Are you ready to conquer New Fantasyland at Disney’s Magic Kingdom like a pro?
If so, you’re in the right place!
It’s here where you’ll enjoy scenes from Beauty and the Beast, take cute pictures with Ariel, and even have a closer look at the Seven Dwarfs while they mine for jewels?
Disney’s New Fantasyland has made those dreams come true (for everyone!).
Today, I will give you everything you need to know about this amazing land to help you have the best vacation ever!
So, let’s get started.
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What Should You Expect from New Fantasyland?
When you visit New Fantasyland, expect the usual outstanding Disney Parks Experience.
If you’re a fan of Disney Parks like me, you know that they go all out when it comes to pleasing guests.
Growing up with these Disney classics gives you a whole different vibe when you visit. The older generation tends to feel more connected to Snow White, Peter Pan, and other classics.
This is where the genius comes in. The combination of Disney’s classics and the later animations like Little Mermaid was very brilliant on Imagineering’s part.
The architecture and design are so similar to the ones in the animations to the extent that you’ll feel like you’re in the fairytale.
If you’re a nostalgic person like me, then New Fantasyland is where you’ll feel at home while in this Disney park.
There are three area of Fantasyland with their rides and attractions just so you don’t get confused.
- Storybook Circus from Dumbo the movie
- Enchanted Forest where you get to meet Disney princesses and is located towards the front area of the land
- The Castle Courtyard where you’ll find the classic Disney characters and attractions
You’ll also get to meet Ariel in her clamshell, experience Enchanted Tales with Belle and sing along to your favorite tracks from the films.
The setting of Fantasyland at Disney World is just like the animations you’ve come to love where fairytales truly come life!
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Is New Fantasyland just for kids?
Absolutely not! A very interesting aspect of Fantasyland is that the rides are suitable for adults who are fans of Disney. No one’s going to be left out on this trip, I promise.
You (if you’re traveling alone) or your family get to see creativity come alive and you wouldn’t want to have enough.
How could I almost forget about food?
There are so many places to eat here at Fantasyland but we have one very special place in mind.
Be Our Guest Restaurant is certainly a must-see when you visit. This restaurant has a French theme thanks to Belle. They serve delicious meals that’ll bring you back for more.
The food isn’t the only interesting thing about this restaurant; I’m not spilling yet so keep reading!
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When Did New Fantasyland Open
New Fantasyland opened in 2012; however, the original Fantasyland opened in 1971 at the Magic Kingdom, but it doesn’t make it any less cool.
On December 6 of 2012, Disney’s Magic Kingdom was expanded to include Fantasyland based on Disney’s princesses (Belle, Snow White, and Ariel).
New Fantasyland is more like an upgraded version of the original one.
The Magic Kingdom’s land was expanded from 107 acres to 133 acres to occupy the new improvements that would be made to Fantasyland.
And as you know, Disney always aims to improve and impress which was the main reason why they felt there was a need to create the New Fantasyland.
Rides, attractions, and restaurants were closed just so that new changes could be made and new structures and rides were built too.
The old Fantasyland had both Snow White’s Scary Adventures and Mickey’s Toontown Fair. They were both closed at different times to give room from the innovations Disney had in mind.
Even though honestly, I was a bit curious to know if the new and improved Fantasyland would give a completely foreign feeling.
I was wrong!
The new changes made did not outshine the old buildings or rides instead they complimented each other perfectly.
Disney certainly did a good job in striking a balance between nostalgia and innovation.
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Rides at New Fantasyland
There are many rides you can try out including the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter
Pan’s Flight, Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid and so on. I’ll go through a brief breakdown about the rides in Fantasyland.
If you’ve been following closely, I mentioned that the New Fantasyland is divided into three parts and each one of them has their own unique rides.
Storybook Circus Rides
You remember Dumbo the movie? Well, the first part is the Storybook Circus where you’ll see a lot of references from this film.
