19 January 2011 by Central Florida News 13
LAKE BUENA VISTA --
Disney released brand new information Tuesday night on its plans to expand Fantasyland.
In front of an auditorium packed with local and international press, Disney executives unveiled details on a new and improved Fantasyland, which is scheduled to be completed in 2013.
The project is the biggest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom, and Fantasyland will double in size. Guests will see all of the classic icons, plus new ones.
Check out our list below for the new or revamped attractions, but first, here are a few things you might find interesting:
Execs told us Tuesday that construction is well under way for the Beast's Castle. Next to it is Belle's Village. It will have a tavern, but no alcohol.
Close to the Beauty and the Beast section, guests will find an all-new ride starring Ariel and all her friends.
Look for the Princess Fairytale Hall where the ride Snow White's Scary Adventures is currently located. Eric Jacobson, senior vice president of Creative Development at Walt Disney World, told me Snow White's attraction will shut down soon. He did not give us the date.
Inside the new Circus' big top are interactive wonders for kids and all sorts of games.
The reimagined Star Tours attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios is scheduled to open May 20, just in time for the annual Star Wars Weekends convention.
The new attractions will begin to roll out in phases starting late next year. Completion is expected in 2013.
Walt Disney once said, "Things will get more beautiful each year." Soon, you'll be the judge of that!
Again, read below for more details about each new attraction:
Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
This all-new attraction will take guests on an adventure with Ariel and her friends above and below the waves, all against a musical backdrop of songs from "The Little Mermaid."
The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
This is a new family coaster coming to the Magic Kingdom. The ride will feature a first-of-its kind ride system, with a train of vehicles that swing back and forth, responding to every twist and turn of the track. The journey will be accompanied by music and animated figures of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
The Castle of the Beast
The Be Our Guest Restaurant will feature a lavish dining experience in the elegant ballroom, a gallery and the mysterious "West Wing" of the Beast's castle. With seating for 550, the facility will offer fast food by day, and full table service in the evening. Nearby, in Belle's Village, guests will find Gaston's Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts.
Princess Fairytale Hall
Cinderella, Aurora and other Disney Princesses will greet guests in their new home, an elegant royal court on the site where Snow White's Scary Adventures stands today.
The Sound of the Calliope
This will lead guests into the new Storybook Circus. There you will find not one, but two carousels of Dumbo the Flying Elephant. It also provides fun for the whole family, with games and interactive activities inside the Big Top.
Storybook Circus
The Barnstormer coaster at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm gets a new look, featuring Goofy as "the Great Goofini."
Cruisin' the Dream
Meanwhile, Wednesday is the champagne christening for Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, the Disney Dream, at Port Canaveral.
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