Tokyo Disney Announces Huge Expansion Plans for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea

WDWNT on November 25, 2014

TDL_Fantasyland_10-22-2014_Full_Revision_copyright-gallery

Click to Enlarge

The Oriental Land Company announced earlier today plans to invest 500 billion yen (approx. $4.5 billion USD) in the next 10 years for the development and expansion of Tokyo Disneyland’s Fantasyland and the addition of a new themed port at Tokyo DisneySea.

The plan for redevelopment in TDL revolves around Fantasyland which will be nearly doubled in size when completed. In addition to the renovation of the already existing Fantasyland, new major attractions, shops and restaurants will be added. Work has already begun on this project, which includes renovation of the already existing infrastructure.

Here’s some information we already know in regard to the Fantasyland expansion at Tokyo Disneyland:

  • Grand Circuit Raceway and Star Jets are being removed from Tomorrowland
  • it’s a small world will be remodeled and moved to the east portion of Fantasyland in the space currently occupied by  Grand Circuit Raceway
  • Dumbo is being moved and reimagined to look like its Magic Kingdom counterpart (albeit a single version instead of the double)
  • Frozen will not be coming to Fantasyland; instead, it will make its way over to Tokyo DisneySea
  • The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, Dumbo and Alice in Wonderland will all be playing a key role in the redevelopment of Fantasyland
  • The original Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty meet and greets that were removed from early plans for Florida’s New Fantasyland appear to be included in Tokyo Disneyland’s Fantasyland
  • Alice in Wonderland plans that were rejected for Walt Disney World will find home in Tokyo Disneyland and will be the centerpiece of the Fantasyland expansion (we posted some of this artwork back in 2012, check it out here)
  • The expansion of Tokyo Disneyland’s Fantasyland will take its cue from New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom in that it will include water features and heavy foresting

Over at Tokyo DisneySea, plans are underway for the addition of a new themed port of call located near the existing Lost River Delta port. The new port of call will include major new attractions, shops and restaurants as well. No details have been released regarding the theming of this port of call, but sources point to an Arendelle Frozen theme.

TokyoDisneyDevelopment

In addition to these huge undertakings, the press release also mentions that OLC will further invest in the two Parks in multiple ways:

  • renovation or creation of attractions and entertainment programs
  • development of hardware that will enhance the guest experience in the Parks (MyMagic+/FastPass+ possibly?)
  • further improvement of restaurants
  • easing of congestion
  • development of measures to protect guests from hot and cold weather
  • other ways of to make a more comfortable environment for all guests
  • strengthening the theme parks’ “backstage” support functions and operational base
  • raising the level of hospitality provided by Cast Members by strengthening human resources development and raising employee satisfaction

You can find the full Press Release on the Oriental Land Company website.

Under consideration for Tokyo Disneyland is the introduction of a restaurant situated on the parade route so that Guests can leisurely enjoy dining while watching a parade.

Under consideration for Tokyo Disneyland is the introduction of a restaurant situated on the parade route so that Guests can leisurely enjoy dining while watching a parade.

VIDEO, PHOTOS, & REVIEW: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Soft-Opens in New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on June 29, 2014

After several very short soft openings during the week, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train attraction opened for most of the day on Friday/Saturday at the Magic Kingdom during the 24-hour Rock Your Disney Side party. As always, WDWNT was on the scene to bring you all you need to know about the new attraction:

BoUQsVpCcAAeK5k

The attraction officially opens on May 28th and FastPass+ is not guaranteed to be available for the ride until then. While the lines moved fast during the soft opening, there was also no FastPass+ in use. Regardless, the attraction loads quickly and your actual wait time shouldn’t exceed 45 minutes to an hour. The only line issues we have seen thus far is that the queue is too small. Often the line would only actually reach a 30 minute wait, but would wrap around the mountain. It’s likely that without FastPass+ offered, guests did not see another option but to wait in the line. I still think the queue space is too small and the existing stroller parking outside of the ride will probably be relocated to accommodate more queue in front of the ride. When the line moves well, the queue is very beautiful and entertaining (and has plenty of fans), so it won’t be such a bad stand-by line to wait in now and then.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The attentions to detail in the queue is amazing. There is moss applied to all of the walls, even within guests’ reach. I assumed that the moss would fall off as people would touch it, but whatever method they have used to apply it to the walls allows it to stay no matter how hard a guest might try to peel it off.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The interactive queue has 3 parts: sorting jewels, a motion activated musical device that pours water, and spinning jewel buckets.

