Sunday, September 13, 2009

D23 Expo: Upcoming changes for the Disney Parks and Resorts

I do not normally do the same type of blog that all the other Disney Bloggers seem to do. This is the exception. I saw some information that was going out that wasn't what was said when I listened to the 30 minute feed twice.

Fantasyland at Walt Disney World is getting revamped. Back behind the area that we know they have already started work. There will be settings for Sleeping Beauty (Aurora), Cinderella, Ariel (The Little Mermaid) and Belle. I am so looking forward to Belle! There will be a new dining area there, "Be Our Guest" I believe is the table service and Gaston's pub will be counter service. They will move the current Storytime with Belle into this area with a change to it. There will be a ride for Ariel (reminded me of Finding Nemo in Epcot). And finally, Pixie Hallow is going to much more than it already is at Toon Town.

Disney Cruise Line had some changes. I thought they said 2 places for new places to see, but only heard Alaska. The Wonder will be permanently moved to the West coast. The 2 new ships, Dream and Fantasy, will be coming soon. Castaway Key is getting some changes too. They did show a little bit of the DVC resort in Hawaii.

I know I have said Tokyo when talking about Adventurer's Club... and I do not know why I keep doing that... but rumor is that after I go to an event there (with 2 others follow the next 2 nights) the AC is being packed up and moved to Hong Kong. Well, now I believe it even more. At DLHK they are adding a new land, a frontier type land, called Grizzly Trails. There is going to be a roller coaster type ride with a mix of California Screamin' and Expedition Everest with added details in all their coasters.

Finally, the AC link. There is going to be a Haunted Mansion type ride that has a interactive part so you never get the same ride twice. It's called Mystic Point and has a theme about a man's adventures and a monkey. This is why I see everything being packed up now at the AC. How sad we lose this great attraction... just because they want to use the props there.

The expansion at DL California Adventure is going on. The World of Color nighttime spectacular is coming along with new boats/barges that look very colorful. They are opening a new land: car Land, that takes you to Radiator Springs. There will be a ride there that is a play on Test Track from the appearance of the mock up. And in Oct 2010, StarTours will be closing at DL for a revamp, that will reopen in 2011. At the announcement, this was only said for the DL resort. Yes, I do eventually see that changing at DHS, but it wasn't announced at that time. Maybe someone asked after the fact, but why would they not say both with all the news????????