More news on New Fantasyland

[HauntedGabe]

OK, I must admit, I never anticipated this attraction under a tarp.

[Thumper10]

OK, I must admit, I never anticipated this attraction under a tarp.

Ah! Glad I am not seeing this in person.

[supernova]

Great. With all of the scaffolding and boards up everywhere, it'll look just like Manhattan. I will be there in two weeks and it's going to be like I never left NY.

[BamaJenn]

I'm trying to encourage everyone who asks me for help planning a trip (i.e. friends and coworkers) to not go until later next year when this is all done. The magic is still there but I know we won't plan to go again until it's done!

[supernova]

Two of my wife's brothers will be joining us this year, making their first visit to WDW. Fortunately, they're both older, so they shouldn't mind. But it still won't be the same as if things were open and uncovered.

[HauntedGabe]

Curious how Fantasyland will look with the massive amount of rock formations. How that will come together. Brookfield Zoo outside of Chicago did this in a similar manner 4 decades ago. Not a big fan. Wonder how the paint will hold under the Florida Sun too, Thunder certainly fades fast.

I'm really more excited to visually "take in" the whole land completed than for any of the restaurants, shops or attractions.

[BamaJenn]

Curious how Fantasyland will look with the massive amount of rock formations. How that will come together. Brookfield Zoo outside of Chicago did this in a similar manner 4 decades ago. Not a big fan. Wonder how the paint will hold under the Florida Sun too, Thunder certainly fades fast.

I've been thinking the same as the rocks have gotten bigger and bigger. There's a LOT of rock work back there. I'm thinking though that once the building is done and the foliage elements added, it might not be so "HOLY ROCK WALL". That's still my biggest "complaint" though because it's viewable from Tomorrowland and I'm curious how it'll all fit together.

[HauntedGabe]

Disney announced this in 2009 and leaked even before that. Now with the coaster 2014 with cranes. Wish they would just step it up already.

Seems like they built all of Animal Kingdom quicker, definitely MGM.
Wonder how it will be with Iger splitting his time with Apple now.

[HauntedGabe]

There have been some visible changes in Fantasyland expansion.

Magic Kingdom Update – New Fantasyland and more! (Part 1)

Posted on December 20, 2011 by John Frost
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I love my walks through the Magic Kingdom. This last Sunday was extra nice. The winter holiday crowds were out in force, but that only makes people watching better. The weather was just on the chilly side of perfect, which suits me fine this time of year. And a lot of changes have transpired since last time we updated from the park. So many, that this is a two part update.
Let’s, as they say, get on with the show:

The Haunted Mansion merchandise cart is gone and walls are up. This is likely the start of the new landscaping and path to Fantasyland that will be built as part of the new restrooms at the old Skyway location.


Over at the old Skyway location, hard to tell if more work has been done. Doesn’t look like it. But it is the last Christmas these particular decorations will be hung. I wouldn’t mind having them for my home.


The full tarp is up around Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel. Gives riders a new experience inside.



Click for larger. The first section of the new Fantasyland castle wall is coming along nicely.


Here’s a little more detail. You can also see how heavily wooded the area is shaping up to be.


I’m hoping there will be some more rockwork or something to hide the showbuilding that is plainly obvious from anywhere between Peter Pan and the carrousel.


Click for larger. This is a happy sight. The top is on the new Dumbo spinner. Also, more work has been done on the Great Goofini load and unload station.


Click to embiggen. Some fancy scaffolding work is helping shape up the Circus Tent theme for the Dumbo interactive queue area.


Here’s a closer look at the Goofini track and a little bit of structure at the top of the main lift.


Work is also going on behind the storage barn for the Great Goofini. Not sure what’s going in here


The two original temporary tents have been expanded with more infrastructure. Not sure if this is related to hurricane rating for permanent buildings, but they laid some serious foundations, so I would think so. The new tents will appear much bigger than the old Toon Town Fair ones.


Work continues on the Storybook Circus train station. I have a feeling this will be my favorite building of the new land.


Look at the great detail here. I love it.


Scaffolding has gone back up around Prince Eric’s castle for more detail work.


And the rock work that was added a few weeks ago has been sprayed with cement (or whatever they use). We’ll keep an eye on this.

[supernova]

Ah! Glad I am not seeing this in person.

Just saw it in person. Then again, way too much of WDW was tarped off. At least they do paint the tarps to somewhat resemble what has been blocked off.

[supernova]

There have been some visible changes in Fantasyland expansion.

Magic Kingdom Update – New Fantasyland and more! (Part 1)



Over at the old Skyway location, hard to tell if more work has been done. Doesn’t look like it. But it is the last Christmas these particular decorations will be hung. I wouldn’t mind having them for my home.



I’m hoping there will be some more rockwork or something to hide the showbuilding that is plainly obvious from anywhere between Peter Pan and the carrousel.





The two original temporary tents have been expanded with more infrastructure. Not sure if this is related to hurricane rating for permanent buildings, but they laid some serious foundations, so I would think so. The new tents will appear much bigger than the old Toon Town Fair ones.



And the rock work that was added a few weeks ago has been sprayed with cement (or whatever they use). We’ll keep an eye on this.

PICTURE 1: During Christmas time in the old Skyway area, they used to do a meet and greet with the Seven Dwarves. A few years prior, it was with all of the royal couples. This year, they changed it up again and it was with the entire human Cinderella cast: Cinderella, the Prince, the Step Mother, and two Step Sisters. Nice family portrait.

PICTURE 2: Let me preface this by saying that I do NOT read park blogs. I don't get emails or texts or any other updates, nor do I religiously follow the Disney website. And by not religiously, I mean I don't read it at all. So if this has already been stated somewhere, forgive me. But after my trip this past week, I can say that the mountain is getting tall. TOO tall. Way too tall. So the only thing I can anticipate is Disney stating that they have "expanded our mountain range to include Beast Mountain," or whatever the heck they're going to call it.

PICTURE 3: While on line for Dumbo during the Christmas party, I saw work being done at the top of the tent structure. I tried getting some shots, but they came out blurry and didn't capture the image too well. But if it did, you would have been able to see welding sparks near the peak.

PICTURE 4: I don't know all of what's going to be in there. But it seems to be a tad overkill for "themeing' for a Dumbo ride, a roller coaster, the old 20K ride, and a restaurant or two. I realize Disney wanted to catch up to Universal with their fully immersive HP land thingie, but wow... headache.

[StewbotTalborg]

At least they do paint the tarps to somewhat resemble what has been blocked off.

Am I dreaming, or did you just say something vaguely positive?

[supernova]

Disney announced this in 2009 and leaked even before that. Now with the coaster 2014 with cranes. Wish they would just step it up already.

Seems like they built all of Animal Kingdom quicker, definitely MGM.
Wonder how it will be with Iger splitting his time with Apple now.

Awww, c'mon... you're not excited for a roller coaster three full years from now?

[disneygirl198]

This sounds awesome. I am excited to see the progress in December and hopefully to experience it in June of 2012!

By April of 2012, will anything be open and done?

[supernova]

Am I dreaming, or did you just say something vaguely positive?

When Disney does something right, I'll say they do. But when they don't, I sure as helI am going to call them out on it.

During my trip last year, I saw this tarp up as they were preparing Town Hall for Mickey. It is still one of my favorites, and I guess the first one I've ever really noticed. This one was very well-done:


Otherwise, here's the one around the carrousel from my trip last week:


And here are three from Frontierland: