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New Fantasyland Opening Date Announced!

Rikki Niblett
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Well, after years of waiting, the New Fantasyland is getting SO close to opening some of it’s key attractions. Today, Disney announced that it will officially open New Fantasyland on December 6, 2012! Also announced, previews for the new area will begin November 19. (No word yet on what types of previews these would be, at least right now.)

Making their debut during this Grand Opening will be:

  • Under The Sea ~ Voyage of The Little Mermaid: An attraction where guests will have the opportunity to travel with Ariel and friends in a dark ride with lots of songs that are featured in the movie.
  • Ariel’s Grotto: A meet and greet area featuring Ariel herself.
  • Be Our Guest Restaurant: a beautiful dining experience that will be quick service during lunch and table service during dinner. (Guests will be able to make dining reservations soon.)
  • Gaston’s Tavern: a dining establishment featuring Gaston’s brand of decorating
  • Bonjour! Village Gifts: a brand new shop
  • Enchanted Tales With Belle: an interactive story-telling experience with Belle and Lumiere

Disney has already opened part of the Storybook Circus area, featuring Dumbo, the new Fantasyland Train Station, The Barnstormer Featuring Goofy as The Great Goofini, and the Casey Jr. Soak ‘n’ Splash Station. It is expected that the remaining parts of Storybook Circus, containing the attraction Pete’s Silly Sideshow will also open on December 6.

Once these are open, Disney will still have more coming down the pipeline. Found in the Castle Courtyard, Princess Fairytale Hall, where guests will get to reign court with some of Disney’s most famous Princesses, will open in 2013. (It will be found in the former location of Snow White’s Scary Adventures.) Then, in 2014, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will take guests on a first of its kind, rollicking roller coaster.

It’s going to be an exciting fall at the Magic Kingdom! I’m so excited!

 

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Rikki Niblett

I am a co-host of the Be Our Guest Podcast and do lots of other fun Disney stuff all around the interwebs! You can follow me on Twitter or Instagram at @RikkiNibs or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/rikkinibs

16 thoughts on “New Fantasyland Opening Date Announced!”

  • Will the opening weekend of Fantasyland make the crowds bigger the whole week? We will b there Dec 10-15. Magic Kingdom on the 12th.

  • When will these attractions be added to the customized Touring Plans list. Thanks.

  • @Lisa. The soft opening (previews for regular guests) start Nov 19… that’s before your trip, before Thanksgiving.

    • Hi there! Any idea how many days soft openings last?

  • While I’m very excited about the opening I’m so disappointed it isn’t opening up for the Thanksgiving Holiday! Every time I called WDW they CM’s assured me that it would be open in time for the holidays. I would specifically ask Thanksgiving? They would say yes. Obviously that is not the case. I’m there 11/24 – 11/30 so I’ll miss it. Maybe I’m just sad. I wanted to be part of history or I’m being selfish – I admit that. OR maybe I’ll be one of the lucky ones who gets to experience part of the soft opening because I’m in the right place at the right time. That being said, just gives me another excuse to go back next year! LOL

  • When will the personalized touring plans reflect Enchanted tails with Belle and Ariel’s Grotto as an option? I’m busy planning our April trip, and I’m excited to add them to my plan!

  • I thought Be Our Guest was announced to be opening sometime in October?

  • In the comments section the blog author clarified the preview period is a soft opening, not just for APs/CMs/DVCs.

    “The preview period gives regular park guests a chance to experience the new area and its attractions prior to the grand opening in December. During a preview period, attractions and experiences may experience limited operating hours.”

  • Would love to beat the crowds and check things out during the Passholder previews. I’ve never done a preview before- is it something I could bring a guest to? (I have a pass but my family does not).

  • Fantastic! We’ll be there that week. Good timing!

  • I’m very concerned about crowds for the next week after the opening. We arrive on the 10th and thought it would be a very quiet week. Now I’m not so sure. But they are still running free dining from the 10th-20th if that is any indicator.

  • How do you think the opening of this expansion will affect the crowd levels that day? Right now you guys have MK down as 1.1, is this gonna change?

    • Would like to know this also. Will be there at the time and being a first timer, really not sure how much of an effect it will have on crowds

    • We will have an update to the Crowd Calendar tonight. The Magic Kingdom will be a Park to Avoid December 6-9. The current days in December with very low Crowd Levels have Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Many guest avoid the Magic Kingdom on party days due to the limited park hours. The 6th is a Party Day and the opening day for New Fantasyland. It will be interesting to see what guest choose to do.

  • I had planned on going at this time all along but have a question. What impact do you think will result from the grand opening (not that actual day but the following day) on crowds? This is really exciting and something for my wife and I to look forward to.

  • Rikki thanks for the update I am both excited and disappointed all at the same time. I will be down in the world Nov 10-16, do you think they will be doing a soft opening at this time? I would love to at least ride the Little Mermaid ride and check out Enchated Tales with Belle. Still very sad about Be Our Guest Restaurant…I really thought it would be a November opening when they kept saying the Holiday Season. Oh well…there’s always next year, right?!?!

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