BoUaZv8CcAAsUbW
Using large touch screens, guests can first sort jewels.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

BoUasbVCIAEo7Yy

You can then run your hand under these faucets to play music and release a colored water stream.

Upon entering the interior queue, or the vault, there are then barrels of diamonds for guests to spin:

BoUZ7B0CMAEqzN7

If you spin the barrels fast enough, a character will appear on the ceiling. Spin all seven fast enough at the same time and something special will happen:

At this point, you go through a few more switchbacks and arrive at the loading platform. The interior queue is pretty small, but it does reside inside the mountain which already has scenes and such that also take place inside of the building.

BoUlvOJCIAA9KrP

At times, the ride is a challenge to film, so we’re sharing two videos of the attraction with you today. The ride is very detailed and there’s a lot to see, so you’ll surely notice different things in each video:

The ride consists of 4 parts: an outdoor roller coaster portion, the indoor mine scene, the thrilling drop and ride across the bridge, and the Dwarfs’ cottage.

Let’s start by talking about the roller coaster… it’s definitely more thrilling than the Barnstormer, but not by much. The rocking mine car vehicles do not deliver the action most guests were expecting, but the rocking does get you closer to the ground on banked turns and works better than if the vehicles didn’t rock or sway at all.

The indoor dark-ride-type scene is gorgeous. The audio-animatronics are second-to-none. The projection faces on the characters and the fluid movements makes you truly believe that they are the Seven Dwarfs and not animated robotic figures. The jewels shine brilliantly, the music is infectious, and it builds to the large drop very nicely. I don’t think a more perfectly laid out, planned, and executed scene has ever been built for a Fantasyland attraction.

The finale scene with the cottage is brilliant. Disney Imagineers made sure to build something large enough that it could entertain guests sitting in the sun waiting to pull into the station and unload. Dopey and Snow White actually dance through the entire cottage, moving between rooms and in and out of the view of guests in the front and back of the train. Meanwhile, some of the animated Dwarf figures from Snow White’s Scary Adventures play instruments inside the cottage. If you sit near the very front of the train, you’ll get a nice long look at the Old Hag (in beautiful, audio-animatronic form) waiting to give Snow White the infamous poison apple!

The bottom line is the same with this attraction as the rest of New Fantasyland: it’s fun for the whole family, it is beautiful, and it is a wonderful representation of the film it depicts. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train isn’t a gate buster, but it’s arguably the most well-themed and executed kiddie coaster on the face of the earth. The show scenes are practically unmatched, and while the ride is short and not super-thrilling, we expect it to be a guest favorite for decades to come.

Princess Fairytale Hall Line-Up Altered Yet Again; Aurora & Snow White Removed, Anna & Elsa From Frozen All-Alone

WDWNT on June 29, 2014

Changes have been made to the meet and greet line-up at Princess Fairytale Hall once again. The two available meet and greets are now either Anna and Elsa from Frozen (they are still together, just separated from any other princesses now) or Rapunzel & Cinderella. The changes are in response to the over-300 minute waits there have been at the location since Anna & Elsa moved in. Removing another princess from the equation should help with the line… at least Walt Disney World thinks so…

055-L

In the process, Snow White and Aurora have been removed from the Princess Fairytale Hall line-up. Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty can now be found daily next to City Hall in the Tour Guide Gardens on Main Street U.S.A.. Snow White is meeting guests on Center Street near Uptown Jewelers.

6/24/14 Walt Disney World Photo Report (Polynesian Resort, Magic Kingdom, & Animal Kingdom)

WDWNT on June 29, 2014

WDWNT Reporters Joe Hogarty and John Corigliano visited Disney’s Polynesian Resort, the Magic Kingdom, and Disney’s animal kingdom over the last few days and have plenty of exciting pictures to share with us, so let’s take a look:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Concept art for the changes at the Polynesian are decorating the walls that cover up the work in the lobby

The entrance to what will be the Disney Vacation Club wing

TRADER SAM’S!!!

