DVDizzy Forum

Fantasyland Expansion Underway
http://thedisneyblog.com/2010/03/21/fan ... -underway/

Pooh's Playful Spot set to close on April 11 2010
http://wdwmagic.com/Attractions/Poohs-P ... 1-2010.htm
(via disneyreport.com)

blackcauldron85 wrote:Pooh's Playful Spot set to close on April 11 2010
http://wdwmagic.com/Attractions/Poohs-P ... 1-2010.htm
(via disneyreport.com)

April 11th is also the last day for Ariel's Grotto as well.

Pooh's Playful Spot tree uprooted and on the move to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
http://www.wdwmagic.com/Attractions/Poo ... e-Pooh.htm
(via disneyreport.com)

Video: Moving the Winnie the Pooh tree
http://www.laughingplace.com/Latest.asp?I1=ID&I2=74275

I understand that I'm nearly a year late in publicising my opinions on this matter. But better late than never, I suppose.

I quite like the idea of having an enchanted forest of sorts, and some of the concept art looks gorgeous. WDW's Fantasyland did seem to pale a bit in comparison to the more romantic counterparts at both Disneyland and Disneyland Paris, and this really, really makes up for it. All they'd need to do now is to make the courtyard look like a storybook village (as opposed to the medieval fairground look that they went for back in 1971) for this to be the most magical in terms of overall theme.

However, I don't see the incessant focus on "princesses" and "meeting and greeting" as being the way forward. I really think that they are excluding too many people with just those two focuses together. Most everyone who isn't a girl between the ages of three and eleven won't have their world set alight by simply visiting house upon house of princess; there at least has to be some kind of winning attraction at the end of the day. The Sleeping Beauty Cottage looks the least interesting, as it is essentially arts and crafts with a costumed princess. The Cinderella section at least has some special effects, and the Ariel section has a ride. I also think that the Beauty and the Beast storytelling idea seems a bit bland, but I'm glad that they included Gaston's Tavern (aka something more masculine and useful), and the restaurant seems quite fun.

I'd probably thus take out the Sleeping Beauty section and perhaps theme it to something related to Disney shorts with fantastic or fairytale themes, perhaps with an old mill, the houses of the three little pigs and a new Mickey's house (perhaps having a Mickey and the Beanstalk or Fantasia theme). And I have to agree that Pixie Hollow of all things ought to be cancelled and replaced with something a bit more neutral. Considering there's so much emphasis on the more feminine stories in the new Fantasyland, it might be an idea for them to probably include a story that doesn't focus so much on fairies and romance. Pooh, Robin Hood, Mary Poppins' Jolly Holiday and maybe even Bambi could slot in here quite well. They could maybe even move the Mad Tea Party into this area, and if there is to be an oversized playground part in Pixie Hollow, they could retheme it easily to Wonderland as well. I read at Jim Hill that they had plans at one point for a seven dwarfs mine cart ride in Fantasyland (like a sort of family roller coaster), which (if princess stories must be acknowledged) would also seem like a fun idea.

Thus, to conclude, I wish that they'd put less focus on just princesses and fairies and included some homages to other characters and stories that would fit into a fantasy forest theme.

I think the Disney execs are starting to get nervous, perhaps a bit regretful of what they're planning. It's clear that when they originally brainstormed this expansion that it would be very Princess-based because around that time I remembered how the parks were way overmarketing the Princess franchise. So when rumors of an expansion to Fantasyland were announced my first thought was "lemme guess, it's gonna be all themed to princesses and junk".

Well that was a few years ago and now the Princess franchise is still good but not as strong. It's gotten the suits so nervous and I'm sure the whole mess with WDFA plays somewhat in this: they're renaming/retheming Cinderella's Golden Carousel to Prince Charming's Regal Carousel.

ho boy

i can't believe they r closing toontown this is so sad i don't remember much from the last time i went almost 13 years ago, but i do remember this section. They don't even know how well this is going to do and they r closing it like that??

