It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a flying dragon? That’s what a local restaurant manager spotted in the sky above the Shafter-Minter Field airport in California just over two weeks ago. And if it weren’t for the upcoming “Avatar Land” attraction slated to fly into Walt Disney World ® in 2015, we’d be questioning the witness’ eye sight. But what she saw was real and it’s reportedly being linked to Walt Disney World ® Imagineers.

Last September Disney ® announced that the Orlando theme park had plans to work with Oscar-winning director James Cameron on a new land that would focus on his latest record-breaking film “Avatar” and would include all things about the movie. After its announcement we heard little else about “Avatar Land” until last month when Cameron revealed that in addition to the thriving green landscape of Pandora, there would be a ride that “simulates flight.” That was the last we had heard on the subject and just a few weeks later witnesses spotted a flying dragon in the California sky, reportedly being flown by a Disney Imagineer.  

While Disney ® and Cameron have remained silent on the mechanical dragon and “Avatar Land” in general, there is evidence that the creature is indeed a Disney ® creation. A March 2010 patent filing details the specifics about a flying dragon, leaving us to believe they are somehow related. But there still isn’t enough evidence to link the dragon to “Avatar Land” specifically or what part it would play.

The mechanical dragon utilizes a fan and a kite to stay in the air while an onboard pilot navigates, but it does more than just fly. According to the local restaurant manager that spotted it in flight, it breaths fire and opens and closes its mouth. It doesn’t sound like it’d be something Disney ® guests would be allowed to fly or even ride in. But who really knows, Disney ® is so full of magic we never really know what they’ll do next. But here’s to hoping we can take flight on a dragon into the lush land of Pandora in 2015.

“Avatar Land” is currently in the design phase with construction not expected to begin until sometime next year. When they do break ground, James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Walt Disney Imagineers will work side-by-side to bring the Avatars, the world of Pandora and hopefully flying dragons to life at Animal Kingdom ®.

Stay tuned for more details on the mysterious flying dragon and “Avatar Land” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom ®. In the meantime you can always enjoy the rest of Animal Kingdom’s ® animals, rides and show with discounted Walt Disney World ® tickets right here on Best of Orlando.