Oldfeeble, you can make Panda characters (like the goblins of last time). Of course, they have their own starting area. Once you've finished that, you are out in the world. Soot and I are seeing it all with fresh eyes as we played on the Horde side for Cataclysm.
There is a new class, Monk which you can play without having MoP.
There is a new land, Pandaria to explore with your high level folks and for hunters, there are new pets.
There are new dungeons in Pandaria, of course.
You can now battle Companion Pets which I enjoy quite a bit.
The talent system has been revamped and simplified.
KISA and I took a year break and are having fun with the new content.
What server did you play on?
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"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."
-Roger Caras