DL New Fantasyland: Happy 30th Anniversary

[Californian Elitist]

New Fantasyland at Disneyland opened thirty years ago today, in 1983. Many changes were made. King Arthur's Carousel was moved back, the Mad Tea Party was placed in a new spot and changes to the circus facades were made, to honor Walt Disney's original wishes for Fantasyland to be a European village, etc. We received Pinocchio's Daring Journey (one of my favorite dark rides) and said goodbye to the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant and Skull Rock. Here's a look back at the original Fantasyland and its journey to what it is now.

Old Fantasyland: Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant

King Arthur's Carousel, the Mad Tea Party and Mickey Mouse Club Theater/Fantasyland Theater:

The Skyway:

Dumbo, with flapping ears!:

Peter Pan, Snow White and Mr. Toad:

New Fantasyland:

The Skyway is gone, but the station is still there:

Peter Pan:

Snow White:

Mr. Toad:

Pinocchio's Daring Journey (replaced the Mickey Mouse Club Theater):

Walt Disney's dedication speech for Fantasyland:


New Fantasyland news footage:


Commercial:


Tony Baxter speaks on the subject:


Just for fun, a clip from "40 Pounds of Trouble" (1962), starring Tony Curtis and Suzanne Pleshette. It shows some great shots of the old Fantasyland:



We love you, Fantasyland!


Photo link:http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/blog/2012/6/21/new-fantasyland-1983.html

 

[lazyboy97o]

It's a real shame this sort of layered density and charm could not be brought to the New Landscapeland in Florida.

 

[Californian Elitist]

It's a real shame this sort of layered density and charm could not be brought to the New Landscapeland in Florida.

Yes, I agree. I thought that was the plan, when I first heard Florida was getting a new Fantasyland. I was surprised to hear they had no plans of changing the facades. I think I heard that was in the original plan, but it was scrapped. Am I correct?

 

[gsrjedi]

I'd kind of like to see Skull Rock and for that to maybe still be around and also the Skyway, but this is one area I'm glad has been updated.

MK definitely needed some new facades to go with New Fantasyland.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

It really is eerie how much it looks like the current WDW Fantasyland!

 

[Figments Friend]

Thank you Raven24 for posting those fantastic images.

I was so impressed with DLs Fantasyland when i first saw it in person in 2007.
The theming of the entire area, with all the intricately crafted buildings and unique facades floored me.
The additonal animations, like the Queen in the window of SWSA and the shadow in the window of Toad Hall was a great touch.

It was a refreshing change from the fairground facades i was already so familiar with at WDW. It immediately made me realize how very special DL is..and size did not matter.
The level of craftmanship, care, and detail work made it bigger then any piece of landspace could do.

Instantly you understood why this Park is so cherished.

 

[Figments Friend]

Tony Baxter speaks on the subject:

Tony Baxter , you da man !

 

[Californian Elitist]

Tony Baxter , you da man !

Yes, he is!

 

[RandomPrincess]

Thank you Raven24 for posting those fantastic images.

I was so impressed with DLs Fantasyland when i first saw it in person in 2007.
The theming of the entire area, with all the intricately crafted buildings and unique facades floored me.
The additonal animations, like the Queen in the window of SWSA and the shadow in the window of Toad Hall was a great touch.

It was a refreshing change from the fairground facades i was already so familiar with at WDW. It immediately made me realize how very special DL is..and size did not matter.
The level of craftmanship, care, and detail work made it bigger then any piece of landspace could do.

Instantly you understood why this Park is so cherished.

I got the opposite view. I was not happy with FL in MK having grown up with DL. It all looked so cheap compared to what I was used to.

 

[momof1princess]

@raven24 thank you for the pictures!

 

[pluto13]

I wish Fantasyland at WDW could be more like Disneyland's Version, and be more magical. Such as, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride should have NEVER been closed, and I wish WDW had the Pinocchio Dark Ride, and also SWSA should have never closed for new Fantasyland. I like New Fantasyland, but SWSA is a classic ride that had been there since opening day.
I also wish WDW'S Mad Tea Party was roofless like Disneyland's Version. Then I wish , we had some other classics like the Matterhorn and Storybook Canal Boats.

 

[Figments Friend]

I would love to see those gorgeously designed facades come to WDWs Fantasyland. They are so well done.

 

[teacherlady19]

When we visited WDW for the first time last summer, we were amazed at Fantasyland there. We hardly did any of the rides. But what *shocked* us was the facade for IASW! We expected the big white front, and got this ... circus like front. We didn't ride it (neither of us wanted the song stuck in our head for the rest of the day). Of course, some of the rest of Fantasyland there was fenced off.


Donna