Fantasyland has always been a place to lose yourself in the allure of classic Disney storytelling. With the ambitious expansion of New Fantasyland, Disney World added 2 rides, moved one of its most beloved attractions, and added one of the most sought after dining locations on all of the Disney properties. This gamble paid off as it brought in a new generation of Disney parents and showcased some of the characters they grew up with.
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In the Park Detail series, we will be taking a much more in-depth look at each of the 4 theme parks of Walt Disney World. This series is meant to inform our readers on what is available and where you can find it at each park. We will break it up into sections, so that you can easily find information quickly.
The Modern Expansion of Disney
When New Fantasyland completed construction in 2014, it became the Magic Kingdom home to a whole new generation of fans. It dedicated space to two now iconic princess films, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, gave the fans the new thrill ride they had been looking for, and changed the standard for theme park dining. New Fantasyland expanded the park behind Cinderella Castle and moved the Dumbo ride to its current location in the Storybook Circus area, which we will talk about later.
The Rides -
Of course, the focus of this new land is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. This ride blends Disney’s exceptional dark ride capabilities with some fun roller coaster elements. Often commanding over an hour standby time, this is one of our top picks for FastPass+ use. Many people will rope drop this ride, so use your time wisely and watch the My Disney Experience app for drops in wait time. The other ride that was added is also one that shouldn’t be missed. Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid is a classic dark ride, but with the illusion that you have traveled underwater to meet Ariel and her friends. This ride pushed the technology in the Disney animatronics and that is shown in the Ursula character.
The Dining -
Beauty and the Beast did get overlooked in the ride department, but Walt Disney World made up for the omission in the area of dining. Two of the most sought after eateries, for much different reasons, are now themed to this favorite movie of many. Let's start on the higher end with Be Our Guest. Many have dreamed of dining in the Beast's Ballroom and this restaurant brings that to life. It is one of the hardest reservations to snag at the Magic Kingdom, so be ready on the day our booking window opens. Also, it is a table service prix fixe menu for both lunch and dinner (appetizer, main, dessert), which means you will be paying the same price no matter what you order. The other restaurant is a quick service tucked behind Be Our Guest. Gaston's Tavern is an antler heavy retreat where you can find the best use of a snack point on property with their cinnamon roll, or should we say loaf. Be sure to try the Lefou's Brew and grab a Grey Stuff cupcake before you go.
The Attractions -
Enchanted Tales with Belle is a modified character meet and greet where you get to be part of a retelling of Belle's story. The setting is Maurice's cottage and you are surprising the character by being a part of her story. It is an awesome experience and you will get a copy of all of the pictures taken during the experience on your photopass account. Ariel also gets a meet and greet in her grotto tucked in beside her ride. Since she is technically "Under the Sea", she will be equipped with her mermaid fins and all.
Storybook Circus
With the expansion of New Fantasyland, this area also got a nice makeover and a big reason to visit. Giving Dumbo the showcase it deserve has helped this area be a much needed relief valve between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.
There are 2 rides in this area. Dumbo the Flying Elephant dominates the entrance and now features two ride setups and a really cool way to waste time in the queue. The new queue offers a pager system to guests and an indoor playground for kids. Once it is your turn to ride, your buzzer will go off and you will be directed to one of the two lines. The Barnstormer is a very short, very kid friendly roller coaster that is tucked into the back corner of this area. Goofy takes you on a typically goofy time as you fly through Storybook Circus.
The Attractions -
Casey’s Splash Zone is a splash pad that has multiple water features to help you, and your kids maybe, cool off on a hot Florida day. Big Top Souvenirs is a hidden gem when it comes to shopping and usually carries special event merchandise without the Emporium crowds. Around the side of this building are 2 unique character meet and greets that rotate Donald, Daisy, and Goofy in big top attire.
With New Fantasyland being the shiny new thing it is, it normally attracts the biggest of the crowds. We recommend tackling Seven Dwarfs with a FastPass and hitting the other rides as time allows, must of them will not boast hour+ wait times. Definitely take advantage of the Big Top for some of that harder to find merchandise and take some time for Dumbo. The classics will always embody what Walt Disney saw for the parks and is a great throwback to his time.
Are you ready to take the next step? Fill out our information form on the Booking Your Trip page and let's talk about your Disney adventure. If you are looking for more information, the Disney Planning Insights Podcasts and Princesses and the Mouse Blogs provide more information to help you plan your next Disney vacation.
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