Fantasyland plans ARE changing

In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Tom Staggs, the new Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman has confirmed that the original Fantasyland plans have been changed, but only subtly.

Indeed, Staggs confirms that the planned meet-and-greet have been revised, but he said that MOST of the things that were originally planned are definitely staying.

Here you are some of the most important excerpts from the article (CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE):

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Disney parks chief: Fantasyland expansion plans are changing

Disney is redrawing the sweeping Fantasyland expansion plans it laid out last year, even as bulldozers clear land for the project inside the Magic Kingdom.

With the revisions, begun under new Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs, designers are attempting to rebalance the plans, which initially tilted heavily towards young girls by emphasizing attractions and experiences built around Disney’s stable of animated-movie princesses

“We took a hard look at it amongst a number of us and said, ‘Can we make the appeal broader? Can we make it even better?’ “ Staggs said during an interview this week with the Orlando Sentinel.

Staggs said much of what was included in the original plans will be incorporated into the final product and that the changes are “improving it on the margin.” He characterized the revisions as part of any creative project’s natural evolution.

Staggs said Disney is trying to broaden the project’s overall appeal. For instance, plans for three interactive princess meet-and-greets — where children could dance with Cinderella, celebrate Sleeping Beauty’s 16th birthday or play a role in a story with Belle of Beauty and the Beast — are being altered.

“One of the things that I thought the early design did fantastically was delivered on that princess experience. And that does tend to skew towards girls. … We’ve kept that intact — not exactly, necessarily, the way it was presented, but that appeal is there,” Staggs said. “I think we’ve added some things that aren’t just princess-focused, and that’s a good positive.”

Staggs said planners are also reviewing the Fantasyland expansion with an eye toward blending “aspirational rides” — rides that offer thrills or tension — with attractions designed for guests of all ages. And he said they want to ensure that the additions are flexible and can be updated or adapted over time.

The revisions are not expected to substantially alter the construction timetable; most of the Fantasyland additions are still scheduled to open in 2012 and 2013. Staggs said the project’s price tag will “not materially” change with the revisions, though a slight increase is likely because of certain additions. He would not provide specific figures.

Staggs said none of the changes should be interpreted as an indictment of the original Fantasyland expansion plans.

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Of course, we at OTPN said already some weeks ago that the FL plans were changing,  but what's new is that Staggs said that they're trying to blend “aspirational rides” — rides that offer thrills or tension — with attractions designed for guests of all ages!! That's something we didn't know! A new thrill ride? Hmmm...

Now, let's see what happens!