Oct 25 2011
Note: In January 2011, Disney announced a revision of its initial Fantasyland expansion plans which includes attractions with a broader appeal. Some of the princess-focused, girly-girl rides and shows that the company first announced for the Magic Kingdom in September 2009 have given way to attractions that boys wouldn't be embarrassed to try. A major Fantasyland expansion at Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Florida will more than double the size of the area. With two phases scheduled to open in 2012 and 2013, the land will offer new and richer experiences and will introduce a wider array of characters. To make way for the new attractions, the expanded Fantasyland will take over the area of the less-than-stellar Mickey's Toontown Fair. The classic dark ride, Snow White's Scary Adventures, will also be removed as part of the Fantasyland expansion. But don't get all grumpy. A major new Snow White attraction is planned. Read on.
Fantasyland Expansion Mini Photo Gallery
New Ride: Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid
Read my
review of the similar Little Mermaid ride at Disney California Adventure.
While Disney hasn't announced many specifics, the E-Ticket ride, featuring the wonderful music and characters from the hit film, The Little Mermaid, will likely be similar, if not identical, to the ride coming to Disney's California Adventure. If so, its rumored $100 million budget should make this a marquee attraction. The Little Mermaid ride will likely use an Omnimover system and "clammobile" cars that will be similar to the ones found at The Seas with Nemo and Friends ride at Epcot. Expect lots of animatronics and lots of immersive themeing.
New Ride: The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
There's no word whether the menacing witch and her poison apple will reappear in the new Snow White ride, but it seems that the emphasis will be less on scary adventures and more on the heigh-hoing dwarfs and their work in the diamond mine. Disney says that the cars on the prototype coaster ride system will swing to and fro as they navigate the track. Because this is Fantasyland, I'm guessing the ride will be less a thrill ride like Big Thunder Mountain (not that the Frontierland is
that thrilling) and more a relatively gentle ride with a focus on the sets and themeing
Beauty and the Beast Land
Cinderella won't have the only castle in Fantasyland. While it won't surpass the elegant spires of the classic castle at the end of Main Street U.S.A., the Beast will take up residence in the neighborhood and add his castle to the property tax rolls. The Beauty and the Beast adventure will begin at Belle's village where guests will visit her father's cottage. A magic mirror will transport guests to the Beast's castle where they will have an opportunity to retell the Beauty and the Beast story by performing it for Belle.
Hungry thespians will then be able to dine in the elegant, 550-seat Be Our Guest Restaurant inside Beast’s castle or grab a quick bite at Gaston's Tavern. Interestingly, the restaurant will offer quick-service meals during the day. At night, however, it will transform into a table service restaurant with a more refined menu.
There's no word how guests will be able to magically transport themselves out of the Beast’s castle. Perhaps buying a trinket in the gift shop will do the trick.
Princess Mania
Speaking of Cinderella, the would-be princess will leave her McMansion castle and take up residence along with other Disney heroines such as Aurora, Tiana, and Rapunzel in a new meet-and-greet area, Princess Fairytale Hall. I'm not quite sure how Disney will conjure a back story to justify why and how the bevy of beauties will be gathering in one place. Expect little girls to go bonkers at the sight of so many Disney princesses. And expect sales of glass slippers to go through the roof at the Magic Kingdom.
A Jumbo-Sized Dumbo
Dumbo the Flying Elephant may be the most frustrating ride in all of Walt Disney World. No visit to the theme park mecca is complete without a ride on the charming, classic, big-eared elephant. For that very reason, there is typically a jumbo-sized line to endure just to take a 90-second spin on the ride. Disney plans to tackle the rat-maze-hell problems with two improvements: A second Dumbo platform will double the capacity of the ride, and the queue will snake through a big-top circus tent complete with interactive games to entertain guests. The dueling Dumbos will be located in the Mickey's Toontown Fair land, which will be rechristened Storybook Circus.
Big Top Goofy
The Barnstormer junior coaster will remain, but it will get renamed and (slightly) re-themed as The Great Goofini to correspond to its Storybook Circus home.
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