Fantasy Springs, the brand new enlargement that includes Frozen, Peter Pan and Tangled, is receiving rave critiques. It’s thought-about a contemporary masterpiece of Imagineering by some followers, with reward crowning it the best theme park land ever. This presents our assessment of the brand new $2 billion port-of-call, which brings a barely totally different perspective to the desk.
For starters, we’ve been saying for the final decade-plus that Tokyo DisneySea is one of the best theme park on the planet. We’ve been singing the praises of Tokyo DisneySea for over a decade, imploring anybody who will hearken to recapture the Disney magic by visiting Japan.
I point out this as a result of, if anybody is predisposed to giving Fantasy Springs a gushing assessment, it’s arguably us. We’ve lengthy maintained that we’re merely “biased” in direction of excellence and that TDR is in a league of its personal, and that the hype may be very a lot justified. However others actually might disagree, and a few followers have questioned whether or not the Tokyo parks are graded on a curve.
We actually wished to keep away from time doing that right here, which is why we wished to let our experiences in Fantasy Springs marinate, making a number of visits to the brand new port-of-call over the course of two totally different months and taking much more time to replicate after that previous to writing. This felt essential as a result of the final enlargement we reviewed of this scale was Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Actually, my opinions of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge have advanced so much since then–and never in optimistic methods. Don’t get me flawed, I nonetheless just like the land, however I not maintain it in such excessive esteem. Such a factor is just regular. Views can change with time and opinions can soften. As an illustration, I additionally favored Check Observe 2.0 so much much less by the point it closed; whereas I take pleasure in Frozen Ever After and Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout extra. Only a handful of many such examples.
However the one that actually caught with me is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and that’s as a result of I see a hanging variety of similarities between that and Fantasy Springs. That’s not essentially a worth judgment, and definitely doesn’t imply my opinion on Fantasy Springs soured after solely a month.
To that time, I received’t bury the lede: we love Fantasy Springs. I additionally don’t assume it’s good.
After I consider the all-time best theme park lands, the likes of New Orleans Sq., Fantasyland, Automobiles Land, Pandora, Diagon Alley, Frontierland (Thunder Mesa), all instantly come to thoughts. (There are undoubtedly others–that is off the highest of my head.) Fantasy Springs can maintain its personal in opposition to any of these. It in all probability wouldn’t be #1 on my private listing of lands, however I wouldn’t argue with anybody who ranked it on the high.
The crucial and purposeful distinction is that these are all lands and, technically, Fantasy Springs is a port-of-call. A distinction and not using a distinction, maybe, however one we’re going to grab on on this assessment. In the case of ports-of-call, a time period that’s distinctive to explain the areas of Tokyo DisneySea, the competitors is much more fierce.
Fantasy Springs is a high 5 port-of-call at Tokyo DisneySea. However for me, it’s positively not #1, #2, or #3. Perhaps not #4, both.
Let’s begin with the strengths of Fantasy Springs. At first is the trip roster. We’re not going to fixate on this as a result of we’ve already executed standalone critiques of three of the 4 points of interest. (Sorry, Cheese, however I don’t assume your trip wants its personal!) See the next:
Certainly, the highest two points of interest in Fantasy Springs are Peter Pan’s By no means Land Journey and Anna & Elsa’s Frozen Journey. Each are practically flawless experiences which can be among the many greatest Walt Disney Imagineering has ever created. Most friends will in all probability desire the Frozen trip, however they’re each 10/10 points of interest in my guide. (Sarah’s “guide” would have the Peter Pan motion-base-simulator-meets-dark trip fairly a bit decrease.)
Then there’s Rapunzel’s Lantern Competition and Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies. The Tangled attraction has maybe the largest ‘wow’ second in any Fantasy Springs attraction and some different pretty scenes and results, but it surely’s a bit on the brief aspect and in addition extra rudimentary. However that was by design–it’s not as formidable as an E-Ticket attraction.
Then there’s the outside Tinker Bell trip feat. Cheese, which doesn’t aspire to be something greater than a kiddie trip. But when something, that is the attraction that almost all punches above its weight. There’s a sure je ne sais quoi in regards to the Cheese Experience and it’s higher than it has any proper to be. It’s nonetheless firmly the #4 attraction–virtually nobody would rank it any larger–but it surely’s incredible for what it’s.
