Chapter 21 - Magic Kingdom - Fantasyland Part 2 posted 8/24/18

Fantasyland was believed to be Walt Disney’s personal favorite area of the Park.
Fantasyland symbolizes the boundless wonders of magic and imagination, which was Walt’s objective for establishing his theme park.
 So when Walt Disney World was planned it was an obvious decision to recreate the concept of Fantasyland.
 
In this Chapter we’re going to tour some of the Classic Disney attractions:
  • Sir Mickey’s
  • Princesses Fairytale Hall
  • The Friar’s Nook
  • Storybook Treats
  • The Many Adventures of Winne the Pooh
  • Hundred Acre Goods
  • Mad Tea Party
  • Cheshire Café
  • Meet & Greet
  • Sorcerers
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 Fantasyland

SIR MICKEY'S

Mickey and the Beanstalk
Mickey and the Beanstalk is a segment in Disney’s “Fun and Fancy Free” animated musical fantasy package film released in 1947.
Mickey playing the role of Jack uses some magic beans to grow a beanstalk. Then climbs up it to finds the castle of Willie the Giant and retrieve the singing Harp, to save Happy Valley plagued by a severe drought.
Mickey and the Beanstalk, is narrated by Edgar Bergen and also features Donald, and Goofy.
“Mickey and the Beanstalk” was the last time that Mr. Walt Disney provided the voice for Mickey Mouse in a Disney movie. He had become too busy with other projects to voice Mickey.
DoctorInsole: The Best Insoles for Foot Pain and Tired Feet
In Chapter 20 we left off at the Castle Couture shop, now we’ll go across to Sir Mickey’s.
 
Sir Mickey’s is located in Fantasyland between Princess Fairytale Hall and the Castle. What’s unique about this shop is not the merchandise but the design, theme and backstory.
 
The Imagineers had created a charming blend of two of Mickey Mouse’s most popular cartoons, The Brave Little Tailor and Mickey and the Beanstalk, for this medieval-themed location.

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Brave Little Tailor
The Brave Little Tailor was Disney animation short release in 1938.
The story of “The Brave Little Tailor” tells of a kingdom that is terrorized by a giant. The king is looking for someone to kill the giant.
Mickey lives in that kingdom where he works as a tailor. One day he was being disturbed by seven large flies, and he managed to kill them all at once. When someone asked Mickey if he ever killed a giant (referring to the real giant), Mickey responds, “I killed seven [flies] with one blow!” With this mix up, and a promise that the person who eliminated the giant can marry the princess, the lovely Minnie Mouse. Mickey sets off to use his sewing skills to conquer the giant. In the end, he saves the kingdom and marries the princess.
Prior to becoming Sir Mickey’s, the location had actually been two separate shops that had opened during the first year the Magic Kingdom welcomed guests. One was a merchandise shop called The AristoCats that sold Disney character and even unique offerings like a Donald Duck needlepoint kit, and china figurines.
The other shop was Merlin’s Magic Shop selling magic tricks and novelties. In 1986, this shop was converted into Mickey’s Christmas Carol Store, the shop exclusively sold Disney holiday merchandise.
In 1996 both shops merged to become Sir Mickey’s. Sir Mickey’s Shop offers a wide variety of souvenirs, clothing, towels, bags, sunglasses, hats and more.
Theming
The other windows feature several Disney characters all attired in medieval clothing from Princess Minnie to Donald Duck as a bold knight in armor.
When guests step inside, they are immersed into the Mickey and the Beanstalk story.
To the left of the main entrance, guests will see Mickey holding a lantern standing on top of a bend of the beanstalk, while on the opposite will, Willie the Giant, is lifting the roof to peek inside.
As we’ve stated before, even the Shops with their unique theming are attractions worth seeing.
 
The Sir Mickey’s shop has one of the most interesting facades, it blends well with the Fantasyland medieval theming. The exterior is stone-like brick construction, complete with turrets and ancient looking glass in the windows.
 
The most prominent feature on the exterior is the over-grown beanstalk appears to twists and turns inside and outside the cottage. The enormous vine has ripped off the Sir Mickey’s sign from the front of the building and is carrying it along.
One of the display window portrays Mickey’s workshop with sewing table, shears, fabrics and threads, along with a clever hand lettered sign proclaiming “Out Giant Hunting. Back Soon!” There are even sketches of garments he has made or plans to make. A reference to Mickey’s role in “Brave Little Tailor”.
On the wall are clocks have hands that are the blades from a pair of scissors. There are also features from the Beanstalk film, such as, a framed picture of Happy Valley and a set of keys that were instrumental in the rescue of the harp.
 
