A visit to Disney's Pandora — what we learned

By Todd Martens

May 2, 2017 6:29 AM PT

Los Angeles Times

When James Cameron’s sci-fi epic “Avatar” opened eight years ago, the experience of the film was the biggest selling point — Cameron hadn’t just created another world, he put the audience in it. We didn’t just watch the Na’Vi fly across the screen on their winged banshees, we flew with them over the vistas of the tropical planet of Pandora.

On May 27, Disney hopes to amplify that immersion with its most technically ambitious land to date: Pandora — the World of Avatar, situated in Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

Instead of re-creating scenes from the film or simply populating the park with characters seen in the movie, Disney’s Pandora expands on the universe. Set about a generation after the conflict in the film, this Pandora is a postwar planet on the road to rehabilitation, emphasizing themes of conservation and exploration.

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Haley Allen-Johnson, 5, from Pittsburgh, checks out the new Pandora -- The World of Avatar attraction, that officially opens next week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, photographed Thursday, May 18, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 2788945 (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel)

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Scenes from the new Pandora -- The World of Avatar attraction, that officially opens next week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, photographed Thursday, May 18, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 2788945 (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel)

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Kristine Adler (3rd from left) of Medford, NJ, celebrates her 40th birthday with friends during a passholders preview of the new Pandora -- The World of Avatar attraction, that officially opens next week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, photographed Thursday, May 18, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 2788945 (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel)

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Passholders check out the new Pandora -- The World of Avatar attraction, that officially opens next week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, photographed Thursday, May 18, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 2788945 (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel)

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Kristine Adler of Medford, NJ, celebrates her 40th birthday with friends during a passholders preview of the new Pandora -- The World of Avatar attraction, that officially opens next week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, photographed Thursday, May 18, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 2788945 (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel)

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Passholders Arianna Schinder and Jane Charleton, from State College, Penn., check out the new Pandora -- The World of Avatar attraction, that officially opens next week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, photographed Thursday, May 18, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 2788945 (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel)

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Passholder Arianna Schinder, from State College, Penn., checks out the new Pandora -- The World of Avatar attraction, that officially opens next week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, photographed Thursday, May 18, 2017. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) 2788945 (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel)

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Floating mountains are a signature part of the landscape of Pandora - The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

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Plants are lighted during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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A pod emits smoke when visitors beat their hands against a lighted area during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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Colorful lighs bathe the scenery during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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Colorful lighs bathe the scenery during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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Plants are lighted during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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Plants are lighted during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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Colorful lighs bathe the scenery during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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A lighted Puffball is pictured during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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The ground is covered in light during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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Colorful lighs bathe the scenery during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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Colorful lighs bathe the scenery during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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Plants are lighted during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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A lighted Puffball is pictured during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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Colorful lighted plants are pictured during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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Colorful lighs bathe the scenery during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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A pod emits smoke and light during a sneak peak at Pandora: The World of Avatar at night on Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel)

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A first look at Pandora — The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The park’s new addition that is based on the James Cameron film will officially open on May 27, 2017. April 29, 2017. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel)

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Imagineer and Senior Creative Executive at WDI, Joe Rohde, gives a first look tour of Pandora —The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The park’s new addition that is based on the James Cameron film will officially open on May 27, 2017. April 29, 2017. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel)

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An Avatar character is showcase in the queue for the Avatar Flight of Passage ride that is part of Pandora — The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The park’s new addition that is based on the James Cameron film will officially open on May 27, 2017. April 29, 2017. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel)

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The exterior of the Pongu Pongu quick-service beverage stand at Pandora — The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The park’s new addition that is based on the James Cameron film will officially open on May 27, 2017. April 29, 2017. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel)

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The interior of Satu’li Canteen at Pandora — The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The park’s new addition that is based on the James Cameron film will officially open on May 27, 2017. April 29, 2017. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel)

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Satu’li Canteen at Pandora — The World of Avatar offers “out of this world” breakfast, luncha and dinner options.

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Satu’li Canteen at Pandora — The World of Avatar offers “out of this world” breakfast, luncha and dinner options.

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Satu’li Canteen, a restaurant within Pandora, offers French toast on its breakfast menu.

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Joe Rohde, gives a first look tour of Pandora —The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on April 29, 2017.

