July 1955 – present
BACKGROUND
Without a doubt, Fantasyland is the most famous and heavily visited area in Disneyland. Walt Disney envisioned Fantasyland as a place for children to become part of the stories they loved, and was supposedly his favorite area in the park. Fantasyland is styled as a medieval Bavarian village, but stays generic enough to bring guests into any of the fantasy stories featured, whether it be the French town from Beauty and the Beast, or the Scottish highlands of Brave.
THE EXPERIENCE
Fantasyland is the quintessential magic land in the park. Guests primarily enter by crossing the drawbridge and under the Sleeping Beauty Castle, and are immediately swept away into the world of fairytales and magic. Cobblestone cottages, stained glass windows, and a flowered lagoon encircle the classic carousel that is truly the center point of Fantasyland. Home to almost every dark ride in the park, Fantasyland keeps the stories that built Disneyland alive and accessible to every generation of Disney fans.
If guests want to meet and get autographs from characters, Fantasyland is your best bet. There are usually several characters walking around, and the Fantasy Faire always has a princess or two to talk to. You are almost guaranteed to run into someone if you stop by Fantasyland, regardless of the time of day.
CHARACTERS YOU MAY ENCOUNTER
- The princesses and their princes (mainly in Fantasy Faire)
- Alice
- Mad Hatter
- The Queen of Hearts
- Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum
- Lady Tremaine (rare)
- Anastasia and Drizella (Cinderellaโs stepsisters, rare)
- Geppetto and Pinocchio (rare)
- Flora, Fauna, and Merriweather (rare)
- Peter Pan
- Wendy (rare)
- Evil Queen (from Snow White)
ATTRACTIONS
- Alice in Wonderland
- Casey Jr. Circus Train
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Disney Princess Fantasy Faire
- Itโs A Small World
- King Arthur Carrousel
- Mad Tea Party
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Mr. Toadโs Wild Ride
- Peter Panโs Flight
- Pinocchioโs Daring Journey
- Pixie Hollow
- Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
- Snow Whiteโs Scary Adventures
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
- Sword In The Stone
DINING
SHOPS
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
- Enchanted Chamber
- Fairytale Treasures
- It’s A Small World Toy Shop
- Le Petit Chalet
- Mad Hatter (Fantasyland location)
- Merlin’s Marvelous Miscellany
TRIVIA
The area now called Pixie Hollow was once King Tritonโs Garden. The undersea-themed oasis featured beautiful fountains, statues of Triton and other Little Mermaid characters, and much of the same botanical gardens still in place today.
The drawbridge leading to Sleeping Beautyโs castle is real! Itโs only been raised twiceโin preparation for Opening Day in 1955, and in 1983 after the major Fantasyland refurbishment/expansion.
There is a gold spike in the ground just inside the entrance to the castle. During construction, the spike was placed to ensure that the castle was properly aligned with Main Street USA.
TOURING TIPS
Fantasyland is by far the most popular land in Disneyland, so it is also the most crowded. With the exception of lulls during parades, Fantasyland is packed from park open to park close. Your best bet for short lines would be to race to Fantasyland right at park open, but many other guests will do the same.
That being said, some attractions never have very lengthy lines. Mr. Toadโs Wild Ride, Pinocchioโs Daring Journey, and Snow Whiteโs Scary Adventures are generally manageable or even short lines throughout most of the day.
If I know Iโm going to Disneyland when the park is crowded, I sprinkle Fantasyland in throughout the day. Use your time waiting in between fast passes to make your way through the area, and the time in line wonโt feel as wasted. On days when the park isnโt crowded at all, I like to explore Fantasyland second, after I make my way through Tomorrowland.
the best land of the disney land!
Disneyland officials have filed a permit with the city to demolish the Skyway Chalet in Fantasyland, once one of two endpoints for open-air gondolas that floated via cables over the park beginning in 1956.
It’s already been demolished! That space will be part of the barrier between Fantasyland and Star Wars Land.