Walt Disney World - Magic Kingdom

[Christo Dawson]

this would be awesome if Europa did one! :mrgreen:

[Chris W]

Yet another video has been released.
This time its the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade which airs on ABC on Christmas Day.

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[Big C]

Having been to Magic Kingdom Orlando recently i was wondering what is being built towards the back of the park near Dumbo The Flying Elephant and Winnie Pooh's Great Adventure. It is blocked of by green walls to stop any possible viewing.

Edited dude to know what it is going to be.

News on Fantasy Lands and discussion on the area post here!

[Pennywise]

A replacement for Aeriel's Grotto, which will still be themed around the Little Mermaid. I don't know much beyond that, but at what point it was heavily rumoured that it would include an indoor rapids ride.

The area is scheduled for opening at some point during the 2012 season.

[andyface]

It's an expansion of Fantasyland - the so-called Fantasyland Forest.
The original plans consisted of the new Little Mermaid classic dark ride, a Beauty and the Beast sub-land with a table-service restaurant in Beast's castle, and basically a lot of meet and greets with the Disney princesses in themed environments. They were also planning to move the classic Dumbo attraction and build a replicate, to double the capacity in a circus sub-land with a queueless system. There was also supposed to be a 'phase 2' that would replace Toontown Fair with a land based on the Pixie Hollow franchise.
Some pictures and lots more information at [url=http://wdwmagic.com/Attractions/Fantasyland.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]http://wdwmagic.com/Attractions/Fantasyland.htm[/url]

However, I believe that a lot of this expansion is now being reconsidered - and supposedly the only things set in stone are the Beauty and the Beast restaurant and the Little Mermaid ride. Considering preliminary building work has already begun, it's extremely eleventh-hour, but the new CEO of Magic Kingdom is allegedly concerned at how a lot of the expansion is focused at girls and wants to broaden its appeal. This also probably has something to do with the budget supposedly being halved since its announcement.

It's been touted as Disney's answer to Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure, but in reality it's completely different - different demographics and really a different league.

[deadwing]

The rumours are now flying about a proposed Seven Dwarves Mine Train coaster, with indoor and outdoor elements. Snow White's Scary Adventures is apparently being closed to eventually be replaced with an unconfirmed dark attraction or potential meet and greet.

I like the idea of a new well themed mine car coaster, but I also think that something different might have been a better idea, as they already have a world class mine train coaster just around the corner in Frontierland. However, all of this has yet to be made public by the mouse.

[Chris W]

The only thing that is definitely going ahead is The Little Mermaid dark ride and the Beauty and the Beast area/Be Our Guest restaurant.

Everything else is up in the air due to Tom Staggs (The head of Disney Parks & Resorts) not being impressed with the plans the previous head of Disney Parks gave the green-light to.

One interesting snippet is that both Tom Staggs and Bob Iger are at Walt Disney World this week...

But whatever happens, if the theming is to the standard of the new Winnie the Pooh queueline it will be pretty impressive. (which is not 100% complete yet)

[Danny]

Interesting... Will have some construction photos for you all when I get back from Orlando.

[Pennywise]

Magic Kingdom have now pretty much confirmed new queue lines for Haunted Mansion, Winnie the Pooh (which I believe is now complete). Both queue lines will be interactive, I believe, with games to play whilst in the queue (as with Space Moutain's done-up queue line) as well as the new ride(s).

Here's the current view of the construction area - it seems Disney have decided to plant trees directly behind the fence to block people's view of the area.


This is what the construction site looked like in late November, before the trees were put into place.





Photo source - Orlando United


Edit: Here's a photo of Winnie the Pooh's new queue line from the outside, again about a month old, again taken from Orlando United


And a video of the inside Winnie the Pooh queue line - [url=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;][/url]

[monsterdan5]

Its all looking so amazing, when we were there in 2010 I was saying how Disney is not up to the standards of what it was when I was younger with most rides being outdated, it looks like they have realized that now :P if everything is to this new standard they will get back in my good books again

[Chris W]

New details of the Fantasyland Expansion. (Just confirmed within the last few minutes)



New Fantasyland will open in Fall 2012. Featuring:


The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will feature ride vehicles that swing back and forth, with each turn of the track. The ride will feature music from the classic Disney film along with animated figures of Snow White and the Dwarfs.


