'Avatar' Theme Park Rides Coming Soon

Even as Hollywood continues to crank 3D movies out at a staggering rate, James Cameron's "Avatar" is still considered to be the pinnacle of the technology. Cameron helped develop the 3D technology which has since become the industry standard. He then used that technology to help audiences experience the alien world of Pandora in a much more profound way than was possible with 2D.

Now the filmmaker is looking to bring fans of "Avatar" even deeper into its wondrous and vibrant world. Business Wire reports Cameron and Fox Studios are partnering with Disney Theme Parks in order to create attractions based around "Avatar," its world, and characters.

The first "Avatar"-themed attractions will be built at Walt Disney World in Florida. Should it prove to be as popular and successful as it is hoped to be then similar attractions will be created later at other Disney Theme Park locations. "Avatar" will be made as part of Disney World's Animal Kingdom. The environmental themes of the film make it a natural fit. Animal Kingdom is equal parts traditional theme park and animal sanctuary, making it the ideal home for all things "Avatar" related.

Cameron plans to work closely with the Disney Imagineers who conceptualize and construct the various attractions at the parks. He expressed excitement at having an opportunity to being able to "give park goers the chance to see, hear, and touch the world of 'Avatar' with an unprecedented sense of reality." Cameron also mentioned using the latest technology to accomplish this, so there may be a mix of elements used which may find ways to integrate computer imagery with more traditional theme park animatronics.

This is not the first of Cameron's films to be turned into an attraction. 1996 saw the opening of "Terminator 2 3-D" at Universal Studios theme parks. Cameron directed the project, which was a combination of a live stage show and a 12 minute long 3D movie starring the cast of "Terminator 2." That project was Cameron's first venture into 3-D. Given that "Avatar" the film was already in 3D, this new attraction will likely focus on being more of a real physical construction so it can offer a different experience from the film on which it will be based.

No date is set for the attraction to open; construction is expected to begin in 2013. This will give Disney and Cameron plenty of time to work out exactly what they want the attraction to be before they begin physical work on it. Cameron also indicated that elements from the upcoming "Avatar" sequels will also be integrated into the attraction once those films have been released.

While the original film focused on massive forests, it has been rumored that at least one sequel will feature the oceans of Pandora, which may lead to some water-based attractions in the future. It may be a few years away but "Avatar" fans have plenty to start getting excited about.

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