Official Fantasyland Expansion Q & A (Mickey gets evicted) PART II

[amandaw]

I am not 100% but I thought I read somewhere early 2014. I could be wrong

It will be early 2014. It should be late 2013 though but they are playing it safe I bet. Two and a half years is an obscene amount of time to build a single ride. I think that was the amount of time they spent on the entire Cars Land.

Thank y'all for the replies! It sounds like we should be able to experience the Mine train if we do go in mid to late May 2014. Of course, I'll continue to keep an eye on this thread.

Thank you for putting all the info here!

 

[DanBoris]

Nope they're keeping it under wraps, but they did promise us an article about it...

There was an article for Be Our Guest, but haven't seen one for the tavern yet.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/06/chef-of-be-our-guest-restaurant-in-new-fantasyland-shares-his-favorites-from-the-menu/

 

[*sarah*]

Okay I've glanced around on this thread, but its huge!! So I can't seem to find an answer for my question....I will have the chance to visit WDW for one day next month. Wish it could be longer, but hey I'm happy with that cause its a super last minute trip to Florida for other reasons. Anyways, I am trying to figure out which park we want to go to, cause I am not paying for a one day park hopper......is there any part of the new Fantasyland that is alredy open??? I guess that answer will help me to decide between Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

 

[mesaboy2]

Okay I've glanced around on this thread, but its huge!! So I can't seem to find an answer for my question....I will have the chance to visit WDW for one day next month. Wish it could be longer, but hey I'm happy with that cause its a super last minute trip to Florida for other reasons. Anyways, I am trying to figure out which park we want to go to, cause I am not paying for a one day park hopper......is there any part of the new Fantasyland that is alredy open??? I guess that answer will help me to decide between Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

Post #1 in this thread is kept up to date and sums up everything for you.

To answer your question, Storybook Circus is open, but nothing else in FLE is expected to be until the holidays.

 

[DCTooTall]

So how do we think the Mine Train site is going to impact on the rest of NFL in terms of guest experience when BATB and TLM open? Will there be a blindingly obvious construction site in the middle of New Fantasyland for a year or so?

I wouldn't say it would be blindingly obvious for a year.... but at least for a few months.

If you look at BOG and LM, the basic structures were completed quite awhile ago. Since then most of the work was then interior work that didn't change the outer structure a whole lot, with recent work then turning towards outside theming (trees, waterways, pathways), and then some finishing touches on the exterior such as finishing rockwork, final paintings, and smaller design elements.

Based off what we saw with those 2 construction projects, and what we are seeing with the Mine train construction so far (combined with the logistics of the small landlocked construction area once the rest opens to the public)... i'd personally expect that most of the major structural work, including possibly the ride track, to be done by the time they open the FLE "around the holidays". At that point, they'll start working on the exterior 'wrap' of the show building/mountainside, and then the building interior including electrical, plumbing, AC, ride systems, show scenes, etc for most of the next year.

Once we get closer to the final opening, the external work will likely resume with additional details on the building exterior such as trees, rockwork, painting, and possibly forced perspective work.

 

[Berlioz70]

Disney Parks Blog:

All in the Details: Creating a Cozy Cottage for Maurice & Belle in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park, July 31, 2012

 

[Berlioz70]

New Disney Insider Article:

New Thrills, New Fun, New Fantasyland

 

[katytrott]

That's not true. Berlioz is quite informative, but she does tend to come across as a bit of a know-it-all at times.

I've just read the whole of this thread, 2/3 pages a day, and it has been my treat to look forward to each day. I'm just disapointed I've now caught up! But I'm surprised at this comment as it seems, along with others, Berlioz is the main contributor to this thread and kindly puts the work into it eg keeping the front page up to date. Thanks Berlioz!

When I first read this I wondered if there was meant to be a in place or something to show it was a tease, but it was forgotten. I'll choose to believe that!