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Imagineer and Senior Creative Executive at WDI, Joe Rohde with Avatar producer Jon Landau at a first look tour of Pandora — The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The park’s new addition that is based on the James Cameron film will officially open on May 27, 2017. April 29, 2017. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel)

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Pandora Map

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The path to Pandora -- The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. ((Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times) )

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ORLANDO, --APRIL 29, 2017-- Scenes from Pandora â The World of Avatar, the new world at Disneyâs Animal Kingdom, in Orlando, FL, April 29, 2017. The Los Angeles Times’ resident Disney expert Todd Martens gives us a sneak-peak before the new park opens. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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A map of Disney World’s Pandora.

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ORLANDO, --APRIL 29, 2017-- The audio-animatronics “Shaman of Songs,” inside the “Na’Vi River Journey” boat ride, in Pandora â The World of Avatar, the new world at Disneyâs Animal Kingdom theme park, in Orlando, FL, April 29, 2017. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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ORLANDO, --APRIL 29, 2017-- Scenery from the alien world of Pandora â The World of Avatar, the new world at Disneyâs Animal Kingdom theme park, in Orlando, FL, April 29, 2017. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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ORLANDO, --APRIL 29, 2017--The Flaska Reclinata, one of the many hand-made plants, lights up as part of the bioluminescent forest, as night falls on Pandora â the World of Avatar, the new world at Disneyâs Animal Kingdom theme park, in Orlando, FL, April 29, 2017. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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ORLANDO, --APRIL 29, 2017-- Inside a waiting queue for, “Avatar Flight of Passage,” which simulates the effect of riding a banshee, one of “Avatar’s” winged, dragon-like animals, inside Pandora â The World of Avatar, the new world at Disneyâs Animal Kingdom theme park, in Orlando, FL, April 29, 2017. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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ORLANDO, --APRIL 29, 2017-- Real wildlife, in this case a duck, has blended in with the created nature of hand-made plants, from the alien world of Pandora â The World of Avatar, the new world at Disneyâs Animal Kingdom theme park, in Orlando, FL, April 29, 2017. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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ORLANDO, --APRIL 29, 2017--The bioluminescent forest comes to life as night falls on Pandora â the World of Avatar, the new world at Disneyâs Animal Kingdom theme park, in Orlando, FL, April 29, 2017. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

The Times was part of a media preview that toured the land over the weekend, and here’s just a bit of what we learned.

Haven’t seen ‘Avatar’ or don’t remember it? No problem.

The film and the land feel like two separate entities. While visitors encounter the blue-skinned Na’Vi and some of the forest predators seen on the big screen, “Avatar” isn’t required viewing to enjoy Pandora.

Guests enter Pandora via Alpha Centauri Expeditions, a sort of intergalactic travel agency; there they learn about the work of the Pandora Conservation Initiative. The preservation theme loosely connects the fantasy land to Animal Kingdom, which emphasizes environmental restoration and the efforts to save endangered animals from extinction.

On Pandora, for instance, the winged, dragon-like “Avatar” creatures called the banshees are now near extinction — a key component of the land’s thrill ride, Avatar Flight of Passage. Close to the entrance of the park is a giant, bulbous plant with a fire-red top known as the “flaska reclinata,” the last of its kind. Joe Rohde, lead imagineer on the project, stressed that even though the sci-fi world is far from “edu-tainment,” all of it works to give Pandora a sense of fragility, attempting to draw parallels between this alien world and our own.

The Na’Vi River Journey is a tranquil Disney ride

Disney had one primary goal for the Na’Vi River Journey: “Just plain beauty,” said Rohde.

The boat attraction floats calmly through a bioluminescent forest, culminating in a visit with the Shaman of Songs, a Na’Vi woman who serenades guests as they pass by. It’s intimate, with boats seating only about six to eight people at a time and two boats loading at once.

Floating jellyfish creatures soar through the sky, wolf-like predators trot off in the distance and other four-legged animals puff up their feathers as guests roll past. Above, glowing blue plant leaves reveal the footprints of small animals as they run across the fronds.

But the star of this show is the Shaman of Songs. She is Disney’s most lifelike audio-animatronic created to date, with near-human-like fluidity in her movements. The first time you see her you don’t know where to focus. On her singing? Her arm waving? The wagging of her tail?

The two attractions in Pandora don’t come with typical theme-park-like signage. The entry to the River Journey queue is a woven monument to the Shaman of Songs, and Avatar Flight of Passage greets guests with a sculpture of a banshee designed to look like an ancient carving.

What happened to all the Na’Vi?

Sightings of Pandora natives, the Na’Vi, are relatively rare. They can be spotted on the two attractions, but throughout the grounds of Pandora their presence is treated as more of a special experience.

