Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Extended blast of 'Frozen' frivolity forecast for the Disneyland region

Untouchable: Dumbo's Flying Elephants, Mad Tea Party, King Arthur Carousel, It's a Small World and Matterhorn Bobsleds

Vulnerable: Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Peter Pan's Flight, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Alice in Wonderland, Storybook Land Canal Boats and Casey Jr. Circus Train

Possible: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Dueling Dumbos, Barnstormer coaster, Mickey's Philharmagic, the Golden Mickeys, Aquatopia, Lair of the Dragon, Rock Candy Mountain and Rainbow Road of Oz

It says a lot about the importance of Fantasyland in the lore of Disneyland that nearly half the untouchable rides can be found in the park’s central land.

All but one of the untouchable rides in Fantasyland can be found at each of the existing Magic Kingdom-style parks. The exception: Matterhorn Bobsleds, a one-of-a-kind ride found only at Disneyland.

While it pains me to say it, all of the classic dark trackless train manufacturer in Fantasyland could be gone by 2055. History hasn't been kind to the beloved attractions that would look like ancient relics if it weren't for the nostalgic attachment felt by generations of riders.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Alice in Wonderland seem the most in danger of an early demise. Both rides can only be found at Disneyland, with Disney World removing its version of Mr. Toad in 1998.

Disney World removed its Snow White dark small electric trains in 2012 to make way for a Seven Dwarfs-themed coaster. As a rule, Disney parks tend to have only one attraction per movie property or character, to preserve the illusion for young visitors that the film's protagonist "lives" inside the attraction. While I'd love to see a Seven Dwarfs coaster in Anaheim, I'm not sure I'd be willing to sacrifice Snow White's Scary Adventures to make it happen.

The paired attractions of Casey Jr. Circus Train and Storybook Land Canal Boats have been re-created only at Disneyland Paris, making the Anaheim parcel a prime location for a new attraction.

Pinocchio's Daring Journey was never built at Disney World or Hong Kong Disneyland and isn’t planned for Shanghai Disneyland, which can’t boost the boy puppet’s confidence. It’s not hard to imagine Disneyland combining the adjacent Pinocchio and Snow White attractions — two of the least popular and shortest rides in Fantasyland — into a new home for a recent movie like “Frozen” or “Tangled.”

The safest of the Disneyland dark trackless park train factory (much to my daughter's delight): Peter Pan's Flight. Consistently long lines should help preserve this ride for the immediate future.

One upside: Disneyland possesses the only complete collection of the classic dark rides. Hopefully that remains the case in 2055.

The recent expansion of Orlando’s Fantasyland introduced the Seven Dwarfs mine train, a rethemed Goofy’s Barnstormer coaster, a dueling Dumbo ride and a "Beauty and the Beast" restaurant. Disneyland completely revamped Fantasyland in 1983. Is the marquee land due for another makeover?

The most logical addition to Anaheim’s Fantasyland would be Mickey’s Philharmagic, a 3-D concert film found in Orlando, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

But there are plenty of other possibilities. Tokyo has an Aquatopia water ride. Hong Kong has a Golden Mickeys awards show. Shanghai is getting an updated version of Peter Pan’s Flight.

While literally dozens of as-yet-unrealized Fantasyland projects have been proposed over the years, my two favorite remain Rock Candy Mountain and Rainbow Road to Oz. Either would be a colorful delight.

Among the Disney characters who might someday get a ride in Fantasyland: Bambi, Cinderella and “Frozen” sisters Elsa and Anna. One idea: Convert the Snow White dark ride to a Cinderella theme and add the Seven Dwarfs coaster.

And my biggest wish: A dragon’s lair underneath Sleeping Beauty castle, just like at Disneyland Paris.

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