18 January 2011 by WFTV Orlando
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Disney unveiled plans for its biggest project in years on Tuesday night. It's part of the Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom and includes a new, indoor roller coaster.Disney is calling it a first-of-its-kind roller coaster.
Behind the iconic Cinderella's Castle structure, Disney has big plans. The theme park giant announced an update on a massive expansion of Fantasyland.
Disney has been tight-lipped on figures, including expected attendance numbers and construction costs, but it released images (see them) and some details on how Fantasyland will have an interactive three-ring circus tent and princess-themed cottages and castles.
WFTV also just found out Disney will build an indoor roller coaster with a twisting track. The ride is based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
The coaster, dubbed the "The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train," will feature vehicles that swing back and forth along a twisting track. And in "Princess Fairytale Hall," Aurora, Cinderella and other Disney princesses will greet guests in a new royal court. Another new indoor ride with a "Little Mermaid" theme will be like one opening at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., later this year.
Over the summer, engineers went back to the drawing board to make some changes to the original plans. The changes came after Universal Orlando opened its popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction.
Attendance is up more than 12-percent at Disney's competitor and sales tripled during the three-month period after the Harry Potter attraction opened.
Disney executives are most likely hoping the vibrant colors and new rides will bring more visitors to the historic Magic Kingdom theme park. Disney's latest earnings report show overall revenue fell by one percent. Officials said fewer park and resort guests are to blame for the drop in revenue.
Disney is promising to hire hundreds of workers for the expansion. The Fantasyland expansion isn't set to be complete until 2013.
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