Allow us to further explore the enchantment of Fantasyland with the Dream Voyage as well as some small rides in the area. The Dream Voyage takes inspiration from Voyage to the Crystal Grotto at Shanghai Disneyland.
25 - Dream Voyage
D-Ticket
Any Height
QUEUE
D-Ticket
Any Height
QUEUE
Behind Bippity Boppity Boutique is a stairway that goes down (an elevator is available for those who can’t go down the stairs.) Guests go down the stairs and into a hidden passage. They walk down a corridor full of doors with Disney characters’ names on them and then through an observatory full of unusual artifacts, including a telescope that views different parts of the park. Eventually, a wizard-in-training will let guests into a library.
PRE-SHOW
Guests enter a circular library with a mirror in the middle of it. Once the room is full, the wizard-in-training will leave the room and the doors will close. Soon, the lights in the room will start to dim as the mirror comes to life. Inside is Merlin, the wisecracking wizard from Sword in the Stone. After his entrance, he will speak.
Merlin: “Ah, welcome guests. Welcome, indeed. I see that you’ve been directed into my private library. I’m sorry I can’t meet you in person right now but I am very busy enchanting these boats.”
He then looks around and realizes that the guests probably don’t know what he’s talking about.
Merlin: “Oh, you weren’t told why you were here? No worries. I can do that for you. This castle, as you know, is connected by magic. All of the princesses, heroes, and the Magic Guild reside here. As you all know, these people have very inspiring and interesting stories to tell. As tribute to those people, the wizards have created these colorful sculptures that tell their stories. But why are we doing this? Why would a bunch of wizards pay homage to legends? You see, there is a place under the castle where the power of dreams comes to life, something we’ve recently discovered. There, the magic is stronger than anywhere else in the kingdom. The good news is that I am already there, sending enchanted boats to come and pick you up. From there, it’ll all be smooth sailing. After this, you’ll never see your favorite fables the same way again.”
He scratches his chin and looks around some more.
Merlin: “Enough talking. The important thing is that you’re here, you’re going to see all of these statues telling stories, and then you’ll see the stories come to life in the cave. With all that said and done, it’s time for you to board the boats. Let’s go! I’ll see you soon.”
Merlin then vanishes from the mirror and a library bookshelf opens up. Guests walk out of that and into a loading area, which looks like an underground dock. There, they board a long boat, like an extended Jungle Cruise boat, but with no driver, ten rows of seats, and it is given a more colorful design. Guests then board the boat and sit down, waiting to leave the dock.
Merlin: “Ah, welcome guests. Welcome, indeed. I see that you’ve been directed into my private library. I’m sorry I can’t meet you in person right now but I am very busy enchanting these boats.”
He then looks around and realizes that the guests probably don’t know what he’s talking about.
Merlin: “Oh, you weren’t told why you were here? No worries. I can do that for you. This castle, as you know, is connected by magic. All of the princesses, heroes, and the Magic Guild reside here. As you all know, these people have very inspiring and interesting stories to tell. As tribute to those people, the wizards have created these colorful sculptures that tell their stories. But why are we doing this? Why would a bunch of wizards pay homage to legends? You see, there is a place under the castle where the power of dreams comes to life, something we’ve recently discovered. There, the magic is stronger than anywhere else in the kingdom. The good news is that I am already there, sending enchanted boats to come and pick you up. From there, it’ll all be smooth sailing. After this, you’ll never see your favorite fables the same way again.”
He scratches his chin and looks around some more.
Merlin: “Enough talking. The important thing is that you’re here, you’re going to see all of these statues telling stories, and then you’ll see the stories come to life in the cave. With all that said and done, it’s time for you to board the boats. Let’s go! I’ll see you soon.”
Merlin then vanishes from the mirror and a library bookshelf opens up. Guests walk out of that and into a loading area, which looks like an underground dock. There, they board a long boat, like an extended Jungle Cruise boat, but with no driver, ten rows of seats, and it is given a more colorful design. Guests then board the boat and sit down, waiting to leave the dock.
RIDE EXPERIENCE
The boat begins to move as Merlin’s voice comes from overhead:
Merlin: “Now that you have boarded your boat, we shall begin our journey. You are about to leave this cave and go into the River of Dreams, something I named myself. You shall sail along this river and see many sculptures of your favorite stories. As we are out here, keep your hands, feet, arms, and legs inside the boat at all times for your own safety. Enjoy your voyage!”
