New Fanatasyland not so Fantastic

[GoBlueLacheta]

I think it's pretty difficult to judge an unfinished product. I mean it wasn't about jamming 10 new attractions into an area, but to open up and expand FL. I hope the bottlenecks decrease because it gets pretty tight in areas.

The physical aspects of it I think live up to standards but the experiences themselves feel a bit ho-hum instead of hi-ho. Also hard to say when the "gem" E-ticket ride has yet to open.

The Little Mermaid attraction could of had a different ride operating system instead of the mass -people mover burn em and churn em to make it a little different.

[Hammer]

The biggest new "attraction" is a restaurant which admittedly is cool but come on ... it's a restaurant.

As MK has very few sit down restaurants, and the majority of them are buffet/character meals, I think a non-character meal restaurant was sorely needed. We almost always went to a resort to eat dinner when in MK. For the first time in years, I will actually be eating dinner in the Magic Kingdom in October because there is finally a restaurant which my travelling party may enjoy.

[Katzateer]

Little Mermaid did not blow me away but I think it was well done.

I am thrilled with all the details at Be Our Guest. All the details are amazing and I love it!!

Story time with Belle is ok- with no little ones after seeing it twice it is not on my to-do-list next trip. The portal mirror is amazing!

And I love the way the new train station and that area came together. I just wish they would have kept Mickey's house and the garden. My kid's LOVED that area when younger.

All said, I think the new Fanasyland is amazing and am so glad my first walk through was with my Intercot friends last October!

[mydisneygirls]

The only thing I would say is that instead of a new gift shop, they could have added some sort of ride (or even put Mickey's house back) in it's place. In my opinion, it was a waste of space.

[masonlovesdisney]

With all of this feedback, I cant wait until I get to finally be in new FL in October! It is going to be quite an experience!

[buzznwoodysmom]

I kinda agree with the OP. We were very underwhelmed by what is currently in the new Fantasyland. Here's hoping the mine train coaster blows us away.

I think each area was very well done. Visually it's stunning! I'll give them that.

The little mermaid ride was cute, but will never be a must do for my family. TLM is one of my all time favorite Disney movies, so I was hoping I would love the ride. I love classic Disney dark rides, but this one just felt boring, also way too similar to nemo over at Epcot. Maybe if I had toddler aged girls.....

We loved lunch in Beasts castle, and and I guess I can agree with MK needing something additional in the restaurant department. So no complaints here about that part of FL.

The new circus area is also very well done and visually gorgeous, but nothing new was added. It's just "pretty" to look at, and the lines for Dumbo are shorter and more pleasant, but nothing that can be counted as a truly new experience back there.

Then we have the all the BATB stuff, a gift shop, small food location, and story time. Again, while all very well done, overall it's very underwhelming for my family, and I would guess a rather large number of other guests. Looking back at all our trips since my kids were babies, I can honestly say the only thing that would make the new FL really exciting for us would be if we had small girls.

For us, and this is just MY opinion, the new Fantasyland is just a lot of pretty without a whole lot going on that will keep us interested for the long haul. I'm counting on the mine train being the "gem" of the new area. Otherwise it's a whole lot of stuff that's pretty, but doesn't add much to my family's vacation experience.

[lightyearfan]

The little mermaid ride was cute, but will never be a must do for my family. TLM is one of my all time favorite Disney movies, so I was hoping I would love the ride. I love classic Disney dark rides, but this one just felt boring, also way too similar to nemo over at Epcot

wow me and dw loved this new ride, it's night and day better and different than Nemo. we thought the ride was done well, technically , song choice, the animatronics are terrific too (IMHO)

but everyone is entitled to have an opinion


Victor

[MNNHFLTX]

Considering what was there before, I think the New Fantasyland is pretty amazing. Can't wait for the mine coaster ride to be finished!

[Opus X]

I agree with the above post. I guess i just can't understand NOT liking it...or finding it..."underwhelming" It is absolutely fantastic...
Whilst...some folks...easily find the negative..or are debbie downers.

[AndrewJackson]

I agree that Little Mermaid, as a ride, was pretty underwhelming. We too had a very short wait time, and we were there the week right before Easter.

However, I find the land itself to be amazing. The theming is exceptional. It is easy to take the theming for granted because it is disney. In addition, the rest rooms on both ends of FL are amazingly themed as well with Rapunzel on one end and the train station on the other. I know - its just restrooms.

I am one of those weirdos that could just walk around Magic Kingdom and not ride any rides, just take in the atmosphere - especially at night.

[thejens]

I am so looking forward to our September trip! One thing I keep thinking is that whenever I have been to WDW I have always thought that Fantasyland looked a little bit cheesy and not as fully themed as the other lands. It always felt more similar to the regular kiddie ride parks to me if you took away the spectacular castle backdrop. It sounds like this has been rectified.

I also just love walking around and soaking up the atmosphere. I am a bit worried that this year my teen age boy might not take to the new Fantasyland, but I suspect I will!

[buzznwoodysmom]

It is absolutely fantastic...
Whilst...some folks...easily find the negative..or are debbie downers.

Just speaking for myself here. Just because I was not smitten with the new Fantasyland doesn't make me (or others) a person who "easily find the negative" or a "Debbie downer". I simply wasn't overly impressed with what I've seen so far. Of course it's fantastic to look at, but for MY family there isn't a whole lot of substance there that increases OUR vacation enjoyment.

[LVT]

Sorry to hear that.
I thought they did what they said and did it well. I was expecting a neatly themed area for families with small children. This is a much nicer set up than the old fantasy land, to me.
I expect the Dwarf mine train ride to be for small children also.
I also enjoyed the Little mermaid ride.

[MNNHFLTX]

I expect the Dwarf mine train ride to be for small children also.

Well, not very small children--there will be a height requirement of 40 inches, same as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

[Ms. Mode]

Love it so far. The theming is fantastic. You also have to remember it's not finished.

Ditto!

[azcavalier]

Well, not very small children--there will be a height requirement of 40 inches, same as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

That's my understanding. It's going to be like Big Thunder Mountain, but the cars will each individually sway back and forth a little. So, BTMRR with updated ride technology.

[JerseyDad]

The only thing I would say is that instead of a new gift shop, they could have added some sort of ride (or even put Mickey's house back) in it's place. In my opinion, it was a waste of space.

.....almost seems to be a theme with WDW lately ...."When in doubt ...build something that sells something".

.....that's what malls are for.

[azcavalier]

.....almost seems to be a theme with WDW lately ...."When in doubt ...build something that sells something".

.....that's what malls are for.

Honestly, I don't mind the shops as long as they each are unique and sell something you couldn't find anywhere else. That used to be the case on Main Street, until they turned the entire west side of the street into one long shop. But the Belle shop in New Fantasyland seemed to have items unique to that location, which meant that I was seeing stuff I couldn't find elsewhere. That's at least interesting, even if I don't want to spend the money.

[ls1jt]

I was just there for the first time in 3 years last week.

The new Fantasyland is doing exactly what it needs to I believe. They are getting the princesses out there for everyone who enjoys them. My niece LOVED little mermaid, and I thought it was fun too. It will be come a classic for sure.

The mine train opening soon will really complete the area. Storybook circus was crazy cool too I thought. Well themed, barnstormer was fun, and I loved the big circus tent store with treats.

I wouldn't make it the reason I visited MK, but it was def. a nice new part that I enjoyed.

[Gauis2001]

The guy playing Gaston was really good. His interaction with children and grown-up guests was clever and fun!