D23 Expo - Fantasyland Expansion Confirmed.

[Imagineer2802]

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo detailed plans for future lands, attractions and adventures that will be delighting Disney guests for years to come, at the first D23 Expo. Most notable among the announcements were the confirmation of an all-new Star Tours attraction and the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

"Storytelling is the DNA of Disney dreams and we're always exploring new ways to tell new stories in new places," Rasulo told a crowd at the Anaheim Convention Center in California before taking them on a "behind-the-magic" tour of their favorite Disney destinations.

Rasulo announced that a new 3-D version of the tremendously-popular "Star Tours" attraction will debut at the Disneyland Resort and Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2011. Based on the iconic Lucasfilm "Star Wars" films, the attraction will include immersive new elements that will take guests to many familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy.

[Imagineer2802]

For Walt Disney World in Florida, Rasulo outlined plans for the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom, vastly increasing the size of Fantasyland by 2013. Guests will soon be able to:

• Visit their favorite Disney Princess in her castle, cottage, or chateau to share a dance with Cinderella; celebrate Sleeping Beauty's birthday with the Good Fairies; or join Belle in an enchanting story performance in the Beast's castle library.
• Be Our Guest and dine in one of three enchanted rooms inside the Beast's castle.
• Fly with Dumbo high above brand new circus grounds, twice the size of the existing attraction with a new interactive, three-ring circus tent.
• Journey under the sea with Ariel, The Little Mermaid, in her very own attraction - also opening at Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim in 2011.
• Meet Tinker Bell and her friends in the magical world of Pixie Hollow.

You can keep up to date with all the D23 Expo News at the News and Updates Social Group!
EDIT:
This is another report on the event. It would appear that the homes of Mickey and Minnie will indeed be Disappearing.

They are going to be more than doubling the size of Fantasyland and adding a number of
amazing new attractions.
The down side? Toontown is going to go away. Completely. Although the Imagineers have said they are going to try to save Goofy's Barnstormer somehow... they're just not sure how yet.
Based on Rasulo's presentation, and a press conference I attended afterward with several Imagineers and Rasulo as well, here are some of the major features of the expansion:
-- A country chateau where Cinderella lives with her stepmother and stepsisters, where you'll see her transform.
-- An area for Sleeping Beauty, in which you can make birthday cards for Aurora's Sweet 16 birthday party and give them to her.
-- Beast's Castle, which will house a 552-seat restaurant that is counter service by day, table service by night. The castle will have three areas, including the "West Wing", in which you will be able to see the Beast's private antechamber and the rose with dropping petals, featured in the animated film, Beauty and the Beast.
-- An "under the sea with Ariel" attraction, like the new Little Mermaid attraction in Disneyland, only with a completely different queue area.
--Expanded Dumbo -- Basically two Dumbo rides, and NO queue. Instead, there will be a 3-Ring Circus interactive play area with bleachers for adults, so that you can have fun while you wait for your "feather" to be called so that you can ride.
-- Pixie Hollow, which will be a second phase of the expansion, will eventually join the rest of Fantasyland.
Construction on the first phase of the expansion is expected to start soon, and, according to the Imagineers, impact on guests and existing attractions in Fantasyland should be minimal. The new areas should be completed by 2012, with the second phase following in 2013.
The second biggest announcement came as a good news/bad news thing.
The bad news? Star Tours in Disneyland is going to close in October 2010.
The good news? A whole new Star Tours, in 3D, will open in 2011!
The new attraction will feature scenes like the Pod Race in The Phantom Menace.
Although it was unclear when Star Tours in Walt Disney World will close, it, too, will be
receiving the new makeover.

[Guest]

really look forward to the changes, especially star wars as it is a bit of a dated ride x

[Amy]

This is going to be fantastic! Can't wait!

[disneyx5]

Sounds like Fantasyland will be very girly! Any mention of what will happen to toontown?

[Imagineer2802]

No word yet as to what will happen to ToonTown... and the homes of Mickey and Minnie. The Expo isnt over yet, so watch this space... (well, keep an eye on the news and updates social group) and anything announced will be posted there!

[Katie C]

Woo hoo, sounds awesome!

[WickedPlans]

Any news on when these changes are going to start?
Star Tours may be a bit dated but I don't want it to be closed for refurbishment when I go.

[emmsy]

Woo - hoo sounds fab to me - Any excuse really to keep going back!

I read that Mickey and Minnie will be rehoused at the start of the Magic Kingdom and that the Barnstormer will be kept but rethemed.

[sophiepop]

When is the 3D Star Tours due to be finished?