Are there better places at WDW to focus resources than Fantasyland?
The last few months have been filled with big news happening at the Walt Disney Company. First, the purchase of Marvel sparked an internet frenzy. Then, confirmation of long-floating rumors of a makeover to the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland finally came and fans everywhere all had something to say about it. While I agree that Fantasyland is ready for an upgrade, I do have to wonder if this is the right area to be focusing so much attention and so many resources.
One is often forced to wonder where the priorities are when decisions like this are made at the Disney’s Theme Parks division, especially in Florida. On the west coast they seem to have things correct. No one would argue that Disney’s California Adventure is way overdue for an extreme makeover. That park is the hole in the proverbial hull when it comes to the U.S. parks. While it is clear that Walt Disney World does not possess any such hole, Fantasyland is certainly not the most pressing issue that should be addressed.
In my opinion, focusing so much time and money on Fantasyland is not the best use of resources. Disney’s Animal Kingdom, while certainly a great theme park, is in desperate need of expansion and to ignore that in favor of a major upgrade at the Magic Kingdom would be, in my opinion, extremely shortsighted. There is no doubt that DAK is the least appreciated park by the critics. And while I feel those criticisms are often silly, there is little doubt that a visitor looking for Disney-style attractions will find the park a bit short on options.
The cry of “half-day park” is not entirely without merit, though it is closer to being without merit than some folks would lead you to believe. Why would Disney not address this before pouring so many resources into an area of its most popular park that is already fully packed with happy guests?
In order to stay true to Walt Disney’s vision, everything must always be changing at Disney Theme Parks, and I am certainly not one to argue that Fantasyland has become somewhat stagnant. But nothing aggravates me more than hearing about all of those wonderful plans Imagineering had for the Animal Kingdom which were cut and slashed by the previous management team for budgetary reasons. This was going to be an incredible experience right from the opening. But instead we have an excruciatingly slow trickle of good things arriving in this developing park.
If the budget is there to invest money into making a big difference in the enjoyment of guests at a Walt Disney World theme park, is Fantasyland really the place to start? Wouldn’t realizing the boundless potential of Disney’s Animal Kingdom be an even bigger “WOW” moment?
Brady Jensen said,
October 27, 2009 @ 3:57 pm
I am a huge Animal Kingdom fan and would love to see continued investment into this park. But, I have to disagree. Fantasyland is the heart of a Magic Kingdom park, and in Florida, that heart is stunted. I’d like to see some freshening of the existing attractions, in particular the exteriors to give us the richer place-making of Disneyland, but on balance, the major expansion will hopefully make Fantasyland more of a destination and less a quick way to get from Tomorrowland to LIberty Square/Frontierland.
Brett said,
October 27, 2009 @ 4:18 pm
I agree with what you’re saying, Animal Kingdom could definitely use more. More rides, more sites, more attractions. Everytime I go to Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama area, it just feels so out of place, like a carnival in WDW. They have the right idea with Asia and need to spread it throughout the park.
Along with AK, I think the Studios are also in need of more, if not only along the lines of additional space to walk and site see. More themed restaurants, cast members performing on expanded themed streets(why no Hollywood Blvd or Sunset Strip?), etc. Many tourists like to see multiple sites in one location(see:Las Vegas). Then there’s EPCOT, with space for 1 or 2 new World Showcase countries and the old Horizons building that’s not being used for much.
I’m sure the economy is not helping, but now is the time to do things that will expand attendence. Things are poised to turn around and why wouldn’t Disney want to get those that start vacationing again?
Walter said,
October 27, 2009 @ 11:17 pm
Fantasyland is the flagship land of the flagship park in Disney’s global empire. The other parks need attention, but the Magic Kingdom is the world’s best attended park, and has been without a major new investment since the new Tomorrowland of 1994-95. The park is clearly in need of something fresh, and this Fantasyland remodel accomplishes this. Perhaps this will lead to a repurposing of the Magic Kingdom lands, Fantasyland as home of Disney’s animated princes and princesses, Tomorrowland as something resembling the older Tomorrowlands and not Fantasyland south (the Stitch, Buzz, and Monsters, Inc attractions will all be quite old in five years…).
Henry Work said,
October 28, 2009 @ 3:28 am
Hey Dave,
Big fan of the blog. One request: can you make the RSS feed full text? The excerpt format is killing me!
I’m 50/50 on this. I would love to see the DAK storyline expand. But I’m eager to see what they come up with in Fantasyland (though not a huge Character person myself).
David said,
October 28, 2009 @ 12:20 pm
Henry, I would love to do that RSS fix for you…if I only had a clue how such a thing is done!!! I will see what I can do…thanks for the head’s up
Mike said,
October 29, 2009 @ 2:26 pm
I agree with Brett. I would gone with the Beastly Kingdomme over a new Fantasyland, myself. Then remove the Backlot Tour for additional attractions, then add a nation to World Showcase