Fantasyland Facelift?

[ransom]

This is going to be great! While DW and I love thrill rides and visit our local thrill park at least once a week, we go to WDW for themed experiences. And this expansion will go a long way to making Fantasyland a much better experience for all! The theming is going to be significantly better and more thorough, and the new ride is going to be highly detailed in its theming as well.

We're very excited about this, as well as the new Star Tours 2.0.

 

[hakepb]

Different demographics. There are many who have no interest in the new Space Mountain, Everest, American Idol, etc. No attraction will ever be universally loved and accessible to all (newborns to seniors), but Disney still has to spread its investments around.
If nothing else, it means that folks who will appreciate Fantasyland won't be in other areas of the park.

TSM is amazingly close to being universally enjoyed, at least within my extended family ages 2-70

I'm guessing these changes will also result in a change from Wishes? Thst "unused" ground does seem to be fireworks staging, although they could do a better job building fully fireproof buildings (metal roofing instead of flat rubber roofing) that may not result in many changes...

 

[TLSnell1981]

The only things really being "lost" for this project are Mickey & Minnie's houses and surrounding structures plus Ariel's Grotto in Fantasyland.

Great....that's the only two things we liked in Toontown.

Where's Mickey and Minnie going to live now?

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

Great....that's the only two things we liked in Toontown.

Where's Mickey and Minnie going to live now?

You need to come to DL's toontown to visit Mickey and Minnie. DL's toontown is ten times better than the one at WDW. Fantasyland in FL has always seemed a little tacky to me. DL's fantasy land (excluding Cind's castle) is five times better than the one at WDW I think it is long overdue for a facelift. I am looking forward to it.

 

[El&Asmom]

Rather than thrill rides or character greetings, I wish that they would have more attraction type rides. TSM has been a much needed addition to DHS. Something more in that line would be a fun addition to fantasyland.

 

[TLSnell1981]

You need to come to DL's toontown to visit Mickey and Minnie. DL's toontown is ten times better than the one at WDW. Fantasyland in FL has always seemed a little tacky to me. DL's fantasy land (excluding Cind's castle) is five times better than the one at WDW I think it is long overdue for a facelift. I am looking forward to it.

I have been to DL and I do like their Fantasyland. I like the Storybook boats and the Roger Rabbit ride in Toontown. I guess, they're not coming?

 

[UConnJack]

While I love thrill rides, and would welcome more, I don't think Disney necessarily needs to add more true "thrill" rides at this time (e.g., EE, RnR, SM, ToT, etc.), but I do think they need to keep adding good, unique , entertaining attractions/rides, and opening new, interesting areas (they NEED a new area at DHS). I am a roller coaster nut, but some of my favorite attractions/rides a Disney include Soarin' (which is not a "thrill" ride in my book, but a solid attraction), Mickey's Philharmagic, and Splash Mountain (again, mostly an entertaining ride, not particularly a "thrilling" one), and Toy Story Mania.

I am glad to hear they are putting in an attraction/ride in Fantasy Land, otherwise the revamp, while I'm sure will be nice, would be a waste of time and money in my book.

 

[Goofy DVC]

The thing I'm most excited about is the new Restaurant in Fantasyland based on the Beast's castle. I always thought that the MK was in great need of another nice table service restaurant. I believe this one is to be a decent size, 552 seats.

 

[Grumpygrandpa]

TSM is great attraction! I think Disney needs more pixar themed rides (though I'm not a big Monster's INC. fan). I wonder if you couldn't put a pixar attraction or two in fantasyland.

 

[Tara]

If nothing else, it means that folks who will appreciate Fantasyland won't be in other areas of the park.

Not only that, the Fantasyland crowds will be dispersed over a larger area.

 

[loveswdw]

Great....that's the only two things we liked in Toontown.

Where's Mickey and Minnie going to live now?

My boys would've LOVED it if they had re-themed Toontown to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. That would've went over like gangbusters in our house. Mickey's house isn't much of a thrill for them but oh to have had that Clubhouse slide...they'd have died and gone to heaven!