The southern section is the armory where knights are suited for battle. Heavy beams and candle-filled iron chandeliers dominate the room. Scattered about are a selection of shields, armor and weaponry awaiting use to battle the giant. The low ceilings make the large space feel more intimate.

Princess Fairytale Hall

As part of the New Fantasyland expansion Princess Fairytale Hall, a character meet & greeting spot was opened on the site of the former Snow White's Scary Adventures attraction. It officially opened September 2013.
 
 Princess Fairytale Hall is located next to Sir Mickey’s and opposite the Carrousel.
The Meet & Greet features several Disney Princesses, such as Cinderella, Elena of Avalor, Rapunzel and Tiana
The Princess Fairytale Hall, has two queues. Each queue leads to a different Princess and royal friend.
 
In the queue guests will walk through a gallery with beautiful stained glass windows. Each has a centered image that depicts a character from the Disney film story of Cinderella.

As guests wind through several turns of the queue. Each bend is decorated in true royal fashion with ornate iron gates, fancy chandeliers, colorful banners and beautiful arches.
At the last turn, guests will step onto a rich carpet and enter the royal hall, where there are portraits of Princesses Aurora, Jasmine, Tiana, Mulan, Snow White and Rapunzel. At the end of the queue, in a special case is Cinderella's famous glass slipper.
 
Then it’s time to meet the Disney princesses! Guests will directed into the receiving room which leads to the "visiting" princess or royal friend and then the "featured" princess. Both Greeting Rooms showcase replicas of props from the movies -- from storybooks for each princess to the king's bookends.
 
Check to Magic Kingdom Time Guide for to see who the current Princess are.
Between the Princess Fairy Tale Hall and Winnie the Pooh are a group of shops. Since Walt Disney World opened in 1971 these Shoppes have changed several times.
This area had and still has a Tudor style façade which match very well with the overall medieval-theming of Fantasyland.
 
In the center of the Shops is a Seating area for the counter service restaurants, but that’s not how it started.
    Shoppe                         When                     Became

               Royal Candy Shoppe                          1972 - 1994                       Seven Dwarfs Mining Co.
Seven Dwarfs’ Mining Co.                    1994 - 2014                                Seating area
Royal Candy Shoppe
The spot started as the Royal Candy Shoppe. This was a small souvenir stand that sold typical Disney souvenirs including plush, keychains, and a variety of hard candy items.
Then in 1994 it became the Seven Dwarf’s Mining Co.

Seven Dwarfs Mining Co.
The Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Shop was here long before the Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train attraction was even on the drawing board. At the Seven Dwarfs' Mine (originally the Royal Candy Shoppe), over the years had an ever product selection themed to the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs include other Disney merchandise.  The Shop had great storytelling details. When you stepped into the shop you would find yourself in the middle of the dwarfs' mining operation, as if straight out of the Snow White animated film.
 
Heavy wooden beams seemed to hold up portions of the earth where it's been dug away. It was studded with dozens of sparkling gemstones. The Fixtures were made to resemble troughs, wagons and carts, and the dwarfs' mining tools were hanging nearby.
 
Interesting details were throughout, from a bolted door with the sign Vault over it, to the dustpan and broom the dwarfs' use to discard the imperfect stones, and you can even see where Dopey has hung the keys to the Vault... safely right next to the locked door.
We’re not sure why the Seven Dwarfs Mine Shop closed in 2014, especially since there is no Shop for the Mine Train attraction.  
The spot where Friar’s Nook currently occupies has also seen a lot of changes over the years.
    Shoppe                         When                     Became

Lancer's Inn (Fantasyland pizza place)            1971 - 1986              Gurgi's Munchies & Crunchies
Gurgi's Munchies & Crunchies                1986 - 1993                          Lumiere's Kitchen
         Lumiere’s Kitchen                             1993 - 2006                          Village Fry Shoppe
 Village Fry Shoppe                            2006 - 2009                             Friar’s Nook
                         Friar’s Nook                                  2009 - present                                                                
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Lancer’s Inn
When Walt Disney World opened in 1971 the Lancer’s Inn was the only place that served pizza in the Magic Kingdom.  It also served Key Lime and apple pies.  It closed in 1986 and was replaced by Gurgi's Munchies & Crunchies.
 
