Fantasyland Expansion

A major Fantasyland expansion now underway at Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Florida will more than double the size of the area. Appropriating the area that once held the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea submarine ride and the less-than-stellar Mickey's Toontown Fair, new lands and attractions will welcome characters from classic films such as Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid to the park. Old favorites, such as Dumbo and Goofy, will also take up residence in the expanded land.

Construction is ongoing, and the developments will open in phases throughout 2012, 2013, and 2014. The new lands will include two major areas: Storybook Circus and Fantasyland Forest. There will be some changes in the existing Fantasyland as well. The evil witch from Snow White's Scary Adventures will no longer be scaring the daylights out of young children, because the longstanding dark ride will be removed. But don't get all grumpy. A major new Snow White attraction is planned. The Disney World expansion is part of a host of new attractions coming to Florida theme parks in 2012.

Note that the timetable is a bit vague. Approximate opening dates for the Magic Kingdom rides, attractions, and features are provided below. Read on.

Storybook Circus

The circus theme is replacing Toontown Fair (which, coincidentally, also featured circus tents). Instead of the slapdash ode to toons, which was originally conceived as a temporary land to celebrate Mickey Mouse's birthday, the re-imagined area will celebrate the golden age of the circus and be set in an idealized 1940s/1950s time period. Carolwood Park, the town in which the circus has set up its tents, will be identified in some of the signs, including the railroad station at which the Walt Disney World Railroad will stop. The name is a tip of the engineer's cap to Walt Disney. A train enthusiast, Disney had a scale locomotive running through his backyard that was dubbed the Carolwood Pacific Railroad.

A Jumbo-Sized Dumbo

• Approximate opening date: One of the two Dumbo rides is now open. The other ride, along with the circus tent waiting area, is scheduled to open July 2012.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant may have been the most frustrating ride in all of Walt Disney World. No visit to the theme park mecca was complete without a ride on the charming big-eared elephant. For that very reason, there was typically a jumbo-sized line to endure just to take a 90-second spin on the ride.

Disney is tackling the rat-maze-hell problems with two significant improvements: A second Dumbo platform will double the capacity of the ride, and the queue will snake through a big-top circus tent complete with interactive games (and, thankfully, air-conditioning) to entertain guests. That should keep fidgety toddlers and their exasperated parents occupied, comfortable, and happy as they build anticipation for their flight aboard the airborne elephant.

Dumbo will be the centerpiece attraction and the star of Storybook Circus. The simple spinning ride, which I consider to be one of the best rides for kids at Disney World has long looked like an elegant Renaissance-era machine. The new dueling Dumbos will feature even more elaborate filigree and details. They will be set above pools of water with fountains and lights to create a nighttime spectacle. Whimsical details, an Imagineering obsession, will include faux peanut shells and animal prints embedded in the ground and befitting the circus setting.

Barnstormer Coaster

• Now open.

The junior steel coaster received a minor makeover and has been recast with Goofy as as "The Great Goofini." The hapless dog/man is the "B" act to the center-ring star, Dumbo. He is a circus stunt man, and guests are invited to ride with him on his wacky stunt biplane. At a height of 30 feet and a top speed of 25 mph, the relatively gentle gateway ride is perfect for aspiring thrill seekers and those not able to make the height cutoff for some of Disney World's bigger coasters.

Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station

• Approximate opening date: July 2012.

The Casey Jr. Circus Train has been hauling guests for years through Storybook Land in Disneyland. Casey will finally make his way to Florida, but will present a water play area instead of a train ride. I wouldn't be surprised if the attraction included a water-spewing baby circus elephant.

The Fantasyland expansion overview continues with a look at Fantasyland Forest and its new attractions.

Or you can jump directly to the new attractions:

• Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid
• Enchanted Tales with Belle
• Be Our Guest Restaurant
• The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Princess Fairytale Hall