Seven Dwarfs Mine Coaster Officially Announced

[JabberJaws]

The area looks gorgeous and I think this is Disney's answer to Wizarding World of HP at IOA. Though it lacks a signature mega-ride like Forbidden Journey at IOA, it looks to be a much bigger and even more immersive area.

The theming looks incredible. I love the attention to detail. I was never incredibly fond of the "Renaissance Fair" look of old FL and thought that DL's FL blew WDW's out of the water.

Little Mermaid should be incredible, but the mine coaster looks cool too. Wondering what exactly the ride technology will be, as there are a few coaster companies out there that have been plugging coaster cars that "drift" and fishtail along w/ the natural movement of the ride, similar to what they are talking about.

I just hope that they don't skimp on the mine train like they did with the Indy coaster at DLP. In other words, I don't want to see a run-of-the-mill mine train coaster w/ a few quick "in a cave" sections. I would even like to see a few motion-controlled areas where the cars slow down for a show scene or something, but who knows, it will be neat to see what they come up with.

If it turns out anything like the concept art, this is going to be a HUGE homerun for WDW and for the MK especially.

[Ian]

The concept art is gorgeous, but I can't help but wonder how closely what the end up building will really be to it.

I mean, that's some seriously elaborate stuff there ... way beyond anything Disney has tackled of late. Either they've decided to really push the envelope here or I'm guessing that the concept art you're looking at will remain just that ... a concept.

Although again ... I absolutely am excited and am not going to make a final decision until I see this stuff for real. From what I've heard, the Carsland addition to DCA is going to be amazing in terms of the painstaking detail of the theming. Maybe this will be a similar undertaking at WDW.

Of course, we all know that this thing is only one budget cut away from becoming a disaster ... that's the one thing that prevents me from being too excited right now. We've all seen WDI go in with the best intentions, only to have the rug pulled out from under them by the bean counters.

[BrerGnat]

The concept art is gorgeous, but I can't help but wonder how closely what the end up building will really be to it.

I don't find the concept art that elaborate or out of the realm of reality. I think they can pull off that sort of look, and I think they will.

All of the concept art for the improvements at DCA have, for the most part, been fairly accurate in regards to the work that has been done already (in Paradise Pier).

Also, from pictures I've seen already online, the Disney Dream ship's finished areas look pretty close to the concept art as well.

It seems like Disney is really putting a lot of effort into its refurbishments and new projects lately. The timetable of a 2013 completion jives with the concept art and the amount of work that needs to be done.

I'd be worried if they said "opening in 2012"...

[Victor Kelly]

I have high hopes with this announcement and concept art.

I have a rare paperback book released by Disney before Epcot opened. It contained concept work for many of the attractions and those works of art turned out to be darn near spot on for the finished attractions.

It is my hope that Disney stays the course and everything happens the way it is planned.

[JabberJaws]

The concept art is gorgeous, but I can't help but wonder how closely what the end up building will really be to it.

I think you will see it be very close if not dead-on. I think that the overwhelming success and profitability of the Wizarding World of HP will really push WDI to make this just as gorgeous as it looks in the concept art. This is basically their rebuttal to WWoHP so they can't afford to go cheap or cut corners. I see them pulling out all the stops here as is evident by the redesign (adding the mine coaster) and the beautiful, highly-detailed theming.

Think of it this way, in the past no one has ever really held a candle to Disney in the realm of theming and attention to detail. Now, with WWoHP, IOA has really gotten back on DIsney's radar (don't forget that it was rumored that Beastly Kingdom was originally meant to combat IOA's thrill rides when it opened, but when IOA wasn't as successful as was predicted, Disney put it on the backburner).

I think WWoHP is just the kind of competition that WDI and management need to get their competitive juices flowing. Which is a good thing for WDW fans I think!

[joonyer]

Sounds great. Anybody have any idea where exactly the Seven Dwarfs' mine train attraction be located? On Google maps (satellite view) it appears that a lot of dirt is being moved around on the other side of the railroad tracks from the ToonTown Fair station. Could this be the possible location? There's also a lot of clearing going on well behind Small world, but that's so far out of the way, I have to believe that's going to be an employee parking lot/staging area.

[tad_tad]

Fantasyland has needed a serious update for a long time. This looks absolutely amazing!

[Imagineer1981]

I am very excited and I truely hope the new mine train is more of an E ticket attraction

[DizneyFreak2002]

I am very excited and I truely hope the new mine train is more of an E ticket attraction

Think more like a D-ticket, not E....

[badkitty]

Sounds great. Anybody have any idea where exactly the Seven Dwarfs' mine train attraction be located? On Google maps (satellite view) it appears that a lot of dirt is being moved around on the other side of the railroad tracks from the ToonTown Fair station. Could this be the possible location? There's also a lot of clearing going on well behind Small world, but that's so far out of the way, I have to believe that's going to be an employee parking lot/staging area.