In the case of the trip roster, it’s very tough to complain about Fantasy Springs. This can be a land with 4 brand-new points of interest, two of that are E-Tickets. All of them are pretty meaty, with solely Rapunzel’s Lantern Competition feeling too brief. Even that’s nonetheless satisfying, it simply might be longer.
I’m attempting to consider the final enlargement to an current park that introduced with it this many points of interest. New points of interest, not reimagined ones or new entrances to current rides. Imagineering has gotten into a nasty behavior of constructing giant lands that solely add one or two rides, and find yourself inducing extra demand than they add capability. Fantasy Springs undoubtedly induces a ton of demand, but it surely additionally provides a ton of capability to offset that.
Not solely that, however the sorts of points of interest in Fantasy Springs are exactly what Tokyo DisneySea wanted. Whereas some followers (us included!) lamented the addition of a Fantasyland to the extra refined and grownup DisneySea, that is unquestionably what the goal demographic of TDR desires. I do know that’s arduous to abdomen for American Disney diehards who really feel like watching the transition from EPCOT Middle to Epcot, however that is nonetheless nothing like that.
It’s pretty simple that Fantasy Springs rounds out the trip roster of Tokyo DisneySea in a manner that addresses its largest criticism–not sufficient crowd-pleasing Disney points of interest. Fantasy Springs improves the lineup of the park and makes it extra interesting to a wider vary of friends, whereas not doing an excessive amount of to thematically dilute what makes DisneySea particular. That alone is a giant win, and one to remember when studying the remainder of the assessment.
Fantasy Springs additionally brings a well-rounded group of flicks and characters to the desk, eschewing the one IP land strategy that Imagineering has been favoring since Common’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter modified the sport. Fantasy Springs is basically the wedding of that with the normal land.
It nonetheless has standalone areas, as every film is a represented in distinct subsections of the port. So it’s not likely like a conventional Disneyland-style land with an entirely unified type. As mentioned under, the magical springs present that to some extent, however there’s nonetheless a way that this can be a 3-in-1 port.
Actually, I may go both manner on this. Tokyo DisneySea already has one single IP land (Mermaid Lagoon). The concept of a Scandinavian port that melds Frozen with real-world structure, design, and maybe even an authentic attraction is interesting. Much like how Arabian Coast isn’t an Aladdin land. That strategy additionally presents extra alternatives for world-building past what’s supplied within the supply materials.
Talking of the unifying factor, the magical springs that includes numerous characters are incredible. Getting into, my expectation was that they’d be window-dressing to supply a framework for Fantasy Springs becoming into Tokyo DisneySea and transitioning from the park to the land to the resort.
Popping out, my view is that the magical springs are one of many highlights of the complete port. The element within the rockwork is beautiful, and the way in which characters are built-in into them is top-notch. The whole lot may be very purposeful and flows nicely, moderately than feeling like they took a bit of granite and haphazardly chiseled a personality into it.
There’s an amazing quantity of selection to the characters; some are full our bodies, others are heads, some are in motion with sidekicks close by, others are easy silhouettes or “hidden” options that aren’t simple to identify. It’s merely good–phrases can’t do these magical springs justice. What’s most exceptional to me is how natural all of it is, as if nature labored its magic and this simply occurs to be the miraculous consequence. Like if you see a deity on a bit of toast of no matter.
Within the final decade-plus, Imagineering has demonstrated it’s on the high of its sport with rockwork. Automobiles Land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Moana’s Journey of Water, Pandora – World of Avatar, and areas of New Fantasyland all come to thoughts as exemplars. Most of that is attributable to Imagineer Zsolt Hormay, who’s as soon as once more behind the Fantasy Springs rockwork. That’s a reputation extra Disney followers ought to know–he needs to be a future Disney Legend.
These magical springs are so nice that it’s irritating they’re used so sparingly. They function a buffer between the remainder of Tokyo DisneySea and Fantasy Springs in addition to between the resort and the Peter Pan, Tangled and Frozen areas of the port-of-call. The magical springs on the entrances to Fantasy Springs are incredible, and precisely the time of placemaking you’d count on of Tokyo DisneySea.
