Tomorrow Society

Smart talk and stories behind the magic of theme parks

  • PODCAST
  • PATREON
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT

Photo Essay: Exploring Pandora: The World of Avatar

02.08.2018 by Dan Heaton // Leave a Comment

Floating mountains in Pandora: The World of Avatar
Photo by Dan Heaton

When we planned our recent Walt Disney World trip over MLK weekend, I set aside plenty of time to visit Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Along with providing two new attractions, it appeared immersive and still connected to the park’s overall theme. I expected Pandora to be impressive, but I did not anticipate the insane amount of detail in this 12-acre land. Photos don’t do justice to how epic Pandora feels, particularly when you’re gazing up at the floating mountains high above the ground.

I recently offered extensive details on our day at the Animal Kingdom in my trip report blog, which included a large section on Pandora. In this post, I’ve included many photos from both our day and night visits during that day. It’s easy to get lost in the winding pathways through the trees, especially at night. Beyond the high-tech attractions, Pandora works as an inviting place to hang out and explore. Despite the huge crowds that are visiting this area, it doesn’t feel cramped in the common areas.

The Valley of Mo’ara

Located right in the middle of Pandora is the striking Valley of Mo’ara; the area immediately attracts your attention once you cross the bridge and enter this land. The floating mountains and waterfall are imposing but not standoffish. The area is so large that it’s difficult to grasp it all in a single photo. The shots below aim to present the epic scale along with the beauty of the walkways on the ground. The setting feels like it could be an alien planet, but it also connects to Harambe, Asia, and the rest of the park.

The walkway into Pandora is an impressive sight.
Photo by Erin Heaton
Walkway under the floating mountains in Pandora: The World of Avatar
Photo by Erin Heaton

 

 

The drums section of the Valley of Mo'ara in Pandora: The World of Avatar.
Photo by Erin Heaton
Floating mountains from far away in Pandora: The World of Avatar.
Photo by Erin Heaton
Looking up at the floating mountains in Pandora: The World of Avatar
Photo by Dan Heaton

The Details

What makes Pandora work are the small touches that go well beyond what’s needed to draw guests. People come to see Flight of Passage, but they might stay to enjoy strolling along the lush paths. I can’t explain to you what most of these plants are in the Avatar world, but that really doesn’t matter. They create a lived-in environment that is a long way from your average theme park.

Colorful plant life in Pandora: The World of Avatar
Photo by Erin Heaton
A plant close-up in Pandora: The World of Avatar
Photo by Erin Heaton
Odd plants in Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Photo by Erin Heaton
A plant up high in the trees in Pandora: The World of Avatar.
Photo by Dan Heaton
The Amplified Mobility Platform in Pandora at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Photo by Dan Heaton

Pandora at Night

I’ve spent much of this post raving about Pandora, and that’s not going to stop now. This land is cool during the day, but it reaches another level at night. It might sound silly to use a word like bioluminescence to describe a manufactured theme park land, but it really fits here. We didn’t need to do either attraction that night; the draw is just hanging out in Pandora. I could easily grab a drink and spend hours just taking in the entire place. When you get the chance to visit Pandora, you must check it out at night.

Night at Pandora: The World of Avatar at the Animal Kingdom
Photo by Erin Heaton
Cool lights in the Valley of Mo'ara at Pandora: The World of Avatar.
Photo by Erin Heaton
The waterfall at night in Pandora: The World of Avatar.
Photo by Erin Heaton
The floating mountains in Pandora: The World of Avatar at night.
Photo by Dan Heaton
Some cool natural life in Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Photo by Erin Heaton

Related Articles: Pandora

Walt Disney World Trip Report: Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The Tomorrow Society Podcast, Episode #37: My Walt Disney World Trip Report

Share this
Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on email
Email

Categories // Disney's Animal Kingdom Tags // Disney's Animal Kingdom, Pandora, Photo essays, Trip Report

About Dan Heaton

Dan’s first theme-park memory was a vacation at the Polynesian Resort in 1980 as a four-year-old. He’s a lifelong fan who has written and podcasted regularly about the industry. Dan loves both massive Disney and Universal theme parks plus regional attractions near his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. His favorite all-time attraction is Horizons at EPCOT Center.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Support The Tomorrow Society via Patreon

Get email updates

Buy me a Dole Whip!

Copyright © 2025 Dan Heaton · All rights reserved. Disclosure | Privacy Policy