With the medieval-theming of Fantasyland it’s quite apt that the shops and surrounding quick service restaurants were named to match.

  
http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/wyw.htm
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Gurgi’s Munchies & Crunchies
In 1986, the Lancer's Inn was closed and reopened as Gurgi's Munchies and Crunchies. 
 
At the time changes in Fantasyland were made to stay relevant to Disney's animated feature films.
 
With the release of The Black Cauldron animated film in 1985. It was appropriate to name the shop after a character from the film. Gurgi is the furry little creature in The Black Cauldron who was always hungry for "munchies and crunchies".
Gurgi's was a counter service restaurant the featured kids meals with chicken nuggets and grilled cheese sandwiches as well as other items. 
 
The restaurant was decorated with a full color mural of characters from The Black Cauldron with the fair folk and King Eidilleg flittering around the condiment station. 
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Black Cauldron Theatrical Poster from Disney.go.com
Unfortunately, the guests didn’t relate to the Black Cauldron theming in the restaurant thus the Imagineers had to update the eatery again. 
 
Name Gurgi was traded for a more popular and recognizably Disney character: Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast. 


PicturePhoto credit: WaltDatedWorld.com

Lumiere’s Kitchen
Lumiere's Kitchen opened in 1993 and serving a similar menu to Gurgi's.
 
Lumière (means "light" in French) was a man who was turned into a candelabra, he is featured as a supporting character in Disney's 1991 film Beauty and the Beast.
 
The counter service food spot was often open only seasonally.
It closed in 2006 and became the Village Fry Shoppe
 
 Lumiere and all his friends from Beauty and the Beast later found a culinary home in the New Fantasyland at the Be Our Guest Restaurant.



https://www.waltdatedworld.com/id214.htm
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Credit: ©Disney
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Village Fry Shoppe
Village Fry Shoppe opened in 2006 and served McDonald’s French fries. The Village Fry Shoppe also sells hot dogs, carrot cake, and Jell-O. There was also milk—even soy milk—in your choice of regular or chocolate.

In 1997, an alliance between McDonald’s Corporation and the Walt Disney Company sealed the deal to sell McDonald’s food items at all four Disney World theme parks. These included Fairfax Fries in Hollywood Studios, Refreshment Port at World Showcase, Petrifries at Animal Kingdom, Restaurantosaurus also at Animal Kingdom, Frontierland Fries at Magic Kingdom, and the Village Fry Shoppe also at Magic Kingdom.
 
The counter service restaurant was given a generic name, the Village Fry Shoppe.  With a new name, a new sign was needed and the famous golden arches were incorporated into the design. 
 
Around 2008/2009, Disney's contract with McDonald's had ended and Disney chose not to renew it. 
Instead Imagineers decided to honor a Disney classic Robin Hood feature in 1973 by naming the restaurant Friar’s Nook after Friar Tuck from the animated film.

The Friar's Nook
This bring us to the current establishment The Friar's Nook. It officially opened in 2009!
 
The counter service restaurant offers French fries, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and beverages.
 
Of course the name is a play on words, referring both to Friar Tuck from Disney's Robin Hood as well as the fried foods available over the counter.
The sign above the location notes that it was established in MLXXI. The Roman numerals translates to the number 1071, which isn’t a reference to any medieval historical date but to 1971 when the Magic Kingdom opened.
 
Link to the current Menu:
Note: Now to summaries the events in this area over the past 45 plus years.
 
When Walt Disney World opened in 1971, the area now known as The Friar's Nook was part of The Royal Candy Factory shop which was also attached to the now present Seven Dwarfs' Mine shop. In the later 70s, Disney began to separate The Royal Candy Factory into different shops, and the section now known as The Friar's Nook became Lancer's Inn, which served basic meals and snacks.
In 1986, shortly after The Black Cauldron hit theaters, the restaurant was rethemed and renamed Gurgi's Munchies and Crunchies after one of the most memorable characters from the film. After the hit film Beauty and the Beast was released, the shop was once again renamed after Lumiere and it became Lumiere's Kitchen. Unfortunately Lumiere's Kitchen was closed.
Eventually, McDonalds, which at this point had had a long running partnership with Disney, opened up a fry stand called The Village Fry Shoppe. When Disney decided to feature healthier snacks in the park, the shop was renamed once again to The Friar's Nook, featuring Friar Tuck from the 1970s Disney film, Robin Hood!
 
