulator thrill ride where guests get to ride on the back of a mountain Banshee, soaring over the vast and spectacular landscape of Pandora.

Join Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Portfolio Executive Joe Rohde and award-winning film Producer Jon Landau as they reflect back on three years of Pandora—The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.

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