The newest addition to Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park is not just a new attraction, but rather an entire new land as part of a massive expansion project that had been in the works for several years.  It is open now and here are 7 Reasons Why you MUST visit Pandora - The World of Avatar:

1. Pandora is home to the Best Attraction/Ride at Disney World

Disney World's new best attraction is called Avatar Flight of Passage and it has soared to the top of the Disney Must Do List.  This incredibly well-themed attraction takes you into the world of the Na'vi, links you with an Avatar, and allows you to ride on the back of a Banshee for an experience you will not soon forget.

This is the FastPass that you definitely want to get as Stand-By Line waits are consistently in the 2-3 hour range.

2. The theming is amazing (and very photogenic)!

The Valley of Mo'ara, as it is known, takes immersive theming to a new level for Disney World thanks to Joe Rohde and his team of talented Imagineers.  From floating mountains to flowers, plants, and animals this land is nothing like anything you have seen before.  Through the winding paths you will discover numerous opportunities to explore the scenic wonders and capture incredible photographs.

With scenery like this it is not difficult to imagine that you truly have transported yourself to Pandora!

3. The most awesome audio animatronic figure ever created lives here!

Within the Na'vi River Journey you will have the opportunity to discover a breakthrough in audio animatronic technology.  The Na'vi Shaman moves and sings in a manner that will have you memorized.  This is a long way from the original Tiki birds!

4.  There are some really cool drinks here

At the Pongu Pongu Outpost you will find some cool looking drinks to explore.  Whether you try the non-alcoholic Night Blossom that mixes limeade with apple and desert pear topped with passion fruit boba balls or the more potent Mo'ara Frozen Margarita with Sauza Commemorativo Anejo Tequilla with strawberry and blood orange flavor topped with strawberry boba balls, you will discover an exotic drink that tastes as good as it looks.

For fun you can also try the Hawkes' Grog Ale that is green in color and not just for St. Patrick's Day.

5. The food at Satu'li Canteen is really good.

For a totally different theme park dining experience you can try the food at the Satu'li Canteen.  Featured menu items include a "build your own bowl" concept where you pick your choice of Protein (Slow roasted grilled beef, wood-grilled chicken breast, sustainable fish fillet, or chili-spiced crispy fried tofu), Choose your Base (Quinoa & Vegetable Salad, Mixed whole grains & rice, Red & Sweet Potato Hash, or Romaine & Kale Salad), Finally you choose your sauce to complete the bowl (Charred Onion Chimichurri, black bean vinaigrette, or creamy herb dressing).

6. The place looks totally different at night and becomes even more awesome.

At night the Valley of Mo'ara comes alive and appears (and sounds) differently than the day time.  It makes a great reason to come back to enjoy the different look and feel of the land.  Also great Photopass opportunities to capture memories of your family in Pandora.

7.  Cool gift shop with Banshees!

The special banshee souvenir was the talk of the Disney fans as soon as this land opened. They sold out instantly every time they were restocked.

Although they are a little easier to obtain if you visit now, they are still really cool and definitely worth checking out.  You will also find a lot of other amazing items unique to Pandora at the Windtraders shop.

Disney's Animal Kingdom will be receiving several night time attractions that have long been desired in this theme park that has typically closed before dinner time during its first 18 years of operation.  This summer the transformation begins to bring this tremendous park into true full day status.

Here are the details presented by the Disney Parks Blog:

Construction continues at Disney's Animal Kingdom on the mysterious "The World of Avatar." One glimpse into what the future holds for Disney World guests is the above picture that shows a scene from the Na'vi River Journey.

Here is the brief description and details released from Disney:

New Disney World Attraction Excitement

Disney's Animal Kingdom may not get the attention that its fellow Disney World Theme Parks receive, but do not overlook the incredible shows, thrill rides, and live animal attractions that are waiting to be explored at Disney's best themed park.

Here is Only WDWorld's ranking of the Top Shows and Top Rides & Attractions:

Disney's Animal Kingdom Shows

1. Finding Nemo - The Musical 
This is the Disney World Show that you MUST see!  It is the first time that Disney has taken a non-musical movie and made it into a musical live stage show.  It contains amazing costumes and puppetry with songs that you will be singing to yourself long after the show is over.


