Fantasyland (Magic Kingdom)
Fantasyland is one of the six themed lands of Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida. Themed to the worlds of Disney's animated films, it occupies the area directly behind Cinderella Castle and is the largest land in the park, having nearly doubled in size during an expansion completed in 2014. It opened with the park on October 1, 1971, and contains more attractions than any other Magic Kingdom land, including It's a small world, Peter Pan's Flight and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Areas
Since the expansion, Fantasyland has been organised into three areas. The Castle Courtyard, immediately behind the castle, holds most of the surviving opening-day attractions, their facades styled as a medieval tournament ground within the castle walls. Beyond the walls lies the Enchanted Forest, themed chiefly to Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, with the Seven Dwarfs' cottage and mine at its centre. To the east, Storybook Circus occupies the site of the former Mickey's Toontown Fair and is themed as a travelling circus, with Dumbo the Flying Elephant as its centrepiece.
History
Fantasyland opened on October 1, 1971 with a line-up drawn largely from Disneyland: It's a small world, Peter Pan's Flight, the Mad Tea Party, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Snow White's Adventure and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, plus two Florida originals, the Mickey Mouse Revue and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The carousel at its heart, now Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, predates the park, having been built in 1917 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.
The land's roster thinned during the 1990s. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea closed in 1994 and its lagoon was eventually filled in; Mr. Toad's Wild Ride closed in 1998 for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, a decision that drew organised fan protest; and the Skyway closed in 1999.
In September 2009 Disney announced the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom's history, almost doubling Fantasyland's footprint to about 21 acres by building over the old submarine lagoon and Mickey's Toontown Fair. The plans were revised in January 2011, replacing several proposed princess greeting areas with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Storybook Circus opened in stages from March 2012, with a doubled Dumbo — two carousels served by an indoor queue — and a rethemed Barnstormer. The Enchanted Forest followed on December 6, 2012, adding Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid, Enchanted Tales with Belle, and Be Our Guest Restaurant inside a newly built Beast's Castle. Snow White's Scary Adventures closed in May 2012; its building became Princess Fairytale Hall. The expansion was completed on May 28, 2014, when the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opened; its vehicles swing independently as they travel the track, a first for a Disney coaster.
Attractions
- It's a small world (1971) — a boat ride through stylised scenes of the world's cultures, sung in a continuous loop.
- Peter Pan's Flight (1971) — a dark ride in suspended pirate ships over miniature London and Never Land.
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel (1971) — a 1917 carousel, among the oldest operating attractions at Walt Disney World.
- Mad Tea Party (1971) — spinning teacups from Alice in Wonderland.
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1999) — a dark ride through the Hundred Acre Wood, replacing Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.
- Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid (2012) — a dark ride retelling the 1989 film in clamshell vehicles.
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant (1971; expanded 2012) — twin aerial carousels in Storybook Circus.
- The Barnstormer (1996; rethemed 2012) — a small roller coaster themed to Goofy's stunt flying.
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (2014) — a family roller coaster through the dwarfs' diamond mine, with swinging vehicles.
- Enchanted Tales with Belle (2012) and Princess Fairytale Hall (2013) provide staged character encounters. A Walt Disney World Railroad station serves Storybook Circus.
Dining
Be Our Guest Restaurant, inside Beast's Castle, is the land's signature restaurant; Gaston's Tavern serves counter-service food nearby. Other locations include Pinocchio Village Haus, Storybook Treats and, inside the castle, Cinderella's Royal Table.