ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — From nighttime safaris in Animal Kingdom to the creation of "Avatar" -- changes are coming to Orlando's Disney parks.
Disney officials offered a preview Friday of what they are calling "the coolest summer ever."
Along with enhancements like over-the-water bungalows, to one of Disney World's original resorts, to the Polynesian Village Resort, officials are expanding the Disney Vacation Club.
Raw: Disney details changes to parks
Disney officials said they have doubled the size of Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom and said that Animal Kingdom is being transformed into a day and night park, so attractions like the Rivers of Light and Kilimanjaro's Safari will extend into the nighttime hours.
Right now, Animal Kingdom closes just before sunset.
"The animals -- we have to put them to bed at certain times throughout the day. We'll be able to extend that experience," Brian Rodriguez, of Disney, said.
A movie-based addition to the park is expected to generate excitement as well.
"And of course the largest element of our Animal Kingdom expansion is an entirely new land based on James Cameron's epic "Avatar," the No. 1 box-office film of all time," Walt Disney World's George Kalogridis said.
Disney's Imagineering team, along with Cameron, will create floating mountains, glowing forests and a banshee ride.
"There's going to be a lot of bioluminescence within there," Rodriguez said.
The "Avatar" expansion is set to open 2017.
On Thursday, Channel 9 reported on changes coming to Downtown Disney as it is transformed into Disney Springs, doubling the number of shops, restaurants and other facilities.
Previous Story: Stores, restaurants open shop as Downtown Disney transforms to Disney Springs
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