2. Festival Of The Lion King
The Festival Of The Lion King combines singing, dancing, and acrobats to make a show that the entire family will enjoy.  The costumes are amazing and you will love hearing your favorite songs from the movie performed live.

3. Flights Of Wonder
Here is a chance to see a show with live animals.  The show is both educational and entertaining.  Children will learn about the habitats and care of some of the magnificent birds that are part of this show.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Thrill Rides & Attractions

1. Expedition Everest
This is perhaps the best attraction in all of Disney World!  The detailed storytelling and theming immerse you in the world of the Yeti.  The roller coaster attraction is innovative and thrilling.  Definitely a MUST DO attraction during your Disney world Vacation!


2. Kilimanjaro Safaris
The largest attraction at Disney World, it is larger than the entire Magic Kingdom!  You will see a wide  variety of animal in their natural habitats on your two-week long safari to Africa.


3. DINOSAUR
Take a time travelling trip back to the past to learn about Dinosaurs in this thrilling adventure that will be sure to get your heart pumping.  This ride is an intense thrill ride that teens are sure to love!

4. Kali River Rapids
Nothing beats the heat on a hot day like a wild rafting adventure ride.  You are sure to get wet, the only question is how wet will you get?

5. It's Tough To Be A Bug!
This 4-D show combines 3-D movie with animatronic characters and "special" extras in this theater that is nestled into the base of the "Tree Of Life."  It may be too intense for the youngest guests, so keep that in mind.

Disney World quietly added a new show at Disney's Animal Kingdom that is definitely worth seeing!  In this show, real animals are the actors and you will get to see a pig ham it up for the audience.

Rafiki's Planet Watch at Disney's Animal Kingdom

It All Started With A Mouse

Almost hidden away in the Rafiki's Planet Watch section of Disney's Animal Kingdom you can find one of the newest shows at the Walt Disney World Resort.  It only performs once a day at 11:30am and finding it can be the hardest part!

If you are not familiar with Rafiki's Planet Watch, it is a much under appreciated section of Disney's Animal Kingdom and many times skipped by families that don't go there because there are not any thrill rides to be found.  For animal lovers and those that wish to learn more about animals it is an absolute must!

Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki's Planet Watch

To get there you must first travel to Africa and walk through the village of Harambe.  Look for the large Rafiki's Planet Watch sign and then enter the train station, where you will take the Wildlife Express.  Once you arrive at Rafiki's Planet Watch follow signs to the Affection Section.  The stage for the small outdoor theater is nearby and almost hidden.

You may have to work to find this show, but it is worth it.  There are not many benches for seating, but if you arrive early and get one, you are guaranteed an excellent view of the show.

Outdoor Theater for "It All Started With A Mouse"

The Show!

The show itself is a combination of Animal Kingdom Staff narrators and animal actors coming out to interact with the audience.  Often the Staff talks in depth about the various species and brings them closer for the audience to see.  There are also a couple of video clips worked into the show to illustrate the close ties that Walt Disney himself had with animals and nature.

Kunekune Pig at Disney's Animal Kingdom

The star of the show is the Kunekune pig.  This breed originally comes from New Zealand, and this cute guy appears to be pretty smart and among his favorite interactions is actually painting with one of the audience members.  He even changes the sign for the show to read "It all started with a PIG!"


In between appearances of our star pig a variety of other animals make their way onto the stage.  We get to see rodents, a snake, a variety of birds, a porcupine, and even a skunk.

The show is told from the point of view of animal conservation and informing the audience about the nature of each of these special animals.  It is not about circus style tricks that the animals can perform.  The approximately 20 minute long show is very informative and the fact that many of the animals come through the audience area makes it a very intimate performance.

One Of Disney World's Hidden Secrets!

If you and/or your children love animals then this is a great show to attend.  It is not really publicized well, so you need to heed our advice and head back to Rafiki's Planet Watch to catch this 11:30am performance.

It resonates well with Disney's Animal Kingdom's overall Conservation Message and provides a fun, interactive way to learn more about these magnificent animals.  We would recommend this show as one of Disney World's Hidden Secrets!