Quite honestly when I first read what was going to be in the NFL I was a bit disapointed as it was mostly princess themed (mum of 2 boys who are quite anti princess - tinkerbell is called stinkerbell in our house!), particularly as there seemed to be a lot of meet and greet - again something our boys are not into (even with superheros). However, this thread has really got me into it. It feels like we are going to visit a whole new park when we go back in 2013!

 

[Corrine 1973]

I just came across this on my FB page and had to share it with all of you. I know you all would be as excited as I am.

http://www.**************.net/2012/...our-guest-restaurant-opening-dates-to-follow/

 

[mesaboy2]

I just came across this on my FB page and had to share it with all of you. I know you all would be as excited as I am.

http://www.**************.net/2012/...our-guest-restaurant-opening-dates-to-follow/

Of course, just when I was about to let the ol' AP lapse for a little while. Now I have to reconsider. I am so easy.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Berlioz70]

Whoa - big news... I've quoted key elements:

...the passholder web site now reveals a limited-attendance preview will take place in November.

Though specifics of this special preview have not yet been revealed, it does establish a firmer timeline as to when sections of New Fantasyland will be opening. Disney Cast Member previews are also scheduled for late November.

In other (but related) news:

The internal transfer posting closes today. I originally posted it closed on Sunday, but I misread the date, it closes end of day TODAY!

NEVERMIND: it did close Sunday. The internal Disney website lists 2 different dates, but all of the roles have already been pulled from the job posting link.

 

[Disco]

They didn't start actual work on the ride until earlier this year, so I'd say it's still under 2yrs. (remember, it was a late addition to the FLE plans).

Beyond that, i'd still give them some extra leeway with the ride construction. Since it'd be in a landlocked location surrounded by disney guests once they open BoE and LM, I can easily see that causing some delays with construction since it would limit their ability to move supplies and debris into and out of the construction area, as well as some bigger work that might require cranes or other heavy equipment.

Honestly, I'd be willing to place money on the bet that the site access and guest safety concerns are why we are not only seeing vertical construction so fast (all the steel work... and maybe even track laying), but that it's one of the primary reasons why BoE and LM aren't opening earlier. (not a ton earlier mind you, but as soon as they open those areas to the public, they lose a lot of freedom with the work on he mine train. a delay of a month on the attraction openings could translate to 3months of delays in construction due to being limited to overnight hours if the attractions were open that month.)

Work started probably around Sept-Oct 2011 (I thought I remember it starting around June-July 2011 but I think it was a subscribed picture or press release as I don't have a satellite shot). GE pictures show foundation well underway at the very first of 2012.
While it is land locked once the enchanted forest opens it looks like all the dangerous stuff will be in place as you mentioned. I don't see that being a huge factor in delaying the project. Keep in mind they have the "Chunnel" as well.
Sorry, why did you say LM and BoG are taking so long? They are completely segregated from the rest of the park?

 

[glitzybabes]

I'm not sure if anyone as said this yet but...
Will the new Fantasyland open in NOVEMBER??? I think so. I just saw on wdwmagic that passholders will have a preview in november.
http://www.wdwmagic.com/Attractions...oming-for-the-new-Fantasyland-in-November.htm

 

[DCTooTall]

Work started probably around Sept-Oct 2011 (I thought I remember it starting around June-July 2011 but I think it was a subscribed picture or press release as I don't have a satellite shot). GE pictures show foundation well underway at the very first of 2012.
While it is land locked once the enchanted forest opens it looks like all the dangerous stuff will be in place as you mentioned. I don't see that being a huge factor in delaying the project. Keep in mind they have the "Chunnel" as well.
Sorry, why did you say LM and BoG are taking so long? They are completely segregated from the rest of the park?

The Utilidors were not extended into the new areas. Remember that where the Mine Train is located, used to be the Lagoon for 20k. At the very start of the construction, you could see that the only part of the new areas which are built on top of the Utilidors was a small square patch around where the Castle Wall and the trees in front of Maurice's Cottage is located. The Actual entrance to the utilidor system is actually located where that road wraps around BoG between BoG and Pinnochio. When you remember that the primary reason for the Utilidors was to allow access to the parks different section while 'off stage' in unrelated areas (well... in addition to the water table, MK 'build-up' to create a better view across the lagoon, and operational logistics), Since BoG and LM are located on the outside of the park guest areas, these access concerns aren't as big a concern.


