(Image source: Stitch Kingdom)

BY BRICE SANDER

ANCHOR BRICE SANDER

You're watching multisource business news analysis from Newsy.

Mickey Mouse is set to get some new neighbors. Big, blue, Na’vi neighbors. News 12 Long Island explains.

“Well, you’ll soon be able to go to Pandora. Disney World is working on Avatar-land. The Florida theme-park will have rides and attractions based on the top-grossing film of all time. Construction’s beginning in 2013. It’ll open three or four years after that.”

Bloomberg runs the numbers on the new park, suggesting Disney needs a financial boost.

“The project is expected to cost about $400 million … Disney fell 20 cents … [Tuesday] in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares have declined 14 percent this year.”

So why Avatar? And why now? Orlando’s WKMG has an idea.

REPORTER: “Animatronics, 3D and possibly even holographic technology could help turn imagination into reality. Experts say that Disney will need that wow factor to compete with Universal’s Harry Potter.”

CONSULTANT: “Clearly Harry Potter set the standard for the kind of draw- worldwide draw, worldwide attention- uh, I would expect Avatar to have the same thing.”

Daily Finance agrees, arguing Harry Potter was a wake-up call for the house of mouse.

“Yes, it's an odd fit in an animal-themed park. However, Animal Kingdom is the least attended of Disney's four Florida theme parks, so it's the one most in need of a spark… it's at least refreshing to see Disney not take its market leadership for granted as the competition closes the gap.”

And as HLN’s Robin Meade points out, the idea is, spend a lot of money now, make a lot of money later.

ROBIN MEADE: “Disney struck a long-term licensing deal with Avatar’s director James Cameron and 20th Century Fox.”

METEOROLOGIST: “How much is that gonna cost to get into the park now. Let’s see, a mortgage or Disney World day pass?”

ROBIN MEADE: “It’s not going to open until, like, 2016, so…

METEOROLOGIST: “Oh, so it’ll be even more expensive.”

So good news for Disney, but what about James Cameron? One Entertainment Weekly writer worries about the franchise’s future.

“It’s certainly an interesting next step for the franchise. (The deal also allows for future Avatar-themed lands at other Disney parks around the world.) …Still, as a film fan, I’m starting to get a little concerned … is it worth asking when — if ever? — [Cameron]’s going to move on from Pandora?”

Cameron plans to release two more Avatar flicks before the park opens in 2016.

Transcript by Newsy.