Guests of the Walt Disney World Resort look for the magical escape to a world where even adults can let their inner child have fun.  There may be no better example of this than on the Dumbo The Flying Elephant Attraction.

Dumbo The Flying Elephant

This classic Magic Kingdom attraction is actually one that was not only moved from its original Fantasyland location, but it was also transformed from a single unit to a double set of rotating Dumbos, thereby allowing more guests to enjoy this fantastic Disney escape.

New Fantasyland Attraction

The new "Double" Dumbo attraction can now be found as part of the Storybook Circus area of the Magic Kingdom.  As an additional benefit, the new Dumbo attraction has a special Circus Tent queue that gives younger guests the opportunity to play under the big top while they are waiting in line.









Can't you just picture yourself flying along with this ever smiling elephant?




When it comes to pure childish joy at Disney World, it is hard to match the feeling that your inner child gets when soaring through the air on the Dumbo attraction.  As popular as the original attraction was, this new incarnation is even better!

Your visit to Disney World and the Magic Kingdom is not complete if you do not ride the Dumbo - The Flying Elephant attraction!

One of the most sought after things to do at Disney World these days is to meet the stars of Frozen: Princess Anna, and Queen Elsa.  At the Princess Fairytale Hall in the Fantasyland area of the Magic Kingdom, Disney Guests can not only meet them, but talk to them, get an autograph, and even have a couple of pictures taken with them.

Princess Fairytale Hall

For those of you not familiar with Princess Fairytale Hall at the Magic Kingdom, it is a fairly recent addition as part of the massive Fantasyland Expansion that has happened over the past several years.  The Princess Fairytale Hall is actually the building where Snow White's Scary Adventures ride took place.  It is located just past Cinderella Castle and very near to Princess Charming's Regal Carousel.

The building is home to a rotating group of Disney Princesses that you can meet and greet.  Currently the most popular one's are Princess Anna and Queen Elsa, who have had Standby lines that have exceeded 4 hours long. Please note that two different groups of two Disney Princesses can be seen at any time.  Please check the signs to make sure you are getting in the correct line for who you are looking to meet.


Although the lines still may not be quite 4 hours long, 90 minutes or more is still pretty routine, so we would highly recommend reserving a FastPass+ to see them.  It is well worth it and takes the wait down to less than 5 minutes!

Frozen's Princess Anna

Unlike a typical Disney Character Meet & Greet where the character cannot speak with you, meeting a Princess is an entirely different ordeal.  Each guest gets to have their own personal conversation with the Princess to learn a little about each other during their brief meeting.



Princess Anna is true to her movie persona.  She is spunky and full of energy and carries on a lively conversation.  Anna fans will not be disappointed.

Frozen's Queen Elsa

Meeting the Queen is different from meeting a Princess.  Queen Elsa is definitely more refined and reserved, but you will not get a chilly reception from the Frozen star.  She makes all of the guests she meets feels welcome and chats with them as she signs autographs and takes pictures with them.




Frozen Fans will love this experience and should not pass up the only place at the Walt Disney World Resort to be able to have a conversation with Queen Elsa, get her autograph, and have your picture taken while she poses with you.

The Magic Kingdom Fantasyland Expansion is almost completed!  Shortly the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will open, thus completing this multi-year expansion that has totally reshaped the look and feel of Fantasyland.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Fantasyland's newest roller coaster is not to be confused with the Barnstormer.  The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train looks like a coaster that the teens and adults will love.

As we wait not so patiently for the official opening, we have taken a number of pictures of the portions of the track that are on the outside of the main building of the attraction.  A good portion is also contained inside as well.  It is obvious that there are going to be a number of times where you go inside the Mine and then come outside and then return inside again.

One of the best features of this attraction is the lush landscaping the is incorporated into the mine and surrounding track.  Disney chose to utilize a lot of real trees to build into the landscaping and it looks great.

Roller coaster fans will not that the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is now the 4th Roller Coaster at the Magic Kingdom and Disney World's 6th Coaster.

Enjoy the pictures and let us know what you think!











The transformation to the land and area is amazing.  The entire attraction and grounds are so well done it feels like it has been there since the beginning and blends in seamlessly with Beast's Castle and grounds.  It is hard to believe that it looked like the construction photo below not that long ago.

