Pandora, Themed area at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Bay Lake, US
Pandora is a themed area at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Bay Lake based on the fictional moon from the Avatar films, covering more than four hectares (12 acres). Floating rock formations rise above the landscape while artificial vegetation and waterfalls create an alien environment.
The partnership between Walt Disney Imagineering and James Cameron's production company began in 2011 to develop the project. The opening to visitors took place in May 2017 after several years of planning and construction.
The land is set generations after the conflict between the Na'vi and the Resources Development Administration, which mined Pandora for unobtanium in the first film. Imagineer Joe Rohde was creative director, and the design stresses conservation and environmental stewardship rather than retelling the film's plot.
The area offers two main attractions: a flight simulator and a boat ride through a glowing plant world. Wait times can be long, so arriving early in the morning or late in the evening is worthwhile when the lighting effects are especially effective.
The floating mountains of the Valley of Mo'ara reach 156 feet and appear taller than they are through forced perspective; steel beams hidden under rockwork and vines hold them up. Designers took the jagged pillar shapes from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China and the foliage from Hawaii.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,106 contributors worldwide.