Their absence in all places else is noticeable. The magical springs don’t work as a unifying thematic factor as a result of they don’t serve that objective. As a substitute, there are walkways and greenery that act as buffers between every of the three areas. Tokyo DisneySea is understood for its intelligent transitions between its ports-of-call, with refined particulars and thematic components offering good transitions between even probably the most disparate of lands (for instance Mermaid Lagoon and Mysterious Island).
That doesn’t actually exist in Fantasy Springs. I’m not suggesting that it’s jarring to go from the areas that includes Peter Pan to Tangled to Frozen. It isn’t in any respect. However that’s as a result of there’s loads of area and winding pathways to function a palate cleanser between the areas. There will not be transitions to talk of.
This brings me to my subsequent critique, which is the place Fantasy Springs rang a bell in my memory of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. For many who aren’t aware of the format, the brand new port-of-call is nearer to the entrance of Tokyo Disneyland than it’s the entrance of Tokyo DisneySea. It’s an extended stroll from the entrance entrance, taking not less than quarter-hour at a brisk tempo.
This alone isn’t an issue for me. It was good to make use of the bigger enlargement pad for Tokyo DisneySea, even when it does make the form of the park a bit odd. Nevertheless, it doesn’t change the truth that Fantasy Springs feels completely divorced from the remainder of Tokyo DisneySea. It’s very very similar to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland from this attitude.
Fantasy Springs isn’t actually built-in into the remainder of the park in significant methods. It’s not linked through the waterways and you can not see Mount Prometheus besides from tiny slivers of the port. Between this and the way in which entrance is dealt with, it feels virtually like a boutique park wedged between the 2 current gates.
Because of the location of the plot, a few of this was unavoidable. Fantasy Springs feels removed from the core of the park…as a result of it’s! However I additionally really feel just like the design selections exacerbate it. Like Galaxy’s Edge, it’s very clear that Fantasy Springs was created with capability and crowds in thoughts.
There’s simply manner an excessive amount of respiration room in all places. This begins on the entrance to the port itself, which is down an extended walkway. There may be the preliminary rockwork tunnel and comes you stroll via, however there’s additionally lots of useless area between Arabian Coast/Misplaced River Delta and Fantasy Springs. It feels designed as a ready space to accommodate a crowd/line, and it in all probability is.
It’s the identical manner inside Fantasy Springs. A variety of the areas described as buffer between the IP areas in all probability serves the twin objective of engaging in transitions and serving to with crowd considerations. However very similar to Galaxy’s Edge, it feels just like the footprint might be condensed by not less than 25% with nothing of worth being misplaced.
Except for a small village in Arendelle, there actually isn’t a lot to discover. Even then, the storefronts are actually simply that–you’ll be able to’t go inside any of them. (Effectively, besides the restrooms.) Greater than any of the opposite areas, Frozen Kingdom left me wanting extra–maybe as a result of I do know what it may’ve been if fleshed out.
Arendelle is just not the weakest detail-wise. Rapunzel’s Forest is simply the boat trip and Snuggly Duckling restaurant. That’s it. This space doesn’t envelope friends in any respect–it’s simply one thing you strategy. I do admire that the tower and starting of the attraction are outside, however this space nonetheless feels too sparse.
Then again, Peter Pan’s By no means Land feels correctly satisfying. Having the Jolly Roger and Cranium Rock to discover actually helps, but it surely’s not simply these two issues. There are particulars usual by the Misplaced Youngsters scattered round, a greater use of water options, and even little issues like a popcorn cart that assist make it really feel extra full.
By no means Land is the one space of Fantasy Springs that feels lived-in. The dearth of that elsewhere is a direct results of small footprint of Rapunzel’s Forest and the perplexing option to make the village in Arendelle virtually all false fronts. Other than rides, eating places and restrooms, the one area you’ll be able to go inside in the complete port is the Fantasy Springs present store.
That present store is good for what it’s, but it surely’s additionally situated within the floor flooring of Fantasy Springs Lodge and that isn’t actually a part of the port in a thematic sense. Talking of which, I’m not going to give attention to Fantasy Springs Lodge right here–this assessment is already manner too lengthy.