Sometimes simple is best. One of the most beloved attractions in all of the Disney Magic Kingdom Theme Parks all over the world is the Mad Tea Party.  This simple spinning attraction that is themed upon the famous scene of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party in Alice In Wonderland, continues to be a favorite for children of all ages.


There is a certain charm that is appealing.  It calls to young children and get adults return to their youth to enjoy this fanciful ride.  Although the spinning action rules some people out, many look forward to their next twirl in a tea cup.


At Disney World you can find the mad Tea Party situated on the edge of Fantasyland near the Tomorrowland Speedway. A special treat for all is catching the Dormouse peaking out from the central teapot while the teacups are spinning.


Disney World Fun Fact:
Did you know that the Mad Tea Party was an opening day attraction at both Disneyland (July 15, 1955) and Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort (October 1, 1971). 


Sometimes it doesn't take millions of dollars and advanced technology to bring joy to a child.  Joy can come in the form of a simple spinning giant teacup.

One of the most beloved Disney attractions will celebrate 50 years of delighting passengers on April 22, but few people know that it was first seen at the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair and not at a Disney theme park.

Entrance to "it's a small world"

"it's a small world"

The attraction that has made so many people smile and sing along to it's catchy song was not originally on Walt Disney's plate of projects for the 1964 World's Fair in New York.  While plans were underway and in development for Carousel Of Progress, Great Stories With Mr. Lincoln, and the Ford Magic Skyway, the Pepsi-Cola Company came to Walt with a need for an attraction for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).  Never one to walk away from a challenge Walt agreed to take on this project as well.


The original attraction was relocated to Disneyland after the completion of the fair and re-opened on May 28, 1966.  It has been duplicated in every Magic Kingdom park built around the world.  It was one of the original opening day attractions at the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort.


When "it's a small world" opened at Disney World there were 289 dolls representing six continents in addition to a multitude of toys, animals, and props.

Disney Legends Abound For Creation Of "it's a small world."

There was no shortage of talent when it came to the design and creation of "it's a small world."  The list of designers and major influencers reads like a who's who of Disney lore and legends.

• Marc Davis
• Alice Davis
• Mary Blair
• Rolly Crump
• Blaine Gibson
• Walt Disney

Marc Davis is mainly responsible for coming up with the main concept for the attraction after Walt Disney gave him the instructions to create a boat ride attraction for UNICEF to represent the children of the world.


The project got a special lift when Walt suggested that they get Mary Blair involved.  At the time, Mary, a former Disney employee was working at Golden Books, but when presented with this opportunity she came book to work for Disney to take on this project.

Mary brought her artistic style that has those childlike qualities to it that make it uniquely endearing to all who see it.

Another Disney Legend that played a major role was Alice Davis, often considered the first female Disney Imagineer.  Alice painstakingly took on the task to make sure that the costumes worn by the dolls looked authentic and represented the various countries and regions of the world.

The Simple Song That Brings It All Together

One aspect of 'it's a small world" that cannot be overlooked is the song that all of us know all too well. The original design for the attraction had the children each singing their native national anthems as you progressed through the boat ride.



Legendary Disney Songwriting duo Richard and Robert Sherman were brought onboard to provide the music for the attraction and noted that the sound of the conflicting national anthems created a "cacophony."  So the talented brothers created a simple song that could easily be translated into multiple languages and resonate with the guests.

The resulting song is a Disney Theme park masterpiece! During the course of a day at Disney World the song will get played around 1,200 times.  Multiply that by the 5 "it's a small world" attractions at Disney Parks around the world and you have a song that is always playing somewhere making people smile and infectiously singing along.

The words penned by Richard and Robert Sherman, although simple, really bring home the message intended in the song:

It's a world of laughter, a world of tears.
It's a world of hopes and a world of fears.
There's so much that we share,
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small, small world.

There is just one moon and one golden sun.
And a smile means friendship to everyone.
Though the mountains divide,
And the oceans are wide
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small, small world. 

Classic Disney Attraction

From it's humble origin as a little boat ride, this innocent tribute to children of the world, brings out the kid in all of us.  The fantastically simple animation of the hundreds or dolls, animals and props creates a backdrop that is a feast for the eyes and senses as you make your way through six continents around the world on your boat ride.

Hopefully you are singing along with the song in your head, or out loud if you so desire, and enjoyed this look back at the attraction that has delighted millions of people all around the world for 50 years.

Saying "Goodbye" in final scene on "it's a small world"