Fantasyland Refurb: It's Official!

[DisneyFanaticDargon]

It would cool though if they could add an Indiana Jones ride to Adventureland like the one they have DL.

They already have. But it's called Dinosaur and it's at Animal Kingdom.

Not everyone knows this but Dinosaur at AK and Indiana Jones at DL are the exact same ride. The track layout is even identical between the two. The main difference is that whereas Indiana Jones is expertly themed and amazingly fun, on Dinosaur it seems like they ran out of money halfway through and just turned off the lights to avoid having to theme the entire building.

As much as I would love to see Indy at WDW, it is kind of cool that its unique to Disneyland, and at the same time I highly doubt Disney would produce a duplicate ride of that scale in another park when they already have one in Florida. It's one thing to make a dumbo clone which doesn't cost an obscene amount of money, but another Indy is a WHOLE different ball park.

[Jasper]

I totally agree with you Figment! Disney really could make strong, smart, gorgeous princesses sort of the way Harry Potter's Hermione is a smart, loyal, brave witch with cool guys competing for her affection. Fantasy can inspire us all. Real imagination is not drenching us in Pepto Bismal Pink and fake satin. Let's have Imagineering not Marketeering. I adore Disney World, but feel like some key decision makers need to actually find a vision of what the Disney brand could be instead of rehashing the same things that worked (sold) in decades past. Disney seems to be looking forward on environmental issues (hopefully not just to sell green themed products) wouldn't it be great if Disney was truly imaginative in its vision for the true potential of our children?

I agree that a more modern take on what it means to be female is a good thing and I do think Disney has made some attempt in this area in more recent years. In fact, in reading the promo stuff about the new Frog Princess movie it sounds like they are going the furthest yet.

However, Disney does have to deal with the fact that their currently most popular princess's are from the old school! That means the whole damsel in distress kind of thing. Personally I don't think Disney should try to change this with their "classic" movies. Rather, I think parents have a responsibility to speak to their children about what they are seeing just like they do when watching televsion or a movie. If you have a habit of conversing with your child they will accept and understand your point of view!

[seanyred]

They already have. But it's called Dinosaur and it's at Animal Kingdom.

Not everyone knows this but Dinosaur at AK and Indiana Jones at DL are the exact same ride. The track layout is even identical between the two.

For the record I'm fully aware that the two rides (Dinosaur and Indiana) are the exact same ride system. And I agree that Indy is the superior of the two rides...my only point was why not add something to Adventurland. Even the Indiana Jones roller coaster based on the the runaway mining cars, that they have DL Paris.

[vws_and_disney]

That would be a good idea, and it would also appeal to the boy demographic.

[Ian]

Anyway back to the topic at hand:

This is gonna be awesome!!!

Seriously, all boy/girl issues aside, come on ... What an amazing set of updates, right? Fantasyland and really the entire Magic Kingdom is going to look drastically different than how it is today.

I'm excited!

[Goofster]

Okay, but in fairness it's called "Fantasyland" ... No little girl's fantasy at age 6 is to grow up to be a welder or something. I mean what are they going to make an attraction out of becoming CEO of a Fortune 500 Company?

Classic.

[Ian]

Classic.

Move along! There's nothing to see here!

[bruin1344]

Although speedway maybe an eye sore, boys love the ride. That and Mr. Toads Wild Ride were my favorite rides as a young boy because you pretend like your driving.

I like that the renovations will clear the bottleneck around the carousel and dumbo rides

[Aggie97]

I'm really excited about these updates!

I've always felt WDW's Fantasyland was lacking a little in theming and overall atmosphere compared to the other parks I've visited, and it sounds like these updates will add so much to the area.

Between this and the updates at DCA, we're going to have a hard time deciding whether to visit WDW or DL in 2012 and 2013!

[GothMickey]

They already have. But it's called Dinosaur and it's at Animal Kingdom.

Not everyone knows this but Dinosaur at AK and Indiana Jones at DL are the exact same ride. The track layout is even identical between the two. The main difference is that whereas Indiana Jones is expertly themed and amazingly fun, on Dinosaur it seems like they ran out of money halfway through and just turned off the lights to avoid having to theme the entire building.

As much as I would love to see Indy at WDW, it is kind of cool that its unique to Disneyland, and at the same time I highly doubt Disney would produce a duplicate ride of that scale in another park when they already have one in Florida. It's one thing to make a dumbo clone which doesn't cost an obscene amount of money, but another Indy is a WHOLE different ball park.

Why shouldn't the Indy ride come to WDW? I will venture to say the average guest would not know or care it is the same layout as Dinosaur. This is no longer a valid argument. Remember, Body Wars and Star Tours were the same ride, just different themes.

[Goofster]

Anyway back to the topic at hand:

This is gonna be awesome!!!

Seriously, all boy/girl issues aside, come on ... What an amazing set of updates, right? Fantasyland and really the entire Magic Kingdom is going to look drastically different than how it is today.

I'm excited!

So am I...but I do admit I will miss the way it is now only because I'm comfortable with it. But the changes are going to be great and I can't wait to see them finished with it! I'm not looking forward to seeing Fantasyland torn apart and boarded up over the next 3 years!

