Disney’s New Fantasyland Expansion is No Longer Just a Rumour

A few weeks a go I shared with you all a rumoured expansion to Disney World’s Fantasyland -- and the great news is that it is a rumour no more!

At Disney’s D23 Expo in Anaheim yesterday Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo revealed that the plans for Fantasyland would be the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

“Storytelling is the DNA of Disney dreams and we’re always exploring new ways to tell new stories in new places,”

Guests will begin to see changes in 2012, with everything planned to complete in 2013.

This concept art at the top of this article gives you a view across the new Fantasyland expansion area as if you were hovering above the Cinderella Castle. If you look to the front left you will see some castle walls -- you will walk through these to reach the Princess Realms where Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, Cinderella and Belle will have their own meet and greet areas.

Guests will be invited to share a dance with Cinderella in her chateau, join Belle in an enchanting story book performance in the Beast’s castle library and celebrate Sleeping Beauty’s birthday with the Good Fairies. Of course Tinker Bell and her fairy friends will continue to reign over Pixie Hollow.

The Beauty & the Beast realm will also be home to a new ‘Be Our Guest’ dinner show which I can’t wait to experience.

Ariel will get her very own attraction: Journey under the Sea with Ariel, The Little Mermaid; which will also open at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim in 2011.

The much-loved Dumbo attraction will also get the pixie dust treatment as part of the Fantasyland expansion. Parents will be pleased to read that the enhanced attraction will have two spinners, increasing the capacity and hopefully decreasing the wait time! It will also have a circus theme -- and a more interactive queue to keep the kids entertained while you wait.

Here’s a video of the announcement from the D23 Expo:

The new Dumbo attraction and the Pixie Hollow meet and greet area will replace the existing Mickey’s Toontown Fair area of the park. Imagineers have yet to announce where the existing Mickey Mouse and friends meet and greets will be moved to.

The makeover will not extend to the west side where attractions such as Peter Pan’s Flight and It’s a Small World will remain untouched.

It sounds as if the enhancements appear to be very little girl orientated with all the princess elements, but Imagineers have assured us that the new Fantasyland additions will be very immersive and interactive and should appeal to little boys too.

You don’t need to worry about a lack of Fantasyland attractions if you’re planning a Disney World vacation before 2011 -- the new construction work will not affect the existing Fantasyland area and we shouldn’t see any major closures. If your children are fans of Pooh’s Playful Spot then you may wish to note that this small play area is likely to close.

P.S. Do you want to know how to save money on a Disney World Resort hotel, or whether your employee status can get you into the parks for free? What about how to have your holiday photos taken at no extra charge or the quickest way to get to the Magic Kingdom? I answer all of these and more in my book Walt Disney World Tips & Secrets - download your copy today!

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