Replacing Snow White’s Scary Adventures will be Princess Fairytale Hall, home to Aurora, Cinderella, Tiana, Rapunzel and other Disney Princesses.


Toontown is receiving a circus makeover, with the Barnstormer roller coaster getting a bright new look featuring Goofy as The Great Goofini.


The new Storybook Circus will be home to the two new circling carousels of Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Family games and interactivity will be present inside the Big Top.

This is in addition to previously announced attractions such as the new Little Mermaid dark ride and the Beauty and the Beast - Be Our Guest restaurant.

Source

[Sam]

[quote=""Chris""]
The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will feature ride vehicles that swing back and forth, with each turn of the track. The ride will feature music from the classic Disney film along with animated figures of Snow White and the Dwarfs.[/quote]
This coaster interests me hugely. I believe it is directly inspired by, and will be the spiritual equal to, the legendary Orphan Rocker.

This will be the second coaster to 'rock like a suspended' above the track, but it will be the first to open. That is, if I've interpreted the drawing correctly and your description.

[Chris W]

Apparently some more information might be released at tonight's press conference in the Magic Kingdom.

The Snow White coaster is the big announcement here, as its replacing the not very well recieved princess houses/meet and greets. It looks like it could taking up a decent chunk of land and I presume Vekoma will be making it, like most Disney coasters.
It should be a pretty unique kiddie/family coaster.

Aerial photo from a few weeks ago (Little Mermaid Top, Beauty and the Beast Bottom, and Snow White Coaster will be where the vehicles are parked:



The official description from Disney is:

-It will take guests on a rollicking, musical ride into the mine “where a million diamonds shine.” The coaster will feature a first-of-its kind ride system with a train of ride vehicles that swing back and forth, responding to every twist and turn of the track. The journey will be accompanied by music from the classic Disney film and animated figures of Snow White and the Dwarfs.

Much, much better than the old plans.

[themealgang]

Great news that Magic Kingdom in Florida is finally getting a new roller coaster. No surprise though that it's coming again from Vekoma. Just out of interest, does anyone know why Disney always seems to go to Vekoma when they want a new coaster? Is there some sort of "special" deal or contract Disney have with the company?

Will be great though to see how this turns out. I love the circus theme too in Toon Town!

[Chris W]

Well its not confirmed that its a Vekoma, I just presume it will be.

Vekoma have been working with Disney for years now, so they will have built up a good relationship. Vekoma seem to be able to also meet Disney's demands, by basically designing whatever imagineering wants.
Walt Disney Imagineering will do the vast majority of the work on the attractions, hence why the Disney Vekoma's are much better than other Vekoma installations.

[Sam]

[quote=""themealgang""]Just out of interest, does anyone know why Disney always seems to go to Vekoma when they want a new coaster? Is there some sort of "special" deal or contract Disney have with the company?[/quote]
Vekoma are generally seen as the cheapest of the 'quality' coaster companies (B&M, Intamin, Vekoma, Mack, maybe Premier and S&S). Therefore it allows Disney to spend the least amount of money on the ride system whilst still getting something decent and with high levels of after-sales service, and spending as much of the budget on theming as possible. Also like Chris say, Vekoma are willing to give almost anything a try.

[Joelio]

Vekoma or an Intamin is what i'd expect, sounds like an interesting concept, hopefully they won't skimp and add some decent thrilling sections aswell as the narrative, I don't want this to feel like the start of Crush's Coaster all over again.

[AstroDan]

I like the look of a new rollercoaster.

I never liked Toontown Fair much, either. Glad to see it's being covered.

[Sam]

Here's some artwork of an indoor section of the coaster, from a construction wall and taken by the "InsideTheMagic" website:





“Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho! They dig in a mine from sunrise to sunset but they march off to work each morning, singing. Silly? No, just Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Grumpy, Doc and Dopey – The Seven Dwarfs.

And now you can join their merry band on a wild ride through the rolling countryside and into the mine ‘where a million diamonds shine.’

It’s a merry, musical family adventure as the mine rain swings and sways along rocky ledges, down steep mountain trails and through dark, winding tunnels. Then it’s home from work you go to join Snow White in song and celebration at the little cottage in the woods.”

[AstroDan]

Sounds almost like a Splash Mountain but a coaster :P