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The Magic Kingdom
Fantasyland Retheming (2013-14) – At the D23 Expo in September, Disney parks chief Jay Rasulo announced what had been rumored for years – the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland was going to receive a complete overhaul. Plans show a massive addition to the land, with the castle courtyard being encircled by a wall and a series of new meet-n-greet areas for Disney Princesses and Fairies. In this plan, small areas of the land would be themed to Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Winnie the Pooh, and Dumbo. These new areas of Fantasyland would expand into the space formerly occupied by Mickey’s Toontown Fair. Read our coverage (Reported by Blue Sky Disney in July 2008, blueprint leaked in July 2009 and plan announced in September 2009)
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Adventure (2013) – Disney has been tinkering with the idea of a dark ride based on this film since its release; it was originally supposed to come to the Magic Kingdom in 1993 as part of the “Disney Decade.” More recently, the Mermaid ride was announced as part of Disney California Adventure’s billion-dollar revival. The ride is now coming to Florida as well, with an arrival date of 2013. The official rendering by Disney shows a meet-and-greet area adjacent to the attraction. Read our coverage (Reported by Blue Sky Disney and Jim Hill Media in July 2008, announced in September 2009)
“Be Our Guest” Restaurant – This much-needed new dining facility will serve as a quick-service restaurant at lunch, and convert to a full-service facility for dinner. It will feature a number of interactive elements themed to the Beast’s castle from Beauty and the Beast. Read our coverage (Alleged blueprint leaked in July 2009, announced in September 2009)
Gaston’s Tavern – This venue, themed to the town tavern from Beauty and the Beast, will be the quick-service restaurant in Belle’s village. Read our coverage (Announced in September 2009)
Dumbo the Flying Elephant – In October of 2008 while discussing the possible Fantasyland expansion, Jim Hill mentioned that the renovations might require the famous Dumbo flying elephant spinner to be relocated about 100 yards to the east. The announced plan for Fantasyland shows that the attraction will not only be moved but also doubled, in effect giving us “dueling” flying elephant rides. The two spinners will be located near the railroad tracks where Toontown stands now, and would feature a “Nextgen Interactive Queue.” This will involve the use of RFID technology to allow children to play a number of interactive games while they wait for the attraction, without them having to stand in line. Read our coverage (Reported by Jim Hill in October 2008, announced in September 2009)
Pixie Hollow – Originally rumored in early 2009 to replace Toontown Fair as part of the Fantasyland expansion, the plans as announced have Pixie Hollow occupying a large area slightly north of the current Toontown Fair. Pixie Hollow has been announced as part of the “Phase Two” of the Fantasyland expansion, and as such its plans are currently vague. Early rumors called for it to have a meet-and-greet area and playground for young children, but some insist that Disney might be considering a dark ride based on the fairies’ franchise. Other rumors insist that the fairy films have been under-performing recently, and Disney is considering abandoning the concept for this land entirely. Read our coverage (Rumor dates to early 2009, announced in September 2009)
Fantasyland Train Station – As part of the Fantasyland expansion, the current Mickey’s Toontown Fair railroad station will receive a Dumbo-themed overlay. (Alleged blueprint leaked in July 2009, announced in September 2009)
Mickey’s Toontown Fair Removal – The upcoming Fantasyland expansion will necessitate the removal of Mickey’s Toontown Fair. Originally intended to last only a year as “Mickey’s Birthdayland” in 1988, Florida’s Toontown has always been less ambitious than its counterparts and has often fallen into disrepair. The land will be replaced with new areas themed to Dumbo and the Disney Fairies franchise. The Barnstormer coaster will remain, but will be re-themed. Read our coverage (Alleged blueprint leaked in July 2009; confirmed in September 2009)
New Pizzeria in Italy Pavilion – Permits filed in the fall of 2009 show that a new pizzeria is going to be constructed towards the rear of EPCOT’s Italy pavilion. Read our coverage (Permits discovered in December 2009)
Star Tours 2 (2011) – There’s been quite a saga concerning the long-expected update for Star Tours; I can recall “definitive” rumors for this attraction going all the way back to 1997. Tidbits have continued to leak out; Anthony Daniels long ago reported doing new voiceover work as droid C-3PO, and there have been rumors of filming for the attraction taking place in California. Al Lutz at MiceAge followed the story throughout 2009; according to him, plans were underway to update the attraction by splitting costs between Disneyland and Walt Disney World when the cheapskate Florida management got cold feet and pulled out. In an update from July 2009, though, Lutz reported that the project has been greenlit and funded and is on its way for a 2011 opening. This was confirmed by Disney in September of 2009. Read our coverage (Reported in several places; announced in September 2009)
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