Is change coming to Fantasyland?

[rustyp]

Just read this on Mouseplanet. Has anyone heard about or know about this? If this is true, it's sad it is being geared toward girls and that boys are being left out.

http://www.mouseplanet.com/8915/Walt_Disney_World_Resort_Update


Changes coming to Fantasyland?
A purportedly leaked blueprint of a massive makeover of the Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland has been rocketing through the Internet Disney community over the last week. The blueprint calls for a copy of the Little Mermaid ride currently under construction at Disney's California Adventure, a new Beauty and the Beast-themed sit-down restaurant, the demolition of Mickey's Toontown Fair (with the exception of Goofy's Barnstormer, the relocation and duplication of Dumbo's Flying Elephants, large new meet-and-greet areas for Belle, Cinderella, Aurora, Pixie Hollow and more. Matthew Gallagher over at the Etckt blog has done a great job of superimposing the image over an aerial view of the area (link).
But is this the real thing? Nobody knows for sure, and nobody's telling. The plan is certainly ambitious, though it apparently writes off boys for a good portion of Fantasyland with the central focus on princesses and fairies. There are many possibilities: fan plans portrayed as Imagineering designs, blue-sky Imagineering drawings that have not been approved for anything, Imagineering drawings leaked to gauge possible guest response, any many others. What do you think? Discuss this on our Walt Disney World News and Rumors forum

 

[Azree]

Lots of talk about it over on the rumor board:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2231242

 

[MelanieC]

Who knows - I just know I plan on enjoying Fantasyland even more this trip just in case

 

[rustyp]

Lots of talk about it over on the rumor board:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2231242

Thanks, didn't know about the rumor threads. Still haven't explored all of the DIS yet.

 

[RMulieri]

Would welcome the change!

 

[Golf4food]

I don't get the argument about girls being left out - the majority of all of the rest of the MK could be considered more geared towards boys than girls - pirates, roller coasters, space, Indy cars, etc. The rest are, at most, gender nuetral. Certainly isn't much geared mainly to girls now, so I don't see any problem building a few things that might be more appealing to the girls more so than boys - might even things out a little.

 

[wendyt_ca]

I hope it is true because fantasy land needs an overhaul. I don't understand why everyone says the boys get left out and there is nothing for boys. This is a much needed princess/fairy section as they are Disney's biggest sellers. The rest of Magic Kingdom other then the castle is more geared towards boys then girls in my opinion. Adventureland with Pirates, Frontierland with cowboys and even tomorrowland is more boyish IMO. For a franchise as HUGE as Disney princesses they need this.

 

[BarleyJack]

They better not mess with Peter Pan's Flight LOL.

 

[wendyt_ca]

I don't get the argument about girls being left out - the majority of all of the rest of the MK could be considered more geared towards boys than girls - pirates, roller coasters, space, Indy cars, etc. The rest are, at most, gender nuetral. Certainly isn't much geared mainly to girls now, so I don't see any problem building a few things that might be more appealing to the girls more so than boys - might even things out a little.

lol I only read the first couple of posts when I replied then went back and noticed you put the exact same thing.....Maybe I should read the full post next time. But I completely agree.

 

[turkeymama]

Shhhh, don't anyone tell my daughter that most of the Magic Kingdom is geared toward boys. She doesn't know girls aren't supposed to pretend to be pirates or that girls aren't supposed to like roller coasters.

Okay, on a much more serious note, I have never thought the park was geared toward either girls or boys. I thought it was for everyone. Maybe I missed something on my last few visits.

 

[brocklesnar69]

I wonder how that would effect Liberty Square & Tomorrowland? Like, are there going to be changes to those Lands just because of this major overhaul?

 

[nerdyone]

Why can't your little boys enjoy the princesses too? My 3 year old loves Cinderella. I think my woman's study teacher's head would explode if she read this thread.

 

[captinhookedondisney]

I love the idea, if only they would do an attraction on Mary Poppins!

 

[wendyt_ca]

I agree I do think the parks are for everyone which is what is so great about them. People were saying that it is girly and then I thought about it and it is more boyish then girly. I don't think it being Disney princesses will make the boys enjoy themselves any less and they will probably enjoy the princess attractions too.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Rumors and News board.

 

[sellsje]

The blue print got me excited even if it's a fake. It's fun to think about anyway.
I went to Disneyland a couple times when I was a kid... So I was kinda let down when I first visited the MK in 2007. I loved the castle but as I made my way through... I said to myself "Fantasy what...this is it?"
DL blows the MK away (the exception being the castle) so YES I would love to see the Rehab!!! ...and Candy Mountain too

 

[Goopy]

I actually talked to a close family friend who is in a possition where they would know about this yesterday and I was told Fantasyland is getting a major overhaul, They did not give me the exact details on what was going to be happening as I got the feeling they were uncomfortable talking too much about it so I left it at that.

 

[scanne]

I love the idea of a Beauty and the Beast themed restaurant. Hopefully it will be a BATB character meal with Belle, GASTON!!!, Beast, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, Chip and Babette - ooh, la, la!!!

 

[Mookie Blaylock]

The blue print got me excited even if it's a fake. It's fun to think about anyway.
I went to Disneyland a couple times when I was a kid... So I was kinda let down when I first visited the MK in 2007. I loved the castle but as I made my way through... I said to myself "Fantasy what...this is it?"
DL blows the MK away (the exception being the castle) so YES I would love to see the Rehab!!! ...and Candy Mountain too

I was reading a thread in another disney forum site. There are a couple of posters who claim to have contacts and to paraphrase.

The plans are legit, WDW brass does not want to do it but they are being pushed from higher ups and the project is a go at this point. Disney is P.O'd that the plans leaked and have begun an investigation. Supposedly they will announce the plans along with star tours 2.0 in October.

Take it for what you will, could be a couple dudes who are looking for attention or they could have contacts. I hope they are right, sound scool to me.