Nothing quite encapsulates the overall feeling of Magic Kingdom like the classic area of Fantasyland. Nostalgia flows from every building as you take in the scenery and ride so many things that have been there since the park opened. Couple that with stunning views of the castle at every turn and you have the makings of an area where you'll want to spend a good deal of time during your park visit. In fact, you may not want to leave.
Check out the podcast for this episode below
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.
Location Details -
Found directly behind the castle you can get to Classic Fantasyland by walking straight through the castle doors or up one of the two paths immediately left or right of the castle. Once there you will find yourself transported into a fairy tale realm with brick and canvas facades. It reminds me of stepping into a Renaissance Faire. Delight in childhood favorites and enjoy rides that have been in operation from the very beginning.
Fun Fact: For our readers who enjoy photography, if you head to the right of the castle and work your way up the winding path, you can find Cinderella's Wishing Well. You can take some beautiful photos of it set with the castle as a backdrop. After you snap some iconic photos, be sure to drop in a coin and wish for your very own dream to come true.
The main draw to this area of Fantasyland is that you have a large number of rides and most of them are considered classics. Because this area was designed 50 years ago, congestion can become a bit of an issue. Nevertheless, you will want to ride as many of these wonderful rides as time allows during your day in Magic Kingdom.
The Carousel Area-
Right in the middle of Fantasyland (directly behind the castle) you will find Prince Charming's Regal Carousel. Originally built in 1917 for Belle Isle Park in Michigan, it was moved to Disney World in 1971 and was part of the opening day attractions. Choose a horse, hold on tight and enjoy a classic amusement park ride. After your ride there are several other things to see and do in the area directly around the carousel. Shopping here is very popular. Sir Mickey's is home to just about every dress your little princess would desire and you can try to book an appointment at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique to get your kiddo all dressed up like royalty. While princess makeovers are the most common thing that occurs here you can also book an appointment for your strapping lad to be dressed like a knight.
If you are looking for other things to do, you can meet some princesses by heading into Fairytale Hall and directly across from that you can find Mickey's PhilharMagic. This is a 4D show that contains scenes from many of Disney's beloved films. With a running time around 12 minutes it can be a great way to escape the summer heat.
Now that you've taken a spin and are dressed for success, let's head around to the other areas of Classic Fantasyland. You have a choice to head towards Tomorrowland or towards Liberty Square.
Towards Tomorrowland -
Heading away from the carousel you will find the area directly across from Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (details found in our New Fantasyland blog). Along this front you will find a couple of rides and quick service food options.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh allows you to board a "Hunny Pot" and travel through 100 acre woods on an adventure with the lovable bear himself. A whimsical ride makes this a family favorite and the interactive queue line gives the little ones plenty to do while you wait for your turn aboard the ride. You can also find some of your friends from 100 acre woods just to the left of the ride entrance. Beyond Winnie the Pooh you will find the Mad Tea Party. Don't worry, there's nothing angry about this ride unless you're riding on a full stomach. Themed after Alice in Wonderland, climb aboard a tea cup and spin to your heart's content. After you ride keep a lookout as Alice and the Mad Hatter himself are known to frequent the area around the Tea Party.
If you are looking for a bit of a snack, You can find Friar Tuck's Nook and Cheshire Cafe in this area. Friar Tuck's has some loaded tots options and some other little items. Cheshire Cafe has some pastries and coffee beverages.
Towards Liberty Square -
Heading away from the carousel towards Liberty Square you will first see Pinocchio's Village Haus. This quick service restaurant has mainly flatbreads but does have other menu options as well. With a large indoor seating area this is a very popular option when looking for a light meal. As you continue past the restaurant you will find two rides that have been operating in the park since opening; Peter Pan's Flight and It's a Small World. In Peter Pan's Flight, you board a ship sprinkled in pixie dust and enjoy a journey around Neverland. The queue line is spectacular and has you walk through the home of the Darlings. Over at It's a Small World, you will board a boat and travel around the world viewing elaborate displays of wooden dolls dressed to their local culture. With over 300 figures in the ride, you can ride over and over and always notice something new. Both of these rides are absolute icons of the park and they were designed with 1970's crowds in mind so wait times can get a bit long. Try to watch for low wait times or do these right away in the morning while everyone else runs for the other rides.
Passing through the often congested corridor between these two rides you will find a wonderfully themed restroom. You read that right, a restroom. While not something normally on your list of things to visit, make sure you spend a bit of time appreciating this restroom. It is themed like to the city of Corona (from Tangled) and has wonderful things to see and experience. In the distance over the restroom you can even see Rapunzel's tower. Many people miss this wonderful little area to take in the sights because they are in too much of a hurry to get to the next thing or they are rushing to "take care of business".
Fantasyland is what most people think about when they think of Walt Disney World. It is a can't miss area and worth the time to just slowly walk and take in the nostalgia of the area. With a little bit of trust, and some pixie dust, this area will take you back to a childhood memory and let you get lost in your time there.
With so many rides and experiences, make sure you plan out time to visit Classic Fantasyland. 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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