New Attractions For Families In Orlando

New Attractions For Families In Orlando

By Georgina Cruz

            It is estimated that space travel companies will charge $200,000 per person for a trip to Mars – if they can have a pool of one million people who wish to go to that planet. In the meantime, Treasure Coast vacationers can enjoy an out-of-this world experience right in Orlando without the need to spend $200,000.

      Pandora – The World of Avatar a whole new “land,” has been added to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World this spring –with the official opening date to the public set for May 27. It is the largest expansion in the history of the park and it immerses guests in a mystical world of floating mountains, bioluminescent rainforests and thrilling new experiences. Here, visitors explore an alien landscape, encounter a larger-than-life Na’vi shaman and soar over Pandora on the back of a fearsome mountain banshee.

Floating mountains grace the sky while exotic plants fill the colorful landscape inside Pandora – The World of AVATAR, opening May 27, 2017, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Pandora – The World of AVATAR will bring a variety of new experiences to the park, including a family-friendly attraction called Na’vi River Journey and new food & beverage and merchandise locations. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

      Based on the film      

Based on Oscar-winning filmmaker James Cameron’s box-office hit, “Avatar,” about a fictional exoplanetary moon mined by humans, the new land, which is the result of a creative collaboration of Walt Disney Imagineering with Cameron and Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment, welcomes guests to the lush world of Pandora long after the human conflict with the Na’vi depicted in the film has ended. The dramatic daytime beauty of the land transforms to glow by night when bioluminescent flora, and nighttime experiences add a dreamlike quality to Pandora. And the new addition carries on the park’s tradition of celebrating the intrinsic value of nature, transformation through adventure and a personal call to action.

“In the movie, the world of Pandora is a setting for the action and characters whose story we follow,” says Joe Rohde, Walt Disney Imagineering. ”Here, guests are the primary characters immersed in an extremely vivid, authentic experience.”

When visitors cross the Animal Kingdom Park’s Discovery River onto Pandora – The World of Avatar, and continue along a winding rainforest path they first glimpse the land’s iconic “floating mountains.”

“They are transferred light-years away, to the AlphaCentauri solar system and Pandora,” says Jon Landau, AVATAR producer, Lightstorm Entertainment. “It’s an otherworldly, fully-themed experience.”

Beyond the verdant terrain sprawling beneath mountains that appear to float in the sky, there are waterfalls cascading down the mountainside into meandering streams and pools, and two new expeditions: Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey.

Pandora Ð The World of AVATAR opens May 27, 2017, bringing exciting new experiences to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. New attractions include the family-friendly NaÕvi River Journey. The adventure begins as guests sail in reed boats down a mysterious, sacred river hidden within the bioluminescent rainforest. The full beauty of Pandora reveals itself as the boats pass by exotic glowing plants and amazing creatures. The journey culminates in an encounter with a NaÕvi shaman, who has a deep connection to the life force of Pandora and sends positive energy out into the forest through her music. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Steven Diaz, photographer)

Avatar Flight of Passage

Avatar Flight of Passage launches each guest on an exhilarating, wind-in-your-face experience on a winged mountain banshee over the world of Pandora. Visitors will actually feel the banshee breathe beneath them as they soar through the forest and past floating mountains. What was a rite of passage for Na’vi in Cameron’s film becomes a multisensory experience for guests seeking the ultimate adventure – an encounter with the most feared predator of Pandora, the Great Leonopteryx (Yikes!).

bioluminescent rainforest

The family-friendly Na’vi River Journey invites visitors to travel down a sacred river deep into a bioluminescent rainforest. Aboard reed boats, they float past exotic glowing plants and Pandoran creatures into the midst of a musical Na’vi ceremony. The mystical journey culminates in an encounter with the realistic Na’vi Shaman of Songs who is deeply connected with Pandora’s life force and sends positive energy into the forest through her music.

In addition to the bioluminescent plants of Pandora, with species names like Spiny Whip, Dapophet and Vein Pod, other wonders of the land include the creatures –exotic animals, big and small, and some with six legs—that guests encounter and, in some cases, interact with. The thriving Pandoran landscape and thrilling experiences reinforce messages intrinsic to Disney’s Animal Kingdom such as transformation through adventure and conservation and stewardship.

