Are Disney's plans for WDW's Fantasyland Forest now being revised?

Uncle Sorcerer · #1 07-20-2010, 12:30 AM

In the months leading up to the grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, whenever I spoke with Disney insiders about what the Company was going to do in response to this highly-anticipated Islands of Adventure addition, Mickey's mantra was pretty much the same: Just wait 'til you see Fantasyland Forest.

But now that The Wizarding World has been open for a month and has proven to be this enormous success, the message coming from the Mouse House has changed. Now it's DCA's Cars Land - rather than this $300 million expansion of WDW's Magic Kingdom - that's being hyped as Disney's Potter Swatter
Mind you, this isn't just because Cars Land will be opening before Fantasyland Forest (DCA's brand-new "land" is expected to open to the public sometime in late Spring of 2012, whereas Phase II of Fantasyland Forest isn't supposed to be completed 'til 2013). But - rather - because this addition to WDW's Magic Kingdom has reportedly hit a few snags.

Like what? Well, for starters, there's Disney's board of directors. Who aren't exactly the biggest fans of the Fantasyland Forest project. And why not? Because Jay Rasulo (who was then head of Disney Parks & Resorts but is now the Company's Chief Financial Officer) announced this ambitious WDW expansion last September at the D23 EXPO before the board had actually okayed this expansion project. Which is why they've been somewhat slow when it comes to okaying all of the cash necessary for construction.

Thomas Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

Which suits Tom Staggs (who used to be Disney's CFO but is now head of Disney Parks & Resorts) just fine. Given that Staggs reportedly isn't all that enthusiastic about the version of Fantasyland Forest that Rasulo signed off on. Which is why Tom would supposedly like to step away from the previously announced expansion plan (which relies far too heavily on the Disney Princess franchise for his taste) and then go with an assortment of new rides & attractions for the Magic Kingdom that would have far broader appeal. That could be all things to all people, rather than betting the farm on a single franchise.

You see, what Staggs knows that - in the wake of "The Princess and the Frog" 's under-performance at the box office late last year - The Walt Disney Company took a long hard look at its Disney Princess franchise. Which has been experiencing some allegiance erosion lately (This is one of the main reasons that "Rapunzel" was retitled "Tangled." So that this Nathan Greno & Bryon Howard film could then distance itself [a bit, anyway] from this over-extended brand).

So as of right now, though site prep is well underway behind all of those construction walls that you'll find towards the back of the Magic Kingdom ... The only previously-announced Fantasyland Forest expansion project that's absolutely positively going forward at this point is "The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure." Garner Holt has already completed construction of many of the undersea creatures that will be featured in this dark ride. And meanwhile - towards the very back of the Fantasyland Forest construction site - Disney is installing pieces of timber to help brace & stabilize the two walls of the old "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" show building that remain standing. So that these walls can eventually be incorporated into "The Little Mermaid" 's show building.

"And why would Disney want to do something like that?," you ask. Well, this actually has to do with the permits that the Mouse's construction team has to pull for the Fantasyland Forest project. You see, if there's at least one wall left standing from the previous structure that you can then incorporate into your new construction project ... Well, that means that you can call this project a renovation. Which involves a far-less costly permit than a full-blown, brand-new construction project does.
Anyway ... Getting back to Fantasyland Forest now ... Given that the Company's Disney Princess franchise suddenly appears to need some shoring up (Which is why there are reportedly plans in the works for Disney Jr. to begin airing a Disney Princess TV series sometime after this cable channel transitions over from being SoapNet in 2012), it just makes sense to slow down things a bit. Get a better grasp on what Magic Kingdom Guest want to see / what consumers would really respond to.
This is actually why the plans for the Pixie Hollow portion of Fantasyland Forest were pulled back for retooling earlier this year. You see, the Company's currently doing a bit of course correction on its Disney Fairies franchise. Doing everything it can to make sure that this brand-new brand is properly positioned for future growth.

"And what's wrong with the Disney Fairies franchise?," you ask. To be honest, over the past year, the Company has realized that they're been placing far too much emphasis on Tinker Bell and not enough on all the other characters that populate Pixie Hollow. Which is why they've actually swapped the release dates of the 2011 & 2012 Disney Fairies movies. So that what was originally supposed to have been the home premiere for 2012 (i.e. "Tinker Bell and the Race through the Seasons") will now be released in the Fall of 2011.

"And why is Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment doing that?," you query. Well, "Race through the Seasons" features a storyline which has Tinker Bell coaching other fairies. So that they'll then be able to take part in this Never Land sports competition. And it's hoped that this particular home premiere can then be used to introduce some new Disney Fairies characters that consumers will be quicker to take to their hearts than they did Vidia, Silvermist, Rosetta, Fawn and Iridessa.

Anywho ... That's why Pixie Hollow has been pushed back to Phase II of the Fantasyland Forest expansion project. So that The Walt Disney Company will then have time to tinker with its Disney Fairies franchise and hopefully then be able to expand the appeal of this brand beyond a single character (i.e. Tinker Bell).