If you followed that, you’re good, because it’s still confusing.
When the park opened, this spot was originally known as The Round Table and served ice cream treats the name has changed a few times but still serves ice cream treats.

Shoppe                         When                     Became

     The Round Table                                1971 - 1994                        Mrs. Pott’s Cupboard
 Mrs. Pott’s Cupboard                           1994 - 2010                             Storybook Treats
Storybook Treats                              2010 - present                                                 
The Round Table
When the Magic Kingdom opened up in 1971, this location was part of the Royal Candy Company. As time would go on the section would evolve into three different shops/restaurants. By the late 70s the small kiosk was known as The Round Table, which offered Ice Cream Treats.


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Mrs. Potts’ Cupboard
A sundae option, Mrs. Pott’s Cupboard was the place to go in the Magic Kingdom. It was known for the strawberry shortcake, hot fudge cookie, and fudge brownie sundaes.
 
As we’re sure you’ve noticed, every place in Walt Disney World has a tale to tell. Some of those stories are rich in detail. Others can be summed up in a sentence or two and simply fit into the setting of the backstory or theme of the land or attraction. Even these small shoppe have little details to find.
 
This location or shop the park opened, this spot was known as The Round Table and served ice cream treats just as it does today. The architecture tied into the medieval village theme of Fantasyland. With the popularity of Beauty and the Beast animated film in the 1990s, the ice cream shop was given its present name, and additional details were added. The menu was presented on dishes.
 
The name remained the same until late 2010. Then with the future opening of the New Fantasyland Expansion, and since Beauty and the Beast would have its own area in the new expansion, the name was changed once again to Storybook Treats Ice Cream!

Storybook Treats Ice Cream

And if you’re looking for Mrs. Potts’ Cupboard’s ice cream treats, then go no further — the shop was simply renamed to Storybook Treats. It still serves the same treats the Round Table and Mrs. Potts’ Cupboard featured over the years..

Current menu:
Windy City Novelties

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

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Marquee in 2003
Backstory
The Winnie the Pooh is the beloved character from the books written by A. A. Milne. In 1926, A.A. Milne started to write a series of books about a fictional teddy bear that belonged to his son Christopher Robin, called Winnie the Pooh, and their friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. The other characters, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, Kanga and Roo were also based on stuffed animals belonging to Christopher Robin. The characters, Rabbit and Owl, were based on animals that lived in the surrounding area of Milne's country home, Cotchford Farm in Ashdown Forest, Sussex. It is this area which the 100-Acre-Wood was based on.
 
In 1977 Disney released an animated feature called The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is based inspired by A.A. Milne’s stories and includes songs from Disney Legends the Sherman Brothers.
 
Note: The original voice of Winnie the Pooh in the 1977 film was Sterling Holloway. Sterling also did the voices of Kaa in Jungle Book, the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, Flower in Bambi, the Stork in Dumbo and many, many more. The voice in the later films of Winnie the Pooh was Jim Cummings. He has been in Aladdin, Hercules, The Lion King, Tarzan and others.  He is also the narrator for Illuminations:  Reflections of Earth at Epcot.
 
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at Fantasyland, which opened in 1999, is located on the site of the former Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. (Note: more about Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride later)
 
The attraction takes you for a ride in a Hunny Pot through the pages of a picture book into the Hundred Acre Wood, where you come upon Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Tigger, Kanga, and Roo as they deal with a blustery day. There’s even a dream sequence with Heffalumps and Woozles.
Queue
In 2010 during the Fantasyland expansion, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction received a new queue that resembling the Hundred Acre Wood. The Pooh's Interactive Queue included a playground with children's games.
Guests can only experience the interactive queue in the Stand-by line, and not from the Fastpass lane. 
There are different interactive fun things to do, including drawing shapes in virtual honey. At the entrance to the Queue guests will walk under the large tree outside and step into the Hundred Acre Wood.