The boats go out of the cave and into the light of day. A small forest is all around them, hiding the majority of Fantasyland from their view.
On the left, guests see a sculpture of Belle and the Beast in a rose garden with Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts watching. Water fountains surround this as an instrumental version of “Something There” plays in the background.
Merlin: “Here we are at our first sculpture, the tale of Beauty and the Beast. This French fairytale is a story of love and learning to get past others’ differences. Above all that however, it is the classic saying of not to judge a book by its cover. In other words, what we feel in our hearts is more important than what we see with our eyes. A good lesson well said.”
The boat moves past that and goes towards another sculpture of a bayou. Ariel (in human form) and Prince Eric are in a boat while Sebastian is on a rock. Meanwhile, some fish and Flouder are spitting water upwards. An instrumental version of “Kiss the Girl” is heard in the background.
Merlin: “Now here’s a story about desire. The Little Mermaid, a classic story about a mermaid who wants to be a human, is a tale of love, hope, and desire. This story teaches us that a happy ending, no matter how improbable it may seem, is always in reach, even if it’s a world away.”
The boats turn a corner and see a cloud on their right, and on that cloud is Aladdin (dressed as Prince Ali) and Jasmine. In a fountain and surrounded by lights, the carpet moves up and down in the air. An instrumental version of “A Whole New World” plays in the background.
Merlin: “How about an underdog story? You wouldn’t expect a Diamond in the Rough to become Sultan, no? Well, the story of Aladdin proves that theory wrong. No matter where you start out, there’s no telling where you can end up. Even though he was changed on the outside, he learned that it was on the inside that mattered more. That is how he did it. That is how he won the princess’s heart.”
The boat goes a little while and then makes another turn. To the left, a river boat is sailing with water coming out of its smokestacks, and on it are Tiana and Naveen in frog form. In the meantime, Louis blows out of a trumpet that squirts water off the boat (but nobody gets wet.) An instrumental version of “Down in New Orleans” plays in the background.
Merlin: “Here’s a more modern take on a classic story. The Princess and the Frog is a story about believing in your dreams and noticing the important things in life. Tiana worked hard to get her restaurant, but she worked so hard on it that she forgot the important things in life. Through a magical adventure through the bayou, however, she would learn that there is more to life than work, but more important things like love and laughter.”
The boat goes down the river, where lanterns are seen floating, surrounding Rapunzel and Flynn Rider in a boat. Water squirts around it as “At Last I See the Light” plays instrumentally in the background.
Merlin: “Now here’s a story about breaking away from what holds us back. Based on an old Brothers Grimm tale, Tangled tells the story of Rapunzel, a young woman who wants to set herself free from what keeps her back in order to find her dream. In the process, she meets a charming scoundrel, whom she later falls in love with, and reunites with her long-lost family.”
The boat turns around again. In the corner is a Chinese pavilion, where Mulan is riding Kahn the horse and Mush is nearby. An instrumental version of “Reflection” plays in the background as water dances around.
Merlin: “How about a famous Chinese legend? Mulan tells the story of a young woman who takes her father’s place in the military and fights for her country. Defying the cultural aspects that placed women below men, she was able to prove herself a worthy hero, saving all of China and making her father proud. If there is one thing we can take away from this, it’s that there is a hero in us all, even if others don’t see it.”
On the left of the boat is a Greek-columned temple with a fountain in it. Appearing as if he were flying is Pegasus, who is carrying Hercules and Phil. An instrumental version of “Go the Distance” plays in the background as the fountain squirts out water around the statue.
Merlin: “Moving from Ancient China to Ancient Greece, we come upon the story of Hercules. This tells the story of a demigod living in exile who must prove himself to be a true hero in order to return to his home on Mount Olympus. As he would learn later on, being a true hero comes from the heart, not from strength. In a way, that makes a lot of us true heroes.”
Last but not least, guests come across a fountain on the left. On the top of it is a cliff, where Mickey is directing the waves. In the meantime, brooms and dumping water on the center of the fountain.
Merlin: “Now here’s a story about imagination…...but also taking consequences for our actions. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a story about how one particular mouse uses his imagination to conjure up great things, but the results are not what he expects. Able to bring a broomstick to life and do his work, he is unable to make it stop. Things go too far, but this would teach him a lesson to be careful when handling powerful forces beyond his understanding.”
