So, we have a bit of a New Fantasyland exclusive for you today…
Here’s our very first look at what the Magic Kingdom map will look like in a few weeks when the next phases of the expansion open. Notice that the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train will be on the map despite not opening until 2014. Not earth-shattering news, but still kind of cool. Now let’s look at the cast member costumes that will populate the land:
Storybook Circus merchandise (Big Top Souvenirs)
Daytime busser and server at Be Our Guest Restaurant
Daytime and evening greeter at Be Our Guest Restaurant
Food and beverage (food carts and small vendors)
Fantasyland Forest merchandise (Bonjour Village Gifts and smaller locations)
Attractions (Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train)
Character Attendant (YES! No generic costume for this section of the park!)
While not our most exciting update on New Fantasyland, I’m glad to see thought going into cast costuming as many usually complain that they have gotten more generic over the years. These costumes will fit nicely into the land and I can’t wait to see them in-person! What do you think?
I don’t often get to contribute with a photo report, but I took a short two day trip to Walt Disney World stopping at Epcot and the Magic Kingdom so I took some photos. Let’s take a look at a rare Tom Corless photo report:
Work continues on the separate entrance to Turtle Talk
One of the exhibits in the Turtle Talk pre-show is being fixed up
Some work happening between the Refreshment Port and the Canada pavilion in World Showcase
On to the Magic Kingdom, work continues on the former Skyway site, expected to soon be home to restrooms, a new pathway, and the Tangled meet and greet
The castle walls are coming along nicely
This section looks nearly complete
A beautiful lighting fixture has been installed in the passageway
If you were worried about being able to see the corner of the show building for Enchanted Tales with Belle, don’t be, they have covered it with rock-work
More castle wall work
The work to remove a planter in back of the Carousel is complete
The walls have expanded and scaffolding has gone up on the former Snow White’s Scary Adventures, soon to be Princess Fairytale Hall in late-2013
Despite 101-degree temperatures, construction workers are out and about
Work continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train
Be Our Guest Restaurant off in the distance
More Mine Train
Heading into Storybook Circus, you get plenty of notice that Dumbo FASTPASS is available near Philharmagic
With a little paint, the facade for Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid will be complete
The backstage entrance is pretty much done
Big Top Souvenirs
I decided to check out the Dumbo queue
Pictures don’t do it justice, it’s really nice inside
Pull the string and it sets off LED fireworks!
This lights up above the box
Your “ticket”
Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak was awesome!
I took these photos early on Wednesday, but on Tuesday afternoon there was at least 100 guests playing in here
Even the little merchandise cart is intricately themed
These work walls have been here since Storybook Circus opened
I don’t think it is anything of substance as it is simply on the back of the storage shed for the Barnstormer trains
Earlier today, the Disney Parks Blog shared some photos of Maurice’s cottage in New Fantasyland, home to Enchanted Tales with Belle:
As you can see, the exterior is complete
The great tradition of Disney weathervanes continues…
Evidence of Maurice’s inventing will be strewn about
Enchanted Tales with Belle will offer a unique experience for guests with Belle and Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast. Guests will participate in a reading fo the film’s story, so it won’t just be a meet and greet experience. Rumors are circulating that this attraction may soft-open as soon as September 1st, so stay tuned for more information!
Walt Disney World announced via the Disney Parks Blog the details of what exactly will be inside Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Storybook Circus, part of New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom. Back at the D23 Expo, Imagineers told us at the very least it would be a meet and greet for Goofy, but it has now been confirmed that Minnie, Daisy, and Donald will be joining him under the big top at the circus.
Instead of just appearing in their normal apparel, the rest of the Fab 5 will get into the spirit of the Storybook Circus dressed as sideshow acts: The Great Goofini, The Astounding Donaldo (snake charmer), Minnie Magnifique (animal trainer), and Madame Daisy Fortuna (fortuneteller).
Exterior concept art
No information has been given about the opening date, but we assume that this too will open before the end of 2012. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom this past weekend, so let’s take a look at his photos, including an in-depth look at the Fantasyland model now on display at Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream:
Darth Vader cupcake
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Adam had himself frozen in carbonite in the ABC sound Studio, former home of Sounds Dangerous
Pretty neat for $120
Star Wars Weekends merchandise is in the tent behind Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster again, Darth’s Mall
The huge Fantasyland model has moved in at One Man’s Dream
super cool
Princess Fairytale Hall won’t change the exterior of Snow White too much according to the model
A sign explains the model to guests
Some stuff isn’t labeled, like Triton’s Treasures, Ariel’s Grotto, and some minor facilities like restrooms, food stands, etc.