I was going off of memory when talking about when construction started. I remember the end of last year we were starting to see the site cleared (from the supply/prep areas used for LM and BoG construction work), and some waterways and foundations being worked on for some of the waterways and bridges in the expansion area... but I didn't recall much in foundation work. I could've easily been mistaken though...

As for why I say BoG and LM are taking so long, yes, that entire area is segragated from the rest of the park... currently. However, Once they open BoG and LM, they create an island in the middle of guest areas for the construction of the Mine Train moutain (hillside?) and ride. From what I can see in many of the pictures, It appears that BoG and LM are pretty much ready to be opened next week after a cleaning and a few more finishing touches...assuming they had the staff trained. BUT... as soon as they open it, the Mine Train construction gets isolated with no easy access , and likely a loss of some of their perimeter used for construction material staging and equipment. So Even if BoG and LM are ready to be open, But keeping them closed an extra month or 2 allows them much more freedom on the Mine Train construction site which allows them to get more work done in a shorter period than if it was isolated.


Unlike Universal with their Building 44 work, You aren't going to see Disney driving Semi's and Dump trucks thru guest areas to get to a construction site in the middle of Fantasyland from the nearest Backstage access area.... even if it is virtually across the street between LM and the Tents.

 

[DCTooTall]

I'm not sure if anyone as said this yet but...
Will the new Fantasyland open in NOVEMBER??? I think so. I just saw on wdwmagic that passholders will have a preview in november.
http://www.wdwmagic.com/Attractions...oming-for-the-new-Fantasyland-in-November.htm

There are now multiple hints that a SOFT OPEN period could start to happen in LATE november. These soft openings could be as short as a random 2hr period during the day for all we know. The Cast Member preview is supposedly ending around the 28th.

This all hints that we might see the official opening around the December 1st timeframe.

 

[RJMC]

Certainly this news seems to confirm that its going to be November opening.

Halloween Parties finish on Nov 2, so I guess passholder previews will be straight after that for passholders with it opening proper the following week when Christmas Parties begin? What do you reckon?

 

[DCTooTall]

Certainly this news seems to confirm that its going to be November opening.

Halloween Parties finish on Nov 2, so I guess passholder previews will be straight after that for passholders with it opening proper the following week when Christmas Parties begin? What do you reckon?

Considering CM Previews are supposedly the end of the month, I'm thinking the end of the November/early December is more likely.

 

[mesaboy2]

Certainly this news seems to confirm that its going to be November opening.

Halloween Parties finish on Nov 2, so I guess passholder previews will be straight after that for passholders with it opening proper the following week when Christmas Parties begin? What do you reckon?

I reckon only that previews and soft openings will be November, and we'll just have to wait and see when exactly those turn out to be. I doubt the hard-ticket parties have much to do with it.

 

[prfctlyximprfct]

It may be just me, but why is everything taking soooo long? Don't get me wrong, I want everything to be perfect and I would hate if they rushed things, but my friend went to Disney in the beginning of 2011 and she swears there was a sign up that said they new fanstasyland would be opening in spring 2012. I know the plans changed and all to include the mine coaster, but why is the rest of it taking so long?? At this rate, can we expect Avatarland by 2020??

 

[mesaboy2]

It may be just me, but why is everything taking soooo long? Don't get me wrong, I want everything to be perfect and I would hate if they rushed things, but my friend went to Disney in the beginning of 2011 and she swears there was a sign up that said they new fanstasyland would be opening in spring 2012. I know the plans changed and all to include the mine coaster, but why is the rest of it taking so long?? At this rate, can we expect Avatarland by 2020??

The very first portions of it (parts of Storybook Circus) did open in the Spring. Never has the entire FLE been advertised to be open then, nor for all of it to open at one time.