Walt Disney Parks & Resorts has confirmed it will join forces with filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of Avatar to life at its parks.

Through an exclusive agreement, Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox, Disney will partner with Cameron and producing partner Jon Landau to create themed lands that will give theme park guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of AVATAR first hand.

Disney plans to build the first Avatar themed land at Walt Disney World, within the Animal Kingdom park.

With its emphasis on living in harmony with nature, Animal Kingdom is a natural fit for the AVATAR stories, which share the same philosophy.

Construction is expected to begin by 2013.

“James Cameron is a groundbreaking filmmaker and gifted storyteller who shares our passion for creativity, technological innovation and delivering the best experience possible,” said Robert Iger, president and chief executive of the Walt Disney Company.

“With this agreement, we have the extraordinary opportunity to combine James’ talent and vision with the imagination and expertise of Disney.”

The agreement gives Disney exclusive global theme park rights to the Avatar franchise and provides for additional themed lands at other Disney parks.

The other locations will be determined by Disney and its international theme park partners.

James Cameron, Jon Landau and their Lightstorm Entertainment group will serve as creative consultants on the projects and will partner with Walt Disney Imagineering in the design and development of the Avatar themed lands.

“Avatar created a world which audiences can discover again and again and now, through this incredible partnership with Disney, we will be able to bring Pandora to life like never before,” said Cameron.

In addition to setting a global box office record, Avatar has been hailed as one of the most innovative and visually stunning movies ever produced.

With its advanced motion capture and 3-D digital projection technologies developed by James Cameron and his team, moviegoers were able to connect with the world of AVATAR in new and engaging ways.

This new venture complements Walt Disney Parks & Resorts’ strategic efforts to continue to invest in its core theme park businesses around the world while simultaneously expanding into other parts of the family vacation business.