The Storybook Circus Comes to Town February 2012!

WDWNT on December 8, 2011

We had already figured out that the new Dumbo spinner would be delighting guests by mid-February 2012, but now it sounds like the Barnstormer and the new Fantasyland train station will be ready as well for that date:

New Fantasyland (early 2012) – The largest expansion project in Magic Kingdom history will open in phases beginning February 2012 at Walt Disney World Resort, featuring attractions and experiences in an area that will nearly double the size of Fantasyland.  Among the novelties, guests will be able to fly high with The Great Goofini or with Dumbo the Flying Elephant, “immerse” themselves in Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid and “be our guest” at the Beast’s Castle. Out of the gate in early 2012 will be The Barnstormer coaster, Fantasyland Station and – for the first time anywhere turning counter-clockwise – the first half of the Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction. Completion of The New Fantasyland is scheduled for 2014 with most new experiences open by 2013.

That’s right, we are just two short months away from the Storybook Circus! Who’s excited?

Massive Beauty and the Beast Statue Going to New Fantasyland?

WDWNT on December 2, 2011

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios yesterday and (for some reason) decided to take a trip on the Backlot Studio Tour. Boy, are we glad he did, because he came across this “beauty” in the prop shop:

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Taking a wild guess, I would imagine this still unfinished statue is going to New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom, seeing as this is the same building where the mural for Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid was created. Where exactly in the expansion will this statue end up? Possibly the Be Our Guest Restaurant, but it’s still too early to tell. Just another little preview of Fantasyland to wet your appetite for 2012…

On a side note, where is that table in the background from? Another piece of New Fantasyland, or maybe we’re just over-thinking this…

A Quick New Fantasyland Update

WDWNT on November 27, 2011

It has been a while since we checked in with the progress on the New Fantasyland project, so let’s take a look courtesy of WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson:

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Storybook Circus is coming along quickly

The tents are still bare

The Dumbo queue building

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The castle has been painted!

Work continues on the Beauty and the Beast realm

The village will have its first visible details soon

We’ll check back soon!

Magic Kingdom Map Points to Changes at Enchanted Grove

WDWNT on November 10, 2011

There’s a new map out at the Magic Kingdom…

It has taken forever, but New Fantasyland is finally mentioned, “opening 2012”:

Another interesting Fantasyland development is the Enchanted Grove. Apparently, it will be coming out of tarps as the Cheshire Cafe:

The name will be changing after 40 years, but Minute Maid will remain sponsor and the menu will be the same once the name change is in effect.

The Story Behind the Mural for Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

WDWNT on November 1, 2011

From Jennifer Fickley-Baker on the Disney Parks Blog:

Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid is one of several attractions currently under construction in the New Fantasyland expansion of Magic Kingdom Park.

This is a very exciting time as various elements are currently being installed in the attraction. Walt Disney Imagineers are currently putting the finishing touches on a sweeping seaside mural that will welcome guests to the load-in area of this attraction.

This video, provided by WDI, shows how Imagineers created an experimental process using digital technology to design the mural, and then used portable tablets to guide them in the artistic process when it came time to put paint on canvas.

Dumbos Will Duel! More Details on Storybook Circus Coming Early 2012

WDWNT on October 10, 2011

Disney has released more details on Storybook Circus, part of the Fantasyland Expansion at the Magic Kingdom. The following will all take place sometime between January & May of 2012:

Look! Dumbo is going the wrong way!

Actually, Dumbo is just reversing decades of flying in counter-clockwise circles. Call it “unwinding,” if you will. And in a new location within Magic Kingdom.

Guests will board Dumbo the Flying Elephant from the lovable critter’s left side — like mounting a horse … and unlike the way guests hop aboard for a whirl at Disney parks on three continents. It is scheduled to begin happening in early 2012 when select experiences in the Storybook Circus neighborhood of New Fantasyland debut just northeast of Mad Tea Party.

Also early 2012, the existing Dumbo attraction near Prince Charming Regal Carrousel will close, be refurbished and be moved to a location in Storybook Circus next to the new Dumbo attraction. The result when completed later in 2012: double Dumbos, one going this-a-way, one going that-a-way … a real circus act, if you will.

There also will be a “big top” that serves as a queue area for the popular attraction. It will feature a variety of interactive experiences currently being developed.

Two other Storybook Circus elements planned for opening early in the year are The Barnstormer and Fantasyland Station. Guests who enjoyed The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm will be happy to know the junior coaster thrills of that attraction are back with a thematic change: Goofy has sold the farm and is now a circus stunt pilot and magician, The Great Goofini. The completely re-imagined train station will serve as the gateway to Storybook Circus and all Fantasyland points beyond.

So, what’s new? We now have confirmation that the dueling Dumbos will indeed be dueling by going in opposite directions of each-other once work is completed on remodeling and moving the current attraction later in the year. Also, Disney has finally confirmed that The Barnstormer will keep its name, it will just be changing in theme. Finally, the train station will be Fantasyland Station, not Storybook Circus Station as previously reported.

For those wondering, there will be no Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction at the Magic Kingdom from January 9th through February 17th, 2012. It is expected that the new Dumbo carousel will open on February 18th as work continues on remodeling the moved, older Dumbo attraction.