The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom: What to Know Before You Go (2019 Edition)

Avatar and nature lovers will flip for the newest feature of Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Pandora- the World of Avatar. This section of the park takes visitors on unforgettable expeditions, complete with floating mountains, winged mountain banshees, a bioluminescent forest and more! Explorers of all ages will love digging into the culture of this new land. Check out these must-see stops on your visit to Pandora.

Avatar Flight of Passage – Soar above Pandora in this 3D thrill ride experience that lets guests climb atop a mountain banshee for a breathtaking flight through the magical landscape.

2019 Pandora at Animal Kingdom Tips: I recommend rope dropping this attraction or waiting until the park closes. If you want to rope drop, first check if there are any extra magic hours in the early morning. If you are NOT staying at a hotel and there ARE early morning magic hours, don’t attempt to rope drop. Choose another time! As someone who has rope dropped this attraction in 2019, it was manageable. I was there and parked by 7 a.m. and in line through security by 7:30 a.m. They let everyone in and we waited until 8:30 a.m. They let us into the ride and started getting us going before the park even opened. It was fab!

Na’vi River Journey – Take a gentle ride down this mysterious river and soak in the beauty of Pandora. Guests ride a reed boat through a series of caves, spotting glowing plants and creatures in the rainforest along the way. The ride culminates with a musical surprise (Pro tip: It’s a great ride to cool off in on a hot, Florida day!). I would not wait more than twenty minutes for this ride. The waits are significantly shorter in the early morning.

Valley of Mo’ara – Take a hike (or stroll) through this enchanted world full of enormous floating mountains, exotic plants that come to life with bioluminescence at night, and Na’vi totems throughout. You might even get caught up in a Na’vi drum circle! While you’re there, stop in Colors of Mo’ara for a Na’vi-inspired face painting (though you might want to skip this if it’s a 90 degree day). And kids can engage in Wilderness Explorer challenges (just like Russell in Disney Pixar’s film Up) and collect more than 30 badges throughout the park. Click here for details.

Satu’li Canteen – You’ll find plenty of healthy options and familiar fast casual dishes at this quick service restaurant. The story is that this once RDA mess hall has been transformed into a peaceful dining facility adorned with Na’vi art. You simply select your protein, your base, and your sauce. I have eaten here twice, and I prefered the second meal I had. The first time I had chicken on a salad base, and I was not impressed. The second time I ordered the chicken AND beef on the sweet potato hash, and it was AMAZING.

It was seriously SO good on a hot day. Loved the boba too! Also, don’t forget to MOBILE order. It’s so easy to do and helps you find a table and relax without waiting in line! Diners can also choose from international-inspired cuisine and vegetarian options.

Pongu Pongu – Stop over at this popular drink stand for picture-perfect Na’vi-inspired cocktails! The name even means Party Party and is apparently where weary travelers go for “bioluminescent” frozen cocktails, indigenous beers, and sweets.

Windtraders – Visit this beautiful souvenir shop on your way out to bring a piece of Pandora home with you! The walls appear to have been overtaken by natural root structures, which serve as display shelves for the items the shop sells. You’ll find unique items from science kits to cultural artifacts along with the stuff you’d expect.

Heads up: Wait times are incredibly long and Fast Passes are difficult to come by. I’m an Annual Disney Passholder and I check daily, but still can’t get my hands on any! Disney recommends you make your selections up to 30 days before your visit or up to 60 days before your Disney Resort hotel check-in. My advice is that you get to the park early to head straight to Pandora, or wait until after dark when the crowds have died down (a little).

You CAN score a DAY OF fast pass for these rides (or any rides actually) if you keep CHECKING. Constantly refresh that app. When you look, hit every hour, every time of day, refresh, refresh, refresh. You could eventually find what you are looking for…