Other Features

Other Pandora features include Satu’li Canteen, a Quonset-hut-style building with a spacious dining area that pays tribute to the Na’vi and their culture with special décor. The menu at this fast-casual restaurant is inspired by the bounty of Pandora – wholesome grains, fresh vegetables, and hearty proteins. For beverages and snacks, there’s Pongu Pongu, where a friendly expat serves out-of-this-world beverages including a bioluminescent frozen cocktail and indigenous beers Windtraders is a shop stocked with Na’vi cultural items, toys, and science kits. Info: www.disneyworld.com.

Where to sleep

Where to sleep: The Embassy Suites International Drive in Orlando is an all-suite Hilton property, ideal for families with free made-to-order hot breakfast, manager’s reception with beverages and snack, and a central location near theme parks and other attractions. Info: Embassy Suites Orlando on International Drive. Another excellent choice for families is the Buena Vista Palace, newly refurbished, with a lazy river feature and within walking distance of the popular Disney Springs Resort Area. Info: https://www.buenavistapalace.com/.

Where to eat: Il Mulino at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotel serves up delectable Italian cuisine in a warm and inviting ambiance –the pizza margherita is one of several yummy pizza selections. Info: www.swananddolphin.com.

Still Other Worlds To Explore

Universal Orlando Resort is building a new water park called Volcano Bay slated to open this year. The new water park, themed to postcard-perfect tropical islands and located just south of Universal Orlando Resort’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, will offer thrilling attractions as well as peaceful moments of relaxation.

Also opening this year at Universal is a new ride, “Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon.” The ride will invite visitors to join the Tonight Show’s studio audience on the ultimate race through the streets –and skies!—of the Big Apple: from the deepest subway tunnels to the tallest skyscrapers with colorful characters, famous landmarks and more from the inspiration of Jimmy Fallon. Info: www.universalorlando.com.

     watery worlds

       For those who would like to explore watery worlds, there are special novelties at sea. The 130,000-ton, 4,000-passenger Disney Fantasy, from Disney Cruise Line, received enhancements during an April-May dry-dock. The makeover, just in time for the line’s busy summer season, has added new features for young sailors, a new ice cream shop for all ages and a jewelry store from one of the world’s most famous names.

Some novelties offer children activities themed to the “Star Wars” movies and the world of Marvel in the kids’s Oceaneer Club. In a new space: “Star Wars: Command Post” children can undertake a journey to the “Star Wars” universe to “train” with heroes of the popular series, and they can “help in missions” against the evil doers of the First Order. Here, kids can interact with holographic models on a unique holographic table that features images of the Millennium Falcon, Death Star and other famous spaceships of the “Star Wars” series and they encounter members of the Resistance to learn how to join the Force –and watch out for Stormtroopers!

The new Marvel Super Hero Academy, also in the ship’s Oceaneer Club, offers games themed to Marvel, and kids can learn from Marvel heroes, who appear in person in the club. The heroes teach heroic qualities like bravery, dignity and loyalty. Children can also learn about the mystic arts from Doctor Strange, who is appearing for the first time in person on a Disney Cruise Line ship.

Other Disney fantasy novelties include a new space near the family pool themed to Mickey Mouse cartoons, Sweet on You. An ice cream and goodies shop, it offers 16 flavors of ice cream, 20 types of gelato (Yum!), 32 types of toppings for the ice cream/gelato, sinful sundaes, a variety of chocolates, truffles, and a selection of candy. Also new is the addition of one of the world’s most famous jewelry stores, Tiffany & Co., located off the ship’s Atrium. This store features the company’s collections of jewelry and accessories, including the Tiffany T collection of diamond jewelry. Info: www.disneycruise.com.

Why Not A “Staycation?”

Those preferring a relaxing “staycation” right here on the Treasure Coast this summer may wish to check out Kimpton’s Vero Beach Hotel & Spa. The resort has a gorgeous oceanfront location in Vero Beach, heated oceanside pool that is flanked by two restaurants and countless palm trees, water sports, and pampering spa treatments at the hotel’s full-service spa. Chosen as one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Top 15 Florida Hotels in 2016, it is an oasis ideal for a “staycation” on the Treasure Coast. Check for summer offers that include $100 resort credit at www.verobeachhotelandspa.com.

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