Plus...this is a major overhaul...not some cosmetic updates or a new hub and spoke ride (Aladdin, Dino-o-Rama)...this is HUGE!

[joonyer]

Although speedway maybe an eye sore, boys love the ride. That and Mr. Toads Wild Ride were my favorite rides as a young boy because you pretend like your driving.

Well not all boys love the speedway. At least not ones who have experienced driving actual go-karts at other amusement parks. Our boys were 9 & 6 when we first took them to MK. And they are ALL boy. They were wowed by everything just as you'd expect them to be, but once they rode the speedway the first time their comments afterward were along the lines of "Dad, those are the lamest go-karts we've ever been on, you can't really steer them and they won't go fast and they won't even let you bump into anyone."

That's because they had already had several chances to drive actual go-karts at our local amusement center (mini-golf, laser tag, gokarts, etc.) After that first ride on the tomorrwland speedway, they have never wanted to ride it again. They have much more fun driving carts at the local amusement center, and there is nothing whatsoever magical or Disney themed about the speedway to make it otherwise worth waiting for.

I know that little bitty kids like it. But little kids like carnival bumper cars too, and you don't find those at WDW. I know that Autopia was an original attraction at Disneyland and then copied at MK, but that was over 50 years ago! I guess what bugs me most about the speedway is that it is one of the only attractions at WDW that is no better, and is actually worse, than most car rides that can be found at every cheesy, tacky local amusement park in the country. There's really no excuse for the most magical place on earth having an attraction that can't even measure up to local amusement park competition.

If they are going to keep it, at least they could add a little magic to it.

[seanyred]

So am I...but I do admit I will miss the way it is now only because I'm comfortable with it. But the changes are going to be great and I can't wait to see them finished with it! I'm not looking forward to seeing Fantasyland torn apart and boarded up over the next 3 years!

Plus...this is a major overhaul...not some cosmetic updates or a new hub and spoke ride (Aladdin, Dino-o-Rama)...this is HUGE!

I'm excited too but at least it looks a majority of the new attractions/expansion will be behind the current wall so we shouldn't see too much construction walls...at least until the walls close off Toontown.

I hope WDW has some type of "Closing Ceremony" for Toontown. I would hate to see it closed down suddenly without notice...even if it is kinda cheesy and dated.

[Little Round Bale]

This is so very exciting. I can see my vacation fund will start TODAY!! I personally think it is great some on the plans "leaked" out. Lets us "older kids" get excited. LOLOL

[Goofster]

I hope WDW has some type of "Closing Ceremony" for Toontown. I would hate to see it closed down suddenly without notice...even if it is kinda cheesy and dated.

I agree. My kids really enjoyed Toontown...we have a lot of great memories (and home video) of each of our kids taking their "clumsy" steps as young toddlers in Mickey's House. My family will miss it, but at least something big is taking its place.

[DisneyFanaticDargon]

Why shouldn't the Indy ride come to WDW? I will venture to say the average guest would not know or care it is the same layout as Dinosaur. This is no longer a valid argument. Remember, Body Wars and Star Tours were the same ride, just different themes.

Yeah but the price tag on Indy was also much higher than Star Tours/Body Wars, the former being about $100 million and the latter being about $32 million. Not to mention Indy's been around since 1994 and it's still an incredibly finicky ride system. Dinosaur in AK and Indy at DisneySea aren't much better. I'm pretty sure Disney would think twice about plopping down $100 million on a ride that they essentially already have in Florida.

The only way I could conceivably see them doing this is if the theme and design were unique and not just a clone of the one in California. The one in Tokyo is a clone of California too except for a few minor scene differences.

[clou1028]

Sorry if this has already been covered or is obvious, but I am posting from my phone at work and can't read all 300+ posts. I just wanted to know if someone could quickly tell me, are the teacups staying, or they going to make way for the new?

[Ian]

Sorry if this has already been covered or is obvious, but I am posting from my phone at work and can't read all 300+ posts. I just wanted to know if someone could quickly tell me, are the teacups staying, or they going to make way for the new?

They're staying.

[JTToad]

gonna throw my two cents in the ring here....

Didn't they just buy Marvel? How's that for going after the "boy" demographic? I know it won't show its face in the parks for a long long time, but I think that is something. Yes, girls can be kick-tushy superheros too. But for everyone saying the princess take over of Fantasyland is for girls, then the same would be said for boys and Marvel. While this might not result in things at MK, I bet in the years to come there will be something Marvel related over at Hollywood Studios to bring "balance to the force."

That being said, I ditto Ians' comments from before that I'm really excited about this new Fantasyland. I mean, come on. It's going to be a whole NEW experience. That seems to be really be top notch and well thought out and (hopefully) well executed. When was the last time we got to see something like this? On this scale? Addition of RnR/ToT/Sunset Blvd at the Studios? Those turned out alright, don't ya think?

...you would think they could have squeezed in Mr. Toads Wild Ride back in too, but nooooo.....sigh...

[Ian]

For the record, I'm 99.9% sure that Disney is contractually prohibited from using the Marvel characters in the Florida theme parks.

I'm pretty sure they already announced that they have no intention to use any of the Marvel characters in any of their WDW parks.