The boat goes through the forest through some eerie silence. As the boats approach the castle, Merlin breaks this silence.
Merlin: “So now you’ve seen all these stories and all the lessons you can learn from there. Now, prepare to see it all come to life here in this magical cave.”
The boats go into the cave after Merlin makes these words. Music fills the cavern as the music of Alan Menken (Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, The Little Mermaid and Hercules), Randy Newman (The Princess and the Frog), Matthew Wilder (Mulan), and Leopold Stokowski (Fantasia, which features The Sorcerer’s Apprentice). As the music of all these films play, the walls light up with these stories. Soon, the boats go by Merlin himself, who appears as an Audio-Animatronic. He appears on the right, speaking to guests as they pass.
Merlin: “Now do you see? The magic of these stories is alive in this cave. Such a wonderful thing, it is. You’ve seen these stories, and now you’ve seen them in a new way. Each one has a lesson to be learned. Each one has its own world. However, they are all united in harmony here. Now that you have seen this wonderful place, I will send you back to the castle.”
Merlin flicks his wand once he says these things. The boat goes through a tunnel of magical light before re-emerging in the docks. As it heads to the docks, Merlin says some parting words.
Merlin: “I hope you have enjoyed this Dream Voyage. I hope that you will come again soon. Now, it is time to depart from the boat. When it comes to a stop, you will exit the boat and get on the dock. Do enjoy the rest of your day! Goodbye!”
The boat comes to a complete stop at a dock and the guests disembark. From there, they take a secret passageway out of the castle, spitting them out in the Tournament area of Fantasyland.
Merlin: “Now that you have boarded your boat, we shall begin our journey. You are about to leave this cave and go into the River of Dreams, something I named myself. You shall sail along this river and see many sculptures of your favorite stories. As we are out here, keep your hands, feet, arms, and legs inside the boat at all times for your own safety. Enjoy your voyage!”
The boats go out of the cave and into the light of day. A small forest is all around them, hiding the majority of Fantasyland from their view.
On the left, guests see a sculpture of Belle and the Beast in a rose garden with Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts watching. Water fountains surround this as an instrumental version of “Something There” plays in the background.
Merlin: “Here we are at our first sculpture, the tale of Beauty and the Beast. This French fairytale is a story of love and learning to get past others’ differences. Above all that however, it is the classic saying of not to judge a book by its cover. In other words, what we feel in our hearts is more important than what we see with our eyes. A good lesson well said.”
The boat moves past that and goes towards another sculpture of a bayou. Ariel (in human form) and Prince Eric are in a boat while Sebastian is on a rock. Meanwhile, some fish and Flouder are spitting water upwards. An instrumental version of “Kiss the Girl” is heard in the background.
Merlin: “Now here’s a story about desire. The Little Mermaid, a classic story about a mermaid who wants to be a human, is a tale of love, hope, and desire. This story teaches us that a happy ending, no matter how improbable it may seem, is always in reach, even if it’s a world away.”
The boats turn a corner and see a cloud on their right, and on that cloud is Aladdin (dressed as Prince Ali) and Jasmine. In a fountain and surrounded by lights, the carpet moves up and down in the air. An instrumental version of “A Whole New World” plays in the background.
Merlin: “How about an underdog story? You wouldn’t expect a Diamond in the Rough to become Sultan, no? Well, the story of Aladdin proves that theory wrong. No matter where you start out, there’s no telling where you can end up. Even though he was changed on the outside, he learned that it was on the inside that mattered more. That is how he did it. That is how he won the princess’s heart.”
The boat goes a little while and then makes another turn. To the left, a river boat is sailing with water coming out of its smokestacks, and on it are Tiana and Naveen in frog form. In the meantime, Louis blows out of a trumpet that squirts water off the boat (but nobody gets wet.) An instrumental version of “Down in New Orleans” plays in the background.
Merlin: “Here’s a more modern take on a classic story. The Princess and the Frog is a story about believing in your dreams and noticing the important things in life. Tiana worked hard to get her restaurant, but she worked so hard on it that she forgot the important things in life. Through a magical adventure through the bayou, however, she would learn that there is more to life than work, but more important things like love and laughter.”
The boat goes down the river, where lanterns are seen floating, surrounding Rapunzel and Flynn Rider in a boat. Water squirts around it as “At Last I See the Light” plays instrumentally in the background.
