#6 Looking Back: New Fantasyland Construction

Walt Disney World announced the largest overhaul for Magic Kingdom at the D23 Expo in 2009. The transformation project, named 'New Fantasyland,' would bring two new rides to the land based on The Little Mermaid and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It also included a Beauty and the Beast themed area and restaurant, two Dumbo the Flying Elephant rides, Princess Fairytale Hall and a Storybook Circus themed area.

View of the former location of Ariel's Grotto

New Fantasyland utilized the large site of the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage ride, that was not being fully used after closing in 1994. It was partially used as Ariel's Grotto where you could meet Ariel and enjoy a water play area. The area also included Pooh's Playful Spot across from the Winnie the Pooh ride. The new land added two Dumbo rides, the Barnstormer and Storybook Circus to Mickey's Toontown Fair.

View of the former location of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Construction began in early 2010 at The Most Magical Place on Earth and concluded in 2013. During this time, walls were erected in Fantasyland and Mickey's Toontown Fair to transform this area of the park. Guests were eager to see the ongoing construction and new rides being built behind the walls. Before the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride was removed from it's original location in Fantasyland, it was the perfect way to see into New Fantasyland.

The construction crews quickly leveled the ground and started worked on the Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid and The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train rides, as well as the Beast's castle, Belle's cottage and moving the Dumbo ride and Mr. Saunders house to their new locations.  

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train being built

The mystery behind the construction walls made the anticipation of New Fantasyland grow by the day. Once guests could slowly start to see The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, the Little Mermaid area and the Beast's castle appear over the construction walls, they knew this would be an amazing overhaul of Fantasyland. 

View from Disney's Contemporary Resort at Beast's castle

This was a major transformation of the Magic Kingdom, one that had not been seen before in the park's history. While the Magic Kingdom was the top visited theme park in the world, just down the road a newly themed Harry Potter area was being opened at Universal Studios. The Disney Company knew that adding these new sections to their park would keep guests coming through their gates looking to experience new rides and areas. As construction continued and ultimately finished, New Fantasyland opened to the public and the lines still have not decreased 6 years later. 

Trivia:

Q: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh replaced Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in 1999 in Fantasyland. Who is Mr. Toad handing the deed for Toad Hall to on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride?

A: Owl