The New Fantasyland

[ttalovebug]

For what it's worth, this one's a creative fan's ideas. There are plans being pushed ahead for a re-do of Fantasyland as we've done with Tomorrowland in the past, but the list in this thread are just fun guesses.

I hope you're right. This list just sounds too princess-y to me.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

I HATE Pooh's Playful Spot.

It's store bought plastic junk. I've got no problem with a place for little ones, but don't like the fact that it's in the MK and came from Wal-Mart.

It's another case of being told it was very temporary (which would make it easier to live with), and then it sticks around forever.

The kids area in Jurrasic Park at Uni is unbelievable. Heck, I play in there with my girls for a couple hours usually!! There's no reason, if this was going to be a permanent place like it's turned out to be, that they couldn't have done it right and put some effort into it, rather than buying a few tubes from Wal-Mart. It's disappointing.

If a place is going to take up prime real estate in FL, it should be better than that.

 

[jt04]

I HATE Pooh's Playful Spot.

It's store bought plastic junk. I've got no problem with a place for little ones, but don't like the fact that it's in the MK and came from Wal-Mart.

It's another case of being told it was very temporary (which would make it easier to live with), and then it sticks around forever.

The kids area in Jurrasic Park at Uni is unbelievable. Heck, I play in there with my girls for a couple hours usually!! There's no reason, if this was going to be a permanent place like it's turned out to be, that they couldn't have done it right and put some effort into it, rather than buying a few tubes from Wal-Mart. It's disappointing.

If a place is going to take up prime real estate in FL, it should be better than that.

Not to worry unless you are waiting for the 20k lagoon to be "unburied" in that spot. :lol:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Men, no harm, no foul. The grain of salt around here goes without saying for the most part.

It's a nice something to talk about to pass the day, especially since there is a void now between the approval confirmation and the actual details start leaking.

I have a strong feeling this was meant for the Imagineer forum.

 

[Mimi]

I think I have to agree with Yoda on this. There is nothing wrong with playgrounds. I think Pooh's Playful Spot is themed nice. So what that it isn't for most of us on here. Not everything can eb for us. As long as the kids enjoy it and parents can get a break, then I have no issue.

I think the playgrounds are okay for the reasons previously stated but I hope that this type of thing doesn't get out of control. What I mean is, Walt Disney made Disneyland so that parents and children can have fun together.

That is why Dumbo is a classic.

 

[The Conundrum]

Just because you do not use something does not mean it is not a valuable attraction. Many parents and children love the varioous play areas around the parks. They are small and are hurting nothing. WDW should cater to all groups, baby to senior adult.

Then build some rides taht cater to all groups like Disney did do for the first 40 years. Bring back family attractions that the whole family can enjoy like the skyway, canoes, boats, 20k, mr.toad, etc.

Why spend $80 to enter MK just so your kid can play on the swings? Likewise, you would have to be a pretty dumb kid to be in the coolest place on earth with all the great rides and say to yourself "I think I wanna play on some swings". Get serious when I was little all I wanted to do was go on ride after ride after ride. But of course I was a kid in the late 80s/early 90s growing up at Disneyland so maybe im just from a more sophisticated generation.

 

[jt04]

Then build some rides taht cater to all groups like Disney did do for the first 30 years. Bring back family attractions that the whole family can enjoy like the skyway, canoes, boats, 20k, mr.toad, etc.

Why spend $80 to enter MK just so your kid can play on the swings? Likewise, you would have to be a pretty dumb kid to be in the coolest place on earth with all the great rides and say to yourself "I think I wanna play on some swings". Get serious when I was little all I wanted to do was go on ride after ride after ride. But of course I was a kid in the late 80s/early 90s growing up at Disneyland so maybe im just from a more sophisticated generation.

I think they have found over time that many smaller kids need to physically play or they become irritable. I really don't believe the playground trend is just a case of theme parks going the "cheap" route. Smaller kids just can't stand in queues all day or cramped in a stroller or they "meltdown". I do think 20k was right about the MK version being a bit cheesy however.

 

[Captain Chaos]

I think they have found over time that many smaller kids need to physically play or they become irritable. I really don't believe the playground trend is just a case of theme parks going the "cheap" route. Smaller kids just can't stand in queues all day or cramped in a stroller or they "meltdown". I do think 20k was right about the MK version being a bit cheesy however.

Here is where I will agree with you... I know I prefer that 5 year old climbing around in a themed playground rather than crying up a fit on line and on a ride or in a show...

 

[TinkerBelle8878]

Here's my theory on the proposed list:

Maybe there aren't going to be so many new restaurants/shops as much as rethemed and renamed ones that already exist. Like Pinocchio's Village Haus turning into Gaston's. Something along that line.

It wouldn't be the first time already standing stores and food places got a new name and theming. There used to be the Mad Hatters and that's now gone to be another store. So who's to say the entire FL retheming is going to be complete demolition?

