Dumbo the Great!

Although Walt Disney's Dumbo took place in America (Florida, to be exact), the circus traces its origins to Europe, so its fitting that Dumbo occupy such a prominent place in Fantasyland at Disneyland Paris. Here the gaudy, gilded calliope of Dumbo the Flying Elephant rises above the gardens in the center of the land, amid lush landscaping and water features.

The attraction experience on Dumbo the Flying Elephant is very much the same as it is in the other Disney Parks, but there are some unique elements to the presentation in Paris. Along the queue are graphics reminding us of Dumbo's story and his ascent to greatness. Once on the platform, the operator control booth is dressed as an ornate circus wagon, touting "The 9th Wonder of the World!"

Dumbo received an expanded presence in the Disneyland Paris park in 1993 when, as part of an effort to boost capacity, small attractions were added to every land. In the case of Fantasyland, a tunnel was carved beneath the railroad tracks, opening up a cul de sac for the inclusion of Storybook Land and Casey Jr.

Guests travel below the trestle and through the woods, past banners touting the wonders of the circus, before arriving at the tiny station where they'll board the little train that could.

Casey Jr. - le Petit Train du Cirque is a powered coaster-type attraction (as opposed to a traditional, gravity coaster). Similar to its counterpart at Disneyland, Casey Jr. offers an opportunity to ride in a variety of circus train cars, from gilded chariots to animal cages. The designs have been updated a bit, of course, from the 1955 originals.

"All aboard! Let's go!"

Casey Jr. provides a zippy tour of the countryside around and above Storybook Land, where miniature versions of fairytale landmarks can be found. These have been updated for the Paris version, too, with inclusions such as the Beast's castle from Beauty and the Beast (below). Just as in California, though, you can get a much better look at all that from the comfort of a canal boat. We'll be taking that trip tomorrow!

REMEMBER... OPENING OCT. 1971

We conclude this week's countdown of Walt Disney World anniversary milestones with... a countdown. This time, it's the ticking clock for construction crews and Imagineers putting the finishing touches on the Magic Kingdom park for its grand opening, a date emblazoned on the face of Cinderella Castle for all to see. (All photos ©Disney)

Although an initial groundbreaking ceremony had taken place in 1967, quite a bit of preparation had to be done to the land before actual work could begin. Construction started in earnest on May 27, 1969, with just over two years to go before the big day. The pictures you see here represent the final weeks and months leading up to the opening.

In the photo above, City Hall is nearly complete, and the Victorian woodwork is being added to the front of the Emporium. Below, the towering pylons at the entrance to Tomorrowland await their final paint and tile. Trees have been planted along the waterway, fresh sod is being laid and a wooden mock-up of a Plaza Swan Boat is placed in the canal to test for clearances (although the actual attraction wouldn't be ready to open until May 1973).

In this next shot, we see the famed Liberty Tree. This 100+ year old southern live oak was identified on the south end of Walt Disney World Resort property, and then transplanted to Liberty Square. Steel rods were drilled through the center of the tree, allowing it to be lifted onto the truck by crane, driven slowly to the Magic Kingdom and lowered into place. The holes left by the rods were then sealed, allowing the tree to survive and thrive.

Our last shot today offers a peak into Fantasyland, where Dumbo is almost ready to fly. This is the original 10-arm Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction, which was replaced by the current 16-arm version in the early-90s. Look closely at the photo, and you can also spot one of the Skyway towers and the palm trees surrounding the lagoon for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

As we prepare to embark upon the celebration of Walt Disney World's 40th year, Dumbo the Flying Elephant is under construction once again... this time as part of Storybook Circus in New Fantasyland. The circus big top is already going vertical, and Dumbo will soon fly east to his new home, set to debut in 2012.

Flying High for 55 Years

We've been taking a look this week at some of the ways Fantasyland at Disneyland has been transformed over the years. It's sometimes hard to believe that the beautiful village we know today was once a fairly sparse expanse of concrete and tents. One of the more dramatic changes has come to Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

Take a look at the picture above from Daveland.com. You'll find a simple mechanism, supporting 10 elephants with flapping ears (which rarely worked and were soon replaced by non-moving ears), all surrounded by a simple chain link fence.

During the Fantasyland renovation in the early 80s, Dumbo was shifted back a bit to the area once occupied by Captain Hook's pirate ship. With the move came a nicer fence and landscaped surroundings. It wasn't until 1990, though, that the original 1955 Dumbo ride was replaced with a completely new model.

Today, Dumbo is like a spectacular, gilded circus calliope, complete with ornate details (like the sculpted storks delivering babies) and dozens of moving parts (look for gears with little squirrels spinning inside them). The capacity of the attraction was also increased, with the addition of 6 more elephants to the high-flying herd.

