Fantasyland
This land is a favorite of children of all ages. Most of the attractions are based on classic Disney movies, such as "Winnie the Pooh", "Peter Pan", "Dumbo", "Alice in Wonderland", and more. Meet Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" in her secret grotto, or snap pictures with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet near Pooh's Playful Spot. You might even get to take a spin on the teacups with Alice or the Mad Hatter!
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Character Greeting Areas in Fantasyland
For some children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, meeting characters is a magical experience (especially a favorite character from the movies). For others, it's a stressful experience. The list of characters below is by no means complete, but represents the characters we have personally seen and met in the Fantasyland area of the Magic Kingdom.
Not all characters are available at all times - everything listed here is subject to change, but we'll keep it as up to date as possible. Consult the daily park schedule for information, or ask a cast member to help you find specific characters.
Alice: Near the Mad Tea Party
Ariel: In Ariel's Grotto
Belle: Hear her read in the Fairytale Gardens
Eeyore: Near Pooh's Playful Spot
Fairy Godmother: Near Cinderella's Castle and Fountain
Mad Hatter: Near the Mad Tea Party
Piglet: Near Pooh's Playful Spot
Queen of Hearts: Near the Mad Tea Party
Tigger: Near Pooh's Playful Spot
Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee: Near the Mad Tea Party
Scrooge McDuck: Near Pooh's Playful Spot (Christmas Season)
Winnie the Pooh: Near Pooh's Playful Spot
White Rabbit: Near the Mad Tea Party
Cinderella Castle
Location: Fantasyland
Summary: Cinderella Castle is the central icon of the Magic Kingdom park. The castle design is a blend of several notable European castles, and stand 189 feet tall so it can be seen for miles. The castle offers a grand gateway between the Park Hub and Fantasyland. Alternate routes into Fantasyland are available on either side of the castle: one bridge from Liberty Square into Fantasyland, another in between the castle and Tomorrowland. Cinderella's Wishing Well is on the Tomorrowland side of the castle (near the Fairytale Garden), and Cinderella's fountain is directly behind the castle as you go into Fantasyland.
One of the main reasons for going through the castle is to see the beautiful mosaics that depict the Cinderella story. Reminiscent of medieval tapestries, each mosaic shows a key scene from the story, and is gilt with real gold. The entrance to Cinderella's Royal Table character meal is also in the castle thoroughfare, while the actual dining hall is on the second floor of the castle. The recently opened Cinderella Suite is on the fourth floor of the castle - although you can't get reservations to stay there. Stays are generally given away as prizes.
Comments: The route through the castle offers the most direct way into Fantasyland, but can be closed seasonally. There is a stage in the front of the castle that sometimes expands for seasonal shows, limiting access through the castle. The thoroughfare is also closed for safety during the firework shows.
Hidden Mickeys: COMING SOON
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Cinderella's Golden Carousel
Location: Fantasyland
Ride Type: Carousel
Passengers: 1 per horse, about 90 guests maximum
Fastpass? No
Minimum Height: None
Summary: This is a beautiful carousel themed to the Cinderella story. Each horse is unique, but see if you can ride Cinderella's horse (identified by the golden ribbon in the tail). The Prince's horse is right next to Cinderella's.
Comments: This is your standard carousel, playing variations of Disney movie and theme music. There lines are generally shorter, so this makes a nice ride when things are hectic. Parents can stand next to their children, or ride if their weight is under the posted limit.
Hidden Mickeys: COMING SOON
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Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Location: Fantasyland
Ride Type: Flying elephants
Passengers: 2-3 per elephant
Fastpass? No
Minimum Height: None
Summary: “I’ve seen everything when I’ve seen an elephant fly!” Come and join the adventure as Dumbo flys around the park – at least in a circle! Guests board the famous flying elephant and get a great view of the park during the flight. You can control the height of the elephant (up, down, up, up, up) during the short ride. This is one of the icons of the park – and it’s popularity is legend.
Comments: Wait times for this ride get very long, because it’s a slow loading ride. We recommend trying to get on this ride first thing in the morning before it gets too busy, or using a Guest Assistance card for an alternate waiting area. If your child is reluctant to try the ride, you might have them climb in the non-flying elephant near the ride to introduce them to it.
One word of caution – even if you keep the elephant flying low to the ground, as the ride comes to a close all of the elephants soar to the top of the ride to “reset” before descending again. You have no control over this. If your child is afraid of heights, please prepare them for this by letting them watch the ride a few times so they can anticipate that lift.