With the exception of the 2 possibly new rides, and the shops they empty into, the rest just might be refurb/renaming.

And btw, if they can please find some way to eliminate FP or speed up those wait times (for an omnimover of all things) so it doesn't turn into another Peter Pan problem, that would be appreciated by each and every guest I'd imagine.

90 minutes? Should never happen.

 

[NewfieFan]

Are you seriously comparing a well-themed Disney staple to that chuck e cheese playground?

yoda has gone :hammer:

Disney World did very well without junk like that in its first 30 years and it doesn't need that type of thing now

A little OT here for a second... but 30 years ago WDW wasn't the vacation destination it is today. Disney was a day trip... not a week long (or more) vacation! It is also much easier to travel with younger children these days. There NEEDS to be areas where young children can burn off some energy... would you rather they be running around and screaming in the queues!?! (Please spare me the "children need to older when they go to WDW" argument!)

And it is NOT junk... come back and talk to me when you have children. Take 'em to WDW, let them run around in PSP while you sit and relax, and then let me know how you feel about that "junk"!!!

Some people around here!?!:brick: If the attraction doesn't interest them... then it's junk and should be removed from property! Give me a break guys!!!

 

[aladdin2007]

And btw, if they can please find some way to eliminate FP or speed up those wait times (for an omnimover of all things) so it doesn't turn into another Peter Pan problem, that would be appreciated by each and every guest I'd imagine.

90 minutes? Should never happen.

I know!! PeterPan is a nightmare with that fastpass, its always had long lines but always moved pretty steady until fastpass came along. Now you stand in the same spot forever. They really did a bad thing there. Same with Pooh and TestTrack.

 

[yeti]

Then build some rides taht cater to all groups like Disney did do for the first 40 years. Bring back family attractions that the whole family can enjoy like the skyway, canoes, boats, 20k, mr.toad, etc.

Why spend $80 to enter MK just so your kid can play on the swings? Likewise, you would have to be a pretty dumb kid to be in the coolest place on earth with all the great rides and say to yourself "I think I wanna play on some swings". Get serious when I was little all I wanted to do was go on ride after ride after ride. But of course I was a kid in the late 80s/early 90s growing up at Disneyland so maybe im just from a more sophisticated generation.

Who says playgrounds are only helpful for little kids? When parents rightfully feel like they don't want to wait another 40 minute wait for Dumbo, they send the kids into the playground to give themselves a break. If there were no playgrounds in Disney, it would be frankly quite chaotic. If you were a parent, you'd understand that your little imp dragging you from ride to ride and lineup to lineup would drive you mad! Playgrounds amuse most kids A LOT, and they give grown-ups a break. It's a win-win situation.

If your kid is too sophisticated just to play in a freakin' playground, well that's their problem.

 

[marsrunner]

Funny how the MK managed to scrape by without the magical playground to keep things from being too chaotic for so long before it was built.
I wouldn't have nearly as much of a problem with the playground if it wasn't taking up such prime real estate, wasn't so cheap and tacky looking and hadn't replaced a beautiful lagoon (even if it did have a dated attraction in it).
I just thank goodness that my five year old didn't want to stop and play in a playground. She took one look at it and said "Let's go ride Space Mountain again!" Hmm, on the other hand, I wish she had wanted to play on the playground, it might have saved my back! When we wanted to take things down a notch, we'd stop for a churro or some ice cream, have a seat somewhere and relax for a few minutes.

 

[The Conundrum]

Who says playgrounds are only helpful for little kids? When parents rightfully feel like they don't want to wait another 40 minute wait for Dumbo, they send the kids into the playground to give themselves a break. If there were no playgrounds in Disney, it would be frankly quite chaotic. If you were a parent, you'd understand that your little imp dragging you from ride to ride and lineup to lineup would drive you mad! Playgrounds amuse most kids A LOT, and they give grown-ups a break. It's a win-win situation.

If your kid is too sophisticated just to play in a freakin' playground, well that's their problem.

and yet the Disney parks were fine for 40 years without playgrounds. I think the first "playground" style things added to the parsk were the Imageworks and the Hony I shrunk the Kids movie set and those doubled as actual attractions not just for kids.

 

[The Conundrum]

A little OT here for a second... but 30 years ago WDW wasn't the vacation destination it is today. Disney was a day trip... not a week long (or more) vacation! It is also much easier to travel with younger children these days. There NEEDS to be areas where young children can burn off some energy... would you rather they be running around and screaming in the queues!?! (Please spare me the "children need to older when they go to WDW" argument!)

And it is NOT junk... come back and talk to me when you have children. Take 'em to WDW, let them run around in PSP while you sit and relax, and then let me know how you feel about that "junk"!!!

Some people around here!?!:brick: If the attraction doesn't interest them... then it's junk and should be removed from property! Give me a break guys!!!

