FANTASIA GARDENS – A Lengthy Brainstorm
Sometimes when inspiration strikes, it strikes hard (with a little help from Wikipedia). Here is a list of ideas for how the Fantasia films can be incorporated into Fantasia Gardens in the style of a Main Street entry land:
General Subject
Fantasia is about classical music, and it is hosted within a concert hall. One idea is to do a variation on Main Street’s City Hall as a
Concert Hall. Here in the “Town Square” area, architecture can be more real world (within the land’s general tone), then transition to fantastical as guests near the castle. Below is the
Philadelphia Academy of Music where the film’s score was recorded. Its form could easily be redone in Neoclassical style to fit the “Greek garden” feel of Fantasia Gardens.
Another option for inspiration is
Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, a Frank Gehry design. Something like this could maybe work in the Opera House location, able to host live musical shows and events (not necessarily at the same scale as the Gehry original). Maybe something like Mickey’s Philharmagic in here. Gehry’s materials are way too modernist, but his shapes could be done instead as rockwork, like a naturally-forming symphony hall. In fact, rockwork throughout Fantasia Gardens could hide subtle musical instruments, like the many animal shapes around DAK's Tree of Life.
The Fantasia roadshow played at
Carthay Circle, though that wasn’t where it premiered. (New York City’s Broadway Theater doesn’t fit our style at all.) I only bring up this restaurant because it’s been cloned from DCA into Shanghai Disneyland. Might feel out-of-place here though?
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor and
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony
Two abstract animations which open both films. Nothing here suggests landscaping or architecture, so instead their look could form the basis for the interior of a shop or a restaurant. (Naturally, each venue features its respective music.)
Nutcracker Suite
Dancing fairies who represent the fall and winter. Dancing Arabian fish. Dancing Chinese mushrooms. Dancing Russian thistles. There are plenty of distinct characters and scenes here, all nature-themed. My idea is to sub-divide a larger Emporium shop into sections based on these various segments. Interior finishes resemble nature; the building’s architecture outside needn’t reflect Nutcracker, but can continue the concert/Greek aesthetics.
Also, there’s the Nutcracker Suite room in the castle as we’ve discussed long ago.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
This is the main theme for the castle itself, complete with boat ride! Castle shops which before had a broader Fantasia theme, I think they could be rethemed to Sorcerer’s Apprentice. So a Yen Sid’s Observatory shop, and a Broom Closet shop, as examples.
The Rite of Spring
@mickeyfan5534’s idea for this to be the train’s “Primeval World” dinosaur stand-in…that is simply
perfect!
Meet the Soundtrack
This is a cute little Fantasia intermission with an anthropomorphized sound line. This could be the grist for a really fun interactive exhibit attraction somewhat like Turtle Talk!
Pastoral Symphony
The Greek landscape informs the land’s whole look. Additionally, how about a restaurant like Bacchus’s Feast, full of wine and celebration? Vulcan’s Smithy, a shop for the blacksmith who fashions Zeus’s lightning bolts. And a charming variation on Carnation Gardens based on the gardens of the centaurs, fawns and cupids…Centaur Gardens?
Dance of the Hours
Ballet in a Greco-Roman temple featuring crocodiles, hippos, elephants and ostriches! This piece’s architecture fits the land like a glove. It seems another good shop setting to me.
Night on Bald Mountain
It’s featured prominently in Villains Land. Not featured here!
Ave Maria
Could be a remote garden side path, under a calm tree canopy where distant screens show pilgrims passing by. The most out-of-the-way spot, like Snow White’s Wishing Well. Very tranquil.
Pines of Rome
Humpback whales swimming around icebergs in the sky! Ummm…this one’s pretty weird. How about a shop
inside a whale like this one at DisneySea:
Rhapsody in Blue
1930s New York drawn in the style of Al Hirschfield. This is a wonderful segment – Fantasia 2000’s best – but it’s best kept in a distinct indoors location, for how atypical it is visually. Shop or restaurant. That’s all I got.
Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2
AKA The Steadfast Tin Soldier. It features a quaint toy store setting from a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. We’ve already made a version of this for Fantasyland’s castle, so I suggest we simply port it into Fantasia Gardens.
The Carnival of the Animals
Flamingos playing with yo-yos! How about a real live flamingo pool, like Animal Kingdom would do, as a feature in the garden paths! Add live yo-yo performers for streetmosphere.
Pomp and Circumstance
This is the one where Donald is an assistant on Noah’s Ark. Obvious building idea there, and a great place for a plush shop. Only issue: Do we really want to court controversy with Noah’s Ark?! If it isn’t handled tastefully by Disney, I fear people could take offense. Thoughts?
Firebird Suite
Features a nature Sprite and an elk making the forest grow. Features the volcanic Firebird causing destruction. (Disney’s animators must’ve liked Princess Mononoke!) This would be another great addition to the garden path area, possibly a walkthrough attraction covering the entire story of death and rebirth.
Claire du Lune
This was animated for Fantasia, edited out and later added to Make Mine Music instead. Features herons in the Florida everglades. Would work wonderfully as another live animal exhibit near the flamingos.
*****
That covers pretty much everything from the Fantasias. Here are some additional thoughts, just because I cannot shut up:
Floral Mickey with Sorcerer’s hat.
Entry under the train tracks…In Disneyland it’s a cinematic device. In Fantasia Gardens, it’s passing through curtains, like the start of a concert.
A variation on the Partners statue: Mickey in his sorcerer getup, and Walt atop a platform with baton ready to conduct an orchestra.
The land can feature not only of the famous Fantasia music, but also other classical pieces which have been considered for Fantasia: Moto Perpetuo, Troika, Cydalise et le Chevre-pied, Ride of the Valkyries, The Swan of Tuonela, Invitation to the Dance, Schwanda the Bagpiper, Flight of the Bumblebee, La Mer, Strauss’s Don Quixote, Pictures at an Exhibition, Finlandia. Basically, the world’s greatest musical loop!
Additionally, streetmosphere: There’s a lot of ballet in Fantasia, so costumed dancers appear to perform throughout the day. The traditional Main Street Marching Band functions largely the same, but with a concert hall makeover.
Other than the train station, what of transportation in this land? The Main Street Vehicles equivalent? Are horse-drawn carriages in the Greek style sufficient? Does anyone else have suggestions for this?
As for merch…Could guests buy a magical (i.e. RFID) Sorcerer’s hat, one which brings the land’s interactive elements to life? And lets them play music? I’m thinking similar to the Potter wands, of course.
And…that’s all I’ve got!
Opening's going to be interesting.... 