Queueing for your flight aboard Dumbo takes you through a lovely little garden area with elephant-shaped topiary and this charming sign, emblazoned with some of the lyrics of Frank Churchill and Oliver Wallace's classic song from the 1941 animated film.

Before boarding your Dumbo, each guest is handed a magic feather. Of course, this serves the purpose of counting to make sure there are enough Dumbos to go around, but it might also help boost the confidence of young riders that they too can fly like the little elephant. When the cast member takes the feather back, though, there's no need to worry. Just like Dumbo, the magic's in you!

Spinning high above Fantasyland, your eyes may just catch the sound of music coming from a nearby tent. Inside is an original Gavioli band organ (also known as a fairground organ) built in 1915. It was added to the area during the 1983 enhancement. Inspect the organ closely, and you'll even find some little Dumbo details added by the Imagineers.

Weekend Trivia: Disney & the Circus

Time for another round of Weekend Trivia. How well do you know Disney's connections to the circus?

1) In Dumbo, what is Timothy Mouse's middle initial?

2) What was the alternate title of the circus film Toby Tyler?

3) What was the name of the circus event hosted at Epcot in the mid-80s?

4) In what part of Disneyland could guests see the Mickey Mouse Club Circus during the park's first holiday season?

5) The Dumbo the Flying Elephant attractions at Disneyland and Walt Disney World each feature 16 units. How many Dumbo units were on the original attractions that these newer models replaced?

6) A sequence featuring Disney characters was seen in what 1952 circus movie classic?

7) On the 1950s Mickey Mouse Club, what day of the week was Circus Day?

8) Feld Entertainment, the producers of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, also put on what Disney-themed shows?

9) What two Disney resorts feature permanent theaters for performances by Cirque du Soleil, and what are the names of the shows?

10) In the 1936 short "Mickey's Circus," Donald Duck practically brings down the house in his attempt to present what sort of trained animals?

Good luck! When you're ready, click on Comments to see the answers...

Rarest of the Rare

Some Disney characters appear in the Parks so infrequently, most Guests would assume they never leave the silver screen at all. Take Dumbo, for example. Apart from flying in the Magical fireworks spectacular at Disneyland or making a cameo appearance in the Main Street Electrical Parade, he's been a rather shy little elephant. Several years ago, though, when the Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction in the Magic Kingdom was closed for refurbishment, Dumbo came in for a landing to meet his fans and allay some of their disappointment. With a face that cute, how could anyone be upset about the ride being down?

Class of '55

The overarching theme for the 50th anniversary of Disneyland was "The Happiest Homecoming on Earth." In keeping with the homecoming concept, each of the park's remaining original attractions was honored with a "Class of '55" plaque.

One vehicle on each attraction was also painted gold for the anniversary celebration. From a golden Dumbo (photo ©Disney) to a glistening teacup, lucky Guests had the opportunity to take a special ride on a classic Disneyland attraction that had been entertaining visitors for five decades.

For those who maybe missed out on landing a golden ride vehicle on the attraction itself, a few were placed out front as photo opportunities.

Several of the Class of '55 attractions are still in the park today:

Disneyland Railroad

Horse-drawn Streetcars

Main Street Cinema

King Arthur Carrousel

Peter Pan Flight

Mad Tea Party

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Snow White's Adventures

Casey Jr. Circus Train

Autopia

Mark Twain Steamboat

Jungle Cruise

Others, like Circarama and Space Station X-1, have since been retired. During the 50th Anniversary, though, one of those former attractions was highlighted with a vehicle display in the park. Back on the Big Thunder Trail was an original Disneyland Stagecoach, not far from the path it once shared with a team of Pack Mules on an exploration of the Painted Desert.

Into the Fantasyland Forest

Past the castle walls is a magical realm, the Fantasyland Forest, where storybook worlds come to life. In Fantasyland proper, festival tents become portals through which we can enter the stories of Snow White or Peter Pan. Here, we can actually walk around and experience stories first hand.

The forest expansion of Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom, opening in phases starting in 2012, will fill the land previously occupied by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Mickey's Toontown Fair. While the area is still under construction, we can get a good sense of what it will be like by exploring the Imagineering concept art for the project.

Close to the castle grounds is the Tremaine estate, the setting of much of the action in Walt Disney's 1950 animated classic Cinderella. From outside the mansion, we can see the tower where Lady Tremaine locked Cinderella away during the Grand Duke's visit, and we can almost hear Anastasia and Drizella torturing "Sing Sweet Nightingale" from the upstairs windows.

Inside at "Dreams Come True with Cinderella," we meet the Fairy Godmother and watch Cinderella transform from scullery maid to beautiful princess right before our eyes. Cinderella then steps forward for an audience with the young Knights and Ladies of the Kingdom, before hurrying off to the ball.