Hidden Mickeys: COMING SOON
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Disclaimer: This video is the sole intellectual property of the YouTube contributor, and not WDWAutism.com. We thank the contributor for their posting.
It’s A Small World
Location: Fantasyland
Ride Type: Boat Ride
Passengers: 4-6 per row
Fastpass? No
Minimum Height: None
Summary: This is a classic attraction which most people associated specifically with Disney parks. Passengers board a boat for a trip through the world – a small world after all! Go ahead and sing along – you know you want to! You pass through different regions of the world, with audio-animatronics dolls dressed in regional costume singing the famous song (that does get stuck in your head for hours!). Where else can you visit Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, and the South Pacific in a 10 minute period? Kids love this ride because of the simple and fun designs, the catchy music, and above all the boat ride! Prepare yourself to ride this one again and again during your trip to the Magic Kingdom.
Comments: The lines for this ride are usually short, but if they look long, don’t let that deter you. It’s one of the faster loading rides because of the volume of passengers it can take in each boat (about 25 per boat ride).
One caution – unloading takes a bit longer, so boats generally queue up in the final scene. This might frustrate your child, but make it fun for them by having them point out familiar objects (ducks, roller coasters, balloons, etc.) in the final scene.
Hidden Mickeys: COMING SOON
Images:
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Disclaimer: This video is the sole intellectual property of the YouTube contributor, and not WDWAutism.com. We thank the contributor for their posting.
Mad Tea Party
Location: Fantasyland
Ride Type: Spinning Cups
Passengers: 3-4 per Cup
Fastpass? No
Minimum Height: None
Summary: As Alice says, this ride is a bit, well, MAD! You board your teacup of choice (in a mad dash through the ride to get the color you want), and once the obligatory warnings in English and Spanish are done, you are ready to spin. Spin the teacup by turning the wheel in the center of your vehicle. It turns either way – great for those who are left-handed! As you spin, look in the center of the attraction at the giant teapot. The tipsy Mouse pops out of the oversized teapot at regular intervals.
One fun fact – the Mad Hatter and Alice often like to take a spin on the teacups before greeting visitors nearby (for photographs and autographs). They often select a family from the line to ride with – great fun!
Comments: This ride can make you dizzy! To minimize the effects, spin slowly (or not at all – it’s fun either way) and keep your eyes on a fixed point. Enjoy the music of the “Unbirthday Song” from the “Alice in Wonderland” movie, but be warned - it gets stuck in your head! This ride is covered, so it can be ridden rain or shing.
Hidden Mickeys: COMING SOON
Images:
Disclaimer: This video is the sole intellectual property of the YouTube contributor, and not WDWAutism.com. We thank the contributor for their posting.
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Location: Fantasyland
Ride Type: 3D Movie in a theatre
Passengers: 450 maximum per show
Fastpass? Yes
Minimum Height: None
Summary: Donald has done it again! When Goofy opens the curtains early, Conductor Mickey isn’t ready! He warns Donald not to touch his Magic Hat, but does Donald listen? No – and chaos ensues! Donald chases the hat through several Disney movies, including “Beauty and the Beast”, “The Little Mermaid”, “Aladdin”, “The Lion King”, and more. His adventures are accompanied by 3D effects and some 4D effects (like the scent of apple pie – YUM! – as well as some water effects). Will Donald retrieve the hat? Can Mickey save the day? Watch Mickey’s PhilharMagic to find out!
Comments: If your child doesn’t do well in theatres, or you just want to be close to an exit if needed, advise the cast member that you need to be seated near the exit. They will help ensure you can move through the theatre to the far side. The movie can get loud, and the 3D and 4D effects can be startling to children with sensory issues.
Hidden Mickeys: COMING SOON
Images:
Disclaimer: This video is the sole intellectual property of the YouTube contributor, and not WDWAutism.com. We thank the contributor for their posting.
Peter Pan's Flight
Location: Fantasyland
Ride Type: Dark Ride
Passengers: 2-3 per ship
Fastpass? Yes (and recommended for this!)
Minimum Height: None
Summary: The Peter Pan’s Flight attraction takes guest in ships from the bedrooms of the Darling children straight through to Neverland, where Peter Pan and Captain Hook battle it out onboard the pirate ship. This is a favorite ride for many visitors, simply because it is unique. Instead of being in a car going through an attraction, you are FLYING through it, suspended from overhead tracks. You get a birds eye view of London, a great aerial tour of Neverland, and a perfect vantage point for the final battle between Peter Pan and Captain Hook, before sailing back to the real world.
