WDW: 40 years later, and it’s still evolving

From a massive expansion to Fantasyland to construction of a new resort, Walt Disney World is continuing to grow and change – even on the brink of its 40th birthday.

“As an opening day cast member, I’m excited to see Fantasyland further transformed into Walt Disney’s original vision of a place where fairy tales come true,” Phil Holmes, vice president of Magic Kingdom park and a 40-year Disney theme park veteran, said in a news release.

“By showcasing modern-day classics like ‘Beauty and the Beast’ alongside Walt’s first animated feature, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,’ our cast members will bring these stories to life in a way like never before, creating even more wonderful memories for our guests,” Holmes added.

Holmes’ started his Disney park career as a Haunted Mansion greeter.

Here’s a quick overview of some of the changes:

Fantasyland Expansion

In 2009, Disney officials announced a major overhaul and expansion to Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom.

When complete, the expanded Fantasyland will feature a Little Mermaid-themed attraction, similar to what Disney is building in California, and an expanded Dumbo attraction. The new land, originally slated to include a number of princess-themed attractions, will also include a Seven Dwarves Mine Train.

The new and expanded Fantasyland is expected to complete by 2013. As part of the expansion, Mickey's Toontown Fair closed; Snow White's Scary Adventure attraction will also close.

Art of Animation Resort

The newest Walt Disney World resort, a 2,000-room value resort, is expected to be open by 2012.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will feature 1,120 family suites – to be located in The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo wings of the resort – and 864 standard “themed” rooms – to be located in The Little Mermaid wing. The suites will have both a bedroom and a living room.

Avatar comes to the Animal Kingdom

Avatar is coming to the Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World said earlier this month.

The theme park is teaming with filmmaker James Cameron to “create themed lands that will give theme park guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of (Avatar) first hand,” the company said in a news release. The first such themed land is planned for the Animal Kingdom.

"This exciting new venture combines the world of Avatar with the enormous reach of Disney and the incomparable talent of Jim Cameron," Fox Filmed Entertainment chairmen Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman said in a joint statement. "While Jim is bringing audiences further into Pandora with the next two chapters in the Avatar motion picture saga, the theme park attraction will likewise bring a new dimension to the amazing universe he created."

Pleasure Island transformation on hold

Walt Disney World's "Hyperion Wharf" project, floated as a replacement for Pleasure Island, has been put on indefinite hold, the Orlando Sentinel reported previously.

“Hyperion Wharf” was touted as a “nostalgic yet modern take on an early 20th century port city.” The wharf would have been named for Hyperion, the Greek god of light, and the street where Walt Disney's first "major" animation studio was located.

Those great attractions from yesteryear

Walt Disney famously said his theme parks would never be finished.

Over the years, the parks have seen a number of changes. Most of the updates have been welcomed, but often times, these changes leave Disney fanatics longing for the past.

Though these attractions are no longer with us, they are surely remembered by the thousands of fans who lament their disappearance.

Here are a few of the most memorable Magic Kingdom attractions from years past:

• Swan Boats: One of the earliest attractions to close, the loading dock remains as a reminder.
• Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes: The Magic Kingdom attraction, which closed in 1994, traces its origins to Disneyland's version that opened in 1956. Not a major attraction, but one of the more fun ones that ever hit the park's lineup. Plus, this was a good way to burn off that turkey leg you had for lunch.
• Skyway: Maybe it was the backstage areas that were clearly visible or the dangers that this ride posed that ultimately led to its downfall, but there was no better way to travel between the far reaches of Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.
• Penny Arcade/Main Street Cinema/House of Magic: These attractions weren't great draws like the Magic Kingdom's E Ticket attractions, but they show just how great Disney's attention to detail was. These two attractions have since been turned into stores, most likely because neither made any money.
• Mr. Toad's Wild Ride: Sept. 7, 1998, is a "Day the Music Died" moment for the Magic Kingdom. Despite the objections of thousands of fans from around the world, Disney shuttered the ride and replaced it with a Winnie the Pooh attraction – and a related store. RIP Mr. Toad.

The list goes on; in some instances, bigger and better attractions have taken their place, though these new rides will never replace them.

Five curious WDW decisions over the years

RIP Mr. Toad

Here is a rundown of five interesting decisions Walt Disney World officials have made since the resort opened on Oct. 1, 1971.

• No Pirates of the Caribbean: Apparently, officials thought since Central Florida was so close to the Caribbean, an attraction about pirates in the Caribbean might hit a little too close to home. Good thing they reconsidered.
• Removing Main Street's Charm: Remember when Main Street U.S.A. wasn't a giant strip mall? And, when there was a western half of Center Street?
• The Birthday Cake Castle: This one generated multitudes of complaints from guests who didn't want a big pink balloon-like object in the background their family pictures. For the 25th anniversary, Disney transformed Cinderella's Castle into a giant birthday cake. Yes, a giant birthday cake.
• Closing Mr. Toad's Wild Ride: Sept. 7, 1998, is a "Day the Music Died" moment for the Magic Kingdom. Despite the objections of thousands of fans from around the world, Disney shuttered the ride and replaced it with a Winnie the Pooh attraction – and a related store. Yet, Mr. Toad is good enough for Disney merchandise. RIP Mr. Toad.
• The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Site: Allegedly, it cost too much to refurbish this ride in the 1990s, so it remained relatively unchanged for many years and was later used as a character greeting location. It's not so much the decision to close the ride that is potentially questionable as it is the fact that the attraction's remnants sat idle for many years. They have since been removed to make way for a massive expansion to Fantasyland.

WDW to celebrate 40 years

Walt Disney World is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary Saturday with a host of activities, including a parade and a ceremony to honor cast members who have worked at the resort since it opened.

The Magic Kingdom and three Disney-owned lodging options -- Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground -- opened on Oct. 1, 1971. Since then hundreds of millions of people have visited the Central Florida resort which now boasts four theme parks, two water parks, 33 resorts -- including two dozen resorts owned by Disney -- and other amenities.

"There were all kinds of predictions and expectations about how it might grow, but not very many people I knew had expected that it would grow the way that it did," Charles Ridgway, a veteran Disney publicist, said in a news release. "I knew that there were great expectations, but when we started out, they were relatively limited expectations."

Walt Disney World is in the midst of a massive expansion of the Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland. In addition, officials recently announced that a new Avatar attraction is coming to the Animal Kingdom.

Avatar coming to Animal Kingdom

Avatar is coming to the Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World said Tuesday.

The theme park is teaming with filmmaker James Cameron to “create themed lands that will give theme park guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of (Avatar) first hand,” the company said in a news release. The first such themed land is planned for the Animal Kingdom.

The 2009 film “is a uniquely powerful franchise that has global appeal with audiences of all ages. Its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures, and strong themes of family and loyalty make it a perfect fit for Disney,” Thomas O. Staggs, chairman of the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said in a news release. “We can’t wait to give our guests the ability to journey to Pandora and explore the incredible immersive world of (the movie) in person.”

Construction on the new land at the Animal Kingdom is expected to start by 2013. Walt Disney World is currently in the middle of a massive expansion of Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom.

“With this agreement, we have the extraordinary opportunity to combine James’ talent and vision with the imagination and expertise of Disney,” Robert A. Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Co., said in a news release.

Added Cameron: “I’m chomping at the bit to start work with Disney’s legendary Imagineers … Our goal is to go beyond current boundaries of technical innovation and experiential storytelling, and give park goers the chance to see, hear, and touch the world of (Avatar) with an unprecedented sense of reality.”