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/* Past Attractions */
Fantasyland is a land inside the [[Magic Kingdom]].
==History==
When Fantasyland was originally being designed for Walt Disney World, Imagineers initially decided that they did not want to simply make a recreation of Disneyland’s dark rides. Instead , they wanted to replace the Disneyland dark rides ([[Snow White’s White's Adventures]], [[Peter Pan’s Pan's Flight]], and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride) with new attractions based on different movies <ref name= "Hill"> http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2013/10/28/the-headless-horseman-heads-on-out-expanding-his-turf-beyond-walt-disney-world-for-the-2013-halloween-season.aspx </ref>. To do this, Imagineers came up with three new proposals for attractions- one based on Sleeping Beauty, one based on the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and one based on Marry Poppins <ref> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/mtwr.htm </ref>. Due to the additional cost involved and guest expectations it was eventually decided to recreate the Disneyland dark rides in the Magic Kingdom. According to Jim Hill, when Roy O. Disney about the plans for the new attractions he said:
{{Quotation| "Why are we reinventing the wheel? We already have three rides in Southern California that people love. Let's try and save some money here by replicating those dark rides and then sending them to Central Florida." <ref name= "Hill"/>}}
Fantasyland opened along with the rest of the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971. Unlike the other lands of the Magic Kingdom, Fantasyland took its inspiration from the Disney movies themselves. The opening day attractions for in Fantasyland were: [[Dumbo the Flying Elephant]], the [[Mad Tea Party]], [[Snow White’s White's Adventures]], Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, [[Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel]], the Mickey Mouse Revue, [["it's a small world"]] and the Skyway to Tomorrowland <ref> http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/disneyworldgrandopening.html </ref>. Within the next month, [[Peter Pan's Flight]] and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage would also open <ref> http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/disneyworldgrandopening.html </ref>, giving Fantasyland an astounding ten attractions by late 1971 <ref> http://inacents.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/1971-WDW-Magic-Kingdom-Map.jpg </ref>. Unlike Disneyland’s Fantasyland, which had more of a whimsical theme, the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland took a lot of inspiration from the European villages where many of the Disney stories were originally written <Ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/walt_disney_world/theme_parks/magic_kingdom/fantasyland/ </ref>.
[[Image:Fantasyland.jpg|thumb|400px|A look down one of Fantasyland's walkways. Photo by Harshlight]]
Fantasyland remained largely unchanged until 1980 when the Mickey Mouse Revue was closed and eventually moved to the new Tokyo Disneyland <ref> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/mmr.htm </ref>. The Fantasyland Theater which had housed the revue remained unused until 1987 when the attraction, Magic Journeys moved in. Magic Journeys was a 3D show which allowed guests to see “the world through the eyes of a child”. The film had previously been shown in [[Epcot]], Disneyland, and Tokyo Disneyland before finally making its way to The Magic Kingdom <Ref> https://d23.com/a-to-z/magic-journeys-film/ </ref>.
In the early 1990s, Fantasyland underwent a series of changes. In 1993, Magic Journeys was closed and replaced with The Legend of the Lion King. The new attraction used puppets, animation and special effects to tell the story of Disney's The Lion King <ref> httphttps://waltdatedworldwww.bravepageswaltdatedworld.com/id181.htm </ref>. Further change came to the land in 1994, when the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage was closed<ref name= "leagues"> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/20K.htm </ref>. Although the exact reason for the attractions attraction's closure remains unclear, 20,000 Leagues was not closed due to lack of popularity. Instead it may have been closed because the ride was not handicap accessible, broke down frequently, had a small max capacity , and cost a lot to maintain. After the ride had closed , the lagoon which housed the attraction remained empty until 2001 <ref name= "leagues"/>. Also in 1994, [[Snow White's Adventures ]] was redesigned to be so that the attraction's plot more like closely followed the film it . At this time, Snow White herself was based on also added to the attraction<Ref name= "snow"> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/swa.htm </ref>. When Snow White's Adventures reopened it was renamed Snow White's Scary Adventures(a name that had been used on and off during the 1980s). The reason for the name change was that the attraction had often scared younger children and the Imagineers felt that some warning was necessary <ref name= "snow"/>.