Some interesting points to note from this artwork:
Pete’s Silly Sideshow is the entire second tent towards the back and it appears it will remain a meet and greet experience only. We know Goofy should be there, but no other characters have been announced yet.
The unlabeled building next to Pete’s Silly Sideshow is probably the Humphrey the Bear counter service location that has been rumored, but again, we have no further confirmation.
You can make out the train lines that lead to the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station if you look closely at Storybook Circus.
Triton’s Treasures (the Little Mermaid gift shop) does not appear behind the Mine Train anymore, so it may be gone from the plans altogether.
The unlabeled building between Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour Village Gifts is a restroom facility.
You can see the track layout of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, including when it goes through the show building with the dark-ride type scenes.
So I guess they will be done by 2013 unofficially?
The Mine Train looks pretty awesome
A closer look at the Mine Train track layout
The recent rockwork expansion at Little Mermaid is present
Let’s take a look at the real thing
The two tents are covered
The Circus animals from the Splash ‘N’ Soak Station are peeking over the wall
A wall has appeared near the Silly Sideshow tent
A look over the walls at Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station
The interactive queue for Dumbo was one of the most interesting parts of the New Fantasyland announcement when it was made back in September 2009. Well, we’re finally getting a look inside:
Upon entering the queue, guests will get a pager (no different from waiting for a table at your local T.G.I.Friday’s) that looks like a Circus ticket. While waiting for their pager to go off and their turn to ride, parents can sit and relax in the air-conditioning while the kids play under the big-top in a themed playground seemingly straight out of the Dumbo film.
The Dumbo interactive queue opens along with the second Dumbo spinner and the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station in July.
What’s the latest on the New Fantasyland project at the Magic Kingdom? I took plenty of photos during my most recent trip of the progress, so let’s take a look:
Snow White’s Scary Adventures is closed….
Walls go down to Sir Mickey’s
The Seven Dwarfs’ Mine is still open
Speaking of the Seven Dwarfs’, here’s the progress on the Mine Train
The Dumbo marquee was finally installed and the Timothy figure from the old ride is back!
The back of the sign is pretty neat
Work continues on the former Tigger’s Bouncy Place
Rumor is that Winnie the Pooh and Tigger will be doing meet and greets in this new spot
The facade of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid is looking great
More Mine Train
The second Dumbo spinner was testing all week, should be open any day now
Another look at Mermaid
Big Top Souvenirs still under construction
More Mermaid
The new Dumbo sign on a sunnier day…
The hose that the monkey uses to spray guests will go across the entire Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station
Guests have been ripping the handles off of the luggage near the train station
They aren’t doing too well
Some were completely ripped off
Hadn’t see this reference yet
The unlabeled structure next to Pete’s Silly Sideshow is coming along nicely
Pete’s Silly Sideshow progress
Another look at the mystery structure
Some new steel has appeared at the base of the Mine Train
Looks like one of the lower hills
A new stand-by wait sign up at the second dumbo spinner
An arrow was added to the construction walls so it is clearer to guests what is back in Storybook Circus
A day later and a primer coat of paint is going on the new covered area in the Pooh queue
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom on Saturday and he has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us. Dueling Dumbos are flying, Casey Jr. is splashing and soaking, and whole lot is going on at the park, so let’s take a look:
Let’s get right to Fantasyland
Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train
More steel rises
Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid looms in the distance
The new Winnie the Pooh meet and greet is open, replacing Tigger’s Bouncy Place
Dumbo FASTPASS is running and at Philharmagic’s old machines
Another look at Mine Train
Mermaid rockwork extending down towards Storybook Circus
Big Top Souvenirs
We finally have dueling Dumbos!
Timothy now spins and moves on the sign
Only 30 minutes for stand-by… it’s working…
A large wall has appeared on the Mine Train structure
Back to Dumbo
FASTPASS return will skip the tent queue
Love the magic feather on the clock…
The old Dumbo is back as the new Dumbo! Wait… what?
“Transformers: The Ride was much better!”
No interactive queue today đ
A photo with two Dumbos? MIND BLOWN!
