new fantasyland

New Fantasyland Update – Magic Kingdom Expansion Progress

by John Frost
April 25, 2012

Took a stroll through the Magic Kingdom over the weekend and discovered that things are really in high gear throughout most of the new Fantasyland expansion project. Here are photos with some of the highlights (all the photos have larger versions if you click on them).

Work is in high gear to get the Casey Jr Soak Zone ready for the summer. Since I took this photo they’ve added even more, including many of the circus animals that will double as water fountains. Also note the landscaping and work on the red tent. Apparently the red-tent will be a meet and greet area featuring Donald, Chip & Dale, Goofy, and similar classic characters..

Although the Dumbo ‘tent’ was once all beautifully painted, they’ve stripped off that finish and started new work on the exterior.

Imagineering Shares Minotaur Detail from Be Our Guest Restaurant

by John Frost
April 20, 2012

Those Imagineers are such teases. We know there will be a lot of amazing details in the new Beauty and the Beast themed restaurant “Be Our Guest.” This monster, apparently a mythological beast known as a minotaur, will be a part of the decor in… Read More »Imagineering Shares Minotaur Detail from Be Our Guest Restaurant

Magic Kingdom Update – New Fantasyland and more

by John Frost
April 19, 2012April 19, 2012

Time marches on and summer is almost here. That means it’s time for another photo update from the Magic Kingdom. Disney continues making real progress toward opening the rest of Storybook Circus and, hopefully, parts of Fairytale Forest (of whatever they’re calling the new section these days).

It’s a long update today, so let’s get right to it, then, shall we. The Bakery facade remains shrouded along with two buildings in Town Square. I’m glad they’re doing the facade refurbishments, but it has been taking a long time.

Rapunzel is now doing meet & greets next to Town Hall. Her old place near Fantasyland is being converted for the Scottish Princess Merida. I think they should have had a cage match with the winner earning the best location.

New Fantasyland Time-Lapse Video

by John Frost
April 11, 2012

The kind souls at Walt Disney Imagineering were nice enough to share this time-lapse video of construction at New Fantasyland. The video runs through about March 23rd or so, so the latest construction on the Mine Train isn’t shown. But it is still an enjoyable… Read More »New Fantasyland Time-Lapse Video

Magic Kingdom Update – Part 2 – New Fantasyland and More

by John Frost
April 10, 2012April 10, 2012

Let’s continue our nice stroll around the Magic Kingdom that we began in part 1. Work continues around the park as they race to get ready for the summer travel season.

As I mentioned in part I, The Little Mermaid attraction is ready to go on the inside, they’re just working on the queue and rock work now. And it looks like much of the rest of New Fantasyland will be soft opening in fall of 2012.

Roofing is going on and a nice tutor look for this building in Gaston’s Village.

They’re now working on extending this wall across the old location of Dumbo. We should see vertical work over the wall soon.

Magic Kingdom Update – Slow Progress in Fantasyland (Part 1)

by John Frost
April 9, 2012April 9, 2012

I always enjoy a nice stroll around the Magic Kingdom, this weekend was no exception. Despite the Easter holiday, crowds were relatively light. Disney was prepared, however. There were lots of extended queues at he ready and extra manager types hanging around.

There’s plenty to see, even though not much progress has been made overall.

Although it’s not the most direct route, I like approaching Storybook Circus via the path near Space Mountain. They’re working on something behind the roundhouse for the Great Goofini trains.

However, the signage on the construction walls leaves something to be desired.

They’ve added the word ‘Water’ and a little bit more aging to the water tower at the station..

New Fantasyland Update – Vertical Construction on Mine Train Coaster has Begun

by John Frost
March 31, 2012March 31, 2012

Popped into the Magic Kingdom for a late afternoon stroll and was surprised to see how much work has progressed in the last two weeks. Not only has the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train coaster gone vertical, but lots of little details have been added to the already detail rich Storybook Circus area. Let’s go see, shall we:

Here’s some of the vertical infrastructure going up for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Note how tall it is and there isn’t even a show building yet.

Here’s another show showing how tall the show building will be. Much of the view of New Fantasyland we’re used to will be blocked by the mine train ride.

Magic Kingdom – New Fantasyland Update

by John Frost
March 15, 2012March 16, 2012

With Storybook Circus soft opening this week, it was a great time to get some unique shots of the New Fantasyland expansion construction. I didn’t get everything this trip, but there’s still a lot to see, so let’s get started:

A great view from the top of the new Dumbo spinner. Obviously, there’s a lot of work to do on the other side.