Another opening day attraction closed in 1998, when Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was removed <Ref name= "toad"> http://allears.net/tp/mk/toad.htm </ref>. Disney thought that a more well-known character would be better suited for the large building that housed the attraction <ref> http://allears.net/tp/mk/toad.htm </ref>. The ride was still popular however, and when news of the attractions closure spread, a “Save Toad” campaign was started <ref> https://www.math.miami.edu/~jam/toad/ </ref>. Despite the campaign Mr. Toad's Wild Ride closed on September 7, 1998 <ref name= "toad"/>. The attraction was replaced by [[The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh]], which opened in 1999. Also in 1999, the Skyway to Tomorrowland was closed <ref> http://www.yesterland.com/skywaymk.html </ref>. The closure of the attraction came after a Disney World employee was killed while cleaning a platform on the attraction. Although , although Disney said that the accidental death had nothing to do with the ride closing <ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2009/09/magic_kingdom_skyway_1.html </ref>, the Skyway would never open again.
The former location of the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage finally began to change in 2001. A new attraction, Ariel's Grotto (a little Mermaid meet and greet) opened in the 20,000 Leagues queue area <ref> http://www.florida-project.com/walt-disney-world-photos/magic-kingdom/fantasyland/ariels-grotto </ref>. Then, in 2002 the Fantasyland Theater was once again changed. The Legend of the Lion King was closed and removed from the theater <ref> http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/magickingdom/fan-lionking.htm </ref>, thus paving the way for a new attraction to open. The new attraction that was designed for the Fantasyland Theater, was a 3D show named [[Mickey's PhilharMagic]]. The film features Donald Duck traveling through many famous Disney movies looking for Mickey’s “Sorcerers Hat” (which he of course used without permission). Songs and characters from classic Disney movies also appeared in the show, including characters from: Beauty and the Beast, Fantasia, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Peter Pan, and Aladdin. Also getting a new attraction was the former 20,000 League Lagoon, which was transformed in 2005 into Pooh's Playful Spot <ref name= "playful"> http://www.florida-project.com/walt-disney-world-photos/magic-kingdom/fantasyland/poohs-playful-spot </ref>. The new attraction was an outdoor play area for children which eventually closed in 2010 <ref name= "playful"/>. Also in 2010, another minor change came when Cinderella’s Golden Carousel was renamed the Prince Charming Regal Carousel, although the ride remained the same <ref> http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/05/carrousel-name-change-at-walt-disney-world/ </ref>.
* A Tinker Bell meet and greet inside the world of Pixie Hollow <ref> http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/orl-bk-new-fantasyland-disney-world-magic-kingdom-story.html </ref>.
In August of 2010, Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Tom Staggs confirmed that Disney was revising their plans for the Fantasyland expansion. Although much of the expansion was originally geared towards girls, Staggs said that Disney was looking for ways to broaden its appeal. In January 2011, Disney announced that the expansion would now include a Storybook Circus area, which along with the aforementioned Dumbo attraction, would also include a re-themed Barnstormer, Pete's Silly Sideshow and Casey Jr. Splash ‘n’ Soak Station <ref name= "parks"> http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/01/update-on-new-fantasyland-at-magic-kingdom-park/ </ref>. Disney also announced that the princess meet and greets would be combined into one attraction known as [[Princess Fairytale Hall]] <ref>http://www.insidethemagic.net/2012/08/new-fantasyland-evolution-walt-disney-world-modifies-concepts-artwork-while-magic-kingdom-expansion-takes-shape/ </ref>. The new meet and greet location would replace [[Snow White's Scary Adventures]], which closed on May 31, 2012 <ref> http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/05/snow-whites-scary-adventures-will-become-part-of-magic-kingdom-park-history-may-31/ </ref>. Finally, in January 2011 Disney announced that they would be creating a new attraction for the Fantasyland Expansion called the [[Seven Dwarfs Mine Train]] <ref name= "parks"/>.