Disney released some footage of the dueling Dumbos for you to enjoy:
More Mine Train
Big Top Souvenirs
Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station is open
Casey Jr. got fenced in… apparently there were some safety issues with the water and guests climbing in
Other than that, the area looks great!
The animals spin and spray, much nicer than other water play areas
Poor Casey sits in a time out…
The attraction sign is pretty cool too
The backs of the 4 train cars have the years that each WDW park opened – 71, 82, 89, and 98
A nicely themed new merchandise cart sells fitting water-play merchandise
and hats…
This car will be the most popular with the fanboys… they will gather here and tell tales of Horizons
The area behind Casey still needs some work…
This PIXAR short reference was added a few weeks ago
You may recognize this emblem from Town Square Theater
Casey does look pretty great though
He even blinks!
This is always pretty disturbing…
Looking into Mermaid, you can see trees and ship wreckage are now visible
The new Winnie the Pooh meet and greet
Castle Wall construction
Mystery walls still up by the Carousel
Snow White is still closed… and it ain’t reopening anytime soon…
Only visible change is the missing attraction sign which we assume has gone to the archives
Dumbo FASTPASS, that way!
It isn’t going to open, so I’m not sure why he turned around…
If you haven’t exited by now…
Winnie the Pooh and Dumbo now share the Philharmagic FASTPASS distribution
The new signs are cool, and they give you the standby wait for each ride
More Castle Wall work
Vertical construction has begun on the old Skyway area
Looks like Rapunzel’s tower to me đ
For the nerd in your family, anything on this shelf will do
The Crow’s Nest is closed! The sign is down… it would be a shame to lose one of the park’s oldest shops, formerly sponsored by Kodak…. We’ll keep an eye on this
Wendell!
Not sure what happened here
Skyway construction visible from across the park
Work continues on the Main Street Bakery
I still think this has something to do with Starbucks…
Package Pick-Up still behind tarps as well
As is The Confectionary and the Chapeau
Looks like the Snow White poster is finally down and now Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom has its own poster
Big Thunder Mountain is on the maps now… I can’t remember the last time that happened
Braised pork for lunch and a grilled strip steak for dinner â Chef Michael Deardorff had a hard time choosing, but says those are two of his favorites from the new menu for Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park.
Guests can start making reservations in late August (weâll let you know the exact date as soon as we can), with the restaurant to be open for the holidays.
Chef Deardorff has been at the helm in Disney kitchens for 25 years, most recently as part of the opening of the restaurants at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaiâi. Now heâs back to open Be Our Guest, inspired by âBeauty and the Beast,â with three dining rooms and seats for over 500 guests.
âLunch is quick service, but not traditional counter service,â says Deardorff. Guest-activated terminals make ordering a snap (there also will be traditional cashiers for cash orders and special dietary requests). You order, take a seat and lunch is delivered to your table â on china, not paper.
Dinner is table service, with diverse starters such as a charcuterie plate with cured meats and sausages, mussels steamed in white wine, French onion or potato leek soup, and a salad with champagne vinaigrette. Weâre intrigued by the salad trio with three mini tastes of roasted beet, raisins and orange; green beans, tomatoes and roasted shallots; and watermelon, radish and mint.
Oh, and dessert â we vote for the cupcakes, strawberry cream cheese or triple chocolate. If cupcakes arenât your favorite sweet ending, thereâs a chocolate cream puff and a passion fruit cream puff.
WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen was on the scene at the Magic Kingdom earlier this morning and has some newsworthy photos to share from his trip:
Work continues on the Grand Floridian DVC wing
Lampposts installed in the new parking lot
If you closely, you can see the new children’s water play area themed to Alice In Wonderland that is being installed
There is a new Fall trolley show running every morning at the Magic Kingdom. We have a short video clip:
Everyone likes to point out budget-cuts and declines in show, but offering seasonal new shows like this prove Disney still cares despite what you may read elsewhere
Speaking of declines though… the bears are gone from the Brave meet and greet
This is a permanent change as Merida may not have much longer at the Magic Kingdom anyway
No one wants to color?
The new Fantasyland restroom facility project keeps chugging along
A new walkway through the Castle Walls has been set up to accommodate pavement work and other minor things
New directional signs on the walls
Work continues very slowly on finally installing the Storybook Circus entrance. Looks  like we won’t be getting the ticket booth in the concept art as there just isn’t enough path space…
