Disney Unveils New Attractions, and Announces Expansion Plans

I am going to be uncharacteristically lazy today, and post a complete press release from Disney without my own comments - I am too far behind with all the necessary, boring paperwork (invoices etc.) that I just have to do... I also have another couple of posts of my own which are almost ready, and I'd rather work on them than re-invent this particular wheel. Anyhoo, some of this stuff looks pretty exciting!

So, over to you Jay Rasulo...

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Jay Rasulo detailed plans for future lands, attractions and adventures at the first D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, including the confirmation of a new Star Tours attraction and the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Rasulo announced that a new 3-D version of the popular “Star Tours” attraction will debut at the Disneyland Resort and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2011. Based on the iconic Star Wars films, the attraction will include immersive new elements that will take guests to many familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy.

For Walt Disney World in Florida, Rasulo outlined expansion plans of the Magic Kingdom, vastly increasing the size of Fantasyland by 2013. Guests will soon be able to visit their favourite Disney Princess in her castle, cottage, or chateau to share a dance with Cinderella; celebrate Sleeping Beauty’s birthday with the Good Fairies; or join Belle in an enchanting story performance in the Beast’s castle library; dine in one of three enchanted rooms inside the Beast’s castle; fly with Dumbo high above new circus grounds, twice the size of the existing attraction with a new interactive, three-ring circus tent; journey under the sea with Ariel, The Little Mermaid, in her very own attraction -- also opening at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim in 2011; and meet Tinker Bell and her friends in the magical world of Pixie Hollow. Rasulo also provided updates on the multi-year expansion of Disney’s California Adventure, including the new “World of Color” attraction slated to open next spring and the addition of the five-hectare Cars Land scheduled to open in 2012 where guests will literally step into the town of Radiator Springs and its 2.4 hectares of hand-carved rockwork.

Rasulo noted the progress of several other recently announced projects, including the three new lands coming to Hong Kong Disneyland by 2014; the Disney Dream, the new ship being built by Disney Cruise Line; the many diverse itineraries being offered by Adventures by Disney that take guests on 19 unique, once-in-a-lifetime guided vacation experiences; and Disney’s first family destination resort on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.

(Source: TravelPress.com http://www.travelpress.com/PHP/news.php?sid=9014)