Pandora Opens With Long Lines as Expected; New Nighttime Projection at Hollywood Studios

Pandora Opens With Long Lines as Expected:

Pandora: The World of Avatar officially opened yesterday at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The long awaited new world which took almost 4 years to build opened to very large crowds during the Memorial Day Weekend. Waits to just get into the land reached almost two hours at one point during the day.

The two new attractions in Avatar: Flight of Passage and the Na'vi River Journey each stayed steady at over four hour wait times throughout the day. There seemed to be no mechanical or technical issues throughout the day like Frozen Ever After had last year when it opened. The only time the rides were shut down were later in the night to prepare for the Extra Extra Magic Hours exclusive for Walt Disney World Resort guests. 

Pandora at night is such a beauty from the photos I saw online. I can't wait to see it in just 11 days. Lines during the Extra Extra Magic Hours weren't horrible going to bed last night I saw Flight of Passage at 90 minutes which was expected and River Journey was at a respectable 20 minute wait. 

Guests once again lined up this morning nearly 90 minutes before the park opened. Lines were long to get in but no reports of any phased closures like yesterday for opening day. As of around noon today waits both rides weren't as bad with Flight of Passage at 120 minutes and Na'vi River Journey was at 150 minutes. Congratulations to Joe Rohde and Walt Disney Imagineering on the opening of this beautiful new world. It is sure to be a busy summer at the parks.

New Nighttime Projection Show Debuts at Disney's Hollywood Studios:

It is crazy to think that anything could be kept secret with social media the way it is in 2017. Disney did just that on Friday when they debuted a brand new projection show called Disney Movie Magic at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The world learned just hours before it premiered. 

Disney Movie Magic is a new projection show on the Chinese Theatre facade that will air nightly before Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular at 9 p.m. The show contains clips from several Disney live-action films including, "Beauty and the Beast", "Mary Poppins", "Cinderella", "Guardians of the Galaxy", "Tron", and much more. 

Disney still hasn't even made any official announcement on "Disney Movie Magic," but it was quite the surprise to hear they can still surprise us every once in a while with something new. 

Take a Tour of Pandora with Joe Rohde with D23 and AP Previews Book Up Quickly

On Friday May 19, D23 members have a chance of a lifetime by spending an afternoon touring Pandora: The World of Avatar before it opens with Joe Rohde, Portfolio Creative Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering. Rohde was the lead imagineer for Pandora: The World of Avatar and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Tickets for the even is $250/person plus a $5 processing fee. Tickets for the event will go on sale beginning Wednesday, April 5 at 10 a.m. PDT/ 1 p.m. EDT. Here is what guests can expect:

OVERVIEW:
Be among the first to explore Pandora – The World of Avatar not only before it opens to the public, but with Joe Rohde, Portfolio Creative Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering! In addition to a guided walk-through of the exotic new land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park with Joe, attendees will enjoy lunch at Tiffins with Mr. Rohde and fellow D23 Members.

DETAILS:
Experience begins at 11:00 a.m. and will last approximately three hours. Check-in will begin in front of Tiffins restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Please do not arrive before 10:45 a.m.

Attendees are invited to return to Pandora – The World of Avatar to join an exploration window on their own from 3 – 5 p.m. the same day.

Available to Gold and Gold Family Members
You will be required to show a photo ID. Members will be required to show their D23 Membership Card.

Before Pandora – The World of Avatar opens May 27 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, D23 is thrilled to transport a limited number of members to the all-new land for a once-in-a-lifetime afternoon with Joe Rohde, Portfolio Creative Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering!

Guests will travel to Pandora – The World of Avatar with Joe to explore the Valley of Mo’ara, a verdant terrain sprawling beneath mountains that appear to float in the sky. Throughout the guided tour, guests will learn how the thriving Pandoran landscape conveys intrinsic park messages of the value of nature, transformation through adventure, conservation and stewardship.

In addition to the D23-exclusive tour, guests will join Joe for lunch at Tiffins—a restaurant that celebrates the adventures of traveling.

