Step inside Disney World’s Pandora

Stephen Fortunato, Disney imagineer and audio media designer for Pandora — the World of Avatar, demonstrates an interactive drum attraction in the new world at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, in Orlando, Fla.

Re-created props from James Cameron’s “Avatar.”

Lisa Girolami, Disney imagineer and executive producer of Pandora, calls herself the “Mom” of the Pandora production. Girolami has been involved in the creation and construction of Disney theme parks worldwide.

The floating mountains of Pandora in Disney World’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Fla.

Waterfalls bathe a mix of natural and hand-made plants in the alien world of Pandora.

Joe Rohde, lead Disney imagineer of Pandora, offers guests fruit during a day of media preview at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.

The fauna of Pandora during the daytime inside Disney’s new Pandora park.

The fauna of Pandora during the daytime inside Disney’s new Pandora park.

The fauna of Pandora during the daytime inside Disney’s new Pandora park.

The fauna of Pandora during the daytime inside Disney’s new Pandora park.

Banshees for sale in the Pandora gift shop in Disney World’s Animal Kingdom.

Banshees for sale in the Pandora gift shop.

An avatar container from the “Avatar” movie was re-created inside the waiting queue for the Avatar Flight of Passage ride.

The seating for Avatar Flight of Passage, which simulates the effect of riding a banshee, one of “Avatar’s” winged, dragon-like creatures.

The many details inside a waiting area for Avatar Flight of Passage.

Inside a waiting queue for Avatar Flight of Passage.

A sign inside Avatar Flight of Passage.

The audio-animatronics Shaman of Songs, inside the Na’Vi River Journey boat ride, in Pandora.

One of the many Pandora creatures hiding inside the Na’Vi River Journey boat ride.

The overhead scenery inside the Na’Vi River Journey boat ride in Pandora.

The overhead scenery inside the Na’Vi River Journey boat ride in Pandora.

Pandora nature at night.

Pandora nature at night.

Pandora nature at night.

Pandora nature at night.