Fantasyland Expansion - Part 2

[Nick]

I'm just curious to see if these new attractions have a noticeable impact on ride waits around the park. This area was added to increase capacity and I'm waiting to see if its going to do what's intended.

Well, as I said Pooh has been down considerably since FLE opened, not sure about others. Given the capacity of Belle and FP and the newness of Mermaid, I feel like they'll both pull pretty respectable wait times until SDMT opens.

 

[Scarletwebslingr]

I'm just curious to see if these new attractions have a noticeable impact on ride waits around the park. This area was added to increase capacity and I'm waiting to see if its going to do what's intended.

Pooh Bear doesn't gobble people up the same rate an omnimover does, though. Mermaid will probably be more like HM; longish queues in peak seasons, 30ish on an average day.

 

[Nick]

I'm not buying it will be down to 30 (consistently at least) until SDMT opens. As I said, it's still not peak season yet and it (and Belle) are seeing crazy waits. An omnimover should never have 120 minute waits...I guess that's what happens when you add unneeded FP to the attraction though.

 

[Scarletwebslingr]

I'm not buying it will be down to 30 (consistently at least) until SDMT opens. As I said, it's still not peak season yet and it (and Belle) are seeing crazy waits. An omnimover should never have 120 minute waits...I guess that's what happens when you add unneeded FP to the attraction though.

...so what you're saying is that you agree with me

If it makes any difference, last weekend at Studios, Star Tours was at 60, TSM was at 120, and ToT was 100. Granted, they aren't omnimovers, but they also aren't brand-spankin' new. If Mermaid is only 120 on opening week, expect typical 30 minute waits on any regular day in the coming year or two.

 

[Nick]

oh, lol, I guess I didn't read that last part.

 

[IzzyB]

I was at Sea World on Saturday and it was PACKED. Shows were filling up 20 minutes or more before show time. So I have no clue what is going on this week, but apparently the holiday season started early here in Orlando. Not sure if extra people came down for fantasy land opening or if people decided to catch the holiday stuff early or what. But I went last year for the holiday stuff at Sea World and it was not that packed.

 

[Disneyhead]

[video=youtube;29Hgr5cQKso]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29Hgr5cQKso&feature=player_embedded[/video]

 

[SeventyOne]

I was at Sea World on Saturday and it was PACKED. Shows were filling up 20 minutes or more before show time. So I have no clue what is going on this week, but apparently the holiday season started early here in Orlando. Not sure if extra people came down for fantasy land opening or if people decided to catch the holiday stuff early or what. But I went last year for the holiday stuff at Sea World and it was not that packed.

Genuinely curious what happened this weekend. Everywhere was packed, which is unheard of for the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Same feeling I had at the Halloween events. Which makes me wonder how bad Christmas week is going to be.

 

[IzzyB]

Genuinely curious what happened this weekend. Everywhere was packed, which is unheard of for the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Same feeling I had at the Halloween events. Which makes me wonder how bad Christmas week is going to be.

I was talking with a family behind me before one of the shows at Sea World. They had been everywhere except Magic Kingdom (they were going the next day) and she said it had been packed everywhere and that they were shocked since school was still in session. They have two year old twins and I was telling her next year the months she should come, but I was shocked myself of how everything was packed. I can't imagine that many people knew about Fantasy Land opening on the 6th. They didn't know what was open and what was not. They knew of the expansion, but wasn't even sure it was open. So that tells you what the general public knows. And these are people that come down once a year.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

EasyWDW showed there was a BIG tour group from Argentina, so maybe tour groups are starting to come :look:

 

[Hockeyman55]

We spent a week at Disney last year this same time and it wasn't anywhere near as crowded as I'm hearing. I'd think New Fantasyland and Test Track may play a part in some of these crowds. This time of year has be typically the best time to go with low crowds but have noticed each year it gets busier

- - - Updated - - -

EasyWDW showed there was a BIG tour group from Argentina, so maybe tour groups are starting to come :look:

Also I think Pop Warner has their big games recently at WWOS which brings in a decent amount of teams

 

[Nick]

Pop Warner is here this week every year and it is never this busy.

 

[Hockeyman55]

Yeah wasnt bad when went last year, didnt really notice teams running around besides at POP during our stay.

 

[Hatetofly]

Well here is to hoping Disney will once again remember the saying. If you build it they will come...

 

[Dr. Emmett Brown]

Well here is to hoping Disney will once again remember the saying. If you build it they will come...

Wonder what they're expecting with that $1.5 billion investment in NextGen... Compared to that, FLE ain't nothin' special.

 

[SeventyOne]

We spent a week at Disney last year this same time and it wasn't anywhere near as crowded as I'm hearing. I'd think New Fantasyland and Test Track may play a part in some of these crowds. This time of year has be typically the best time to go with low crowds but have noticed each year it gets busier

It wasn't just the the hyped new rides (that, as Izzy B points out, haven't been all that hyped to the general public). DHS had a 90-minute wait for Jack Sparrow and a 50-person lane at High Octane bar Saturday afternoon--that's with huge lines at two of the other parks. And apparently Sea World busy too. That's just unheard of for early December.