That afternoon, attendees are invited to return to Pandora to join an exploration window on their own from 3 – 5 p.m. During this time, guests will also have the opportunity to soar on the back of a mountain banshee during Avatar Flight of Passage, and venture deep into the bioluminescent rainforest during the Na’vi River Journey.*

This once-in-a-lifetime experience wouldn’t be complete without a custom gift, created exclusively for you.

*Event is subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. As this is an early exploration of Pandora – The World of Avatar, please note that access to some areas of the Valley of Mo’ara on Pandora may be limited during your visit.

NOTE

• D23 Gold and Gold Family Members may reserve a ticket for themselves and one (1) guest.
• Due to the nature of this experience, all attendees must be at least 21 years of age or older to partake in this D23 event.
• This event does not include admission to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Guests will need to have or purchase admission to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to attend. If planning to use a Walt Disney World Annual Passport to attend, each guest should check blockout dates to verify that the pass is valid for admission on Friday, May 19.
• A very limited number of tickets are available. D23 Members will be required to provide their membership number when reserving tickets. Tickets may be picked up only with a valid photo ID AND D23 MEMBERSHIP CARD. D23 Members who do not bring their membership card may not be admitted to the event. Ticketed Members who do not attend the event forfeit their place as well as all experiences, benefits, and gifts associated with the event.
• All D23 Special Events are subject to change without notice. There are no cancellations or refunds, and tickets are not transferable.

Also today, Annual Passholder registration for previews of Pandora: The World of Avatar opened and booked up within hours of opening. The previews for Annual Passholders will take place between May 13 through May 22. Here are the details for their previews:

• All Guests must be Passholders in order to register for a time slot to preview Pandora – The World of Avatar.
• Guests may only register for one (1) time slot over the course of the preview period.
• If an Annual Passholder would like to register a Guest to accompany them, that Guest must also have a valid annual pass for admission to the event’s theme park location on the date of the event, be listed on your Family &
• Friends list and have opted to share “All My Plans” with you.
• Passholders with confirmed reservations will receive an additional email with details on how to check in for this experience, by May 12, 2017.
• All Guests must present their valid annual pass (or linked MagicBand), government issued ID and confirmation page to a Cast Member in order to enter Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park and Pandora – The World of Avatar on the date of your preview.
• Availability is subject to change without notice.
• Event is subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather.
• Guests must meet appropriate boarding and height requirements for the attractions.
• Capacity is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Due to limited capacity, modifications to existing reservations will not be available.
• Limit one reservation per Passholder. Reservations are nontransferable and void if sold or otherwise transferred.

Pandora: The World of Avatar will open to all guests at Disney's Animal Kingdom on May 27, 2017. 

Source: D23.com

ABC Shows Show Off Sneak Peak to Pandora: The World of Avatar

This morning Good Morning America gave ABC's first sneak peak into Pandora: The World of Avatar. ABC's Paula Faris spoke with Joe Rohde and Avatar producer Jon Landau while walking through the land in our most in-depth look yet. 

In the segment we got a look at the bioluminescent plants at night, the floating mountains, a look at food that will be available to try, and our first look at what Avatar Flight of Passage will look like. Guests will slide on 3D glasses and be transformed into their own Avatar. While we didn't see any footage from the ride, it will be a simulation of you actually riding on the back of your own banshee. Here is the full clip of the segment:

WATCH: INSIDE LOOK: @VisitPandora the world of Avatar only at @WaltDisneyWorld! #VisitPandora @DisneyParks @OfficialAvatar pic.twitter.com/uFqamUfuLa

— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 9, 2017

As we said yesterday, this is just the first segment giving us an inside look at Pandora: The World of Avatar. Segments on ABC's "The View", "The Chew", and "Nightline" will be shown throughout the day on ABC.

UPDATE: Whoopi Goldberg Tours Na'vi River Journey with James Cameron on "The View":

During today's episode of ABC's "The View" live from Disney's Animal Kingdom, we got another inside look at Pandora: The World of Avatar. Whoopi Goldberg got a tour of the land with Oscar-winning director James Cameron as he showed off the floating mountains, the glowing bioluminescent plants, and finally we saw them ride the Na'vi River Journey. You will see that you will encounter a viper wolf and even hear the Na'vi Shaman singing on the ride.

