What to Expect from Pandora: The Land of Avatar

Disney Food Affinity and Beyond: Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom Food and Attraction Information and Speculation

Change is coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom in the next couple of years. Additions are being made to enhance the theme park experience, especially at night, through a new nighttime spectacular (and don't be surprised if you see a dragon or two pop up here in the Rivers of Light show), a nighttime version of Kilimanjaro Safaris, and the highly anticipated Pandora: The Land of Avatar. This Avatar Land is a big undertaking, however Disney has yet to reveal all the details on this expansion. Here is what seems likely to be true so far:

Main Attraction (E-Ticket) - "Flight of Passage" (rumor)
This rumored 3D Flight Simulator is expected to give guests the experience of riding the mythical Banshee creature.While not the exact same technology, this ride resembles that of Soarin'.

Other Attraction (C-Ticket) - unnamed boat ride (rumor)
This speculated boat ride will take riders on a journey through the wildlife of Pandora, including a variety of bio-luminescent plants and animatronic Na'vi

Various Shops
If you know Disney, there is sure to be a gift shop or two in this new land. The number and nature of these shops are unknown.

Quick Service Restaurant
There has been no information on what food will be found in Avatar Land, but there are rumors of a quick service shop in the plans. I have no idea what type of food this mythical cuisine specializes in, but it would be cool if this was a molecular gastronomy restaurant. Disney World has never taken on this style of food before, but I think this strange, inexplicable world of Pandora is a great place to start.

In addition to the concept art included above, Disney has released three videos on this expansion.

While no attractions have been confirmed, the land itself looks incredible. Who wouldn't be excited for real-life floating mountains!

Now for the rest of this post I will be providing some fun speculation. Nothing below is confirmed by Disney or supported by existing rumors, but purely my own ideas - and in the spirit of Disney, I'm hoping these dreams come true.

As I previously mentioned, there are rumors of a quick service restaurant opening, but I am hoping for a full service restaurant instead. A molecular gastronomy restaurant could work as a quick service meal, but I think it would translate better as a sit-down meal.

In addition, Pandora is going to be a very exciting place to visit and I think such a heavily themed land is in need of a tour. Similar to the existing Wild Africa Trek tour, this adventure would take guests on paths through Pandora especially designed for the tour. This intimate interaction can end with a private picnic style meal, preferably in a secluded area that overlooks the magnificent waterfalls shown in the concept art. An experience like this would be unforgettable.

Lastly, I know that rumors are pointing toward the fact that there will be two new rides coming, but I believe there may be more. 3 more movies are guaranteed to come from this franchise, and that will bring audiences to experience more of Pandora. It is possible Disney is planning to add onto The Land of Avatar with rides based off of the upcoming films. Since no real details have been announced, we won't know for now. But, the D23 Expo is just around the corner, and we are sure to expect some more information soon.

-Mike