Aerial construction update of Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland expansion – March 2012
We took to the skies today to bring you some theme park construction updates. In this update we’re taking a look at the Fantasyland expansion at the Magic Kingdom. The photo above gives you an overview of the huge area under construction. Scroll down for more photos and video. Click on any of the photos to view them larger.
The first area of the Fantasyland expansion will open later this month. It’s part of the Storybook Circus area. Here you can see some of the red construction walls already in place to guide guests to the open areas. The accessible areas will be one half of the new duel Dumbo rides, Barnstormer coaster staring The Great Goofini, and the Storybook Train Station.
Here’s a close-up of the new Dumbo ride. The spinner on the left is the brand new one. The one on the right is the old one they’re refurbishing and moving from its old location. It’s unknown if guests will be able to enter the tent for games when the area first opens. Notice the sign for The Barnstormer to the left of Dumbo.
The Barnstormer is the same roller coaster that was in Toontown, with a new theme. You can see a cannon on the left side that Goofy has supposedly shot out of and through a target. It also looks like the path leading to the side of Space Mountain in Tomorrowland may open when the area does.
The train station looks good, but it looks like the water play area featuring Casey Jr. won’t be open right away. The circus tents for Pete’s Silly Sideshow and Big Top Souvenirs won’t be open at first either.
Construction has started for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride. But this ride will be the last to open, in 2014.
This is the Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid ride entrance and show building. Prince Eric’s castle is looking good.
This is the Beauty an the Beast area of Fantasyland. Notice the bridge being installed in the bottom left and what looks like a walkway into Beast’s Castle where the Be Our Guest restaurant will be. At the bottom is the village area with Gaston’s Tavern and at the top is Belle’s Cottage and Maurice’s Workshop.
Here’s a video of our flyover:
Most excellent report! For the first time, actually peeked my interest in this thing. 🙂
Fantastic report. I was wondering, I’m going to Disney World in early november this year. Which part of the new Fantasyland area will be open by then? Will I be able to ride Little Mermaid and dine at the Be Our Guest restaurant or will they still be under contruction? Thanks!
By November Little Mermaid may be open, but they haven’t announced when yet.
I was under the impression that everything would be open & functioning by Winter 2012. I suppose I will have to push back my vacation plans.
They seem to be changing the dates…
We will be going to WDW on the 08/25 for 11 days. My 6 years old granddaughter really wants to see the little mermaid. Any chance. Thanks!
What new areas of the Magic kingdom expansion will be open in January 2013? I am hoping Ariel because that’s my daughters favorite princess.
Yes, they’ve announced all of it will be open by the holidays 2012 except the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride and Princess Fairytale Hall.
Thank you sooooo much for your responding, my Granddaughter will be really please for our trip from England to see her dream mermaid. We are all getting very exciting . Thanks!
Dates I’ve found have been so vague, we are going the week of Thanksgiving, will everything be open then? Specifically Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast? Thanks!
Disney hasn’t said, but from rumors we’ve heard, the Little Mermaid ride and Beauty and the Beast areas should be open by then.