I heard from one of the train engineers that that construction beyond the train station was an employee parking lot and prep for the new train station. I don't know how accurate that is though.

[Ian]

Sounds great. Anybody have any idea where exactly the Seven Dwarfs' mine train attraction be located?

Based on what I can discern from the concept art, my best guess is that's it's going to go roughly in the area where Ariel's Grotto and the old Pooh Playground were. Sort of behind where Dumbo is now.

But I expect that it's almost entirely going to be built on new land ... from what I can tell, they must be really expanding out beyond "the berm" and seriously cutting in to the backstage areas.

Here's a question ... is the Circus-themed area going to now be a part of Fantasyland? Or do you think it will remain sort of its own separate land?

[valjane]

Anyone have a guess as to whether the Mine Train will be a mild coaster like Thunder Mountain, or a coaster exclusively for little kids, like Barnstormer?

If it's like Barnstormer, I'll be disappointed to see Fantasyland becoming pretty much a "kiddie" area of the park that tweens, teens, and adults will feel like they have to skip.

[TracyL]

Seems like all the communications stick with "Fantasyland Expansion," which implies we're not going to have a separate named area once it's done (fan references to "Circusland" notwithstanding).

I was reading the other day (must've been a D23 thing) about the actual circus at DLR that Walt presented over the holiday season of 1955. Sounds like it was an utter disaster (of the kind that doesn't really hurt anybody very much and makes great stories *afterwards*), and Walt was cured of his enthusiasm for circuses. Would be good if Disney honored its past (unlike what happened in Dinoland at AK) and stuck to what they know works.

[seanyred]

The concept art is gorgeous, but I can't help but wonder how closely what the end up building will really be to it.


We've all seen WDI go in with the best intentions, only to have the rug pulled out from under them by the bean counters.

Looks like the Storybook Circus section will make use out of the existing Big Top Tent. That should make the bean counters happy

[thrillme]

guess it's not going to be a scary Mine Train ride like Dinosaur or Indiana Jones. Bummer

[disneymom15]

Exciting news! Can't wait to see the end result!

[MOJoe]

A couple of thoughts.

First, whether or not this is some sort of response to the WW of Harry Potter, this is Fantasyland we are talking about. The heart of Magic Kingdom. Disney has closed, changed and rethemed many attractions over the decades. But this is different. Expanding and upgrading Fantasyland is very serious business. Any lame or half-hearted efforts could do serious damage to the the Magic Kingdom "brand". Disney knows this. And despite all the recent criticism of cutbacks, it looks like they are pulling out all the stops for this. I'm very impressed with the plans. A giant leap forward in my opinion.

Now, there is just one more void to fill at MK. And it appears they have the perfect opportunity.
If only Gaston's Tavern sold .

[princessgirls]

The concept art is gorgeous, but I can't help but wonder how closely what the end up building will really be to it.

I mean, that's some seriously elaborate stuff there ... way beyond anything Disney has tackled of late. Either they've decided to really push the envelope here or I'm guessing that the concept art you're looking at will remain just that ... a concept.

Although again ... I absolutely am excited and am not going to make a final decision until I see this stuff for real. From what I've heard, the Carsland addition to DCA is going to be amazing in terms of the painstaking detail of the theming. Maybe this will be a similar undertaking at WDW.

Of course, we all know that this thing is only one budget cut away from becoming a disaster ... that's the one thing that prevents me from being too excited right now. We've all seen WDI go in with the best intentions, only to have the rug pulled out from under them by the bean counters.

Funny...my daughter Madison LOVES the Guiness Book of World Records, and in the 2010 edition, it lists Expedition Everest as the most elaborate and costly roller coaster built in recent times. It gave all the specifics on time, cost, labor, etc.

Hopefully this project doesn't get shelved and it can reach it's full potential. It would be so exciting for all of us who LOVE the Magic Kingdom!
Julie

[Ian]

Anyone have a guess as to whether the Mine Train will be a mild coaster like Thunder Mountain, or a coaster exclusively for little kids, like Barnstormer?

If you go back a bit earlier in this thread (at least I think it's in this thread) our resident Imagineer, Mufasa, gives a little bit of insight into what to expect.

Sounds like it's going to be quite a bit different from the Barnstormer in the sense that it's not really going to be a "roller coaster", but more of a dark ride with some thrilled elements incorporated. He specifies it's going to have fully functional audio-animatronics (and not the static figures the old attraction had) and a lot of other neat goodies.

His description has me very excited for this and expecting a lot more than the Barnstormer!