On March 12, 2012, the first phase of Storybook Circus opened consisting of [[The Barnstormer Featuring Goofy as the Great Goofini]] and one of the two [[Dumbo]] attractions <ref> http://www.insidethemagic.net/2012/03/first-look-inside-storybook-circus-as-walt-disney-world-opens-first-part-of-new-fantasyland-with-dumbo-barnstormer/ </ref>. This section of the Fantasyland is housed where Mickey’s Toontown Fair was formally located. In July of 2012, the second Dumbo attraction (as well as its interactive queue) and the [[Casey Jr. Splash 'n' Soak Station]] opened to the public <ref> http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/06/first-photos-casey-jr-pulls-into-storybook-circus-doubled-dumbo-is-unveiled/ </ref>.Finally, on October 4, 2012, Storybook Circus was completed with the addition of [[Pete's Silly Sideshow]] and Big Top Souvenirs <ref> http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/10/first-look-peek-inside-petes-silly-sideshow-at-magic-kingdom-park/ </ref>.
==Past Attractions==
[[Image:MrToadWildRide.jpg|thumb|350px| Mr. Toad's Wild Ride operated in Fantasyland from 1971 until 1998]]'''[[Pooh's Playful Spot]]'''- Pooh's Playful Spot was an outdoor playground for little kids. Based on the popular Winnie the Pooh cartoons and movies, this attraction opened in 2005 and closed in 2010.
'''[[Snow White's Scary Adventures]]'''- Snow White’s Scary Adventures was a dark ride based on the 1941 Disney movie Snow White. The attraction allowed guests to ride along through the story of Snow White. Snow White’s Scary Adventures opened with the park in 1971 and closed in May 31, 2012.
'''[[Mr. Toad's Wild Ride]]'''- This dark ride was based on the 1955 Disney movie the Wind and the Willows. On this attraction guests road along with Mr. Toad on a crazy, jerky ride through London. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride opened with the park in 1971 and closed September 8, 1998.
'''20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage'''- This opening day attraction allowed guests to submerge in the Pacific Ocean and view the deep sea with Captain Nemo and his crew. The attraction took up about ¼ of Fantasyland, and closed October 14, 1994. It was based on the 1952 live-action Disney movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
'''Mickey Mouse Revue'''- Located in the Fantasyland Theater, this Audio Animatronic show featured dozens of Disney characters as they performed classic songs. The Mickey Mouse Revue opened with the park in 1971 and closed in September 1980.
'''Magic Journeys'''- Magic Journeys was a 3D show located in the Fantasyland Theater. The show film showed guests the world through the eyes of a child. The attraction opened December 1, 1987 and closed December 1, 1993.
'''The Legend of the Lion King'''- The Legend of the Lion King was a musical show that opened on June 158, 1994 and closed February 23, 2002. The show was housed in the Fantasyland Theater. The show used puppetry, animation and special effects to tell the story of Disney's 1992 movie The Lion King.
==Dining==
'''Sir Mickey's'''- Located next to Cinderella's Castle, Sir Mickey's sells all kinds of Magic Kingdom and Walt Disney World merchandise.
==Entertainment==
'''Main Street Philharmonic at Storybook Circus'''- The Main Street Philharmonic, the Magic Kingdom's resident marching band, performs in Storybook Circus at select times during the afternoon. For exact times [https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/magic-kingdom/main-street-philharmonic-storybook-circus/'''Click Here'''.]
==Fun Facts and Trivia==
* "La Fontaine de Cendrillon" (or Fountain of Cinderella) a bronze statue of Cinderella can be found in the center Fantasyland. This fountain is known as "Rags to Riches" because if guests stand (or kneel) in front of Cinderella and look at the painted mural behind on the castle wall, a painted image of a crown appears to be sitting on top of the princess' head. Although an adult may have to get low to see it, this was designed intentionally so that when children look at the fountain, they can clearly see the crowned princess.
* The opening day attractions in Fantasyland were, [[Dumbo the Flying Elephant]], [[it's a small world]], [[Snow White's Adventures]], The the [[Mad Tea Party]], Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, The Mickey Mouse Revue and [[Cinderella's Golden Carousel]].
* The Sword in the Stone Ceremony used to take place several times each day in front of Cinderella's Golden Carousel. Presided over by Merlin the Magician, a child was chosen from the audience to remove Excalibur (the magical sword) from the stone. He or she was then appointed "temporary ruler of the realm”.
