The Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, FL has begun work on a new project that is going to more than double the size of Fantasyland. This new expansion is planned to roll out in two phases the first being in 2012 and the second in 2013.
The new Fantasyland will involve developing hundreds of additional acres along with space currently used by Mickey's Toontown Fair. This new expansion will offer all of Disney's guests a rich and immersive experience as they experience the worlds of some of Disney's most classic fairytale films. Films such as Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella and others will now have a experiential presence in the Magic Kingdom®
Disney Imagineers have announced some of the proposed attractions and features of the new expansion along with artist rendtions of some of the key areas.
Beauty and the Beast:
Beast's castle, although not as large as Cinderella's will join the castles of the Magic Kingdom®. Guests will be able to visit Belle's father's cottage, experience a magic miror that will transport guests to Beast's castle and have an opportunity to perform the story of Beauty and the Beast for Belle.
There will also be a new elegant 552 seat, Be Our Guest restaurant inside Beast's castle which will quickly become a must in the table service dining offerings for hungry guests.
Cinderella:
Cinderella is also going to be a part of a new attraction in the Fantasyland expansion project. Guests will experience the Fairy Godmother magically transform Cinderella's servant clothes into a beautiful ball gown and then help her practice for the royal ball or train to become one of her royal knights.
Sleeping Beauty:
At Sleeping Beauty's cottage, guests will join in the celebration as all the fairies throw Aurora a 'Sweet-16' birthday party. Children can make birthday cards and be able to hide and greet her with a big 'SURPRISE!' as she enters the cottage.
Dumbo:

The wait is over. No more waiting for hours for a 90 second ride on Disney's most famous elephant. The new Fantasyland expansion project is bringing a second Dumbo ride along with a huge circus tent filled with interactive games while guests wait in line for their ride.
Little Mermaid:
Disney has not given much details, but has announced a new E-Ticket ride, featuring all the friends and music from The Little Mermaid. WIth a rumored budget of over $100 million budget should make this a cornerstone attraction for the new expansion. Most likely will be an omnimover ride system that guest will board "clammobiles" similar to the ones found at The Seas with Nemo and Friends ride at Epcot.
As more information becomes available we will keep you up to date. So if 2010 is the year of Wizarding World of Harry Potter® then 2012 will by the year of Fantasyland.
Make plans now to visit the Walt Disney World® Resort and check out all the Fantasyland expansion work for yourself while enjoying all the magic the World has to offer.