The success of early Disney animated feature films is due in large part to the fairy tales that many of those movies were based on. Fantasyland is in a lot of ways a physical culmination of those stories. The one at the original Disneyland in California particularly serves as Walt Disney’s tribute to the genre he so loves, and Fantasylands made since his passing have been Imagineers’ attempts to recreate that magic. Here is a look at the original Fantasyland and the ones that followed, in the form of five facts about the theme park land.
1. Fantasyland was (possibly) Walt Disney’s favorite land
Image: Disney
This was mentioned in the title, but it bears repeating that many believed that Walt’s favorite part of Disneyland was Fantasyland. When describing it he famously said, “What youngster has not dreamed of flying with Peter Pan over moonlit London, or tumbling into Alice’s nonsensical Wonderland? In Fantasyland, these classic stories of everyone’s youth have become realities for youngsters – of all ages – to participate in.” Fantasyland also, perhaps unsurprisingly, includes one of the best (in my opinion, at least) theme park dedications.
Here is a land of imagination, hopes and dreams. In this timeless land of enchantment the age of chivalry, magic and make-believe are reborn and fairy tales come true. Fantasyland is dedicated to the young and the young at heart, to those who believe that when you wish upon a star your dreams do come true.
—Walter E. Disney, July 17, 1955
That dedication has inspired millions over the years, and should serve as a constant reminder to the people who develop Disney parks and the people who visit them why Fantasyland is such as essential part of all the Disney parks and the legacy of Walt Disney himself.
2. Disneyland ’s Fantasyland went through a major facelift in 1983
The biggest change to the original Disneyland’s Fantasyland was in 1983, with what was referred to as “New Fantasyland.” It involved the addition of new attractions and renovations to the old ones, as well as a major moving of many of the rides to different locations within the land.
Disney saw a surge in popularity for Disneyland in the 80s, which was what led to to expansion. Another reason for the change was that, even though Fantasyland was Walt’s favorite, he was never quite satisfied with it because it was created in a rush and for less money than was really needed. The Imagineers felt a strong need to flesh the land out in tribute to Walt Disney.
The most extreme shift with New Fantasyland was the transition from a Renaissance theme to the look of a fantastical Bavarian village. Bavaria is a federal state in German which went through a fascinating line of leaders from before the Middle Ages to present day. Look above at a tabard of the coat of arms from around 1510.
3. Walt Disney World’s Fantasyland had its biggest expansion in 2012
The most instrumental change to the Fantasyland in Walt Disney World was much more recent. It more than doubled in size from 10 acres to 21. Still, to make way for the new, some of the old had to go. Mickey’s Toontown Fair closed on February 11th, 2011. That made room for the Storybook Circus area, which first opened on October 4th of 2012 with things like a renovated train station and half of a new Dumbo ride. In July of 2012 the second phase of Storybook Circus, which included the rest of the Dumbo ride, the Casey Jr. Splash ’n’ Soak Station and more. The renovation was complete with a third phase that had the additions of Pete’s Silly Slideshow and Big Top Souvenirs. It was all finished on October 4th, 2012.
4. There are a lot of cool pieces of Disney history within the Anaheim Fantasyland
Image: Disney
All the Disney parks are filled with references and Hidden Mickies and various fun mementos to times past. The original Disneyland, though, has some especially strong history behind it. That includes the big yellow mushroom outside of Alice in Wonderland and the Storybookland Lighthouse, which were both actually ticket booths once upon a time. There’s also official Disney crest of Walt’s family of a triple set of lions that was added to Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in 1960. The Disney of the not-too-distant past even prepared for the not-far-from-now future. A time capsule that summed up the essence of Disneyland was buried on July 17th, 1995 and is supposed to be dug up and opened on July 17th, 2035, Disneyland’s 80th anniversary.
5. The international Fantasylands made some big changes from the original model
Image: Disney
In order to continue the spirit if not the exact design, changes had to be made to make the Fantasylands in other countries resonate as much to its citizens as the Fantasylands at the original Disneyland and Walt Disneyland have resonated with Americans. Here are the key differences of the Fantasylands of three international Disney theme parks:
- The Fantasyland at Tokyo Disneyland is pretty similar to the original two, but it does have two completely unique attractions. One is Pooh’s Hunny Hunt. The other is Cinderella’s Fairy Tale Hall, which tells the story of Cinderella through a walk-through. Tokyo Disneyland also has the only Fantasyland that still contains the original version of the classic Dumbo the Flying Elephant attractions with just ten elephants, while all the other versions have sixteen.
- Disneyland Park in Paris, France (formerly Euro Disneyland) pays homage to the original home of the stories Walt Disney and friends adapted in their early animated features. The Fantasyland at Disneyland Park is themed as a fairy tale-like village to highlight their European origins. It had one original attraction with Les Pirouettes du Vieux Moulin, a Ferris wheel added on to The Old Mill building in the early 90s. The Old Mill is a relatively unknown but Academy Award winning Disney Cartoon. The attraction ended up closing in the early 2000s, however.
- Shanghai Disneyland is going to have the most radically different version of Fantasyland. The castle is called Enchanted Storybook Castle and, unlike the other castles which celebrate one specific princess, it will represent ALL Disney princesses. It will also be the largest castle of the bunch. Along with a traditional Fantasyland area behind the castle, Shanghai Disneyland will also have an area called Gardens of Imagination, a group of gardens and attractions at the center of the part. Shanghai’s unique Fantasyland attraction is housed there. It’s named Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, and will be a guided boat ride.
Fantasyland has a rich legacy, as it should since it was widely considered to be Walt Disney’s favorite part of the original Disneyland. I hope it was fun to look back at its history, look into its present and look forward to its future!