 Note: There is a tribute to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which was an attraction across from Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, that closed in 1994. In front of the attraction, you will notice that there is a carvings of the submarine Nautilus inside the treehouse. 
Just past the Tree guests can explore Rabbit’s Garden, paint with honey and visit Eeyore’s home at this play space found. 
Throughout the winding path of the queue, there are giant storybook pages to read along the way. 
The Queue is designed for both the young and young-at-heart, the Hundred Acre Wood-themed spot includes 4 areas of fun and games:
  • Rabbit’s Garden is a game with gophers where you push buttons and knock those pesky gophers back down into the ground, spin sunflower wheels and beat on large vegetables that sound like drums and a crawl-through tunnel formed by stacked crates offer fun for little ones.  
  • By Piglet’s House you can knock on the front door and hear Piglet inside.
  • Then at Eeyore’s Gloomy Place little guests can crawl through Eeyore’s leaning home.
  • At the Hunny Wall guests can draw shapes with overflowing honey by running your hand against a wall.
The Ride
Upon exiting the Queue, you’re ready to board a Hunny Pot and journey to Hundred Acre Wood.
 
The Hunny pot vehicles leave of the load area, and arrive near a giant story-book showing Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin.
As you enter the first Storybook page says Chapter 11 and reads “In Which We Join Pooh and His Friends in a Very Blustery Day.”
Just as in the Queue throughout the ride there are large Storybook pages from A.A. Milne’s classic tales, you’ll travel through colorful, song-filled storybook illustrations and experience a magical Pooh adventure.
The Hunny Pot will take you to the following scenes:

It’s A Blustery Day in Hundred Acre Wood.
  • The vehicles arrive in the Hundred Acre Wood during a rather blustery day. Gopher, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga and Roo are swept up in a gust of wind. Piglet is holding onto a broom while being spun around. Pooh is holding onto a balloon while trying to reach for some honey, Eeyore looks rather gloomy as he watches Pooh.  Meanwhile, Kanga holds on tight to Roo’s scarf so the little kangaroo doesn’t blow away.  Then there’s poor Rabbit.  The very blustery day has blown his vegetable garden upside down.  You’ll see Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga and Roo, struggling to stay on the ground because of the powerful wind!
  • The Hunny Pot moves on as if things couldn’t be worse, you see when you enter Owl’s house.  The winds are so strong the whole house is being blown apart. Owl’s home, everything is scattered about.

Note:
In the scene at Owl’s house you will see two tributes to Mr. Toad one showing Mr. Toad handing over the deed to Owl.  There is also a picture of Pooh greeting Moley (Mr. Toad's sidekick), which is flat on the floor to the right.
Another tribute to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at the Magic Kingdom comes in the form of a Mr. Toad statue in the Pet Cemetery outside the Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square. (See Chapter 19)
HP Commission
Bounce with Tigger.
  • As the hunny pot passes a second giant storybook page it begins to bounce up and down with Tigger who is singing and bouncing (as Tigger’s do) throughout the forest. 
  • He bounces on to Pooh’s house and right on top of his old friend Pooh and Pooh is in his pajamas ready for bed.
  • Tigger has pinned Pooh to the floor as he tells him about Heffalumps and Woozles.
  • Pooh's heads to bed, falls asleep, and begins floats up into the sky. The room blackens as Pooh enters his nightmare.
  • The Hunny Pots enters a dream world where singing Heffalumps and Woozles spring up and down, giggle and wiggle, and try to steal honey.
Heffalumps and Woozles
  • Pooh’s nightmare has giant jack-in-the box like creatures tower over your hunny pot.  Beware, beware, be a vary wary bear.  If honey’s what you covet you’ll find that they love it, because they guzzle up the thing you prize.
  • The ride vehicles then move into a strange room as Pooh floats through. There are honey pots with eyes and mouths, while giant woozles with jack-in-the-box necks move in front of the guests.
  • The ride moves round some very strange objects, a purple woozle lights a heffalump, causing a giant smoke ring to come from its trunk, and a giant heffalump has holes that reveal the way out of the heffalump scene.
  • Other funhouse effects are seen as the vehicles make an escape out of the Heffalump and Woozle room, indicated by a watering can pouring (fake) rain on the riders.

A Rainy Place
  • Fortunately, Pooh doesn’t stay asleep for the rest of the ride.  Instead, the rain, rain, rain, comes down, down, down and suddenly the hunny pot swaying as if caught by the same stream trying to wash poor Piglet away.  Your hunny pot floats along in the “Floody Place” where you witness the rescue of Piglet from the Floody Place Falls.
  • Awaken from a dream amid a torrential downpour as Eeyore, Roo, Kanga, Rabbit, Owl and Tigger band together to stay afloat.
  • Pooh and his friends manage to save the day and at last the rain goes away. 
A Party for Pooh
  • The chapter ends with Pooh and his friends gathering after the stormy night to celebrate. Shout “hooray” Pooh might be a little late to the party though, he has found his tree full of honey.
  • Celebrate sunny days and togetherness before leaving the pages of Hundred Acre Wood as Pooh finally gets his paws on some yummy honey. 

