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New Fantasyland Update – Magic Kingdom Expansion Progress

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.

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DCA Contruction Update

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This is me and my boys. I’m looking at the construction being done on the Carthay Circle Theatre in Disney’s California Adventure. My kids are just looking at a wall they can’t see over. Score one for tall (and old).

We recently (as in a couple of weeks ago, but I didn’t have time to post what with the trip to PIXAR and all that, oh, did I mention the trip to PIXAR?) took a weekend visit to the Disneyland Resort (Disneyland updates are here), and while we were there we took a peek at some of the upcoming changes to DCA. You know what I’m talking about:

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Free Shipping on Disney Parks Merchandise at DisneyStore.com

Some of the merchandise I’ve featured in my recent Walt Disney World merchandise updates is now available on DisneyStore.com. Now through Thursday you can get free shipping with your entire order with any purchase of Disney Parks items online. Just use the code: PARKSFREE. Happy… Read More »Free Shipping on Disney Parks Merchandise at DisneyStore.com

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Photo Update

If I had to rank the four Walt Disney World parks just in frequency of my visits, Disney’s Hollywood Studios would place third. It’s not that I don’t enjoy being in the park, it’s just that the things I do enjoy always sends me walking from one side of the park to the other based on the show schedule, fastpass availability, and availability of decent counter service with air-conditioned seating. The haphazard nature of DHS’s pathways are an artifact of its status as a working studio during its initial years. But this park is top of my list for a drastic new series of placemaking.

Alas, my armchair Imagineering will have to wait for another day, today I have a photo update capturing a few of the changes since my last visit.

We’ll start our tour at The Magic of Disney Animation, which now features this Campus Map. Note how it shows that guests can now skip the movie to get into the main building. It also specifically lists the characters inside by name. So it looks like it will be a while before we see a replacement for Winnie The Pooh. Important to note if an autograph with Winnie the Pooh is a must. You can avoid the crowds at the Magic Kingdom and get it at DHS.

The biggest change inside the Magic of Disney Animation was the updated Animation Gallery. A new exhibit called ‘Setting the Scene’ has been installed. You can still see some of the Academy Awards Disney has won, but everything else is changed.

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Disney World Merchandise Roundup

Yesterday we shared a new kitchenware and dish set for sale at Walt Disney World, but that isn’t the only bit of new merchandise to show up at the parks. Here are a few more things that caught my eye as I wandered around the parks.

Of late, Disney has been making easy to find the new stuff by grouping it together with other ‘New Arrivals.’

I’m seeing a lot more clothing where the Mickey Mouse element is woven into the pattern. Let’s you were your Mickey clothing without having to have a cartoon on your shirt. I like that idea.

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Magic Kingdom Update – Part 2 – New Fantasyland and More

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.

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Disneyland Matterhorn and Jolly Holiday Updates

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My family and I visited the Disneyland Resort this past weekend and the crowds were study, but not overwhelming (relatively speaking, I mean it was pretty busy). There are some new t-shirts that I’ll feature in a later post, and the construction at DCA and Downtown Disney is coming along swimmingly.

In Disneyland the construction is mainly along Main Street and around the Matterhorn. The Jolly Holiday is open for business — and business is good (so is the food). Read More »Disneyland Matterhorn and Jolly Holiday Updates

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

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:

New Fantasyland Expansion Magic Kingdom
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.

New Fantasyland Expansion Magic Kingdom
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.

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