Normally, circuses are intriguing, and fun; this circus isn’t left out. It opened in the spring of 2012 and replaced Mickey’s Toontown Fair.
You get to ride on Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Next, there’s the Barnstormer Starring the
Great Goofini and if you know Goofy very well, you’ll know he doesn’t know how to fly!
Hang on tight kids because Goofy is the pilot of this rollercoaster. The kids can enjoy the ride here (just the kids).
You also get to see the Casey Jr. and Soak Station; it’s not just a name because you will get soaked.
Lastly, there’s the Fantasyland Railroad Station which takes you around the park.
Enchanted Forest Rides
Next is the Enchanted Forest where you will meet the Disney Renaissance characters like Belle and Ariel.
Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid
The first attraction is Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid. “While we devotin’ full time to floatin’ under the sea;” you get to sing your favorite tracks from The Little Mermaid whilst experiencing first-hand scenes from the movie.
You’ll even hear the famous lyrics “Under the sea, under the sea, darling it’s better” while you take a trip in a clamshell and meet one of the most unique Disney princesses.
On this journey, you’ll get to see waterfalls and cliffs and even Ursula!
You get to pass through the witch of the sea before Ariel and Prince Edward live happily ever after (totally awesome!).
Ariel’s Grotto is also a part of this attraction in the New Fantasyland where you get to meet Ariel herself. She stays waiting in her clam ready for pictures and autographs.
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Part of the Enchanted Forest attractions is the Enchanted Tales with Belle where you visit Maurice’s cottage and get the chance to play a role from the movie. Don’t worry, the Beast isn’t left out.
Be Our Guest Restaurant is located in the Beast’s castle where you’re certainly going to a fun time!
The details are beautiful and there’re lunch and dinner available. I also can’t exclude Gaston from this Beauty and the Beast reunion.
Gaston’s Tavern is also available in the enchanted forest section.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was designed based on the Snow White film.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is one of Disney’s classics and deserves to have a ride dedicated to it.
As mentioned earlier, it’s a fun rollercoaster that takes you on an adventure of the Seven Dwarfs mining for jewels.
Thanks to the improvements, the train doesn’t move normally; instead, it tilts making you enjoy the thrills even more!
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The Castle Courtyard Rides
The last section also known as the “Old” Attractions, is dedicated to the older Disney animations including:
- Winnie the Pooh Ride
- Alice in Wonderland Mad Tea Party
- it’s a small world
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Peter Pan
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
The rides here include riding in a honey pot, having a crazy tea party with Alice and watch Donald use Mickey’s magic hat to fly you around other Disney films.
You’ll even get get to meet your favorite Disney Princesses in their natural habitat (the magical world of Disney).
Peter Pan’s Flight
The Peter Pan’s Flight attraction is one of Disney fans favorite rides here.
If you believe, you can totally fly!
On this ride, you fly in a magical boat which takes you through scenes of Peter Pan.
As mentioned earlier, part of the excitement about Fantasyland is that you get to explore many realistic scenes from Disney classics.
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What You Need to Know About the Fantasyland Railroad Station
The Magic Kingdom Railroad Station has an old-fashioned steam train which takes you on a 20-minute ride around the Magic Kingdom to view its most popular attractions.
This rail station is located on Main Street and it has three stations which include one on:
- Main Street U.S.A
- Frontierland
- Storybook Circus at Fantasyland
The train runs until the evening and while you’re on the train, you will get to see unique views for rides like BIG Thunder Mountain Railroad.
The train is wheelchair and strollers acceptable. This way, no one gets left out.
Sadly, I’m about to burst your bubble; there are no Disney characters on the Walt Disney Railroad system at this time.
On the brighter side, you have nothing to worry about because you’ll be too captivated by the views around you while you’re on the train!
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Are There Places to Eat in Fantasyland?
Absolutely! You didn’t think they’d expect you to have fun when you’re starving, did you?
