Dumbo the Flying Elephant Closure Extended to March 31

It looks like it will be a bit longer before you can see an elephant fly again at the Magic Kingdom. The Walt Disney World Resort updated its refurbishment and renovation calendars today with an extension to the closure of the Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction. The attraction is now scheduled to formally reopen March 31, 2012.

The cast of the park reports that the first new trainees on the attraction begin work next week, which suggests there might be some leeway in when the attraction actually opens its doors to the public. Also, interior refurbishment walls are being placed within the Circusland portion of the New Fantasyland expansion which would allow guest access to the ride and a few other areas. Guests in the park during the next few weeks might want to at least check to see if the walkway near the Mad Tea Party is open into Circusland on any given day.

Once open, access to Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the new Fantasyland Train Station, and The Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini should be available via a pathway near the Mad Tea Party and from the old walkway from Tomorrowland that goes behind the Tomorrowland Speedway. That path is sort of hidden, but it begins near the side of the arcade at the exit of Space Mountain.