New Fantasyland-Largest Expansion of the MK, really?

[steve2wdw]

I noticed on the Disney Parks Blog, that they're touting the 1st Anniversary of the New Fantasyland, the largest expansion in MK history. To me, that may just be a technicality (as far as actual land development), because when the Tomorrowland expansion opened in late '74-early '75, that expansion included Space Mountain, Carousel of Progress, The Starjets, and finally (opening in mid-'75), the WEDway PeopleMover. Compared to the new offerings in the New FL, I'd give the largest expansion title to TL '75.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

It's not even an expansion, but a reclamation and reuse of previously used areas.

 

[doctornick]

It's not even an expansion, but a reclamation and reuse of previously used areas.

The BatB area is all new in terms of being "onstage" and accessible for guests.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

The BatB area is all new in terms of being "onstage" and accessible for guests.

Good point.


But then we must also factor in the contraction of making half of former Snow a backstage CM area.

 

[James122]

I might be wrong on this, but I believe that New Fantasyland doesn't even add any additional acreage to the Magic Kingdom, since they built it on land that used to be Mickey's Toontown Fair.

 

[danlb_2000]

I might be wrong on this, but I believe that New Fantasyland doesn't even add any additional acreage to the Magic Kingdom, since they built it on land that used to be Mickey's Toontown Fair.

Yeah, this is where the definition of "expansion" gets tricky. Do we consider Toontown as expansion? Yes the Dumbo area is new, but the tent area is more of a refurb then an expansion.

 

[Rob562]

I might be wrong on this, but I believe that New Fantasyland doesn't even add any additional acreage to the Magic Kingdom, since they built it on land that used to be Mickey's Toontown Fair.

Most of the Beauty and the Beast areas were backstage areas before, even when 20K was in operation. It was either unused space (Enchanted Tales and Be Our Guest) or the maintenance areas for the subs (bathrooms and Gaston's Tavern).

-Rob

 

[Buck]

Yep. Deal with it.

 

[bhg469]

Yep. Deal with it.

Awfully salty for a pixi duster, no?

 

[lazyboy97o]

Yep. Deal with it.

Except as has been pointed out, it is not. Do you consider it an expansion of your house if you don't use a room for a few years and then start using it again? Is remodeling a room considered an expansion? The actual expansion area is quite small.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Except as has been pointed out, it is not. Do you consider it an expansion of your house if you don't use a room for a few years and then start using it again? Is remodeling a room considered an expansion? The actual expansion area is quite small.

That's a good way to put it. If that is the case, I cleaned out half my attic and I'm considering it an extension.

 

[jdmdisney99]

Except as has been pointed out, it is not. Do you consider it an expansion of your house if you don't use a room for a few years and then start using it again? Is remodeling a room considered an expansion? The actual expansion area is quite small.

Let's compare...
TL '75

FL '09

Compared to...

The FL expansion was really only as big as Space Mountain alone.

(Note: All above images are at same distance)

 

[Cesar R M]

the new coaster was build above a small pond?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

the new coaster was build above a small pond?

a) that "pond" was anything but small, it was half of 20K
b) the area was filled in years before NFL started construction

 

[Hakunamatata]

They contracted so they could expand. Sort of like increasing prices so you can slash them or passing something so you can find out what's in it.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

And there's still a Fantasyland Contraction in regard to attractions. 20k, Skyway and Snow for Mermaid and Mine Train.

And Duckburg for Belle's Nameless Village is not much of an improvement either.


This FL expansion delivers even less real expansion than that $69.95 email offer of Russian pills I ordered.

 

[steve2wdw]

I'm thinking about this expansion as "attraction expansion". We're talking four attractions (TL) vs two (NFL), then subtract SWSA and we're down to one. Then top it off with attraction capacity, and they're really off the mark. I'm not bothering to look at 20L or Skyway, as they've been gone too long. At today's dollars, I'm sure that the TL redo cost more than the NFL.

 

[marni1971]

Spin from the PR department. Trying to polish it up a bit to sound good.

Tomorrowland was larger. Not to mention mostly built on Virgin land, not previously used park acreage.

 

[loxley44]

Don't forget the Tangled Bathrooms!

 

[Hakunamatata]

I'm thinking about this expansion as "attraction expansion". We're talking four attractions (TL) vs two (NFL), then subtract SWSA and we're down to one. Then top it off with attraction capacity, and they're really off the mark. I'm not bothering to look at 20L or Skyway, as they've been gone too long. At today's dollars, I'm sure that the TL redo cost more than the NFL.

20L was built in the day when attractions were built with capacity an afterthought to creativity.