Fantasyland Expansion

Hello,

So as many of you already know great changes are currently happening in Disney parks on both coasts. Today I'm going to focus on the major changes happening in Disney World over the next two years.

Fantasyland Expansion

For anyone who has been to the parks in recent months it is nothing new that the Fantasyland Expansion is well on its way. However, I have met many a Disney fan who are unaware of the exciting work happening in Fantasyland.

Under The Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid will be the first part of the expansion opening in 2012. This ride will take park goers through the story of The Little Mermaid in a situation similar to that of The Haunted Mansion or The Seas With Nemo and Friends. By this I mean guests will ride in "clammobiles" while animatronic scenes happen around them. From the videos and photos that Disney has released it looks like it will be a great addition. So far it looks like the imagineers have done a great job trying to insure the animatronics look and act like the characters we all know and love. On top of all the new age animatronics will be several re-orchestrated songs that were apart of the movie. I can't wait to find out what the ride is like once complete.

*edited above article because Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid will not open in FL until 2012. However, if you need to see it asap it opens June 3 in California Adventures in CA.*

Disney recently released several promo photos showing the progress of Beast's castle in the much anticipated Beauty and the Beast section of the park. There are also concept photos of the restaurant that will sit with in this area. Outside of telling us that the guests will have access to the ballroom, gallery, and notoriously off limits west-wing not much is known about this restaurant. It is said to be an "elegant" dinning experience so here is to hoping that Disney is adding another great restaurant that will allow adults to enjoy fine dinning while getting in touch with the magic. The Beauty and the Beast section will also feature Gaston's Tavern. Back during the D23 Expo the concept art showed Gaston's Tavern looking much like it did in the beloved classic with no shortage of antlers on the walls and furniture. I haven't yet found out if Gaston's Tavern will break the Magic Kingdom's tradition of no alcohol. If anyone knows for sure if it will or not let me know. Disney also released that there will be the cottage of Maurice but not much is known about what the purpose of Maurice's cottage is. This area will also feature a new gift shop not that there are any shortages of those through out the parks. The Beauty and the Beast expansion to Fantasyland is scheduled to slowly open in mid-2012.

The most exciting portion of this expansion is the new Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ride. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train appears to be a dark ride that will take guests through the country side and into the mine in which the Dwarfs work. The most exciting part of this ride though is not what it is about but the cars that will be carrying guest. Disney hasn't said exactly what the cars will do but it seems they will sway back and forth and perhaps moved in a fashion much like the Indiana Jones cars. I must say that I am excited to find out more about this as the expansion continues to be underway. This will probably one of the later portions of the expansion so I imagine it will open in early 2013.

Two less adult changes will be happening to Fantasyland as apart of this expansion. Disney has re-imagined Toontown into a Circus. The most notable part of this re-imagining is that Disney is moving the Dumbo ride from its original position to a new spot inside the circus themed section. As apart of the move Disney is also adding a second set of the beloved Dumbos in hope to cut down wait time for this popular attraction. The cue will also become an interactive cue featuring circus themed games and such. I have heard it is much like the Toy Story Mania cue and the new Haunted Mansion cue. Also it appears the cues will be covered. Hopefully these things combined will keep the little ones cool and entertained while they wait. The circus rethemeing also means that the beloved children's coaster Goofy's Barnstormer will be getting a makeover. Not much about the ride itself is set to change except that it will be renamed the Great Goofini and will be rethemed in the idea of a Disney version of those classic Houdini acts.