Storybook Circus Discussion

[RSoxNo1]

Some more info courtesy of the disney Park Blog:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/06/a-new-look-at-storybook-circus-at-magic-kingdom-park/

I know it’s going to be a great week on the Disney Parks Blog when I get to start by posting a new Fantasyland update. Today I’m happy to share new details on the Storybook Circus area that’s planned as part of the new Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom Park.

With all the updates we’ve done on the “royal” side of the Fantasyland expansion – Beast’s Castle, Maurice’s Cottage and Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid – the plans for Storybook Circus seemed to be a bit more mysterious. Until now.

Storybook Circus will be based on our animated film, “Dumbo.” Here, Casey Jr., the famous locomotive from the movie, has rolled into town and brought the grand Storybook Circus with him. The area will be filled with colorful circus tents and nods to the famous film. For example, guests – especially little ones – are welcome to cool down with Casey Jr., who can be found near the train station, getting splashed by playful circus animals.

Just past Casey Jr., guests will encounter big-top circus tents that lead to a “double” version of Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Also, in the tradition of classic air shows, Barnstormer will take on a new look and theme, becoming a spiraling stunt plane built by The Great Goofini.

What do you think? Will you be there when the circus comes to town?

 

[Jakester]

1st comment.

And im looking foward to it. it will be nice to see the new area

 

[sshindel]

Soooo, pretty much no new info at all there.

I still wonder why there is no mention at all as to what is in the tents. I mean, looking at that picture they take up half of the concept art, and I see not 2 (as current), but 4 tent tops over on the left hand side of the photo.

I imagine that shopping will be involved, but can it really be only shopping for an entire half of this expansion area?

 

[sshindel]

I love this exchange on the blog:

What’s going to be in all of the tents on the left side of the pic?

From Disney --> Jennifer Fickley-Baker on June 14th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
It’s still a mystery!


Why do I keep getting the feeling that it truly is a mystery, even to Disney, and that they have no idea what they are going to put in there?

 

[menamechris]

Why do I keep getting the feeling that it truly is a mystery, even to Disney, and that they have no idea what they are going to put in there?

LOL - The concept artist must have thought the area looked to bare for what they are planning....ha!

 

[sshindel]

LOL - The concept artist must have thought the area looked to bare for what they are planning....ha!

:lol:

"Hmmm, this side of the drawing looks really sparse, should I put a bunch of trees in there or something?"

"Nah, put in some tents. It's a circus. We can always shove in some pin trading and Vinylmation in there if no one has a better idea"

 

[JustInTime]

1st comment.

And im looking foward to it. it will be nice to see the new area

It's not hard to be the first to comment. Want a cookie?

Btw, the biggest tents are Shopping/Meet and Greets, the smaller ones in the upper left will contain the water play area.

The train station looks nice. Looks like we are getting new bathrooms there.

And I also noticed the Dumbos still have water features.

 

[SparkyGiraffe]

I love this exchange on the blog:

What’s going to be in all of the tents on the left side of the pic?

From Disney --> Jennifer Fickley-Baker on June 14th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
It’s still a mystery!


Why do I keep getting the feeling that it truly is a mystery, even to Disney, and that they have no idea what they are going to put in there?

:lol:That's what I thought too!

 

[wdwmagic]

The tents appear to be flexible space. I have been told of plans for a show and meet and greets in this area. It could very well be that they don't yet know. Everything seems to point to some kind of character experience of some kind however.

 

[sshindel]

Btw, the biggest tents are Shopping/Meet and Greets, the smaller ones in the upper left will contain the water play area.

I thought that the water play area was the train shown directly in front of the train station, not under the tents?

 

[steve2wdw]

The small blue circular tent is reminiscent of the Silly Symphony Swings (wave swinger) at DCA. I don't mean to be an alarmist, but didn't some of the construction wall art feature tight rope walking pigs? Could a wave swinger with a "pig" motif be in the future.....? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[steve2wdw]

I thought that the water play area was the train shown directly in front of the train station, not under the tents?

Yes, it appears that the red building in front of the train station is the roundhouse, with the water play area directly in front of it.

