D23 Spring Edition Reveals Dumbo Coaster Theme and Hints at Anniversary Celebration!

WDW Vacationer

Active Member
Original Poster
According to ,the D23 Spring edition states that the Barnstormer will be re-themed to clowns. They also quote the D23 article saying:

-And-drumroll please-Fantasyland forest won’t be limited to four neighborhoods for very long. Although the new expansion is slated to open in the fall of 2012, at the tail end of Walt Disney World’s 40th anniversary celebration, Imagineers already have their eyes on 2013, when Pixie Hollow will bring Tinker Bell and her fairy friends to Fantasyland Forest in the expansion’s second phase.

Which alludes that Disney is planning for something for WDW's 40th.

Here is the full article,from :
The Spring 2010 issue of Disney Twenty-Three magazine features a huge article on the Fantasyland Forest expansion (as it is now being referred to according to the article), featuring some never before released details on the project. Here are just a few interesting notes from the article that should be arriving in members mailboxes any day now:

-In early 2006, Walt Disney Imagineering’s Eric Jacobson, creative lead for the Walt Disney World portfolio, and members of WDI’s Blue Sky Studio, led by Jon Georges, began brainstorming new E-ticket-like attractions for the Magic Kingdom. Imagineering’s creative leaders quickly determined that a bold reimagining of Fantasyland would have a far greater and longer-lasting impact on the Magic Kingdom experience than any one E-ticket attraction could ever hope to make.

-That physical separation is a stone wall that will lead from Fantasyland proper into a heavily forested realm that will be far more organic and natural than the bricks, mortar, and asphalt of the existing land. “The expansion area won’t be built over the Utilidor,” Eric says, “so we’re able to plant trees and create water features, which we were never able to do with the rest of Fantasyland.”

-The expansion, which has come to be known as Fantasyland Forest, will provide more fully realized homes for such longtime Magic Kingdom residents as Ariel and Dumbo as well as make room for some new additions to the neighborhood, from Belle and east to Tinker Bell and the fairies of Pixie Hollow. And that was part of the Imagineering team’s goal from the beginning.

-”Our anchor is the Little Mermaid,” Jon explains. “The centerpiece of that area is Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, an E-ticket attraction we codeveloped with the Disney’s California Adventure expansion team. It’s a ride-through experience that celebrates the characters and music from the animated classic.” And true to Imagineering’s goal to create the most immersive fantasy environments possible, the attraction is housed in an elaborately and highly detailed rockwork grotto behind a fully rendered version of Prince Eric’s castle from the film.

-The Beauty and the Beast area is composed of three major show elements. The first is Enchanted Tales with Belle, one of three fairy-tale experiences created for Fantasyland Forest. The adventure begins when guests arrive at Maurice’s cottage, where they step through an enchanted mirror and are magically transported to the Beast’s library for an interactive storytelling session with Belle. At the Be Our Guest Restaurant, guests are invited to dine inside the Beast’s castle in one of three fully rendered environments, including a faithful re-creation of the ballroom. And once outside the castle, guests can explore Belle’s Village, an entire corner of the expansion area that includes Gaston’s Tavern.

-Dreams Come True with Cinderella takes place within the Tremaine Chateau from the 1950 film, and A Birthday Surprise for Sleeping Beauty is tucked away inside Briar Rose Cottage, deep within a lush, Eyvind Earle-inspired forest. “Cinderella’s Chateau is fully realized,” Jon explains. “When you step through the doors of that attraction, your interaction is immediate. You arrive at the moment she realizes she won’t be going to the ball, and her dress will transform from rags to a ball gown before your eyes, and then she’ll step down and have a 15-minute interaction with the guests.” For the Sleeping Beauty experience, that entry point happens as Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather prepare to celebrate Briar Rose’s 16th birthday, smack dab in the middle of the action from the original film. Guests are treated to all sorts of interactive fairy magic inside the cottage, with Aurora herself as the guest of honor.

-”You know, the ability to go to Cinderella’s Chateau and Belle’s Cottage to meet them is very exciting. As Imagineers. we don’t get to build those kinds of iconic locations very often. We’re going to look at this model as our template for other Fantasylands world-wide as we build new Magic Kingdom’s around the world”

-The final area, or neighborhood, is Dumbo’s Circus, which will relocate Dumbo the Flying Elephant from it’s current location and-get this, patient parents-double capacity by adding a second attraction, effectively cutting guests’ wait time in half! Imagineers are also air-conditioning the entire experience by moving the queue indoors-under the big top, as it were. “We’ll provide a fully immersive circus environment inside Dumbo’s Big Top,” says Jon, “where guests are invited to engage in a series of interactive experiences, from sideshow acts to carnival midway games, while they wait. We really endeavored to begin the guest experience the moment they entered the queue.” The Dumbo area, built on the former site of Mickey’s Toontown Fair, will also absorb Goofy’s Barnstormer and transform it into a Dumbo-centric, clown themed coaster.

-And-drumroll please-Fantasyland forest won’t be limited to four neighborhoods for very long. Although the new expansion is slated to open in the fall of 2012, at the tail end of Walt Disney World’s 40th anniversary celebration, Imagineers already have their eyes on 2013, when Pixie Hollow will bring Tinker Bell and her fairy friends to Fantasyland Forest in the expansion’s second phase.

