Expansion of Magic Kingdom

[two4theroad]

I know this isn't exclusively Fort Wilderness news, but I didn't know if everyone heard Disney is doing an expansion at the Kingdom in Fantasyland. They are going to do a lavish ride of The Little Mermaid also they are updating Star Wars. The article said it would nearly double the size of Fantasyland. Found the info on front page of aol.:surfweb::woohoo::yay:

[liv luvs disney]

I saw this information on my home page before logging onto the Dis.
http://www.charter.net/news/read.php?rip_id=%3CD9AMI6EO0%40news.ap.org%3E&ps=1016&_LT=HOME_LARSDCCL4_UNEWS

[bama_ed]

This could be the rumored change over in the Old Submarine ride and Mickey's Toontown/Birthdayland-whatever-it's-called-this-year area. The blueprints leaked out a few weeks/months ago. I read about it at the Miceage website (Kevin Yee writes Florida updates periodically). Basically the part from the grotto behind Dumbo all the way over to and further into the back was part of the rumor. I remember that the Goofy's Barnburner roller coaster was the only part of that area to stay (as a fan of the Disneyworld railroad I'm sure that stop will be kept and re-themed). I also think it was going to stay inside the railroad line and not spill outside it like Pirates does.

That would be nice! Another reason to go back....:wizard:

Bama ED

[look1angel]

Just read it hear. Now when I get to Disney in Nov. I need to hit ToonTown before it vanishes. It all sounds pretty exciting though


http://land.allears.net/blogs/dnews/2009/09/walt_disney_parks_and_resorts_2.html

[a1tinkfans]

That toon town area always seemed so "packed" with people to me, I am curious as to why they'd get rid of it all..........
Am I understanding that they are removing it all??? I thought it was so popular with the small ones and their fmailies...:confused3:confused3

[RvUsa]

I have a couple comments, it all sounds kinda "girly" to me, all princesses and fairies, and mermaids :(

On the original version of "little mermaid" dvd, there is an interactive tour of the future little mermaid ride, that was put on hold, but sounds like it is off hold now.

[PrincessNP]

I agree that the idea is a little "girly" but the princesses are a big revenue generator for the company. I do hope thay do more expansion in the Pirate department not only for the fellows in the group but for the gals that like them!

The Dumbo ride is long over due for a rehaul.

Toon Town is always packed but there is really nothing to do except the Barnstormer. The rest is just walk through stuff. I would like to see and exspansion of the Pooh play area becuase that is really a great rest spot for those of us with wee ones!

[retired and happy]

Ther's andn extensive thread about this under the THEME PARK ATTRACTIONS AND STRATEGIES forum above here at "OFFICIAL - New Fantasyland Rumour is TRUE!" complete with artist renditions and site layout plans.

[lauraebeth]

That toon town area always seemed so "packed" with people to me, I am curious as to why they'd get rid of it all..........
Am I understanding that they are removing it all??? I thought it was so popular with the small ones and their fmailies...:confused3:confused3

toon town = stroller hell.

strollers are the reason it's packed. . .I can't count the number of times i've been ankled there. . .

[Bear1971]

Can't wait to go back in 2012 & 2013 to see it!

[BayLake Campers]

This is the area that is going to be changed.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3920479448_f83d468121_b.jpg

[big kahuna1]

Disney also purchased "Marvel" Comics. I wonder if we will see some rides and other stuff with the "Marvel" theme in fthe future or maybe a new park.

[mrsscooter]

I had heard that Disney bought out the rights to Marvel the other day.....also wondering if they would be having any of the superheroes wandering around in the future.

[chartle]

I had heard that Disney bought out the rights to Marvel the other day.....also wondering if they would be having any of the superheroes wandering around in the future.

Disney didn't just buy the rights to Marvel, they bought it lock, stock and barrel.

Right now Universal owns the rights to the major characters. So don't expect them to do anything with those characters until the contract with Universal is up.

Also I wouldn't be surprised that if Disney can make more money renewing the contract with Universal they will.

[RvUsa]

Disney didn't just buy the rights to Marvel, they bought it lock, stock and barrel.

Right now Universal owns the rights to the major characters. So don't expect them to do anything with those characters until the contract with Universal is up.

Also I wouldn't be surprised that if Disney can make more money renewing the contract with Universal they will.


Just spitballing here, but I wonder if this could just be and "inroad" for disney to get into universals pockets? Maybe a buyout of the whole darn shooting match, this would be a great way to reach the market that they kinda miss out on, teens, and thrill seekers. Hmmm just a thought....

[Tigger1966]

I would rather see Disney build a 5th park based on Marvel. A straight up thrill park to draw in the strange few that just don't get the Magic.
I am tired of hearing people say how much better these crappy little parks are than Disney because of some thrill ride.
Give the Imagineers a crack at a straight up thrill ride and hang on!!!

[Judy in Texas]

Another change... I rode the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Monday and there is quite a bit of work going on in the Space Mountain area, also. Looks like the restrooms to the right side of the entrance are either being torn down or heavily renovated, To the left of the Space Mountain entrance is an entrance to (what I think is) a new video arcade area. The guys who don't want to do the girly Little Mermaid/princess stuff in the new expansion area can go to the arcade. Judy

[SandrA9810]

So some info from what I've heard rumored long before this release. And from working there in toon town....

They can't go any further west than that boundry line because of the tunnel/service entrance. But yes, right now there's a big wasted field behind the grotto/pooh's playground. It's been deemed the trash can grave yard because there's just rows and rows of trash cans sitting there.
Toontown was never supposed to be perminate. The gift shop and all the character meet & greet locations are all in a great big tent. Part of the reason why it's stuck around for as long as it has, is because Disney doesn't have to pay taxes on the structures because they're not perminate. And those tents really are horrible.... Toon Town is closing this November. Dunno what they'll do for the holiday meet and greets.

