New Fantasyland is Finally Complete at the Magic Kingdom

It is official!  Today, with the opening of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, New Fantasyland is now complete!

It has taken several years (almost 5 to be exact...) and a few updates to the plans, but we now have an amazingly detailed land that looks spectacular!

But first, let's take a look back...to this post...made back on July 23, 2009, which was info about leaked plans for an updated Fantasyland.  Just a few short weeks later, the official announcement was made in August at the first ever D23 Expo.

Back when I first announced about the leaked plans, all of this seemed so crazy.  And in a way, so far out from left field.  Yes, we did end up getting the majority of things, like the Enchanted Forest section, which would feature The Little Mermaid and the Beauty and the Beast sections. Both of those areas came to fruition, just as they were originally leaked. However, quite a few things changed from their original format.  Like, we lost Lefou's Creperie, a snack area, Triton's Treasures gift shop and Scuttle's Scavenger Hunt. which was to be like Agent P at Epcot.  These three things sort of morphed into pieces of other things.

Larger things were cut all together.   In January of 2011, the plans that had been leaked originally had changed...drastically.  Gone were the meet and greet/shows that were centered around Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.  (These shows would have been similar to Enchanted Tales With Belle, in theory.)  And we said goodbye to the Pixie Hollow area that would have been located in the other half of Mickey's Toontown, opposite the Dumbo/Circus section. In came the full on Storybook Circus.  Of course, we also got the announcement that the previously rumored Seven Dwarfs coaster was now officially being constructed, in place of the fancy meet and greets.  Also, we got the additional announcement that because of the new Seven Dwarfs coaster, that the Snow White's Scary Adventures attraction would need to close and it would make way for the Princess Fairytale Hall.

After that announcement, things seemed relatively smooth sailing. 

New Fantasyland has always seen staggered openings.  The first area to open was the Storybook Circus section.  It opened in a couple of sections first in early summer with the opening of the Barnstormer and Dueling Dumbo, Casey Jr. Soak Station and the Fantasyland Train Station.

Then the second in October 2012 with the Pete's Silly Sideshow, Big Top Souvenirs, and the rest of the land.

After that was the big Grand Opening, which took place on December 6, 2012. At that point, a good majority of New Fantasyland had opened and we could get a real feel for how these new sections of the land would flow.  Opening at this time was Enchanted Tales With Belle, Gaston's Tavern, Under The Sea - Journey of The Little Mermaid, Be Our Guest Restaurant, and Ariel's Grotto.

We then had to wait almost a year later until finally in September 2013, Disney opened another piece of the puzzle, with the Princess Fairytale Hall.  The meet and greet area has proven to be just as popular as we've thought it would be.  (Especially as of late with the addition of Anna and Elsa.)

Finally...we were looking at the final piece left...and we had to wait...and wait...and wait...the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was rumored to open at the end of 2013...then early winter 2014...then early spring 2014...certainly it would be open for Easter, right?  Near the May media event? Nope...the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opened this morning, officially finishing out the last piece of the puzzle that is New Fantasyland.

With New Fantasyland being fully completed, I have to wonder...what is my favorite part?  I honestly think it was all the details.  They really put a lot of love and care into creating these new areas.  It made the park seem extremely fresh and was a very needed addition.  Overall, I think New Fantasyland was exactly what the Mouse ordered!

Now, I ask you...after almost 5 years of waiting...what has been your favorite piece of the puzzle?  Let me know in the comments section or on the Facebook page.

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