Where do you come up with this stuff? WDW has always been a multi day resort even back in the 70s thats why it had the park, the bay area and 2 resorts and they quickly built stuff like River Country, Discovery Island and Disney Village and shortly after added a second and third gate.

 

[NewfieFan]

Where do you come up with this stuff? WDW has always been a multi day resort even back in the 70s thats why it had the park, the bay area and 2 resorts and they quickly built stuff like River Country, Discovery Island and Disney Village and shortly after added a second and third gate.

No, it was not (not 30 years ago - which is the number you quoted)! People only took 1 - 2 days to tour WDW not week long vacations... and the few that did were not the norm! Now, people are staying longer and playing longer!

I'm arguing what you stated about PSP being "junk" and that there is more of a need for these play areas b/c children are spending more time in the parks... thus they need down time built into their vacation!

Your argument was that this "junk" wasn't need 30 years ago! Maybe it was... maybe it wasn't!?! But it's needed now... and it's not "junk"!

But then again you're more sophiscated then my children so I can't expect you to understand that "today's" children still need to play... even at WDW!

 

[Skyway]

Why spend $80 to enter MK just so your kid can play on the swings? Likewise, you would have to be a pretty dumb kid to be in the coolest place on earth with all the great rides and say to yourself "I think I wanna play on some swings".

Yeah...you know EXACTLY what you're talking about.

There are no swings. No merry-go-rounds. No jungle gyms. Maybe one 3-foot high slide. Despite it's internet name, its NOT a "playground". It's a small collection of miniature buildings from the Pooh films (and a few oversized honey pots)

Going to the park with a 1 or 2 year old, that area is VERY wonderful. I've taken some of the most adorable photos on property of my kids sitting on the chairs inside Pooh's house (which blew their minds. They were INSIDE Pooh's house!)

Likewise, due to the heavy crowds, kids that age can't walk around. They're either stuck in their strollers or carried from attraction to attraction (yeah, I didn't think you'd want my kid kicking your ankles while waiting for Peter Pan, or darting between your legs as you carried a Coke in one hand and a box of popcorn in another). Kids NEED a place to run around, if only to make the rest of the day more pleasant for everyone.

Try taking some kids of your own there sometime (you're not some single dude who's hung out in that "kiddie" area by yourself, are you?)

Meanwhile, I'd be curious about your thoughts on the Main Street Baby Care Center, the diaper changing tables in the mens rooms, the selection of childrens' meals at the restaurants, the finer points of the baby-swap queue option, and the new height restrictions on the Speedway.

 

[flynnibus]

No, it was not (not 30 years ago - which is the number you quoted)! People only took 1 - 2 days to tour WDW not week long vacations... and the few that did were not the norm! Now, people are staying longer and playing longer!

Yes people are staying longer (that was Disney's whole motivation for more parks and more attractions) but even back then people took long trips.

It's been a destination resort from day one. That's why we had water craft, boats, fishing, camping, dinner shows, golf, tennis, 'lavish' hotels, etc.

No people did not spend 7 days in the MK - just like they don't do now. But we spent our time in the RESORT, instead of the other parks. People didn't, and don't today, fly to FL for 1-2 days. That's why parks like Universal and others NEED each other and Disney to make Orlando worthy of more then just a day dodge so its worth visiting and paying to fly/drive there.

Disney wanted to make the 4-5 day trip a 5-10 day trip. That's what they've done with the 3rd and 4th gates. However they have pretty much abandoned the 'resort' side of life and focused on parks now. I think WWOS was the last big fiasco in trying to diversify the entertainment at the resort. Now WWOS is just a 'convention center' for kids sports.

 

[unkadug]

My first visit to WDW was in March 1972. It was a single day trip and we did EVERYTHING at the MK. Somethings twice. It was definitely a one day park.

It was NOT a multi day trip to Disney. Although we did go to Cocoa Beach, Cape Kennedy, Marineland, and visited St Augustine.

 

[Scar Junior]

Funny how the MK managed to scrape by without the magical playground to keep things from being too chaotic for so long before it was built.
I wouldn't have nearly as much of a problem with the playground if it wasn't taking up such prime real estate, wasn't so cheap and tacky looking and hadn't replaced a beautiful lagoon (even if it did have a dated attraction in it).
I just thank goodness that my five year old didn't want to stop and play in a playground. She took one look at it and said "Let's go ride Space Mountain again!" Hmm, on the other hand, I wish she had wanted to play on the playground, it might have saved my back! When we wanted to take things down a notch, we'd stop for a churro or some ice cream, have a seat somewhere and relax for a few minutes.

I completely agree.

Funny... Many of us on these boards managed trips when we were kids without screaming, climbing attractions and reeking havoc in the parks. We didn't have jungle jims that our parents could rely upon... nor did we need them.

Don't get me wrong, I think playgrounds do have their time and place... but I'm not sure if Pooh is it. I hope they utilize this space in a better fashion.