 

[tjkraz]

Great....that's the only two things we liked in Toontown.

Where's Mickey and Minnie going to live now?

There has been talk that the building next to Tony's near the MK entrance (Exposition Hall?) will be turned into a character meet-and-greet location. There are actually two buildings behind the front entrance which are uses occasionally for special functions including DVC presentations.

I also read claims from others at D23 who stated that the houses would be relocated to another site at WDW. I have absolutely no idea where that might be.

Personally I think Toontown is a sorry excuse for a MK "land" and am thrilled to see it being removed for something better.

 

[ransom]

Personally I think Toontown is a sorry excuse for a MK "land" and am thrilled to see it being removed for something better.

Don't tell DW I said this, but "I agree!"

 

[Tara]

Personally I think Toontown is a sorry excuse for a MK "land" and am thrilled to see it being removed for something better.

Of course, it might also create even more demand for character meals until Mickey and Minnie are relocated. Which makes me wonder...is Be Our Guest going to be a character meal? It ought to be, and with Belle in her gown, too!

 

[ransom]

Of course, it might also create even more demand for character meals until Mickey and Minnie are relocated. Which makes me wonder...is Be Our Guest going to be a character meal? It ought to be, and with Belle in her gown, too!

According to the renderings posted on the Internet, it looks like that may be the case. And, it looks like there may be an AA of Lumiere, presented much like the AA of Remy at Chefs de France.

But we'll see what we actually get. There's a long way between now and when BOG opens.

 

[jade1]

We were not interested either really, until we started talking grandkids-if we are that lucky. DD is 23, DS 21 and DD 16. This will be perfect when complete for taking little ones and introducing them to the "World" of Disney and it's characters. And owning at BLT will make it even better (maybe that's why its going to $120?), simply walk them back after Wishes in the stroller asleep, walking over for breakfast in the castle with no guessing when a bus might come, this is working out perfectly.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I'm excited about the expansion even though by the time its done my kids will be way too old for most of it. Like others though, I will look forward to enjoying it with my grandchildren for the most part and of course will still enjoy bits and pieces of it myself.

 

[movie77]

I think it looks great. If it looks anything like the artwork it seems to be the best theeming Disney's done to date. They should be announcing something of this scale just about every year though. With 4 parks they could go twice around in a decade to keep things fresh and interesting. Both DHS and AK both need this sort of refresh and addition in a few areas.

 

[TLSnell1981]

According to the renderings posted on the Internet, it looks like that may be the case. And, it looks like there may be an AA of Lumiere, presented much like the AA of Remy at Chefs de France.

But we'll see what we actually get. There's a long way between now and when BOG opens.

Unfortunately, Disney found a "very expensive" alternative to the regular, ol' meet and greet. Why let kids have a photo op and get an autograph for free? There's big $$$$ in character meals.

Walt's probably rolled over so many times...he could have made it from DL to WDW a few times.

 

[disprincessatheart]

We were not interested either really, until we started talking grandkids-if we are that lucky. DD is 23, DS 21 and DD 16. This will be perfect when complete for taking little ones and introducing them to the "World" of Disney and it's characters. And owning at BLT will make it even better (maybe that's why its going to $120?), simply walk them back after Wishes in the stroller asleep, walking over for breakfast in the castle with no guessing when a bus might come, this is working out perfectly.

We're in a similar boat, but with our first child. We bought at BLT in November last year and hadn't really planned it as much for kids as for ourselves (stayed and the GF for our wedding and we're monorail snobs now). But with our first baby due on Christmas Day this year, we're even more excited about DVC now that he'll have an expanded fantasy land to go to as a very young child - couldnt' have timed it better if we tried!

I know all the threads on the themeparks board keep talking about the lack of boy stuff in the FL plans, but I'm optimistic that they'll have a good amount of boy stuff in there by the time it's all done. And another castle meal can only be a good thing as far as I'm concerned!