Disney Launches New Pandora Attraction

Marlie Morrison, Disney’s managing director of marketing and sales here in Canada

There was a good representation of TravelOnly agents at the luncheon

Clients who were fascinated by the steaming jungles and strange blue human-like characters of James Cameron’s blockbuster movie Avatar will soon be able to experience a bit of life on the moon Pandora themselves.

On 27MAY, Pandora – the World of Avatar will open as the largest addition to Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Guests will have the opportunity to travel along mystic rivers, marvel at luminescent jungles and soar on the back of a banshee, just like in the 2009 film. As Marlie Morrison, managing director of marketing and sales in Canada for Disney told me at a recent event for agents, “I can’t wait to see the floating mountains – it’s going to be spectacular!” You can read more about it here.

The event was a luncheon Disney hosted this week to thank agents. More than 150 were there, and they were clearly huge Disney supporters and sellers.

Never one to rest on its laurels, Disney has a host of new and tweaked attractions in the works. Starting 12MAY, guests can experience a remarkable fireworks display called Happily Ever After combining music, light, pyrotechnics and projection onto Cinderella’s Castle.

Starting 26MAY, The Music of Pixar Live! will showcase memorable tunes from Pixar Animation Studios’ films, with a live orchestra performing three times daily. And at Disney’s Blizzard Beach WaterPark, the Frozen Summer Games return from 26MAY through 13AUG, complete with Kristoff and Olaf there to greet excited small (and not so small) fans who can participate in wintery fun including snowball tosses.

And that’s not even mentioning the ships of Disney Cruise Line, of which there are now four -- with two on order, slated to launch in 2021 and 2023.

That Mickey Mouse is still on a roll. Look how busy he’s been, and imagine how many millions of smiles he’s created!