Biggest ever expansion of the Magic Kingdom!!!

[lojikal1]

Straight off of Facebook WDW Fan page


Disney to expand Fantasyland at Walt Disney WorldShare
Today at 8:05am

By Gina Keating

(Reuters) - Mickey Mouse's house and his Toon Town world will make way next year for a vastly larger Fantasyland, in the biggest-ever expansion of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida, Walt Disney Co said on Saturday.

The Fantasyland expansion, whose price tag was not disclosed, will open in two stages in 2012 and 2013 and builds on the popularity of the Disney Princess and Fairies franchises, which have topped $4 billion in global retail sales.

Disney theme parks Chairman Jay Rasulo said the Fantasyland project, which breaks ground next year, will be paid for from funds designated for the theme park division's annual capital expenditures.

Plans call for four Disney Princess characters -- Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" and Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" -- to be featured in "fantasy lands" where park visitors engage in dancing, storytelling or a birthday party with costumed characters from the films.

The expansion includes two new dining spots -- Gascon's Tavern and the 552-seat Beast's Castle. A new underwater ride based on "The Little Mermaid, will be built both in the Florida Fantasyland and at the ongoing expansion of California Adventure in Disneyland.

The second phase of the Fantasyland expansion will be an oversized world based on the fairy world of Pixie Hollow from "Peter Pan," but no other details were available because the attraction was still in early development stages, Rasulo said.

As part of the Fantasyland expansion, Disney plans to double the size of the popular Dumbo ride to add a covered "three-ring circus" waiting area with interactive games and a play area.

Disney Imagineers, who design rides and attractions, said the Toon Town attraction would be dismantled and its popular Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse houses relocated to another section of Walt Disney World.

Rasulo also announced an upgrade to the Star Tours rides at Disneyland in Anaheim and Disney's Hollywood Studio in Florida to open in 2011.

Star Tours simulates a ride through space aboard spacecraft like those in the original "Star Wars" film.

The updated version features new digital 3D effects and projectors that let ride operators vary "destinations," as well as upgrades to the Star Speeder cabins, Rasulo said.

[ChattyKathy2]

Wow! That all sounds really neat. Guess we'll have to make plans for 2012 & 2013

[thudfather]

What about the barnstormer? It's really the only kiddie coaster. My daughters loved it, and it trained 'em up for Splash.

Sounds like it's going to be little-girl land which, with three young daughters, is fine by me; but where's the boy-oriented stuff that the Marvel acquisition was supposed to bring to the table?

[qtwns]

I can't wait!!!

[Berlioz70]

Originally Posted by thudfather

What about the barnstormer? It's really the only kiddie coaster. My daughters loved it, and it trained 'em up for Splash.

Sounds like it's going to be little-girl land which, with three young daughters, is fine by me; but where's the boy-oriented stuff that the Marvel acquisition was supposed to bring to the table?

Barnstormer will be staying, but likely re-themed to match the circus area with Dumbo.

Marvel is not going to be coming to the WDW parks, Universal's agreement states that they have full rights of marvel on the east side of the Mississippi. Marvel may pop up in other Disney parks around the world, but in Florida it'll be staying where it is and we'll just be sitting back to collect royalties.

But don't worry about the boys. They have a little area of the park targeted for them called: Adventureland, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland.

[popsynic]

Lots of info, images, video, comment and opinion about this here that you may be interested in

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2282586

[seashoreCM]

(copied from another forum)

Originally, airport carousels were circular platforms just like a merry go round.

Today the baggage conveyors may go around a little than straight for awhile, then maybe turn the other way, and eventually come back to the starting point but they are still called carousels.

Perhaps that idea could be adapted to Dumbo so there would be many more elephants instead of just sixteen in one circle.

Or how about a double decker Dumbo. Yes I have seen pictures of double decker merry go rounds.

It has been said that space has been a big limitation for Magic Kingdom. It looks to me as if some of the cast member areas behind Fantasyland could be "double decked" so guest areas and attractions can be extended that way (north).