Yea Cinderella's Golden Carousel was a much better name, and the one picked by Walt Disney who bought the ride! It makes much more sense. They are only changing the name to stupidly, weakly attempt to appeal to boys, just liked Tangled and all that.

Wonderlicious wrote:I'm glad that they included Gaston's Tavern (aka something more masculine and useful)

More masculine and useful? What does that mean? That feminine things aren't useful? You do realize love is the most important thing and the "feminine" fantasy stories are about love?

By the way, Sleeping Beauty's cottage could easily have special effects with the three fairies. I am betting they will, even some concept art shows some magic effects.

Want2beBelle, they say Mickey and Minnie's houses are getting moved somewhere else. Also, their "real" houses are in Disneyland, because that was the first park built!

To be honest, i'm interest in the new land not for the attraction, but for the artist detail and effort they put into it. One of the greatest things i like about the disney park is the vast detail and artwork they put into the buildings and the atmosphere they create for it. So yea i want to see how the SB cottage turns out like the mill wheel on the side or the structure of the TLM palace.

There maybe a gaston tavern, but it has no beer so it's valid point is moot.

Disney Duster wrote:

Wonderlicious wrote:I'm glad that they included Gaston's Tavern (aka something more masculine and useful)

More masculine and useful? What does that mean? That feminine things aren't useful? You do realize love is the most important thing and the "feminine" fantasy stories are about love?

I think Wondy meant "useful" as in.... It's a tavern, that's actually a tavern for guests to use. Guests can't really live in castles or cottages. But they can eat and drink at taverns. So, it's not only a location from a film, but it's one that can be used for its intended purpose.

Disney Duster wrote:

Wonderlicious wrote:I'm glad that they included Gaston's Tavern (aka something more masculine and useful)

More masculine and useful? What does that mean? That feminine things aren't useful? You do realize love is the most important thing and the "feminine" fantasy stories are about love?

lol, perhaps I didn't make myself so clear. What I mean to say is that Gaston's Tavern is a balance. It acts as an antidote against the constant array of girly, Barbie-esque Princess stuff (true, I don't think Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella etc are chick flicks, it's just that they are portrayed like that continuously by Disney). Furthermore, it additionally acts as a restaurant that will serve all groups of people, both young and old (though no beer = ). In contrast to this, I think we can all agree that the elaborate meet-and-greets probably won't appeal too much to the majority of the over-13 set (unless you are a twenty-five year old so dead set on making Sleeping Beauty a birthday card). Sure, there may be lots of charm and attention to detail, but I think that they could perhaps have added some more universal things.

Duster wrote:Want2beBelle, they say Mickey and Minnie's houses are getting moved somewhere else. Also, their "real" houses are in Disneyland, because that was the first park built!

Perhaps they want a holiday home in Florida.

I think that Mickey wouldn't seem too out of place somewhere in Fantasyland. As I suggested, he could have an abode similar to a medieval cottage and be clad in a costume from either Fantasia, Mickey and the Beanstalk or The Brave Little Tailor. In all fairness, I think that Mickey and friends originally were associated mostly with Fantasyland before the building of the Toon Towns, anyway. Their status as icons of childhood linked in with the idea of Fantasyland being the place of childhood dreams and storybooks, and one must remember that "Mickey's Phillharmagic" is located in Fantasyland, after all.

Oh...well...

Thank you for clearing that up! I agree with a lot.

Gaston's tavern should have a fake (and tastey) beer substitue, almost like Harry Potter's butter beer (which is served in that land at Universal, now).

I remember hearing that Universal commercial. "Fairy tales and pixie dust not your thing?", with a deep, male-voiced announcer. What asses. I was so mad at them for that. One, cause Disney ain't only that, and two, Disney got people of all ages and genders to see that stuff was enjoyable, and three, guys like that stuff...I'm proof.

