With the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train preparing to open this Spring (April or May, 2014), the New Fantasyland Expansion in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom will officially be complete. There will be a whole new completed section in the Magic Kingdom, and even though the space was expanded out…some things had to go.
Fantasyland has truly undergone a number of changes in the past two years, but it has taken on a lot more changes than you may realize since things first began on opening day – Oct. 1, 1971. With that, Fantasyland is a truly ideal candidate in: Disney Rides of Change.
Even though Doctor Disney wasn’t yet around, I do know what attractions were open on that day (or that year) and here is the list for Fantasyland:
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Mad Tea Party
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel
- it’s a small world
- Snow White’s Adventures (Wasn’t “Scary” until 1994)
- Skyway to Fantasyland
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage
From there, things have taken an interesting turn as attractions on that list have stayed, some are gone.
New attractions have come and stayed. New attractions have come and gone.
Dumbo has been picked up piece-by-piece and moved where ToonTown once sat, and it has been completely doubled.
Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel has now been dubbed Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel.
Snow White’s Scary Adventures is gone so that it could make way for Princess Fairytale Hall. Don’t worry though, the first Disney animated film will still be represented by the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train…an attraction which is taking the place of 20,000 Leagues.
Ariel’s Grotto arrived and was put in by Pinocchio’s Village Haus, but it was shut down and gone for good. But not so much “for good” as it was redesigned, moved, and reopened.
The Fantasyland Train Station lost its name to ToonTown for a while, but then regained it over the course of the past few years.
Ariel and Belle have seen their own areas and attractions built out of complete scratch. The same can be said for Rapunzel, but she did overtake an attraction that was loved by so many – Skyway.
Mrs. Potts’ Cupboard is no more as it was renamed Storybook Treats back in 2010.
Mr. Toad took his last ride in the fall of 1998, and he cleared a path for Winnie the Pooh and the rest fo the Hundred Acre Woods’ gang.
The Mickey Mouse Revue made way for Magic Journeys which then left for The Legend of the Lion King but has since gone away for Mickey’s PhilharMagic.
Peter Pan’s Flight has stayed virtually untouched, but the last part of his queue saw the restrooms removed for a new meet-and-greet area.
it’s a small world has also stayed mostly the same except for minor changes here and there, and new sponsors as well.
Same can be said for the Mad Tea Party.
Casey Jr. Splash ‘N Soak Station, Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Gaston’s Tavern, Eric’s Castle, The Friar’s Nook, and more are all new over the years…
Yes, Fantasyland has changed drastically over the 42.5 years of its existence. Some things have been changed up a little. Other things are brand new. Some attractions have become part of “Disney Lost” forever.
Fantasyland really is a history of change, but there is still a lot of the original there so Disney is trying to have something for everyone – the newcomers and the lifers.
Which do you prefer…New Fantasyland or the way things used to be?
