Of all of the changes that have happened recently at Walt Disney World, one of the most exciting has been the New Fantasyland Expansion in the Magic Kingdom. On each and every trip to WDW, my husband and I would try so hard to catch a glimpse of what was going on behind the construction walls. Obviously, we were more than a little anxious to experience all that New Fantasyland would offer. I even documented the progress on each trip!
As you can see from the pictures, the New Fantasyland expansion had several aspects to it. The first to open was the Storybook Circus area. This area replaced Mickey's Toontown Fair (formerly Mickey's Birthday Land). The existing Dumbo attraction was moved from the center of Fantasyland to the Storybook Circus area, where it was given new decorations and a twin. This allows twice as many people to ride, and of course, this means much shorter wait times! Additionally, Dumbo was given an indoor, air-conditioned queue! Guests are kept "in line" by means of a restaurant-style pager. There are lots of neat things for kids to interact with, and for the adults, there are benches.
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| Dumbo Before |
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| Dumbo Re-Imagined! |
Storybook Circus also has other fun elements! The always popular "kiddie" coaster, The Barnstormer, was a staple in Mickey's Toontown. That ride has also been reimagined into the Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini!
And what is a circus without treats? Never fear, there is plenty to eat here! Head on over to Big Top Souvenirs. In addition to wonderful, well, souvenirs, you can find an assortment of yummy food!
One of the great things about Mickey's Toontown was the chance to meet characters. I am happy to say that you can still do this! I have to admit that in these photos, we look just a bit tired and sweaty (it being the end of a full day of touring in the 90% humidity). We didn't anticipate photo ops on this particular evening, but hey, there was no line, so we figured, why not?!
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| Daisy Fortuna, Minnie Magnifique, the Great Goofini, and the Amazing Donaldo |
The last major aspect of the Storybook Circus portion of New Fantasyland is the Casey, Jr. Splash and Soak area. This is an absolutely adorable area! It was a bit dark and rainy when I took these photos, but you get the idea. These don't do the area justice at all. Fair warning: bring dry clothes for your kiddos to change into! The kids I saw there were absolutely soaked! Don't worry, though. There are beach towels for sale nearby.
As you can see, there is much to do here in this newer section of the park. On the next post, I'll talk about yet another aspect of New Fantasyland! Check back soon!
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