Check out the clip below:

Floating mountains, glowing forests and more! @JimCameron gives @whoopigoldberg an exclusive look at @VisitPandora in @WaltDisneyWorld. pic.twitter.com/OLBuFw5sOf

— The View (@TheView) March 9, 2017

Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom inches closer to its debut on May 27, 2017.

New All in the Details Shows Relationship Between Pandora and Life

In the last episode of All in the Details, Disney legendary imagineer Joe Rohde revealed that Pandora's culture's will greatly reflect those of Disney's Animal Kingdom. Tonight, in a brand new episode, Rohde and other members of the Pandora project team share how the relationship between Pandora and life on Earth are greatly related through research and "placemaking."

"In this video, several members of the Pandora project team explain just how important research has been in bringing Pandora – The World of Avatar to life. Culture plays a huge part in the park’s other lands, like Asia and Africa. Therefore, researching a realistic culture that would exist on Pandora has been a priority. In addition to culture, placemaking has also extended to designing what guests will hear when they enter the new land."

In the video also check out where the quick glimpse of what appears to be the queue for Flight of Passage. Also, note all the details throughout the land they literally just take your breathe away.  

Check out the video below:

In the next episode of All in the Details: Pandora - The World of Avatar, Disney promises an even more in-depth look into the World of Avatar coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom on May 27, 2017.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Food and Attraction Details Released for Pandora: The World of Avatar

We are just about 2 months away from Pandora: The World of Avatar opening at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Today, Disney released some details about the specialty food at both Santu'li Canteen and Pongu Pongu as well as more details on both The Flight of Passage & The Na'vi River Journey.

Santu'li Canteen:

Discover healthful dishes and familiar flavors from another world—wholesome grains, fresh vegetables and hearty proteins.

Between your aerial adventures on Avatar Flight of Passage and family-friendly voyages aboard Na’vi River Journey, tuck inside the Quonset-hut structure called Satu’li Canteen—long ago an RDA mess hall, now a peaceful dining facility adorned with Na’vi art and cultural items.

Owned and operated by Alpha Centauri Expeditions (ACE), Satu’li Canteen supplies travelers all the comforts of home—courtesy of a unique, fast-casual menu that’s been crafted from Pandora’s natural abundance.

Featuring international-inspired cuisine, vegetarian options and specialty libations, it’s the perfect place to refuel as you venture through the Valley of Mo’ara.

Navi' Blueberry Cheesecake served with Passion Fruit Card

Pongu Pongu:

Meaning "Party Party" in the Na'vi language, Pongu Pongu welcomes weary travelers to try the bioluminescent frozen cocktails, indigenous beers, or even a sweet snack that you won't find elsewhere.

Quench your thirst the Pandoran way at an otherworldly pit-stop offering Na’vi-inspired refreshment.

Are your expeditions at Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey leaving you parched? Hike to the corner of Windtraders where you’ll find Pongu Pongu—when you spot a friendly expat serving out-of-this-world drinks, you’ve come to the right place.

Avatar Flight of Passage:

Height Requirement: 44 inches

Get a banshee’s-eye view of the beauty and grandeur of Pandora on a rite of passage you won’t soon forget!

Deep in the heart of the Valley of Mo’ara, discover Avatar Flight of Passage—an all-new expedition that lets interstellar explorers like you climb atop a mountain banshee for a breathtaking, first-person flight over the moon’s incredible landscape.

Bonding with a mountain banshee is a crucial step in the life of a Na’vi hunter—and flying on the back of one of these powerful winged creatures represents an important rite of passage.

Now, as a visitor to Pandora, you’ll finally have the chance to test yourself in a similar way!

Nav'i River Journey:

No height restrictions.

Glide down a gentle, mysterious river and feel a sense of wonder as the full beauty of Pandora reveals itself. Located within the Valley of Mo’ara, Na’vi River Journey offers explorers an experience that has to be seen—and heard—to be believed!