I’ll as an alternative level you to Largest Disappointment of Disney’s New $2 Billion Enlargement. It’d appear to be the title says all of it, however actually, the extra I’ve seen of Fantasy Springs Lodge, the much less I prefer it. That publish might be too charitable.
Talking of issues I received’t handle, the irritating means of accessing Fantasy Springs is one other. That’s not a everlasting or core element of the port, and definitely will proceed to alter. Regardless, see Tips on how to Enter Fantasy Springs & Get On Rides: Good, Unhealthy & Ugly Entry Choices for extra on that.
Anyway, as for the port’s lived-in high quality (or lack thereof), it’s noticeable and I really feel like extra interiors to discover would’ve gone an extended strategy to repair this. It’s potential that wasn’t desired from a capability perspective or no matter, however even Galaxy’s Edge has the little market and stalls, which helps so much.
Failing that, there needs to be atmospheric leisure. Whether or not that be free roaming characters, streetmosphere, a band, and even random Forged Members, it may actually assist soften up the land and make it really feel a bit extra intimate and private. Hopefully one thing else continues to be coming after the preliminary opening and fears of overcrowding subside.
All three of the counter service eating places in Fantasy Springs are huge, however they’re additionally exceptionally nicely executed. Snuggly Duckling feels a bit like a large number corridor, however that works with its vibe. Royal Banquet of Arendelle breaks up the area rather well and every room has distinctive and worthwhile particulars; it’s giant, but it surely by no means makes the identical missteps as Be Our Visitor Restaurant at Magic Kingdom. Lookout Cookout is smaller than the others, but it surely’s cute.
Briefly, all the eating places are nice–completely on par with the remainder of Tokyo DisneySea. One of the best of the bunch is unquestionably Royal Banquet of Arendelle, which is a eating must-do even should you solely have a day or two at TDS. These three venues additionally add a ton of much-needed eating capability to the park, so that they’re likewise incredible from that perspective.
Admittedly, this is among the tensions of a assessment like this. Eating places very clearly serve a sensible objective, so one thing like Snuggly Duckling feeling a bit like a large number corridor is totally comprehensible as a result of it must accommodate X friends per hour. Positive, it may’ve been an intimate tavern, however then we’d be complaining that it’s inconceivable to get into, questioning what had been they considering?!
That is true of Fantasy Springs as a complete too, although. Compromises should be made between one of the best themed design choices and probably the most sensible strategy for throughput, capability, and minimizing congestion. It’s a fragile balancing act for Imagineering and Operations, and I’m positive a number of the selections right here had been closely influenced by the latter and will not be the alternatives WDI would’ve made if given free reign and no sensible constraints.
The truth is that Fantasy Springs goes to be the preferred port-of-call in Tokyo DisneySea for (actually) a long time to return. Extra friends will need to go to this than the remainder of the park owing to the franchises featured and the standard of the rides and eating places. That is hardly a daring prediction–anybody understanding visitor demographics of Tokyo Disney Resort may let you know this. OLC and WDI undoubtedly knew it years in the past, with the format and design undertaken accordingly.
Frankly, I’m not fairly positive find out how to strategy that in a publish like this. A film assessment treats its topic solely as a murals, wholly unconcerned with its field workplace efficiency. However theme parks aren’t fairly the identical, because the operational aspect does affect the visitor expertise. So it’s not acceptable to view solely the creative element with out acknowledging the sensible realities. (This strategy additionally arguably advantages the artists/Imagineers, as they need to work inside the parameters of a useful theme park!)
All of those Imagineering vs. Operations compromises received’t be that noticeable to the typical visitor. Fantasy Springs continues to be actually, rather well executed! If you happen to’re aware of the remainder of Tokyo DisneySea, its shortcomings turn out to be extra obvious. The park is in any other case bursting with particulars, and layer upon layer of thematic design. Tokyo DisneySea is actually the onion of theme parks–in a optimistic manner…I like onions.
One purpose for the “I can’t consider this can be a theme park” reactions to Tokyo DisneySea is as a result of it’s simply so lavish, with issues to find regardless of the place you look. Each time I trip the DisneySea Electrical Railway, for instance, I discover one thing new–a superb throwaway element that’s invisible from the bottom. I nonetheless get misplaced in Fortress Explorations, and bump into little prospers I can’t consider they thought to incorporate (or received the price range to construct).