 

[steve2wdw]

Provided that Storybook Circus is a hit, I'm still hoping for more than just the Dumbo spinners and a rethemed Barnstormer. The following is from the 1975 Annual Report (Walt Disney Productions) that discussed the new Circusland that was proposed to be built at DL. I used it in a post regarding the FLE. It would be great to see the "Circus Disney" attraction finally realized here at the MK.....

Back in the 1975 Disney Productions year end report, it was reported that Disneyland was contemplating an area called "Circusland" (to go where the Fantasyland Theatre currently sits). It would have connected Fantasyland with the infamous Discovery Bay. The '75 report quotes "Circusland", an entirely new "land" to be located on approximately five hitherto undeveloped acres both inside and outside the berm adjacent to "It's A Small World". Here circus banners will herald a wide varity of attractions, including a relocated and elevated Dumbo elephant sky ride: a new Pinocchio dark ride with Stromboli's Little Puppet Theatre gracing its queue line; a whimsical Clown Restaurant, and Mickey's Mad House, a thrilling ride-through themed to the 1930's and the days of glorious black-and-white Mickey Mouse cartoons and ragtime music. However, the highlight of this all-Disney themed area will be "Circus Disney", a major ride-through attraction featuring a myriad of favorite Disney characters, all brought to life throught the "Audio-Animatronics" process. Guests will travel through the wild animal menagerie (featuring King Louie and Shere Khan from "The Jungle Book"); down the midway where familiar Disney stars may be seen in the sideshow, like "The Amazing Flying Dumbo-Ninth Wonder of the World"; through clown alley and finally into the Big Top where they will actually be "on-stage" as part of the three-ring show, featuring such daredevil acts as "The Flying Goofys".

While Mickey's Madhouse might be redundant because of the Barnstormer retheme, the rest could really add some meat to this mini land. Fingers are crossed.

 

[sshindel]

The small blue circular tent is reminiscent of the Silly Symphony Swings (wave swinger) at DCA. I don't mean to be an alarmist, but didn't some of the construction wall art feature tight rope walking pigs? Could a wave swinger with a "pig" motif be in the future.....? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Looking at the larger picture on the parks blog, and I understand that this is wishful thinking, but it does look like the smaller blue tent could be some form of ride. I keep thinking about one of those things that most fairs have:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matterhorn_(ride)

Most likely no I am sure. It'll be a "Duffy The Circus Bear Shop" or something.

 

[IWant2GoNow]

I know it might feel like Dumbo Overload, but could they please put in a Dumbo dark ride about the movie in the giant tents? Or even a dark ride about Mickey being the ring master of a circus with the Fab 5?

Aww, who am I kidding. Pin trading for all!

 

[wdwmagic]

Looking at the larger picture on the parks blog, and I understand that this is wishful thinking, but it does look like the smaller blue tent could be some form of ride. I keep thinking about one of those things that most fairs have:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matterhorn_(ride)

Most likely no I am sure. It'll be a "Duffy The Circus Bear Shop" or something.

That blue tent is very small - around the size of a Dumbo. Don't expect to see a ride

 

[menamechris]

Are we really expecting any surprises from the expansion? I was under the impression that everything was pretty out in the open from Disney's standpoint... Or is there a possibility that something (i.e. ride) may be coming that no one knows about?

 

[devoy1701]

I think a show area/outdoor theater would be a nice addition for back here, especially if it's a large covered space. Disneyland has the Fairy Tale Theater area in their Fantasyland as well that can be used for interchangeable productions.

Wonder if they're holding out on one last surprise or something. The largest tent is large enough to house a dark right, right? Not that I'm getting my hopes up...I can't see them adding a whole themed mini-land and not having a shopping area in it!

 

[autigger]

I hope that the “theme” of a circus-that-just-rolled-into-town isn't an excuse to go cheap like the "theme" of dinorama at DAK: roadside attraction just recently set-up.

Is it just me or does the “new” concept art look scaled back from the previous concept art; especially the entrance. In earlier versions, the entrance to the "land" had a circus tent canopy. Now, it just appears to be a fabric sign- kind of like Chester and Hester’s at DAK.

 

[RSoxNo1]

The two tents are connected. While I feel it's highly unlikely there is enough room for a small dark ride.