I think that "real place in the world" thing is for any instanced area that's outside, because AQ20 and 40 both have zones "in the world," and there are quite a few 5-mans that don't (BRC, Throne of the Tides, etc etc). I think since these are inside there'll just be a big structure with a portal somewhere.

The outside view of the Mantid raid suggested that the raids do follow the same philosophy. That tree/ant hill structure looked potentially quite huge. No more "entire Bastion of Twilight contained at the top of a spire." ;)

It would be neat if they made the raid structures have non-instanced entries and archaeology locations within. :D

@Minstrel: Just to point out, the Bastion of Twilight was deep underground, as seen in the Halfus, Twin Drakes, and Sinestra fights. The only thing at the top of the spire was a suspiciously unguarded portal into the Bastion proper.

The giant outside-tree of the mantid raid can already been seen on the Pandaria minimap over in the Dread Wastes: http://media.mmo-champion.com/images/news/2012/march/pandariaminimap.jpg

It's surrounded by dead brown and white earth over in the West.