South American tour groups is an interesting theory, but the crowds I saw didn't stand out as tour groups. I'm honestly perplexed.

 

[JungleSkip]

It wasn't just the the hyped new rides (that, as Izzy B points out, haven't been all that hyped to the general public). DHS had a 90-minute wait for Jack Sparrow and a 50-person lane at High Octane bar Saturday afternoon--that's with huge lines at two of the other parks. And apparently Sea World busy too. That's just unheard of for early December.

South American tour groups is an interesting theory, but the crowds I saw didn't stand out as tour groups. I'm honestly perplexed.

Isn't it "Free Dining" time right now? Or am I crazy?

 

[BJCool]

Grand Opening Recap from Disney Parks Blog

New Fantasyland Receives a Royal Welcome at Magic Kingdom Park​

New Fantasyland is now officially open, which means the adventures and dreams of Belle, Beast, Ariel, Prince Eric, Dumbo and more are now officially ours to explore.

Minutes ago, a truly royal welcome was held for this new area, with “Once Upon a Time” actress Ginnifer Goodwin, pop star Jordin Sparks and Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs leading a grand-opening ceremony that featured Disney characters, fireworks and more

[video=youtube;JMfC8BWVFfc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMfC8BWVFfc[/video]​

New Fantasyland, the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom Park history, has doubled the size of the existing land, with the addition of new attractions, restaurants and character greetings, including: Be Our Guest Restaurant, Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Gaston’s Tavern, Pete’s Silly Sideshow, and Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid.

As Tom Staggs shared during the grand opening, the addition of these new adventures – which were brought to life by our Walt Disney Imagineers – were inspired by Walt Disney’s vow to keep our parks fresh.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsiZXGjs8h0​

“Walt Disney once promised that Disneyland, and by extension all of our parks, would never be complete as long as there is imagination left in the world,” Staggs said. “New Fantasyland is a spectacular addition to the Magic Kingdom that delivers on Walt’s promise.”

Be sure to check back later today for more photos from New Fantasyland’s grand opening. In the meantime, check out this video of our guests reacting to one of the area’s new attractions, Enchanted Tales With Belle.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW7AmlAC6pI​

New Fantasyland Grand Opening Celebration at Walt Disney World Resort​

Earlier today, we celebrated a milestone event at the Walt Disney World Resort as we took guests beyond the walls of Cinderella Castle and officially welcomed them to New Fantasyland. It was a star-studded morning with Ginnifer Goodwin from ABC’s “Once Upon a Time,” American Idol’s Jordin Sparks and Mickey Mouse helping us do the honors as we marked the grand opening of the largest expansion project in Magic Kingdom Park history.

New Fantasyland gives guests the chance to step into the worlds of some of our most beloved animated films of all time, including The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. That’s why it was so exciting to have Disney Animation legends Jodi Benson, Paige O’Hara, Jo Anne Worley, Ron Clements and John Musker on hand for the ceremony, as well.

This expansion represents countless hours of work by thousands of Imagineers and cast members, who together are taking Disney storytelling to a whole new level. The results are spectacular and a true testament to the talent of this extraordinary team.

Walt Disney once said that Disneyland, and by extension all of our parks, would never be complete as long as there is imagination left in the world. That was a promise he made to all of our guests. At the same time, he was charging all of us at Disney Parks to stay true to our legacy of creating experiences that bring our characters and stories to life, helping friends and families make memories that last a lifetime.

I think it’s clear from the stunning work that has gone into every aspect of New Fantasyland that there is still plenty of imagination left in our world.

‘Dancing With the Stars’ Pros Take the Floor in Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park​

New Fantasyland officially opened at Magic Kingdom Park yesterday, and in celebration of the festivities, “Good Morning America” hosted “Dancing With the Stars” pros Tony Dovolani (Season 15 winner) and Chelsie Hightower at Be Our Guest Restaurant, where they reenacted the waltz that Belle and Beast did in the ballroom in the film.

Don’t miss this amazing video below!

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5FyDXQAYn0

Jordin Sparks, Ginnifer Goodwin and Other Celebrity Guests React to New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park​

If you caught any of our coverage of the grand opening of New Fantasyland late last week, you know it was a star-studded event. Check out what songstress Jordin Sparks, “Once Upon A Time” actress Ginnifer Goodwin, “Beauty and The Beast” voice Paige O’Hara, “Dancing With the Stars” pros Tony Dovolani and Chelsie Hightower, and other celebrity guests had to say about their first experiences in New Fantasyland.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIJMRJRfI_Q​

 

[Vyrus]

Goodwin looks horrible with short hair...grow it back please and become decent looking once more

Also its ABOUT TIME they use the facial expression Mickey down here in Florida...took them long enough.

 

[Brian G.]

Also its ABOUT TIME they use the facial expression Mickey down here in Florida...took them long enough.

It's been down here for a while now with the "Dream Comes True" castle show...