Fantasyland Closings Announced

[Strmchsr]

Pooh's Playful Spot & Ariel's Grotto will be closed (for good) as part of the Fantasyland expansion beginning April 11. The tree in Pooh's Playful Spot will be moved soon to next to que for the Pooh ride. A wall will go up stretching from the Grotto to Toontown. Still no word on when Toontown itself will close, but this is step 1 in that direction.

On a positive note, beginning May 9 Ariel will begin doing a meet n greet in Adventureland and, supposedly, Eric will be with her. If I remember correctly, he has only been out before during the P&P party. Lilo will no longer be at MK (but will be at DAK) and Stitch will go back to Tomorrowland. Since Pooh's Playful Spot will be closed, the Pooh Gang will leave that area for their meet n greet and be in Town Square. Goofy will will leave Frontierland and now be dressed in pirate costume in Adventureland. Snow White will begin appearing at the Wishing Well by the castle. Chip n Dale will move from Town Square to Tomorrowland.

I've also heard rumors that Belle's Storytime will close in October but will reopen in some form in her new Fantasyland area.

[wdwluv]

Thanks so much for the heads up! We will be there in May with 3 kids, one being a tot who loves the Playful Spot! We can prepare him now!

[Jennifer_and_Chris]

Oh no! We'll be there in October and Belle is my youngest's favorite. I hope she has a new home for a character greeting by the time we get there.

[BrerGnat]

:( Our sons had a great time at this playground last week. I am sad to hear it's going away for good. I assume the one by Toontown will be getting the boot as well...just a matter of time.

I know it's for the "greater good" and all, but we really found ALL the playgrounds in the parks REALLY valuable last week on our trip. I know lots of people consider them wasted space, but they were really useful for our kids so they could have some sort of "down time" away from all the crowds, chaos, and lines/rides. It helped them sort of reset, and do something familiar and comforting. I think a lot of kids get stressed out at the parks, and these playgrounds are really good places to unwind.

What will be left for little kids (playground wise) once this refurb is complete? Anyone know???

[buzznwoodysmom]

:ditto:
My boys are older now, but when they were younger the playgrounds were always a great place for them to burn off all that energy. Since we won't allow them to run around in line, or indoors, or in restaurants these playgrounds were some of the few places kids could just let loose and run off their energy.

[joonyer]

I never considered playgrounds to be "wasted space", but I do think that when Disney decides to use space formerly occupied by a major "E ticket" attraction" (i.e. 20K under the Sea) with a playground and/or meet 'n greet, that it's a major disappointment. I recognize that such decisions are influenced by finance/budget issues, but it still shows a major lack of imagination IMHO. So I'm glad to see the major renovation taking place in FantasyLand.

[Scar]

I never considered playgrounds to be "wasted space", but I do think that when Disney decides to use space formerly occupied by a major "E ticket" attraction" (i.e. 20K under the Sea) with a playground and/or meet 'n greet, that it's a major disappointment. I recognize that such decisions are influenced by finance/budget issues, but it still shows a major lack of imagination IMHO. So I'm glad to see the major renovation taking place in FantasyLand.You know, it just dawned on me after reading your post that I'll bet Disney knew they were going to do this expansion when they put in the playground, doing it cheap on purpose.

[joonyer]

You know, it just dawned on me after reading your post that I'll bet Disney knew they were going to do this expansion when they put in the playground, doing it cheap on purpose.

You may be right, but they sure took their time doing it. 20K was closed in 1994 and the playground wasn't built until 2005. They left the abandoned ride just sitting there boarded up for ten years!

[BluewaterBrad]

Thanks for the info Chris!!:mickey:

[finaldynasty]

I would not doubt that they had this area change in mind years ago, but why would they take so long to get around to finally pulling the trigger?

[Suz36]

:(

What will be left for little kids (playground wise) once this refurb is complete? Anyone know???

There is a playground at the exit for Splash Mountain, and Tom Sawyer's Island is really good for letting off some steam.

[Mammabruski]

I was just looking at the blueprint of the Fantasyland refurb and Pooh's Playful Spot was still on there. :confused: Is it possible that it will be closed during the construction, but then re-opened? If it is gone for good, I wonder what other changes they plan on making to that blueprint...

[Strmchsr]

I was just looking at the blueprint of the Fantasyland refurb and Pooh's Playful Spot was still on there. :confused: Is it possible that it will be closed during the construction, but then re-opened? If it is gone for good, I wonder what other changes they plan on making to that blueprint...

Pooh's Playful Spot is permanently gone. That spot will be used for part of the new Fantasyland Forest.

[kathiep]

There is a playground at the exit for Splash Mountain, and Tom Sawyer's Island is really good for letting off some steam.

My kids have always loved exploring Tom Sawyer Island. It's one of our traditions to head ovet there and let them run and explore freely.

[Figment!]

The tree in Pooh's Playful Spot will be moved soon to next to queue for the Pooh ride.

The tree has now been moved. The area of the expanded queue, where the tree is located, is behind construction walls.

[Kim Possible]

I have also heard that Ariel will also be at CRT

[Strmchsr]

I have also heard that Ariel will also be at CRT

Ariel's new meet n greet will be with Prince Eric in the Adventureland Veranda starting May 9.