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Categories: D23, The Magic Kingdom
 

Exprcoofto

New Member
So the article is claiming that Dumbo is going to be next to Barnstormer which will have a clown overlay. Should we still go by the blue prints? :shrug:

Glad to hear some indication of a 40th Celebration. If it's going to come at the tail end of it, I'm guessing the 40th will start in October 2011 and last all through 2012, however, what does this mean for the other portion of 2011? Extension of WWYC?
 

WDW Vacationer

Active Member
Original Poster
This is especially great news. I'll add more later to clarify.
Great news indeed!
So the article is claiming that Dumbo is going to be next to Barnstormer which will have a clown overlay. Should we still go by the blue prints? :shrug:

Glad to hear some indication of a 40th Celebration. If it's going to come at the tail end of it, I'm guessing the 40th will start in October 2011 and last all through 2012, however, what does this mean for the other portion of 2011? Extension of WWYC?

I'd rather see it last all if 2011. So Jan-Dec 2011.
 

tiaragirl

Well-Known Member
Ah, exciting! THanks for sharing!

The princess cottages seem like they will be very well done, I'm anxious to see that section. :) And the Little Mermaid too, of course.

Bu.. Clowns? Really?
 

wm49rs

A naughty bit o' crumpet
Premium Member
Well now, D23 being allowed to break some more news. Nice.....:)

Sounds like there will definitely be a good deal afoot over the next few years. Hold onto your hats....
 

jt04

Well-Known Member
So the article is claiming that Dumbo is going to be next to Barnstormer which will have a clown overlay. Should we still go by the blue prints? :shrug:

Glad to hear some indication of a 40th Celebration. If it's going to come at the tail end of it, I'm guessing the 40th will start in October 2011 and last all through 2012, however, what does this mean for the other portion of 2011? Extension of WWYC?

OK, just wanted to add I think the clown overlay is perfect. And this further cements my sense that the "backstory" is absolutely rooted in European folklore and fantasy. I know they are using the word "clown" but I think they should go with an old school "jester" motif. I think that would provide more of a slightly dangerous atmosphere to the roller coaster. More like SWSA than Pooh to counter the upbeat Dumbo ride.

And it is great to know Imagineering is using the Fantasyland Forest working title. This project is really well thought out. Great stuff.

I just had a look at some very recent TWWoHP pics and Disney has to up their game. Because they have been surpassed for the first time ever aesthetically speaking. Amazing stuff.
 

EPCOT Explorer

New Member
Hee hee. :D This makes me very happy. I love it when D23 actually does something that's "active" in the community- breaking news.


LOVE that we are getting intel on the 40th. Sounds like it will be a promotion, and it WILL circle around this, which makes a ton of sense, given, there has been info on a Fantasy 40th theme. :D



VERY excited.
 

Exprcoofto

New Member
Finally they reveal the coaster idea! :sohappy:

And especially an idea of what to expect in the future. :D


But it's the prospect of WDW getting a 40th Anniversary Celebration... will it be one of those year-long themes or a sub-theme?

Hopefully, it would be the year-long theme. It has been a LONG time since WDW had a full theme devoted to a special milestone. :)

If their saying Fall of 2012 is the tail end of the celebration, than that would make it over a year (coming as if it started when the 40th takes place, Oct 2011)
 

wm49rs

A naughty bit o' crumpet
Premium Member
OK, just wanted to add I think the clown overlay is perfect. And this further cements my sense that the "backstory" is absolutely rooted in European folklore and fantasy. I know they are using the word "clown" but I think they should go with an old school "jester" motif. I think that would provide more of a slightly dangerous atmosphere to the roller coaster. More like SWSA than Pooh to counter the upbeat Dumbo ride.

And it is great to know Imagineering is using the Fantasyland Forest working title. This project is really well thought out. Great stuff.

I just had a look at some very recent TWWoHP pics and Disney has to up their game. Because they have been surpassed for the first time ever aesthetically speaking. Amazing stuff.

The court jester was indeed a viable and even important part of European monarchy until as late as the 19th century, although the Puritans that overthrew Charles I of England did away with them. So in the motifs being described here, the concept of a "jester" or or a court "fool" would fit in wonderfully with what it seems FL will develop into. Good call, Jt.....
 

EPCOT Explorer

New Member
Ah, exciting! THanks for sharing!

The princess cottages seem like they will be very well done, I'm anxious to see that section. :) And the Little Mermaid too, of course.

Bu.. Clowns? Really?
Clowns from Dumbo. You know, the fire scene? Cool idea. :D
Thats what I thought would've happened. Unless it goes for a 2 year celebration. Jan 2011 - Dec 2012 :shrug:

Oct 2012= EPCOT's 30th. :D :lookaroun


They could acknowledge that, too.
 

_Scar

Active Member
I'm so glad they confirm they co-imagineered TLM attraction with DCA's team instead of just "taking" it.

Also, I adore the name Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid! Specifically Under the Sea! I can see it now... "Hey, let's go Under the Sea!"

And the sleeping beauty M&G still seems like a show of some kind with the three good fairies.
 

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
Not a lot of new information here, but it's good to see the clown theme clarified. It also makes the newly released model image seemingly more accurate.

I'll be sure to update the rumors thread as needed.
 

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