In contrast, I can completely consider that Fantasy Springs is in a theme park. It isn’t brimming with particulars and there aren’t shocking discoveries round each nook. You can also make a fast cross via the complete port and see just about every thing. It additionally doesn’t have that very same sense of exploration or intimacy as a result of, it could appear, it’s centered at first on being excessive capability.
To be honest, not all of Tokyo DisneySea is like this. Fantasy Springs is extra detailed than Mermaid Lagoon or Port Discovery. It’s simply higher than each, and in addition than Misplaced River Delta, even when that has the sting on element. Fantasy Springs can be attempting to do one thing totally different because it options iconic landmarks from three disparate motion pictures in a single space. It does so nicely and, once more, with out feeling in the least jarring. So this isn’t actually an apples to apples comparability with the opposite ports.
However, we discovered it so much simpler to “get our fill” of Fantasy Springs. Whereas we need to linger in Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront, Mysterious Island and Arabian Coast, we shouldn’t have that sense with Fantasy Springs. The remainder of Tokyo DisneySea is extra in regards to the journey than the vacation spot, whereas Fantasy Springs is generally in regards to the substance–the points of interest. Which is ok for probably the most half–extra rides is precisely what the park wanted.
It’s additionally one thing to remember should you’re a first-timer with restricted days at Tokyo Disney Resort. Don’t let the siren’s music of the scorching new factor make you spend a disproportionate period of time right here. Breeze via Fantasy Springs; savor the remainder of Tokyo DisneySea.
In the end, this may sound like a reasonably crucial assessment of Fantasy Springs, a port-of-call that’s in any other case receiving rave critiques. The practically unanimous sentiment is reward, and I’m not attempting to be the lone contrarian who says, truly…this land is just okay. We love Fantasy Springs! It’s a much-needed addition that’s not merely “solely okay.” However I additionally don’t assume it’s good, and it’s price focusing critique not on the issues everybody else is already gushing about, however moderately, the shortcomings they’re overlooking.
There’s additionally the matter of perspective. Tokyo DisneySea is one of the best theme park on the planet. I’ll be the primary to confess that I scrutinize every thing right here with a better eye consequently. I’ve larger requirements for OLC than Disney (identical to Disney vs. Common), and assessment issues accordingly.
If Fantasy Springs had been plopped into one of many studio parks, it could be one of the best land in any of them–by a large margin. It’d be a 100% optimistic addition and this assessment can be lower than half the size it’s. I wouldn’t even hassle with the negatives–they virtually completely exist within the context of Tokyo DisneySea, greatest theme park on the planet.
The underside line is that Tokyo DisneySea is residence to not less than 3 of the highest 5 theme park lands (or ports) on the planet, however I don’t assume Fantasy Springs is one in every of them. Nevertheless, it in all probability is a high 10 land worldwide and can be the #1 land at Walt Disney World as a complete and most different worldwide parks individually.
If you happen to’re evaluating Fantasy Springs to World Celebration–a land with an analogous building timeline–there isn’t any comparability. It’s like Citizen Kane vs. Rubbish Pail Youngsters buying and selling playing cards. If you happen to’re evaluating Fantasy Springs to American Waterfront or Mysterious Island, not less than the trio of ports are all in the identical league–but it surely’s nonetheless not on par with these masterpieces and exemplars of themed design.
Planning a visit to Tokyo Disney Resort? For complete recommendation, one of the best place to begin is our Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Journey Planning Information! For extra specifics, our TDR Lodge Rankings & Evaluations web page covers lodging. Our Restaurant Evaluations element the place to dine & snack. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash publish. Our What to Pack for Disney publish takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. Venturing elsewhere in Japan? Seek the advice of our Final Information to Kyoto, Japan and Metropolis Information to Tokyo, Japan.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the Fantasy Springs? Do you assume it’s among the finest Disney’s greatest lands on the planet? What in regards to the high ports-of-call in Tokyo DisneySea? Are the critiques right here honest, or is that this being too nitpicky? Agree or disagree with our evaluation of the brand new Peter Pan, Tangled, and Frozen port? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