Another look at the DVC building

The new look lobby in the Great Ceremonial House

Captain Cook’s new look

Seating area by the outside pool bar

More Trader Sam’s

Captain Cook’s is still closed

Work outside the arrival area at the Great Ceremonial House

A look at the bungalows

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, Anna and Elsa now meet on one side of Fairytale Hall alone, they are also no longer posing with each other

Plenty of Frozen merchandise inside Sir Mickey’s

If you’re afraid of your children going deaf from loud music, buy these

This store really needs a name change… Sir Mickey’s has nothing but female character merchandise

A long line to buy Frozen merchandise…

The Astro Orbiter and the TTA are both closed for refurbishment

The entire Astro Orbiter has been dismantled

Work continues on the massive hub overhaul at the Magic Kingdom

The Gaston fountain is starting to look a little funky… not sure if they’ll leave it for the more realistic look

Aurora now greeting guests next door to City Hall

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Moving over to Animal Kingdom, there are walls up all over the park

The KODAK sign is still up…

Walls near Flame Tree Barbecue

The gate along the path from Asia to Africa, has been demolished…

Maybe a new pathway?

Walls up on Discovery Island

Walls up in Africa where the new pathway should lead

The construction area for the path goes very close to the Wildlife Express Train tracks

The path would go around Tamu Tamu Refreshments and the adjacent seating area

Thanks for the report John and Joe!

VIDEO: First Look at Audio-Animatronic Dwarfs from Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in New Fantasyland

WDWNT on May 12, 2014

Screen Shot 2014-04-12 at 11.48.01 AM

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.

VIDEO: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Testing Gives Guests First Views of Swinging, Swaying Vehicles

WDWNT on May 12, 2014

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

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.

Dirk Wallen’s 4/22/14 WDW Photo Report (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, ETC.)

WDWNT on May 12, 2014

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s animal Kingdom yesterday and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The lobby lives on…

Still no visible progress at the old Wyland Gallery

The temporary Captain Cook’s is what is usually where Cast Members eat at the resort

The Disney Vacation Club bungalows are progressing nicely

Not hard to believe these will open by next year, they have progressed quickly

Moving over to the Magic Kingdom, work continues on the Hub

Some temporary popcorn and ice cream carts have been added as they demolish the old locations in the hub

Tarps up on some of the buildings in the Agrabah section of Adventureland

Tarps came down, but walls are still up outside of the Tiki Room

Walls still up across from the Little Mermaid in New Fantasyland, related to the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train construction

The DVC kiosk got a name…

Most of the walls around Seven Dwarfs Mine Train have come down

Some remain near the entrance

The sign for the attraction is now up

Moving over to Animal Kingdom, work continues on the Harambe Theatre, new home to Festival of the Lion King

Walls still up near the stroller parking in Africa

Walls are also up along the Wildlife Express Train route, not sure if the two are related

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Anna & Elsa from Frozen Move to Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on May 12, 2014

Starting Sunday, April 20, 2014, Anna and Elsa from Disney’s hit animated film Frozen began greeting guests at Princess Fairytale Hall at the Magic Kingdom. The pair was greeting guests in Norway at Epcot, with with the Summer months approaching and no interior queue for guests to keep cool, Disney decided it would be best to move the sisters to the fairly new Princess Fairytale Hall, which opened as part of New Fantasyland last year.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

210 minutes will be a pretty average wait time to meet Anna and Elsa, we suggest booking FastPass+ as soon as you can for your trip if you want to see them

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Anna and Elsa posing inside Princess Fairytale Hall

We also have a short video of the experience to share:

Synopsis of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in New Fantasyland, What We Know So Far

WDWNT on May 12, 2014

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:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug


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.
Show Less

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!

jjj6273511

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!

jjj389112LARGE

jjj3780041

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.

dgg900782

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?

VIDEO: Lengthy On-Ride Video of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train & New Attraction Details

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

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

MTB976544

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″