We visited Magic Kingdom on Saturday, March 5. We had reservations for the Tables in Wonderland event that evening so we took advantage of the time to enjoy the park. The park opened at 8 and it was not an Extra Magic Hour morning. We were very grateful for the extra hour, especially because it was getting very crowded when we left to go back to the resort to rest. The weather was about perfect- it was slightly overcast and very comfortable outside.
We made it to the park around 8:15 AM. Part of City Hall is still under scrims:
Exposition Hall is still partially under scrims as well:
The Confectionery is still being worked on:
The new princess windows along Main Street/outside the Emporium were awesome:
Cinderella Castle looked majestic despite the crane:
We were able to walk through the castle to get to Fantasyland. When we came out of the castle, they were moving something into place behind the walls:
Snow White’s Scary Adventures is still open (it does not close until some time in 2012):
Dumbo the Flying Elephant had a 10 minute wait so my brother and I decided to get in line. It’s been years since we had ridden it so off we went. We had a blast. We were able to see a bit more of the Fantasyland expansion work from the ride:
We had never ridden the Liberty Belle around Tom Sawyer Island. Since it was about to depart when we were walking by, we hopped on. It was a leisurely ride and we had unique views of Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. We were able to get a peak at the work going on at the Haunted Mansion queue line from the Liberty Belle:
After we got off the Liberty Belle, we rode Haunted Mansion. The walls are still around the queue line:
We all agreed that it they had added some new sounds to the Haunted Mansion and enhanced others. It was nice to hear. At the end of the ride, the Hitchhiking Ghosts’ area was covered. They were projecting the ghosts onto a screen (these pictures were taken without flash and my LCD screen on my camera was turned off):
After Haunted Mansion, we walked back over to Fantasyland. We noticed this sign at Pinnochio’s Village Haus:
Maurice’s cart was open and I thought it was cool how they had ears of corn set up to look like they were being fed into the machine to make popcorn:
Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella were greeting near Castle Couture:
The exterior of Cinderella’s Royal Table is being worked on:
Disney has put up signs for Storybook Circus where ToonTown used to be:
They are still working on the Tomorrowland Speedway:
Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy (and the dancers) were in new costumes for Dream Along with Mickey:
Work is still ongoing for the Adventureland bridge:
The Enchanted Tiki Room – Under New Management is still closed:
Tortuga Tavern has a new sign:
Tortuga Tavern was serving lunch and it was busy:
Pirate Goofy was greeting guests on the far right side of the Pirates of the Caribbean queue:
Uptown Jewelers had new Dooney + Bourke bags:
We went back to the park around 4 PM. The crane we had seen earlier had been lowered:
Work is still being done on the Pecos Bill’s exterior. The restaurant is open, though.
Have a MAGICAL day! 🙂
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So the hitchiking ghost no longer appear in the doom buggy with you?
Any idea what is instore for the front of the HM?
ASHLEY:
Right now, the ghosts are just projected onto the screen. I’ve heard that they will be back in the buggy with you.
The only information Disney has released about the queue is that it will be ‘interactive’.
I love these whats new blogs, but I always get sad thinking about all those walls and construction sheets up all over magic kingdom. I guess that is one thing that Disney Magic will never perfect: instant upgrades.
Thank you so much for the updates … please keep them coming! I can’t wait to experience Fantasyland & all of the Magic Kingdom with my daughter in August … nothing like seeing it all through the eyes of a 2 year old!
Great Blog! Any idea when all the scrims will come down on Mainstreet? How about the bridge to Adventureland? Any word when that will be done? Thanks!
Thanks so much and keep up the good work, with Mike leaving there isn’t too much day to day updating anymore….that’s what I loved about the site!
Love these ‘what’s new’ blogs, feels like I’m virtually there!
Think it’s great how many people are riding Dumbo for the first time in years, just to see over the construction walls!
Glad to see that Disney are testing the ‘guided seating’ thing again. I found it very frustrating during my last trip to WDW in December that people where walking into counter service areas and taking a table before even one member of their party joined the queue for food. Glad Disney recognises that tables should be available for those guests who are ready to eat their purchase!
So do you have any idea what happened to the houses? We were talking about it on the dis and some people say that they were demolished and others say that they put them in storage?
ASHLEY:
I haven’t heard anything confirmed as to what they have done with the houses. 🙁
Hi! Loved your post 🙂 Were you able to see any of Toon Town while riding Dumbo? I’m curious!
ASHLEY:
You can see ToonTown from Dumbo. Sadly, though, it’s mostly dirt now. The Judge’s Tent and the Barnstormer are still there. Donald’s Boat is also still there but I’ve heard that it will be removed soon.
Thanks for all of the updates. My family will be arriving at the end of May and it is great to see what is being done