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

[RaphaelDeVarona]

Thanks for the great picturse Damouse and Scott!!!!

Your very welcome! Nothing like construction photos to help pass the time until we get to enjoy the finished Disney magic.

 

[Berlioz70]

I added the Disney Fantasyland Time Lapse video to the first post!

 

[DCTooTall]

It just dawned on me when looking at the pics, either it doesn't look like or I can't tell, are they not putting in the cm underground corridors that are in the rest of the Magic Kingdom?

I don't think they are expanding the Utilidors into the new area. One of the videos on this thread has an imagineer talking about how one of the huge benefits of building in an area that wasn't over the Utilidors was being able to establish more greenery.

I think it also helps that these new areas are all on the outskirts of the park (meaning, no guest areas on the backside), and one of the primary Utilidor system entrances is next to the expansion area. This means that CM's will still have the backstage access to the areas/attractions that allow them to remain outside of the guest view....which was one of the primary reasons for the utilidor system to begin with.

 

[Berlioz70]

Thanks to Stitch Kingdom, we've got some more concrete dates... I've updated the first post!

Dumbo is closing January 9, 2012
Dumbo is reopening (in the new Storybook Circus) February 18,2012
As reported on Stitch Kingdom

 

[neatokimmo]

Thanks to Stitch Kingdom, we've got some more concrete dates... I've updated the first post!

Dumbo is closing January 9, 2012
Dumbo is reopening (in the new Storybook Circus) February 18,2012
As reported on Stitch Kingdom

CRAP!

That is when we are going to be there. Who wants to tell the 2 5yr olds on their birthday trip that dumbo is closed? (not me! lol)

 

[DisneyShamrock]

CRAP!

That is when we are going to be there. Who wants to tell the 2 5yr olds on their birthday trip that dumbo is closed? (not me! lol)

They might be upset now, but I think that's a perfect reason to go back again . . . . . . good luck with the kids!

 

[Colleen27]

CRAP!

That is when we are going to be there. Who wants to tell the 2 5yr olds on their birthday trip that dumbo is closed? (not me! lol)

Ugh, I feel your pain. That's my 3yo's favorite ride and we just rescheduled from Nov to Jan... I'm not looking forward to explaining that the ride she's talked non-stop about since March isn't going to be open.

 

[Colleen27]

Something just crossed my mind about the Dumbo closure... Didn't Disney announce at some point that the new one was slated to open before the old closes for the move? I wonder if this rehab means they've changed that element of the plan?

 

[shan23877]

This may be a stupid question, but what exactly does it mean when it says that Little Mermaid will be an e-ticket attraction? Additional ticket, FP, or what? Thanks! I'm hoping that "late" 2012 might include summer, hoping to get DH to agree to go back next year, but he wants to wait until expansion is finished!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

This may be a stupid question, but what exactly does it mean when it says that Little Mermaid will be an e-ticket attraction? Additional ticket, FP, or what? Thanks! I'm hoping that "late" 2012 might include summer, hoping to get DH to agree to go back next year, but he wants to wait until expansion is finished!

"e-ticket" Just means "major" attraction

back in the day you used to have to buy individual tickets for the rides in Disney world and they were rated 'A' through 'E' with E being for the biggest, most elaborate ride.

So something like Space Mountain or Splash Mountain would be an 'E-ticket' while the tea cups would be a 'b-ticket' or something

The only term that stuck was 'E-ticket' meaning a major, major attraction, not just a little ride

 

[Berlioz70]

Something just crossed my mind about the Dumbo closure... Didn't Disney announce at some point that the new one was slated to open before the old closes for the move? I wonder if this rehab means they've changed that element of the plan?

Yes they did - in an unofficial capacity. Orlando Sentinel announced it after talking with "Disney Officials." I was wondering the same thing. You can still see the article in the FAQ on the first post.

 

[photoscott]

Because the Storybook Circus area is on the perimeter of the new construction area, and closest to the existing pathways around Fantasyland - I'd guess it won't be a big deal to finish the walkways there first, add a barricade, and open the new half of the Dumbo ride.

Currently, the basic structure of the "Circus" area is pretty much done - and they're working hard on getting the ride areas/infrastructure done. Having it somewhat ready in 3-4 months isn't so much fantasy in Fantasyland

This is just a couple of days old:

 

[1tufgt]

Because the Storybook Circus area is on the perimeter of the new construction area, and closest to the existing pathways around Fantasyland - I'd guess it won't be a big deal to finish the walkways there first, add a barricade, and open the new half of the Dumbo ride.

Currently, the basic structure of the "Circus" area is pretty much done - and they're working hard on getting the ride areas/infrastructure done. Having it somewhat ready in 3-4 months isn't so much fantasy in Fantasyland

This is just a couple of days old:

I agree, that since the base is done for 1 of the dumbo's disney could be ready to install the new dumbo ride and up and going before the old one is moved. Sounds like they want to cover themselves if it doesn't go as planned.

So you could possibly see the walkway to story book circus done and half of dumbo done and the other half walled off which wouldn't surprise me.

 

[magpomom]

So with the announcement that Dumbo will be closed beginning Jan 9 mean there is a shot at all that the new second Dumbo ride will be open at some point during the original Dumbo's closure?

And what are the chances that the rethemed Barnstormer will be open in January? A girl can dream, right?

 

[mickeystoontown]

Just saw this on Facebook: http://wdwnewstoday.com/archives/8052

 

[AliceinMaryland]

According to that article, now The Barnstormer is keeping it's name and changing theme??? And it's Fantasyland Train Station and not Storybook Circus Station now??? I feel like I'm ready something from the onion, or maybe I'm just not keeping up with this as well as I thought I was LOL.

 

[mistydoodles]

Does anyone have a timeline when each part of the Fantasyland expansion is to be complete? We are considering a trip for Fall 2012 and I know that everything won't be completed by then so I am also thinking that I want to go back once everything is done.

 

[arbolita]

Does anyone have a timeline when each part of the Fantasyland expansion is to be complete? We are considering a trip for Fall 2012 and I know that everything won't be completed by then so I am also thinking that I want to go back once everything is done.

Here is the current projected openings:

New Fantasyland expansion opening timeline
# Complete - Hundred Acre Wood facade for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
# Early 2012 - Half of Storybook Circus with double Dumbo, Great Goofini coaster, Fantasyland Train Station, Casey Jr.
# Late 2012 - Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid ride, Be Our Guest restaurant, Beauty and the Beast village, Belle meet-and-greet, Castle wall
# Early 2013 - Remaining half of Storybook Circus with Pete’s Silly Sideshow
# Late 2013 - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster

 

[DanBoris]

According to that article, now The Barnstormer is keeping it's name and changing theme??? And it's Fantasyland Train Station and not Storybook Circus Station now??? I feel like I'm ready something from the onion, or maybe I'm just not keeping up with this as well as I thought I was LOL.

The comments about the name change are not part of the original press release, they were added by the person posting it at that site. It's possible that they just chose to use the old names so it wouldn't confuse people. I could somewhat understand keeping the train station name, but keeping the name Barnstormer doesnt make sense.

 

[neatokimmo]

I am not keeping up well either.

So late Jan, the old Dumbo will shut down.....but it looks like the new one will be operational as they dismantle the old one for the move?