Dumbo is going to be picked up and moved next to the train station, so we've figured they'll modify the train station to a casey jr theme to go with Dumbo. They've already got two sets of Dumbo's, one for on the ride, and one set in the back whenever one of them breaks. (I dunno if there's a full set or not, but I've seen plenty in the back at maintance). And they sure do know how to build things that spin in circles, but you'll never see a line that long at those rides. (refering to Triceritop spin or Aladdin)

It'll be nice to offer a new resturant. Since table service is lacking a bit, Tony's, Plaza, Liberty, and CRT is all.

It'll be harder for meet and greets since each princess is going to have a specific area... so another princess can't step in if one can't be there. They're banking on Pixie Hollow being a big deal, it was a made for home video movie.... never even released in the theaters. So who knows how long this whole fairies thing is going to last. Or how long it takes them before they run it into the ground. At least some of the sequels to the other princess movies didn't come out till decades later, so every one still knows the original story.

The old skyway ride entrance is being completely torn down.They've gutted the bathrooms and the whole second floor is gone. Who knows what they're going to do with that Stitch stage show that only lasted a month. I think it was last year riding the TTA that they had one of the doors opened on to the sky way ride and you could see some of the gondalas sitting inside. It's possible they sold them to Bucsh Gardens, but that would be a cool relic to have. Of course Galaxy Palace theater is gone too, who knows what they're going to do for the Christmas party for that stage show.

And Disney will never buy over more land. You see Walt was smart and put a lot things in place to prevent county regulations and stuff from overseeing what goes on at Disney. Like Reedy Creek for Fire and Ambulance emergency response. Own water treatment, own electric plants. Own rules on land use. One of the noticable differences, noise ordiance laws, if you ever noticed, Universal and Sea World's night time show is started at 9:50pm and the last firework is done by 10pm or they have to pay a fine for making loud noises past 10pm. They both pay this fine or maybe it's waived for the July 4th and New Years celebrations. It's like a 40,000$ fine if they break this rule. Disney can set fireworks off any time they want to. They've got enough land to do what they want, if they wanted to build a thrill park. And I've heard Universal has a forever contract for the rides, that or they're grandfathered in. So they can never change the current ride or they'd have to take it out all together. I don't know about the meet and greet stuff. But I'm sure they'll put Marvel at Studios. But Marvel used to have good video games, Disney slacks on putting out good games, Kingdom Hearts was the last best thing. So hopefully they don't ruin that industry.

Universal finally put in the paper today a huge thing about Harry Potter world. I don't think there was a set date although every one was hoping there would be one. That is what I have found out today. It's long over due, hopefully they don't mess it up too much.

So if you want to see Toontown and everything, get here before November, but as that closes, Space Mountain will be reopening. So pick your choice of what you want to see more.

[PrincessNP]

I just do not see Inoversals products being of the same quality as Disney! I know everything is a strategic financial move, but I hope if Disney begins to incliude superhoeros and things that they bring them up to Disney standards.

I am porbably just a Disney snob.:rotfl:

[John VN]

I would rather see Disney build a 5th park based on Marvel. A straight up thrill park to draw in the strange few that just don't get the Magic.
I am tired of hearing people say how much better these crappy little parks are than Disney because of some thrill ride.
Give the Imagineers a crack at a straight up thrill ride and hang on!!!

There ARE plans for a 5th park, thrill ride themed. Another well kept secret, for now.

[des1954]

Disney also purchased "Marvel" Comics. I wonder if we will see some rides and other stuff with the "Marvel" theme in fthe future or maybe a new park.

When we went to the Fort on 8/27 a guy at the check-in was chatting with me while the actual CM checking us in was on the phone with CRO getting our rate reduced (long story). Anyhow, he said that there is going to be a HUGE announcement forthcoming from Disney in October regarding a 5th theme park. This park will be strictly thrill rides and attractions. I thought he was full of crap and just wanted to appear to be "in the know", but maybe he was right. We'll have to wait & see.

[ehmickey]

So will Toontown be the only area closed after November, or will other areas of Fantasyland be affected?

[SandrA9810]

So far only toontown. Most of what is in fantasyland is going to stay right where it is. Everything else that is getting added is going to be built behind what is currently the boundry line. Ariel's grotto seems to be the only current thing being taken out of fantasyland in the plans, but I'm sure it's going to be a while before Ariel goes out.
I didn't ask if the Barnstormer or the Train station would be closing. I'll ask Kari to find out.

[BradyBz12]

If you've got some time to kill, there are a couple of good videos from the D23 Expo HERE (http://www.wdwnewstoday.com/archives/4386) and HERE (http://www.wdwnewstoday.com/archives/4399) complete with "straight from the horse's mouth" info and some snazzy artwork from the presentation Jay Rasulo gave.

It covers everything in the works worldwide for Disney over the next several years - Fantasyland info is in the first link.

[BradyBz12]

Universal finally put in the paper today a huge thing about Harry Potter world. I don't think there was a set date although every one was hoping there would be one.

Nope, no date included in "the big announcement" - they're still just saying "Spring 2010"

Hopefully they'll be on track better with WWoHP than the new coaster, which was delayed a bunch.

[lolafrances]

If Toontown is closing in November, does anyone know if Mickey will have another "house" somewhere where you can go see him at any time of day?

Also, I know Toontown is stroller hell, but Mickey's house has always been a huge draw for my kids. On some days, the little play area has also given us a much needed rest break before we charge off again into the rest of the MK. I'll be sad to see it go but I'm interested to see what new and exciting things are in store!