As your expedition begins, climb aboard a reed boat and drift downstream. After coasting through a series of caves, and passing by exotic glowing plants and amazing creatures of the rainforest, you’ll soon find yourself face-to-face with the Na’vi Shaman of Songs.

The adventure comes to a conclusion as the Shaman demonstrates her deep connection to the life force of Pandora—and sends positive energy out into the forest through the power of her music!

Disney also released another national ad for the upcoming opening of Pandora: The World of Avatar, check it out below:

A world beyond what you thought was possible. A world beyond belief. #VisitPandora Opens 5.27.17 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/6jJdgC2TTY

— Walt Disney World (@WaltDisneyWorld) March 6, 2017

Pandora: The World of Avatar makes its grand debut at Disney's Animal Kingdom on May 27, 2017.

Source: Walt Disney World

Disney Princesses Meet & Greet Coming to Disney Springs; New Birnbaum Disney World Guide Offers Pandora Ride Descriptions

Disney Princesses Meet & Greet Coming to Disney Springs:

Beginning this Saturday, October 1, guests visiting the World of Disney story in Disney Springs will have a chance to meet Cinderella and other Disney Princesses for a limited time. There will be surprise appearances each day from the likes of Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Tiana, or another surprise visit from another princess. There will no set times to meet the princesses but each visit will be treated as if you are at a royal reception. 

Entertainment Show Director Tom Vazzana told the Disney Parks Blog, “Cinderella had a wish for her and her fellow royal princesses to have a place to meet new friends. The Fairy Godmother was able to grant her this wish, and now, tucked away in a magical corner of World of Disney is a location befitting Cinderella’s request. A magical ‘royal hall’ was created complete with tapestries and images inspired by classic fairytales.”

With a Disney PhotoPass Photographer on hand, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. everyday from October 1 through November 1, guests will be greeted by a cast member will give them an approximate time to return for their personal royal reception. When guests return to the queue they will be moments away from meeting a Disney Princess.

New Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Guide Offers Description for Pandora Attractions:

Thanks to The Laughing Place for the discovery of the complete descriptions of the two new attractions hitting Disney's Animal Kingdom next year when Pandora - The World of Avatar opens. The two new attractions are the Na'vi River Journey and AVATAR Flight of Passage. Both attractions are set to open sometime in the latter half of 2017. Here are the descriptions:

Na’Vi River Journey (FP+)
A musical voyage into Pandora’s bioluminescent forest, this trip is as calm and family-friendly as they come. The adventure begins as guests board canoes and venture down a mysterious, sacred river hidden within the rainforest. The grandeur of Pandora is revealed as canoes float past exotic glowing plants and an array of amazing creatures, include native humanoids known as Na’vi. The journey culminates in an encounter with a Na’vi shaman, who has a deep connection to the life of Pandora and sends positive energy into the forest with her music. Na’vi River Journey is generally appreciated by guests of all ages (through timid tykes who are spooked by darkness may find parts of this expedition unsettling).

AVATAR Flight of Passage (FP+)
The crowning jewel of Animal Kingdom’s newest neighborhood, AVATAR Flight of Passage invites daredevils to take a scenic trip to Pandora on the backs of a flying Mountain Banshee. The intense journey takes place in a cutting-edge, simulator-like environment and offers much more than a thrill a minute. Guests are treated to a bird’s-eye view of all the sights, sounds, and smells of the majestic moon that the Na’vi call home.
A high-flying “E-Ticket” experience, Flight of Passage is a most realistic, immersive experience. It is not recommended for guests with motion sensitivity, heart conditions, fear of heights, or any other physical issues. This experience is quite popular, book a Fastpass+ assignment if you can. For height requirements, visit www.disneyworld.com.

More details on Pandora - The World of Avatar are slated to be revealed at the upcoming D23 event, Destination D: Amazing Adventures, being held at Disney's Contemporary Resort on November 19-20. James Cameron, Jon Landau, and Disney President of Parks & Resorts Bob Chapek are slated to be on hand. We may even here an opening date so stay tuned.