Finally! It's here!

Ginnifer Goodwin, Tom Staggs, Jordin Sparks, and Mickey Mouse welcome everyone into the new Fantasyland.

Photo Credit: @WaltDisneyWorld

It’s that time, Disnerds! The Fantasyland Expansion is finally open to the public!

This morning I watched the Walt Disney World Twitter updates during one of my classes as the ceremony was held at Magic Kingdom (Shh! Don’t tell!).

Tom Staggs, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman, Ginnifer Goodwin, star of ABC’s hit show Once Upon a Time, and popular musician Jordin Sparks helped everyone’s favorite mouse welcome in the largest expansion of the Walt Disney World Resort in 41 years. This new expansion will double the size of the previous Fantasyland and sits just behind the infamous Cinderella Castle.

New attractions will include Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid, Enchanted Tales With Belle, Be Our Guest Restaurant, an additional Dumbo ride, and a remodel of the previous Barnstormer rollercoaster.

All of the attractions above will be open to the public starting today, except for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (still under construction, expected to open in 2014) and Princess Fairytale Hall (expected to open in 2013). 

Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom now offers 3 castles instead of just one! 
Photo credit: @WaltDisneyWorld

I am so excited to experience this in June! I have to say that I’m most excited for the Princess Fairytale Hall- it will make it so much easier to meet all of my favorite princesses and in a timely fashion!

What are you most excited for? Do you think that there is something that Disney should add as they continue working on the next phase of this expansion?

Previous update from 9/27/12 that shows a timelapse video of Fantasyland's progress.

2013 Disney World Events

Disney released a new set of "Limited Time" events for 2013, where guests can experience special themed weeks at different times of the year. These events will take place at both the Walt Disney World resort and the Disneyland resort.

The company hasn't said specifically each event will be, but they have hinted at the times they will be held. For example, a week in February is designated for the celebration of Valentine's Day. Additionally, the week of July 4th will be a week of Independence Day celebrations. Other examples can be found here.

Disney hasn't released any more information on the week-by-week programs, but we expect more information to come out soon.

In my opinion, I would love to see a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed week. They could have pirate parades, maybe a few activities for families around the parks, and a lot appearances by Captain Jack Sparrow and Angelica. Maybe even show a sneak-peek of the brand new Pirates of the Caribbean movie that is currently being filmed!

Is there a specific theme that you would like to see in the parks?

Pirates in the parks

Credit: Orlando Attractions Magazine

Current progress on the new Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow attraction at Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios.

Disney announced late last week that a new attraction would be replacing that of the Chronicles of Narnia attraction that was once housed in the building above. None other than Captain Jack Sparrow will now be taking over two parks instead of just one!

Disney Imagineers want guests to be completely immersed in the world of the popular Disney movie franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean, so they are doing just that in Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios park.

Captain Jack already has a home over at the Magic Kingdom, where the popular Pirates of the Caribbean ride that inspired the movies calls home. 

This attraction will be opened on December 6th, 2012, along with the new Fantasyland Expansion at Magic Kingdom and the updated version of Test Track at EPCOT.

Personally, I'm a huge Pirates of the Caribbean fan and I cannot wait to see this when I'm at the parks in June! 

What do you think? Is this too much Captain Jack?

Side note: Check out the mermaid addition to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride!

How to spend your Halloween at Disney

If you are thinking of going to Walt Disney World this fall, you can kill two birds with one stone and celebrate Halloween with all of the Disney characters at the Magic Kingdom! This event allows guests to dress up in their best Halloween garb and see a new side of the Magic Kingdom that you don't see all year round.


In addition to trick-or-treating around the Magic Kingdom, guests can see a special Halloween parade, a special fireworks show, and meet their favorite characters who might just be dressed up in their Halloween costumes too.



Walt Disney World is running this event from September 11, 2012 to November 2, 2012. Learn more about it here.

I personally would love to experience this at some point, even as an adult. If you have been, share your experience below!

Alcohol Being Introduced at the Magic Kingdom

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Photo credit: thedisneyblog.com

Walt Disney made it incredibly clear when he said that he didn’t want alcohol served in his parks, but he also said that the parks should adapt and change with the times.

The new Be Our Guest restaurant, which is part of the new Fantasyland Expansion at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, will now offer a selection of French wines and Belgian beers to guests. The only other parks to do this are Disneyland Paris, Walt Disney World’s EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, and the exclusive Club 33 at Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom.

Why this has been made controversial is understandable- if Walt didn’t want it, why are the current Disney cast members doing it? Well, times are changing and it is already offered in other parks… so why not?

Besides, do you really think that people will want to spend upwards of $10 on a glass of beer when their vacation is already costing them an arm and a leg? I’m going to lean towards no. 

What do you think? Are Walt's ideas totally being set aside or is this just Disney adapting to the changing times?

Fantasyland Expansion Update!

Earlier this week, Walt Disney World released a time lapsed video that covered the new Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom from early 2012 to September 2012.

This is the largest expansion at Magic Kingdom in its history. The goal is to fully immerse guests with newer interactive experiences such as the new attraction Enchanted Tales With Belle, where guests can interact with Belle from the Academy Award winning movie Beauty and the Beast.

Other attractions opening are Journey of the Little Mermaid, The Barnstormer, a second Dumbo the Flying Elephant Ride, and Casey Jr. Splash and Soak Station. All of which are expected to be opened this coming December! You can learn more about each attraction and the project at the Disney website.

I can’t wait to experience all these new attractions when I go to Walt Disney World in June! I may be 19 years old, but I’m still young at heart! Personally, I can't wait to eat at the new Be Our Guest restaurant. Especially since it offers sit-down dining and quick service during lunch time. 

What do you think? Does this sound appealing to you or should Disney have left it they way it was?