Tag: Fantasyland Expansion

Disney finally released a video giving us our very first look at some of the audio-animatronic characters we will see when the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opens in New Fantasyland next month. They are fairly amazing…

Similar to the Cars characters that appear in Radiator Springs Racers, the characters have fully audio-animatronic bodies, but the facial movements are all done via projection mapping (similar to the Celebrate the Magic show on Cinderella Castle). If these figures are any indication, we’re in for a true sleeper-hit.

While visiting the Magic Kingdom yesterday, WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty couldn’t help but notice that the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was being tested with trains full of weights. With more of the construction walls coming down yesterday, we can get a clear look at the trains running through most of the outdoor portion of the ride and see how they will swing and sway with guests inside:

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is scheduled to open in May 2014, but no exact date has been given yet. The attraction will be the final component to open in the New Fantasyland project which was announced almost 5 years ago and has been under construction for 4 years.

It seems like we may be days (even hours) from the first guests riding the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom, so it seems like a good time to recap what we already know about this attraction coming to the Magic Kingdom sometime in May 2014.

Here are some recent photos taken of the attraction, now no longer hiding behind construction walls:

Here’s the synopsis of the attraction experience that Disney is now sharing with guests:

Embark for family-friendly thrills as you enjoy the twistiest, turniest, rollickingest ride in New Fantasyland.

Showcasing a first-of-its kind coaster system, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train cruises along through a fabulous mine—glittering with diamonds, emeralds and other precious gems—swinging and swaying Guests up large lifts, across sharp banks and around exhilarating turns.

Come feel a rush of enchantment and excitement too as you take off on this all-new addition to Magic Kingdom park!

Plus, be on the lookout for several favorite characters from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs—they’re all here, recreated in vivid detail using innovative technology that brings their 3-dimensional expressions to life.
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Follow the path of forest creatures as you pass a cozy woodland cottage on your way to the mountain slope. From its footprints, enter the mine of the Seven Dwarfs, where a treasure trove of experiences awaits!

Help Doc at an Interactive Queue! Within a covered wooden tunnel carved into the mountainside, discover a series of mining stations prepared by Doc, each one a gem of its own:

• Jewel Sorting – Follow Doc’s instructions, etched into a nearby plank, and help match jewels by color and shape as they flow down a wooden trough—a.k.a. dozens of touch-screen video displays.
• Jewel Washing – After the jewels are sorted, grab ahold of a musical water spigot and start cleaning. Each spigot plays its own melody—heed Doc’s tips and you may hear a collection of familiar tunes!
• The Vault – Inside the door of the mountain, enter the center of the vault to find a collection of wooden barrels overflowing with glowing stones. Turn each barrel to see the ceiling above you transformed!

Then hop into your mine cart—hewn together with wood, metal bands and nails—and get ready for a ride like no other as your train departs, winding down and around before starting its ascent up a steep hill.

Near the peak, beware the broken track that lies before you, along with 2 ominous vultures perched atop an abandoned jib crane. Peer beyond the sea of empty crates and barrels, and listen closely to hear a familiar song being sung from the depths of the mountain.

Once you reach the tippy top, hold on tight—this adventure’s only getting started!

Feel the wind in your face when your cart teeters over the crest, traveling down and around the mountain and deep into the mine shaft. Soon, the dark begins to sparkle as you happen upon the Seven Dwarfs hard at work—whistling and singing while collecting diamonds, rubies and other shining jewels.

All your Dwarf friends are accounted for—Sleepy, Happy, Grumpy, Dopey, Sneezy, Bashful and Doc—as you careen through the cavern and climb toward an opening to the outside world. At the top, soak up an inspiring view of New Fantasyland before arriving back to the foot of the mountain.

After passing behind a waterfall, prepare for a party as you peek inside a rustic cottage where Snow White and her Dwarf friends are dancing in celebration, just as this rocking ride comes to an end!

So, who’s excited to finally see the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train?

Prepare yourself for on-ride footage and some new details about the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train coming to New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom:

Disney released video of most of an early run-through of the attraction side-by-side with video of the “pre-vis” of the ride which they use to guide construction of the attraction:

We learned several new details about the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train today via the Disney Parks Blog, here’s what we now know:

• All of the music in the queue area will be instrumental and is meant to sound as if the Seven Dwarfs are playing it. The song cut from the film titled “Music in Your Soup” is one of the songs that will be in that loop.
• The interactive queue will include an area where guests “wash” the diamonds
• The queue will also enter the Dwarfs’ vault. We see the door to the vault in the film, but never actually see inside.
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will feature FastPass+
• The height requirement to ride will be 38″

Walt Disney Imagineering released a video today showcasing the work that has gone into all of the vehicles for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opening this Spring in New Fantasyland. The video also offers us our very first glimpse inside the attraction and a look at the trains in action! Take a look: