Fantasyland Expansion at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida

“Big Doings Goin’ On”, as Mickey Mouse might say, at Walt Disney World, in Orlando, Florida! In 2010 there will be lots of rehabs and changes at Disneyworld, and I am very excited about this! Disney is always on the cutting edge, always wanting to keep it fresh and new. The Disney Difference will be very evident in 2010.

Today my thoughts are on Magic Kingdom.

Disney is re-imagining Fantasyland. It will be expanded, and recreated, and when it is done, the area will be much easier to navigate, and the new Fantasyland is going to be wonderful!! There will be an area for each princess, such as a cottage for Snow White. Ariel will have the Little Mermaid Attraction, which is also being installed at California Adventure, at the Disneyland Resort. There will be a big difference in the Dumbo ride, too! It will have two spinners, and an amazing queue area that will be interactive. The queue will also be covered; no more standing in the sun waiting to ride Dumbo. I think we will see lots of changes in how Disney creates waiting areas. They have already tired a Queueless Waiting Area, and found it to be greeted warmly by guests.

Here is the concept art for the new Fantasyland.

And, here is the blueprint. You can see that it is not exactly like the concept art, but it is close.

As you can see above, the expansion is huge, and the project will take approximately three years to complete. For starters, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh will close in early 2010, and get a new façade, and the Walt Disney World Railroad will be down for a few months in 2010, to make way for the ground breaking for the new Fantasyland.

The biggest news of all is this. Say Goodbye to Mickey’s Toontown Fair. Yes, it is true. In the Fall of 2010 Mickey’s Toontown Fair will close permanently. This closure is to make way for the new, and greatly improved, Fantasyland. Goofy’s Barnstormer will still be around, just relocated. I would not look at this as a bad thing, by any means.

Thank you, Disney, for keeping it fresh and new! I think Walt would be proud.