The most magical place on earth just got more magical, just in time for the summer vacation season. With a new roller coaster dedicated to Disney’s most iconic film, a rejuvenation to one of the park’s most spectacular lands and a new way of experience all the fun, Walt Disney World is a definite go-to location this coming season.
A destination that’s sure to create lasting memories, Disney opens the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, the crowning jewel of New Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom. While the roller coaster officially opens to the public on May 28, guests at a recent media preview of the attraction got a chance to experience the ride.
Inspired by the Disney animated film classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” the ride begins as guests cross a stone bridge and walk through a beautiful forest with the Dwarfs’ cottage in the distance. Then they step into the attraction entrance and into the timeless story of the radiant and kindhearted Snow White and the seven dwarfs.
“Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is both literally and figuratively the centerpiece of New Fantasyland, so we knew it had to be something special,” said Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs. “The attraction appeals to everyone in the family and provides just the right blend of heart, humor and thrill while keeping with the charm of this special land.”
While it’s not required to remember all the names of the dwarfs, riders are quickly whisked off into the mine where the Dwarfs are hard at work collecting gems. In specially designed mine cars, the guests launch into their journey through the mine.
Each “train” consists of five mine cars, which seat four guests each. The individual mine cars are designed to reflect similar vehicles that appear in the film, handmade of wood by the dwarfs, shaped by an axe and used to haul rocks and jewels. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train features spectacular Audio-Animatronics, with cars slowing down so guests can spot their favorite characters making an appearance in different scenes. Riders can sing along to the iconic song “Heigh-Ho” before taking a big drop on the thill ride.
The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is part of the Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland. The largest expansion in the nearly 43-year history of Magic Kingdom, the new space features attractions, dining, shopping, character interactions, recreation and more—all laid out fairy-tale style amid waterfalls, grottoes, arched bridges, forests and circus big tops. A multiyear expansion project, New Fantasyland lies just beyond the existing Fantasyland in the shadows of Cinderella Castle.
Take a ride on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World News
New Fantasyland is a spectacular addition to the Magic Kingdom that delivers on Walt’s promise. We’re thrilled to take guests beyond the walls of Cinderella Castle to discover new worlds featuring iconic Disney characters and stories in ways that are more imaginative, more interactive and more immersive than ever before,” Staggs said.
The new section is a reflection of many of Disney’s animated films from the 1990s era, including castles from films “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid.” New Fantasyland also comprises the Enchanted Forest and Storybook Circus areas. Walt Disney Imagineers brought to life beloved Disney stories and magical places, putting guests in the middle of Disney classics and new favorites.
And if things couldn’t get any more magical at a place like Disney World, look no further than the new MyMagic+, giving the Disney experience more fun. With the help of a new device called a MagicBand, visitors to Disney can enter parks, get on rides, enter their hotel room and even use it as a wallet.
Guests are able to design the Disney vacation they want, personalizing everything from at-home planning to in-park experiences. MyMagic+ takes Disney guest service to a new level—more customized, more seamless and aimed at delivering the best Walt Disney World experience ever.
“MyMagic+ is a fantastic new way for our guests to experience even more of the magic of a Walt Disney World vacation,” said Staggs. “The Walt Disney Parks and Resorts vision is simple: to be the most trusted provider of shared family travel and leisure experiences throughout the world. And with MyMagic+, we are taking that experience to a new level.”
The popular new website MyDisneyExperience.com and free My Disney Experience mobile app provide Walt Disney World vacationers the ease of creating their own personal guide for every aspect of their vacation. Families can begin their experience from home, planning as much or as little as they wish—right from their computer, tablet or smartphone.
Families can take advantage of Disney FastPass+, which allows visitors to schedule times to visit park attractions as opposed to waiting in long lines. With the use of the My Disney Experience app, families can make the most out of their park visit, which is included with park admission.
The MagicBand, a colorful wristband, is an all-in-one device that connects guests to all the vacation choices they make online with My Disney Experience. The band serves as park admission, access to FastPass+ experiences and Disney PhotoPass photo association all rolled into one. For Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests, it also serves as a room key and optional payment method. Guests may choose not to participate in MyMagic+. All guests may choose to use an RF-enabled card instead of a MagicBand.