Hundred Acre Goods

 During the New Fantasyland Expansion 2010-2011, the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has been rethemed to feel like it's in a forest, just outside the Castle walls. And the shop was renamed and given a sign that fit the new Fantasyland theming better and it became Hundred Acre Goods. While the interior of the shop hasn't changed, the exterior has.
Hundred Acre Goods specializes in toys, mats, mugs, even jewelry, candy, plush characters apparel, and collectibles featuring huggable Pooh and his friends.
As you exit the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh guests will enter the Hundred Acre Goods which sells Pooh merchandise. The story seems to continue in the Hundred Acre Goods shop as you are surrounded by the storybook pages. The pages are scattered throughout the shop but they do tell a story and the tale doesn't end until you leave the shop.
Hundred Acre Goods shop in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World; opened November 15, 2010, replacing Pooh’s Thotful Shop. Pooh’s Thotful Shop had originally opened with the attraction in 1999.

Pooh's Playful Spot

Directly across from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh was a playground called Pooh’s Playful Spot. It was themed after the Hundred-Acre Wood and featured spurting fountains of water, crawl-through logs and honey pots, a slide, a treehouse for climbing for kids and log-style benches for grown-ups. The area also hosted meet-and-greets for Pooh and Tigger.
Pooh's Playful Spot opened in 2005 on an area of the land that was on the former 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea land. It closed on 2010 and part of the New Fantasyland expansion make way for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Photo credit: https://www.yesterland.com/playful.html
After Pooh’s Playful Spot closed , the impressive 120-ton tree was moved a short distance to become part of a new exterior for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Moving pass Winnie the Pooh and the Hundred Acre Wood we’ll reach the spinning Tea Cups of the Mad Tea Party attraction.

“Clean cup, move down!”
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Mad Tea Party
To set the mood for a wild ride, let’s listen to the music loop for this area:

Mad Tea Party was one of the opening day attractions at the Magic Kingdom in 1971. Like many of the opening day attractions, it was modeled after the Disneyland version that had opened in 1955.
 
Mad Tea Party theme was inspired by the Mad Hatter’s Unbirthday Party scenes in Walt Disney’s 1951 animated classic Alice in Wonderland. 

“A very merry unbirthday to you!”

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Movie Poster Credit: ©Disney
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is an 1865 novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the name Lewis Carroll. It tells of a girl named Alice falling through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, creatures.
 
Read Lewis Carroll’s section on the Mad Tea Party:   
Walt Disney was familiar with Lewis Carroll's books (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass) and had read them as a school boy. Lot of Walt’s earlier Alice Comedies animations with Laugh-O-Grams Studios were loosely inspired by the Lewis Carroll’s books. The Alice Comedies were a series of animated cartoons created by Walt Disney in the 1920s, in which a live action little girl named Alice.

References:
Notes:
  • The Mad Hatter in Walt Disney's Alice In Wonderland was voiced by . He also appeared in Walt Disney's Mary Poppins (1964), in which he played eccentric man Uncle Albert floating around just beneath the ceiling in uncontrollable mirth, singing "I Love to Laugh".
  • Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” famously features an eccentric character called the Hatter, who’s referred to in the story as “mad” and became popularly known as the Mad Hatter. The phrase “mad as a hatter,” used to describe someone who’s crazy or prone to unpredictable behavior. The expression is linked to the hat-making industry and mercury poisoning. In the 18th and 19th centuries, industrial workers used a toxic substance, mercury nitrate, as part of the process of turning the fur of small animals, such as rabbits, into felt for hats. Workplace safety standards often were lax and prolonged exposure to mercury caused a variety of physical and mental ailments.

For those who don't remember the Mad Tea Party scene or have never seen it, here is a short clip from Disney's Alice in Wonderland:
The Magic Kingdom attraction was modeled after the original 1955 Disneyland park attraction of the same name, Mad Tea Party features the same resplendent floral colors, wacky architectural flourishes and objects of disproportionate size as seen in the movie.
Mary Blair designed the teacups on Mad Tea Party. Mary made many contributions to Disney over the years, from working on concept art for films (including Alice in Wonderland, appropriately) to designing murals for the park and hotels. Mary Blair was also responsible for much of the early ride design throughout Disney parks, including “it’s a small world”. (see Chapter 20 – Fantasyland Part 1)
The Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland transports guests into the Unbirthday scene from Alice in Wonderland where they can whirl round and round in massive teacups. Located just outside the attraction are several topiaries depicting characters from the animated film along with a leaf bearing an interesting quote. The leaf reads: “Be good at something, it makes you valuable…Have something to bring to the table because that will make you more welcome.” The quote is by Randy Pausch, a former Imagineer and Carnegie Mellon professor.

Randy Pausch as a Disney Imagineer worked on Virtual Reality developments, but also known for his famous’ The Last Lecture”
Microsoft
Microsoft
 Magic Kingdom's original 1971 version of this attraction opened without a roof. It was added in 1974 due to extreme weather conditions in Florida. In 1992, it was refurbished with a new color scheme, new music, and the colorful lanterns. In 2010, during the New Fantasyland expansion, the canopy was repainted.
The ride theming, colors and experience details were all designed by the imagineers, but the actual construction and engineering was done by Arrow Development, an outside contractor, responsible for building: Mad Tea Party, Dumbo, Snow White's Adventures, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, “it’s a small world”, and Haunted Mansion. (Chapter 20).
As you Celebrate an “un-birthday” in Wonderland you spin around a towering teapot beneath a party of colorful japanese paper lanterns, as festive music fills the air. The Dormouse resides Inside the tea pot and he can occasionally be seen peaking out of the large teapot in the center of the ride.
 
Please be aware that although you can control the spinning, your teacup automatically tosses and turns on the platform deck.
The Ride
If you like to spin, this ride is for you. Guests sit in oversized brilliant colored teacups. There are 18 tea cups that are on 3 spinning bases that each hold 6 tea cups. Each teacup holds up to 5 Guests. As the party gets underway, the cups swirl atop 3 turntables, which are mounted on one larger turntable. Finally, each individual tea cup is controlled by the rider inside and spins counterclockwise.
utside of the attraction there is an opportunity to meet the characters. Alice and the Mad Hatter usually take turns popping up near the ride entrance as well as the White Rabbit, Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum, etc. The Mad Tea Party is an excellent backdrop for a photo shot.

And if you’re lucky, it’s not unusual for them to hop on the ride with guests.

This is one of the few attractions that characters will ride on, and catching one of these Disney characters on the ride is quite a magical experience. (See the Evil Step-Sisters on The Prince Charming Carrousel – Chapter 20)

Check your Times Guide for the current appearance times when you are in the park.
Follow-ups:

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Cheshire Cafe
Next to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction and across from the Mad Tea Party ride is the Cheshire Cafe counter service restaurant.

This location originally opened in 1973 as Fantasyland Art Festival, a caricature and portrait merchandise location. The Fantasyland Art Festival originally open in 1971, but in temporary quarters on the west side of Fantasyland near Peter Pan’s Flight.

Fantasyland Art Festival closed 1981 and the location reopened in 1983 as a counter service restaurant named Enchanted Grove which offered frozen treats, fruit drinks and Coffee. The quick service restaurant remained essentially the same until 2011 when it was renamed Cheshire Cafe.

Cheshire Cafe is named after the Cheshire Cat character in Alice and Wonderland. This name and appearance was changed to tie the restaurant in with the nearby Mad Tea Party attraction.
The Cheshire Cafe sells frozen lemonade, ice coffee and snacks. New treat the Cheshire Cat Tail is a braided pastry that includes a chocolate filling. It has a drizzle of pink and purple icing to give it that Cheshire Cat name and chocolate chips sprinkled on top.
The quick service restaurant sponsorship started with Florida Citrus Growers. In 1986 the counter service restaurant sponsorship has been hosted by Minute Maid.
Check the below link for latest menu: 
References:

Meet & Greet

Throughout Fantasyland are locations where you can Meet & Greet a number of Disney Characters.
 Same we have already covered in the previous Chapter.