But I admit, I think it should be more universal. I think there should be more entertainment, game, or ride options in each princess' land, as well as more unisex/boy stuff, though I think it already is something boys can enjoy.

That's the thing. Little boys like coloring and making birthday cards. They like dancing (not slow dancing but I bet not many little girls do either). The like acting out. Hell they like the nice princesses to a degree. And all guys like special effects and cool architecture. And everyone can appreciate beauty, art, fun, and magic.

As for Mickey...he's not really that Fantasyland feeling to me...I think he and Minnie (and did the other Fab Five have homes?) should keep their real homes, because their fantasy versions of themselves are only costumes, not their real outfits like for the fairy tale characters.

If Fantasyland is the best place for them, so be it, and in their real homes and outfits, but otherwise I think another place would be better. Animal Kingdom? Half joking half-serious there.

OH AND did you know they really did call their Florida homes their vacation homes? Yup!

Disney Duster wrote:As for Mickey...he's not really that Fantasyland feeling to me...I think he and Minnie (and did the other Fab Five have homes?) should keep their real homes, because their fantasy versions of themselves are only costumes, not their real outfits like for the fairy tale characters.

If Fantasyland is the best place for them, so be it, and in their real homes and outfits, but otherwise I think another place would be better. Animal Kingdom? Half joking half-serious there.

But how can Animal Kingdom be better for them than the Magic Kingdom?

Disney Duster wrote:Oh...well...
I remember hearing that Universal commercial. "Fairy tales and pixie dust not your thing?", with a deep, male-voiced announcer.

..... Oh, my God. Are you serious??

DisneyJedi wrote:

Disney Duster wrote:Oh...well...
I remember hearing that Universal commercial. "Fairy tales and pixie dust not your thing?", with a deep, male-voiced announcer.

..... Oh, my God. Are you serious??

I guess some people just think Disney is a bit too below them to bother with...

DisneyJedi wrote:

Disney Duster wrote:Oh...well...
I remember hearing that Universal commercial. "Fairy tales and pixie dust not your thing?", with a deep, male-voiced announcer.

..... Oh, my God. Are you serious??

It was just a marketing ploy/tactic.... Nothing to get worked up about. Nobody, (except perhaps Disney fans) will remember that statement...

Aerial view of the Fantasyland expansion construction site
http://wdwmagic.com/Attractions/Fantasy ... n-site.htm
(via disneyreport.com)

Are Disney's plans for WDW's Fantasyland Forest now being revised?
http://jimhillmedia.com/Editor_In_Chief ... vised.aspx

Which is why Tom would supposedly like to step away from the previously announced expansion plan (which relies far too heavily on the Disney Princess franchise for his taste) and then go with an assortment of new rides & attractions for the Magic Kingdom that would have far broader appeal. That could be all things to all people, rather than betting the farm on a single franchise.

...

The only previously-announced Fantasyland Forest expansion project that's absolutely positively going forward at this point is "The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure."


...

But as for the rest of the Fantasyland Forest project ... With the exception of "The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure" and the "Be Our Guest" restaurant (which Magic Kingdom officials are hoping will take some of the heat off of Cinderella's Royal Table. So that returning WDW visitors who are looking for a memorable dining experience will opt to eat at this 552-seat venue rather than angling for yet another reservation at that 130-seat restaurant high up in Cinderella Castle), everything else is kind of in flux right now.

Good- before that paragraph, I was worried about the Be Our Guest restaurant. That & the TLM ride are the 2 things that I'm excited about for the Expansion (I'm curious about Gaston's tavern, though).

blackcauldron85 wrote:
Good- before that paragraph, I was worried about the Be Our Guest restaurant. That & the TLM ride are the 2 things that I'm excited about for the Expansion (I'm curious about Gaston's tavern, though).

I agree, those are the two things I'm most excited about (the Cinderella experience is neat, too, but it's not crucial). It's probably a smart idea to make this expansion focus less on princesses, anyway. And maybe, you know, cancel the Disney Princess franchise while they're at it...