Heading into the western province of the forest, we find ourselves in a little town. It's a quiet village, where every day's like the one before. A visit to the cottage of Maurice the inventor shows us where young Belle grew up. Inside, a Magic Mirror transports us to the library of the Beast's castle for "Enchanted Stories with Belle." (Although depicted in some of the art as appearing outside their respective homes, the Disney princesses will typically be seen inside.)

Elsewhere in the castle is the "Be Our Guest Restaurant." This location, counter service by day and table service for dinner, places us in the grand ballroom surrounded by beautiful stained glass windows and that spectacular golden chandelier. The art even seems to indicate that Lumiere and the other enchanted objects from Beauty and the Beast might make appearances (a la Remy at Les Chefs de France).

Belle wants much more than her provincial life, but we can choose to return to the village to browse through the book shop or gnaw on a turkey leg at Gaston's Tavern, where he uses antlers in all of his decorating. The fountain in the square promises to be a particularly fun detail, an homage to that man among men, Gaston. Barrels of ale floating in the fountain are spewing forth their contents, as Le Fou tries to capture every last drop in his mugs.

A few existing sections of Fantasyland will be incorporated into the forest area, most notably The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, which will undergo a facade change to take it from tournament tent to Hundred Acre Wood. Some of this work has already begun, with the slate roof at Mrs. Potts' Cupboard being replaced with thatch to better fit its forthcoming wooded surroundings.

In yet another neighborhood of the Fantasyland Forest, we come upon the cottage in the woods where the three good fairies raised Briar Rose, hiding her away from the evil Maleficent. Today is Rose's sixteenth birthday. In "A Birthday Surprise for Sleeping Beauty" we can join the fairies in creating the celebration, and then be joined for the party by Princess Aurora herself.

The grandest adventure of the Fantasyland expansion promises to be Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid. We can meet Ariel in her grotto or step past Eric's castle for a trip fathoms below to the place where Triton is King and Merpeople sing.

The attraction, similar here and at Disney's California Adventure, will be an effects-filled voyage beneath the sea. The Audio-Animatronics figure of Ariel should be particularly impressive. In fact, it's two figures in one: Ariel and her hair, separately animated to create the illusion of floating underwater.

The rest of the Fantasyland Forest takes us to different places entirely. Dumbo's Circus expands upon one of the most popular and iconic Disney attractions. Instead of standing in a long line for a short ride, Guests will be entertained under the Big Top with fun interactive activities until it's time to fly with their favorite elephant.

Pixie Hollow, expected to be the last phase of the expansion to open, will take us to the Neverland home of Tinker Bell and her fairy friends.

As Walt Disney once said in describing his future Florida project, "The plans in this room will change time and time again." By the time the Fantasyland Forest opens for Walt Disney World Guests, it will likely be different from the images accompanying this article, but it will also be filled with countless details we can now only imagine.

Presenting Dumbo the Great!

As part of today's Cinderellabration, a traveling circus has pitched its tents in the village square. Circuses have a long tradition in Europe, but this one actually hails from the New World (with winter quarters in Florida, according to the film). It's the world-renowned Dumbo's Circus, featuring everyone's favorite flying elephant!

The centerpiece of the circus (and the attraction) is an elaborate golden calliope covered in fanciful gears, pinwheels and other mechanisms. Carvings and details on the calliope recall the artistry of the circus wagons of old and include elements from the Dumbo story.

More story details can be found on the finials atop the lampposts in the area, where pyramid piles of ponderous pachyderms perch precariously on the poles. (Sorry. Couldn't resist my inner Ringmaster.)

Overseeing the entire show is none other than Dumbo's #1 pal, the one who always believed in him, Timothy Q. Mouse. Timothy is in full circus costume and carrying the so-called "magic" feather, but Dumbo knows he doesn't need that anymore. He has all the confidence he needs to spread his ears and soar.

Flying high above the circus grounds, we spot the sideshow tent and one of the wild animal wagons (with a pair of monkeys on top). This location, a relatively new Disney Vacation Club kiosk, fits right in with the Big Top motif. Even the ad copy on the posters inside the tent does its part to help tell the story.

Of course, the circus never stays in one place for long, and Dumbo's Circus is preparing to pull up stakes. As part of the Magic Kingdom Fantasyland expansion, opening in 2012, Dumbo will soon have a new home in a part of the park now occupied by Mickey's Toontown Fair. Guests visiting the attraction will step into the Big Top for an interactive circus experience before taking off with the flying elephant, and with double the capacity, many more people will be able to enjoy this quintessential Disney attraction than ever before.