Disney Imagineers explained that it simply wasn’t practical — or realistic — to have the Na’Vi wandering the land or doing meet-and-greets with guests. Part of that is due to their specific look. The Na’Vi are tall — generally towering over humans by 3 to 5 feet. They also have a very sleek bone structure and wildly active tails; it’s not as simple as painting someone blue, Rohde explained.

The land doesn’t just glow, it’s interactive

Disney has long played up the bioluminescent nature of Pandora, and in the film we see the forest floor react to each step of the Na’Vi. Pandora isn’t quite that responsive, but there are multiple ways in which the land reacts to guests.

At night, a significant number of the land’s plants light up. But the effect is not as simple as, say, turning on Christmas lights. The hope is that the glowing plants will feel natural. To that end, every plant in the land was hand-sculpted, and Rohde demanded that they be photo-realistic.

Outside of the controlled experiences, the bioluminescent plants are mixed in with real plants that thrive in central Florida. When the land opens later in May, the plan is for plants to react to Pandora wildlife. Guests will hear animals rustle beside the path, and the lights will flicker as the unseen animals push them aside.

There’s even a set of plants that can be played like drums. They weren’t turned on for the media preview, but when they’re operational the plan is for the lighting of the land to respond to guests playing them. Throughout the day, “professional” plant drummers will also give performances for guests.

Even the aforementioned flaska reclinata is interactive, releasing mists of water into the air.

Throughout Pandora, multiple Disney cast members — employees, in park parlance — act as expats who are there to educate tourists on Pandora plant life. Visitors should also expect to encounter some Pandora creatures in the water. Though parts of Pandora were still being worked on and were off-limits to the press, there looked to be aquatic creatures situated in the river. And a sign warning guests in the splash zone.

Flight of Passage is massive

Pandora’s thrill ride is big — really big. To reach it, guests must trek up a Disney-constructed mountain. Consider it a light hike, but the queue path wraps around the “natural” Pandoran flora and fauna.

Once guests reach the top of the mountain, they enter caves that house giant paintings depicting the banshees and colorful, ancient-looking murals. Slowly the queue transitions to what feels like an abandoned military base, with hints of once-dangerous experiments conducted by humans on Pandora, only to eventually open up into a full-fledged research center.

This is where guests become avatars — that is, they go through the process of entering a Na’Vi body — to help the natives study and repopulate the endangered banshee species. The transformation is the story line of the attraction, complemented by the famous Na’Vi host body tank from the film and copious sci-fi details. In one room each rider is assigned a number and told that they are being scanned for the avatar process.

The vehicles are essentially stationary bikes. After donning 3-D glasses, a screen on the vehicle begins to match the guest’s face with that of a Na’Vi. A back support rises and pushes the seat forward. Once this process is complete, the ride begins. A screen appears in front, and we are immediately careening down a mountain on the back of a banshee.

Fans have long speculated that this experience would be similar to Disney’s popular Soarin’ attraction, but Flight of Passage is far more intense and immersive than Soarin’. The screen feels intimate — this is my banshee — and the attraction’s base vibrates to mimic the movements of an animal. Riders soar among Pandora’s floating mountains and through waterfalls, feel splashes of water and robust gusts of wind.

At 4 1/2 minutes, it’s a relatively substantial theme park experience, and the pace is varied enough that those prone to motion sickness should be able to handle it.

Then it’s down the mountain and into the base camp-like part of Pandora, where guests can hang at a tiki bar and drink green beer or head to the mess hall-like canteen and order an alien-inspired meal including breakfast, lunch and dinner “pods” and a spotted blue cheesecake.

Pandora is bigger than just two attractions

Early on the tour of Pandora, Rohde cautioned that those who venture into the land simply to ride two attractions and bolt are making a mistake. You’re “wasting your time,” Rohde said.

Among all of Disney’s themed lands in North America, Pandora stands out for its emphasis on individual experience rather than a linear story. Neither the Na’Vi River Journey nor Avatar Flight of Passage come with a straight-up plot, allowing visitors to take in the sights and sounds and write their own story. Though tied to the newer “Avatar” film, the Pandora rides recall the Disney of old — the take-it-all-in scenes of Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion, where fans to this day still debate the ins-and-outs of the story.

Plus, the real-life nature of it should encourage guests who fall for the land to linger. The floating mountains, for instance, are an impressive sight. Guests can walk under them and view them from multiple locations in the land. Each one is natural wonder, even if at its base it’s constructed of steel and the mountains float due to some expertly disguised vines.

They look like something that should be in a national park rather than a theme park.

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