[Darbylew]

Sounds like a lot of changes coming up. I will
be there May 10 for a week so I will take a look
at what is going on in MK over in Fantasyland.
Thanks for the information. :thumbsup:
FIRST TRIP 1972
LAST TRIP NOV. 2009 :mickey:
NEXT TRIP MAY 2010 :D
BEYOND MAY - OCT. 2010
AND MANY TRIPS IN BETWEEN

[RBrooksC]

In the Magic Kingdom, a playground isn't even needed. Take the child to Tom Sawyer Island and let them blow off steam there. They can actually run around on the island and get more exercise and play than on any playground.

[Bethanymouse]

Oh no! We'll be there in October and Belle is my youngest's favorite. I hope she has a new home for a character greeting by the time we get there.

We have also found Belle in France in Epcot! Hope that helps!

[Jennifer_and_Chris]

We have also found Belle in France in Epcot! Hope that helps!

We saw Belle in EP too. However, much to my DD surprise, she was in her blue dress, not the yellow dress. So we are on a hunt for Belle in her yellow dress. We will be eating in Norway and hoping that Belle will be there in her yellow dress (and Ariel for that matter for my other DD)

[mickeys_princess_mom]

We saw Belle in EP too. However, much to my DD surprise, she was in her blue dress, not the yellow dress. So we are on a hunt for Belle in her yellow dress. We will be eating in Norway and hoping that Belle will be there in her yellow dress (and Ariel for that matter for my other DD)

We just had breakfast in Norway a week ago Monday, and a beautiful Belle was there in her yellow dress! Took pictures with her--she was very graceful and sweet. They sort of assign you to a princess to take pix when you get there---you might mention you'd like to take them with Belle when you check in. :mickey:

[plutosnana]

Pooh's Playful Spot is permanently gone. That spot will be used for part of the new Fantasyland Forest.

YYYYEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! Disney needed something like that! Some kind of new theme added. Thx soooo much! I have MORE to look forward too! :):):)

[baby minnie's mommy]

Ariel's new meet n greet will be with Prince Eric in the Adventureland Veranda starting May 9.

So where is this "Veranda" in Adventureland? We were at MK yesterday, May 15, and I could not find Ariel in Adventureland. I talked to a castmember working in Adventureland and she had not heard of Ariel being there. I was very disappointed, as we had delayed our trip so DD could meet Ariel in dress and also meet her favorite prince. :(

[Strmchsr]

So where is this "Veranda" in Adventureland? We were at MK yesterday, May 15, and I could not find Ariel in Adventureland. I talked to a castmember working in Adventureland and she had not heard of Ariel being there. I was very disappointed, as we had delayed our trip so DD could meet Ariel in dress and also meet her favorite prince. :(

I saw Ariel there May 9 and 10 with Prince Eric. The veranda is immediately to your right if you're crossing the bridge from the main hub (walking past Crystal Palace) into Adventureland. It would be before the Dole Whip place and Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.

[buzznwoodysmom]

Any news on Mickey and Minnie's houses? My youngest was very sad on our Nov. trip because half way through Mickey's house we were escorted out because Mickey had arrived to take pictures with guests by his christmas tree. We were told we could go through the house backwards and get a picture with Mickey, but the line was sooooo long. My son didn't want to wait in such a long line so we promised him we'd come back another day. Well on our last night DS remembered that he hadn't gone back to see Mickey's house, the rest of us had forgotten about it too, and we arrived in the toontown area to find all of toontown closed for the night. I promised him that the next time we go to WDW Mickey's house would be one of our first stops. Now with the news of the Fantasyland makeover I'm wondering if anyone has any dates of when Mickey's house will be shut down???

[DizneyFreak2002]

Any news on Mickey and Minnie's houses? My youngest was very sad on our Nov. trip because half way through Mickey's house we were escorted out because Mickey had arrived to take pictures with guests by his christmas tree. We were told we could go through the house backwards and get a picture with Mickey, but the line was sooooo long. My son didn't want to wait in such a long line so we promised him we'd come back another day. Well on our last night DS remembered that he hadn't gone back to see Mickey's house, the rest of us had forgotten about it too, and we arrived in the toontown area to find all of toontown closed for the night. I promised him that the next time we go to WDW Mickey's house would be one of our first stops. Now with the news of the Fantasyland makeover I'm wondering if anyone has any dates of when Mickey's house will be shut down???

Mickey and Minnie's homes are going, going , going... gone..

[Strmchsr]

Any news on Mickey and Minnie's houses?

No word on when those will close. I would guess some time this fall, but it might not be until early next year. A time table has not been set yet, only that they will, eventually, be demolished.

[buzznwoodysmom]

Mickey and Minnie's homes are going, going , going... gone..



Yes, I know they are going, what I was asking is if anyone has heard recently WHEN???

[buzznwoodysmom]

No word on when those will close. I would guess some time this fall, but it might not be until early next year. A time table has not been set yet, only that they will, eventually, be demolished.

Thanks. Would you say that if we took a trip within the next month we should still be able to see Mickey's house? We are planning a possible trip, arriving in about 2-3 weeks, and this is the first thing my DS asked.

[Strmchsr]

Thanks. Would you say that if we took a trip within the next month we should still be able to see Mickey's house? We are planning a possible trip, arriving in about 2-3 weeks, and this is the first thing my DS asked.

I think definitely so. My guess is there will be some announcement about the closing of ToonTown when it gets close, and there has been none yet, so I think you'll be okay in that frame.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Yes, I know they are going, what I was asking is if anyone has heard recently WHEN???

Eeek, I'm sorry.... Toontown will probably close closer to the end of the year, if not next year....