There are many places to eat in Fantasyland so let’s go through one of the top spots.
Be Our Guest Restaurant
First is the Be Our Guest Restaurant located in the Enchanted Forest section. Just like I mentioned earlier, the restaurant is located inside the beast’s castle and it has a French theme.
They serve different delicacies like the French Onion Soup, Short Rib Beef Bourguignon, and so much more.
Other Foodie Options in Fantasyland
There’s also the Storybook Treats which has a variety of snacks like the delicious ice cream sundaes.
Prince Eric’s Village Market which also has interesting drinks like the Frozen Blue Raspberry Slushy and a Jumbo Pretzel.
Gaston’s Tavern is also a nice eating location where you can have a closer look at what the tavern looked like in the movie.
New Fantasyland Dining Locations
- Be Our Guest Restaurant
- Cheshire Café
- Cinderella’s Royal Table
- The Friar’s Nook
- Pinocchio Village Haus
- Prince Eric’s Village Market
- Storybook Treats
- Gaston’s Tavern
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Adults Don’t Get Left Out, Do They?
Of course not! You’re sure to have as much fun as your kids when you visit the New Fantasyland.
While the kids are in the Barnstormer, you can enjoy an adult beverage the Be Our Guest Restaurant or an oversized cinnamon bun in Gaston’s Tavern.
You’ll totally love the fact that most of the rides and attractions in Fantasyland are suitable for any age group.
How fun would it be to ride the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train with your family, your friends or on a solo Disney World trip?
Here, you get to experience every bit of fun and entertainment with the people you love.
4 Beginner Tips for Visiting Fantasyland
Now that you know what to expect in this land, let’s go over a few tips to help you out.
1. Start Early
The first tip when visiting Fantasyland is to arrive there on time. You’d be surprised how many people long to experience the adventures from a trip to Fantasyland.
You’ll certainly see more dads singing Heigh Ho Heigh Ho than their kids. Be there on time so that you can enter as many rides as possible.
2. Get your Lightning Lane Passes
I highly advise that you get Lightning Lane Passes in time to avoid waiting on long queues. We’ll talk more about Lightning Lane Passes very soon.
3. Have a Cute Outfit
When visiting Fantasyland, I suggest that you dress as comfortably as possible. There’ll be a lot of moving around, crazy rides, and fun pictures.
So, dress nice and comfy with a Disney twist.
4. Budget
Disney prices aren’t new to us so when visiting, we advise that you have a good budget to ensure you can enjoy the rides, get souvenirs, and eat a lot!
Read NEXT: How to Save Money at Walt Disney World
What are the Best Lightning Lane Passes for the rides in Disney’s Fantasyland?
I recommend get a Lightning Lane Pass for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Peter Pan’s Flight.
Lightning Lane Passes are necessary if you don’t want to wait in line for a long time before getting on rides. With these passes, you can skip queues on certain rides.
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Let’s Wrap this Up
I am glad to see the exposure of other Disney classics getting their own attractions in the fantasy park.
I’m particularly happy to see that Belle and Ariel got to have their own area in the expansion.
This section of the park also serves alcohol (without it being a special event) which was a first for the Magic Kingdom in the Be Our Guest Restaurant.
The addition of alcohol caused quite a stir among Disney’s patrons at the time, but I couldn’t have cared less.
I was actually happy that they started doing this. After all, it was only wine and beer and you couldn’t and still can’t leave the restaurant with the drinks.
As always, sharing this with you has been a lot of fun! Makes sure you experience New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom with your loved ones or on a solo trip before the year ends.
Trust me, you’ll be eager to return for more!
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
My name is Nikky. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor, and a writer who loves ALL things amusement park related!
Traveling alone to the parks has changed my life and I want to show how you can create your own solo theme park memories.
Connect with me on Instagram!
(Original Article Date: October 7, 2012/Updated On August 24, 2024)
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