  • Rapunzel and Tiana in Princess Fairytale Hall
  • Peter Pan can be found near Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Alice in Wonderland character at the Mad Tea Party attraction
  • Merida from Brave at the Fairytale Garden
  • Winnie the Pooh and Tigger at the Thotful Spot next to the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Check the Magic Kingdom’s daily Times Guide or the link below for current character locations and times, because they do change:


 Of course there are more Meet & Greet locations in the New Fantasyland expansion, which we will cover in any upcoming Chapter.
Fairy Tale Garden
Just past Cinderella’s Castle follow the path on the Fantasyland side of the castle moat toward Tomorrowland tucked away is the Fairytale Garden. This little walled outdoor theater has been used as a Show, Meet & Greet location for several Disney Characters over the years.
Tangled Meet & Greet
In 2010 , a new "play and greet" experience came to the Fairy Tale Gardens, Rapunzel, Flynn Ryder, and Pascal, from the upcoming animated film "Tangled".
Everyone was given a sheet to color with a pack of Tangled crayons. Then Flynn and Rapunzel came out and to music they both danced around the table with the kids.
After the show the families would have an opportunity for photos and autographs.
 
Rapunzel moved from Fairytale Gardens to Tour guide Gardens (area next to City Hall) in 2012 to make way for Princess Merida from Brave. Rapunzel can now be found in the Princess Fairytale Hall.


Picture
Photo credit: ©Disney
Storytime with Belle
In 2000, Belle at the Fairytale Garden started to share her story of how she came to the Beast's Castle and became part of his enchanted world.
The show lasted 20-minute which involves lots of audience participation, encouraging children to become part of the show. Several times a day, Belle delights children with her retelling of the story of Beauty and the Beast.
Once the story was under way and Belle chose Gaston, Beast and Maurice from among the seated audience members. Belle's helper would lead led the whole group up on the stage and began outfitting them as Lumière, Cogsworth, Chip Potts and Mrs. Potts. Under the guidance of Belle's helper, the children were able to dance with Belle and the Beast (a father chosen from the audience) and follow a few other simple stage directions.
Storytime with Belle at the Fairy Tale Garden closed in 2010.
In 2012 a new version Enchanted Tales with Belle opened in Belle’s cottage located in the New Fantasyland Expansion near Under Sea with the Little Mermaid and Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train. (More in an upcoming Chapter – New Fantasyland)
 Merida Meet & Greet
In 2012, Fairytale Garden in Magic Kingdom is used as the Meet and Greet location for Merida from Brave. Known as a “play and greet” experience, here you’ll get the opportunity to meet Merida, practice your archery and color your own “tapestry” of Merida and her horse Angus. 
 

Check Times Guide for character Locations:

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

The Battle between good and evil isn’t over. The evil Disney Characters are also trying to capture Fantasyland. So it’s up to the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom to help prevent that from happening.

Get you Magic Sorcerers Card ready and stop those villains.

There are five portals locations in Fantasyland to get into the game.
(If you’re not familiar with how to play or start, see Chapter 4 – Town Square - West Side or the link below)
End of Fantasyland Part 2
Well we’ve reached the end of our pictorial tour of the classic Fantasyland, where guests can let their imaginations run free. Most of the attractions in this area are from the original concepts that Walt Disney had designed for Disneyland.
The Imagineers have recreated them again in Walt Disney World.
 
Next Chapter, we will go back in time and visit some of the attraction that once were in Walt Disney World’s Fantasyland.

  • Snow White Scary Adventure 
  • Mr. Toad Wild Ride
  • 20,000 Leagues under the Sea
  • Fantasyland Skyway
  • Mickey’s Toontown Fair
 
Then we’ll move on to the New Fantasyland Expansion which occurred in 2013. So there is still a lot see and discover in Fantasyland.

    We would definitely like to hear from you.
    Let us know what you think, suggestions, ideas, and absolutely if we've missed anything.
Afterword:
WDWMousing.com is designed to be a tour of Walt Disney World through photos. We have been to Walt Disney World countless times over the past 25 years and accumulated a magnitude of photos in that time. This website is an intention to combine two of our favorite pastimes, Walt Disney World and photography, and provide an insightful pictorial tour.
While doing so, we've done an extensive research of the internet and literary sources for background information on each area and atrraction. The information is available, but most bits and pieces are scattered all over. WDWMousing doesn't intend to rewrite the stories, legends or data, but to try and collect it into one location with reference and links to the original articles and authors. And giving rightful credit. We've stumbled through quite a bit of mis-information, most of which came to life by fans because the origins were lost, forgotten or no one seems to remember. Over the past 25 years we've also lost most of the great Imagineers that helped develop, design and build the original concepts of Walt Disney World. So we believe it's extremely important to make sure that their efforts, intentions, details and creativity in making this Happiest Place on Earth isn't lost.
So we ask for feedback, insights, and suggestions.

Thank you
WDWMousing