Every new land needs a must-have piece of merchandise, and at Pandora – The World of Avatar, it’s your very own Banshee.
The official Disney Parks Blog has shared photos of Windtraders (the main shop in Pandora), where there is a dedicated space for banshees – The Rookery.
A Naturalist from Alpha Centauri Expeditions is on-hand to assist with choosing a banshee from 10 different styles. The banshee includes three ranges of motion – mouth, head, and wings – all controlled by hand. You will also hear them make authentic banshee sounds.
A separate perch is available to display your banshee, or you can opt to have him or her take a seat on your shoulder.
“We love bringing to life stories from our attractions through creative and innovative product designs,” explained Cody Hampton from Disney Parks Merchandise. “Banshees are an important animal on Pandora, both as an animal in the ecosystem and as a cultural symbol to the Na’vi. Disney’s Animal Kingdom will also will feature a Na’vi River Journey ride, where guests get a chance to cruise through a Pandora jungle. They are also part of one of the signature attractions, so it felt natural to feature them as a must-have souvenir from a visit to Pandora. These banshees are fun, interactive, and continue the excitement guests will feel when experiencing [Avatar Flight of Passage].”
“We worked closely with [Lightstorm Entertainment] when designing the banshees,” continued Cody. “Their colors were inspired by banshees seen in the ‘Avatar’ motion picture. Their sounds make them feel as though they flew directly into Windtraders from the attraction. Guests will determine each banshee’s personality through a combination of hand movements and sounds.”
“The mountain banshee has come to symbolize our continued commitment to the environment,” said Cody. “Before guests depart Windtraders, Naturalists will encourage them to make a pledge to respect and protect the natural world on Pandora and back home on Earth.”
Windtraders opens with Pandora – The World of Avatar on May 27 2017.
Source: WDWmagic.com