But as for the rest of the Fantasyland Forest project ... With the exception of "The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure" and the "Be Our Guest" restaurant (which Magic Kingdom officials are hoping will take some of the heat off of Cinderella's Royal Table. So that returning WDW visitors who are looking for a memorable dining experience will opt to eat at this 552-seat venue rather than angling for yet another reservation at that 130-seat restaurant high up in Cinderella Castle), everything else is kind of in flux right now. As the Imagineers try & address some of Tom Staggs' concerns about this expansion project.

Speaking of which ... Can it really be a co-incidence that - just as Staggs is supposedly telling WDI to take an "All Things to All People" approach when it comes to adding new rides, shows and attractions to the Magic Kingdom that rumors began circulating about something of size being added to Frontierland? Could it be that the Imagineers are trying to bring some sort of balance to this theme park? Adding a boy-centric attraction to the Kingdom to counteract all of that girl-friendly stuff that's supposed to be built as part of Fantasyland Forest?

Know this, though: The one aspect of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter that Disney truly envies / would love to be able to emulate is the robust retail sales that this Islands of Adventure addition has been experiencing. Guests standing in line for an hour to gain entrance to a gift shop is every theme park operator's dream. The only problem is - since the Disney Princess franchise seems to have (at least temporarily) peaked - it's unlikely that carts & shops selling crown & gowns is likely to get the same sort of rabid response that that Harry Potter fans have shown when it comes to the merch that's on sale at Zonko's and Dervish & Bange's.

So if you had the opportunity to help the Imagineers retool their original plans for the Fantasyland Forest, what would you do? Especially taking into consideration that - given the enormous amount of money that the Company is looking to spend on this Magic Kingdom addition - that Disney would like to get a Potter-sized return on its investment.
Your thoughts?

Imagineer_Katie · #2 07-20-2010, 03:13 PM

me i world get rid of the pixie forest all together and go for something more of like an alice in wonderland themed

Uncle Servo · #3 07-20-2010, 04:34 PM

Alright.

When the Fantasyland expansion was announced I expressed my opinion that this was essentially a "money grab" targeting the Princess franchise and wondered if Disney wasn't asking themselves if this wasn't a case of over-saturation. As I recall I've taken a bit of good-natured ribbing over it too.

Well here we are almost a year later and it seems that the powers that be at Disney are finally asking themselves that very question. So excuse me while I feel just a bit vindicated here for a moment.

*ahem*

Anyway... now on to brass tacks. You want to be all things to all people? Fine. It's a great idea. Keep the forest concept -- but bring in other classic Disney characters. Bring in a Tulgey Wood area for Alice. Bring in a Sherwood Forest area for Robin Hood. Bring in a thicket for Bambi. Bring in the 7 Dwarfs' and woodcutter's cottages. Bring in a Pixie Hollow section for Tink and the other fairies.

There's already a huge character pool that can be brought into Fantasyland. Yes, princesses can be incorporated but don't put all your eggs in one tiara.

DonaldRules · #4 07-20-2010, 05:34 PM

What about Dumbo? Is the expansion still on for the two Dumbos and the interactive queue(sp?) line?

Imagineer_Katie · #5 07-20-2010, 08:37 PM

the bambi and robin hood woods are a good idea too

mickeyspal · #6 07-20-2010, 10:42 PM

Yes, we did razz you a lot, Unc, but I have to agree with what you are saying now. I would love to see other Classic characters like the Dwarves and Bambi come into it. And Robin Hood for the Boys? Sure, why not; Robin Hood would be fun for all of us. - MP

DisneyRoxMyTubeSox · #7 07-20-2010, 11:55 PM

I still am wishin' on that second star to the right for a 'Bambi' dark ride in a North America/Forest area in Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Back on the Fantasyland topic... I think the only two areas I will be fine not getting are Cinderella and Aurora's attractions. I'd like to see the Seven Dwarves' cottage and a Pinnochio attraction.

Pixie Hollow can stay, but I'd much rather see what Disneyland got than an entire area with an attraction.

Uncle Servo · #8 07-21-2010, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickeyspal

Yes, we did razz you a lot, Unc, but I have to agree with what you are saying now. I would love to see other Classic characters like the Dwarves and Bambi come into it. And Robin Hood for the Boys? Sure, why not; Robin Hood would be fun for all of us. - MP

You know... one of the side effects of the trepidation over this expansion that works in your favor is that the longer it takes 'em to figure out exactly what to do the longer that ToonTown Fair remains in place.

disneyhope · #9 07-21-2010, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Servo

You know... one of the side effects of the trepidation over this expansion that works in your favor is that the longer it takes 'em to figure out exactly what to do the longer that ToonTown Fair remains in place.

And that is fine with me!!! I think they should leave Toontown Fair as is and even add to it in the same vein as Toontown at Disneyland. Toontown at Disneyland is amazing and a great land to explore for the kids (and adults

).

Uncle Servo · #10 07-21-2010, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disneyhope

And that is fine with me!!! I think they should leave Toontown Fair as is and even add to it in the same vein as Toontown at Disneyland. Toontown at Disneyland is amazing and a great land to explore for the kids (and adults

).

I would agree. I have referred to DL's version as "ToonTown done right" and would love to see those big tents bulldozed in favor of a proper ToonTown. Keep the Barnstormer, Mickey/Minnie's houses and Pete's Garage/restrooms and rip out the rest.