Merlin: “Now here’s a story about breaking away from what holds us back. Based on an old Brothers Grimm tale, Tangled tells the story of Rapunzel, a young woman who wants to set herself free from what keeps her back in order to find her dream. In the process, she meets a charming scoundrel, whom she later falls in love with, and reunites with her long-lost family.”
The boat turns around again. In the corner is a Chinese pavilion, where Mulan is riding Kahn the horse and Mush is nearby. An instrumental version of “Reflection” plays in the background as water dances around.
Merlin: “How about a famous Chinese legend? Mulan tells the story of a young woman who takes her father’s place in the military and fights for her country. Defying the cultural aspects that placed women below men, she was able to prove herself a worthy hero, saving all of China and making her father proud. If there is one thing we can take away from this, it’s that there is a hero in us all, even if others don’t see it.”
On the left of the boat is a Greek-columned temple with a fountain in it. Appearing as if he were flying is Pegasus, who is carrying Hercules and Phil. An instrumental version of “Go the Distance” plays in the background as the fountain squirts out water around the statue.
Merlin: “Moving from Ancient China to Ancient Greece, we come upon the story of Hercules. This tells the story of a demigod living in exile who must prove himself to be a true hero in order to return to his home on Mount Olympus. As he would learn later on, being a true hero comes from the heart, not from strength. In a way, that makes a lot of us true heroes.”
Last but not least, guests come across a fountain on the left. On the top of it is a cliff, where Mickey is directing the waves. In the meantime, brooms and dumping water on the center of the fountain.
Merlin: “Now here’s a story about imagination…...but also taking consequences for our actions. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a story about how one particular mouse uses his imagination to conjure up great things, but the results are not what he expects. Able to bring a broomstick to life and do his work, he is unable to make it stop. Things go too far, but this would teach him a lesson to be careful when handling powerful forces beyond his understanding.”
The boat goes through the forest through some eerie silence. As the boats approach the castle, Merlin breaks this silence.
Merlin: “So now you’ve seen all these stories and all the lessons you can learn from there. Now, prepare to see it all come to life here in this magical cave.”
The boats go into the cave after Merlin makes these words. Music fills the cavern as the music of Alan Menken (Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, The Little Mermaid and Hercules), Randy Newman (The Princess and the Frog), Matthew Wilder (Mulan), and Leopold Stokowski (Fantasia, which features The Sorcerer’s Apprentice). As the music of all these films play, the walls light up with these stories. Soon, the boats go by Merlin himself, who appears as an Audio-Animatronic. He appears on the right, speaking to guests as they pass.
Merlin: “Now do you see? The magic of these stories is alive in this cave. Such a wonderful thing, it is. You’ve seen these stories, and now you’ve seen them in a new way. Each one has a lesson to be learned. Each one has its own world. However, they are all united in harmony here. Now that you have seen this wonderful place, I will send you back to the castle.”
Merlin flicks his wand once he says these things. The boat goes through a tunnel of magical light before re-emerging in the docks. As it heads to the docks, Merlin says some parting words.
Merlin: “I hope you have enjoyed this Dream Voyage. I hope that you will come again soon. Now, it is time to depart from the boat. When it comes to a stop, you will exit the boat and get on the dock. Do enjoy the rest of your day! Goodbye!”
The boat comes to a complete stop at a dock and the guests disembark. From there, they take a secret passageway out of the castle, spitting them out in the Tournament area of Fantasyland.
26 - Dumbo the Flying Elephant
B-Ticket
Any Height
B-Ticket
Any Height
Fly about Fantasyland in your own flying elephant. Behind the carousel is a circus where two sets of flying elephants soar in a circle. This mirrors the Magic Kingdom version of the ride, but it’s more colorful in tone.
27 - Merlin’s Carousel
A-Ticket
Any Height
A-Ticket
Any Height
With these enchanted horses, take a ride around this lovely carousel based off of The Sword in the Stone. When you go around, the horses will bounce up and down. A perfect ride for all ages, this is at the heart of the castle courtyard, right next to an actual sword in the stone. If you’re feeling lucky, you can try to pull it out.
Join us tomorrow as we view the dark ride duo of this tournament area, Peter Pan's Flight and the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Join us tomorrow as we view the dark ride duo of this tournament area, Peter Pan's Flight and the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.