Comments: The line for this is usually 40 minutes long or longer, unless you hit this first thing in the morning. We definitely recommend the Fastpass option – it cuts your waiting time significantly. Some children who are afraid of heights may need reassuring, but most do very well in this ride. It's a park favorite (as the lines can testify!).
NOTE: When boarding and exiting the ride vehicle, you are on a moving walkway. Children with problems transitioning may have difficulty with this. Alert a cast member for assistance if necessary.
Hidden Mickeys: COMING SOON
Images:
Disclaimer: This video is the sole intellectual property of the YouTube contributor, and not WDWAutism.com. We thank the contributor for their posting.
Pooh's Playful Spot
Location: Fantasyland
Ride Type: Playground with splash zones
Passengers: Dozens and more at any one time
Fastpass? No
Minimum Height: None
Summary: Pooh’s Playful Spot is a great area for kids to blow off steam and run off some excess energy. There are slides and things to climb, as well as splash areas for them to get wet (lovely during those hot summer days in Central Florida!). The play areas are spongy to limit damage to little bodies as they slide and tumble through the playground. The “Pooh” characters (Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore) can often be found just outside the entrance for a character greeting, pictures, and autographs.
Comments: Not all parents watch their kids in here, so things can sometimes get a little “rough and tumble”. Alert cast members to any problems you may have. If your child does not do well in crowds, you might avoid Pooh’s Playful Spot until it becomes less crowded. Also – there are splash zones and small fountains in here. If you don’t want your child to get wet, it’s best to avoid the playful zone altogether.
Hidden Mickeys: COMING SOON
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Snow White's Scary Adventure
Location: Fantasyland
Ride Type: Dark Ride
Passengers: 2-3 per row, 3 rows per car
Fastpass? No
Minimum Height: None
Summary: Snow White's Scary Adventure take the rider through the story of Snow White. It starts out near the Wishing Well, with Snow White singing to the birds and the Evil Queen looking on. Then the doors open, and the ride advances to the Queen's dungeons, with skeletons and the Queen transforming into the Old Crone. This is where the "scary" part starts! The next scene shows the Hunter telling Snow White to flee for her life. She does, and the ride progresses through the scary forest to the home of the Seven Dwarves. Once through the house, you can see Snow White accepting the offer of the poisoned apple ("Don't do it Snow White" we cry!). You advance through the Dwarves' Mine to the confrontation with the Old Crone, where the Dwarves triumph. The Prince comes to wake Snow White, and they ride off into the sunset together, with the Dwarves calling "Good-Bye" to them.
Comments: The ride can be intense for young children, and is filled with scary images and loud sounds, along with more peaceful scenes. Lines are usually short for this attraction, and it loads pretty quickly. You ride in "wooden log" cars, each named for one of the Seven Dwarves.
Hidden Mickeys: We found two: One as you load the ride (look for the underwear dotten with hidden Mickey's on the clothesline), and the second as the Queen transforms into the Old Crone (look at the top of the mirror to find it)
Images
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The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Location: Fantasyland
Ride Type: Dark Ride
Passengers: 2-3 per row, 2 rows per “honey pot”
Fastpass? Yes
Minimum Height: None
Summary: This ride is based on the Disney Movie “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh”. Visitors board a “honey pot” for a ride through the stories and adventures of Pooh Bear, Tigger, Kanga and Roo, Owl, Piglet, Eeyore, and of course the Hefalumps and Woozles. You start off in the blustery day tale, then go bouncing with Tigger through the Hundred Acre Woods. Tigger warns Pooh about Hefalumps and Woozles that steal “hunny”, but Pooh falls asleep right into the dream (and song) of the dreaded Hefalumps and Woozles. Emerging from the dream, your are immediately “submerged” into the rainy day tale. As you float through the woods, you end up at the party given in Pooh’s honor for saving the day.
Comments: This is a beautiful ride and a favorite of ours. It’s very true to the movie, so if your child is a fan, we recommend this ride. However, the scene with the Hefalumps and Woozles can be frightening with loud noises, singing, and visual overload. If that is a concern, you might have an adult in your party ride first to evaluate.
Fun Fact: As a “nod” to “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride”, which used to occupy this spot in Fantasyland, look for the picture of Mr. Toad handing Owl the deed to the property. You can find it on the far left wall of Owl’s Treehouse just as you exit from the Blustery Day scene (look to the left and behind to find the picture hanging on the wall).
Hidden Mickeys: COMING SOON
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(Note: The video is from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at Hong Kong Disneyland. However, it is very close to the ride at Magic Kingdom)
Disclaimer: This video is the sole intellectual property of the YouTube contributor, and not WDWAutism.com. We thank the contributor for their posting.