The Frozen Port Before Tokyo DisneySea's Fantasy Springs

While Tokyo DisneySea's expansion, named Fantasy Springs, has been delayed by a year, unlike many projects for Disneyland and Walt Disney World, it is not cancelled or delayed to the deadly Coronavirus. The area set aside for it has an interesting history, and the piece of concept art above reveals the original intent of the land: a frozen concept named Glacier Bay. 

As anyone who has been to the resort will tell you, everything designed for the second park at the Tokyo Disney Resort is representative of the very best work Imagineering.  The Stateside parks are just now beginning to see the same type of excellence as evidenced by Cars Land at California Adventure, Pandora at Animal Kingdom, and both Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge locations. There's much to be said for competition! If you don't think Universal's explosive growth due to adding the excellent Harry Potter attractions isn't part of the reason for renewed investment, you are mistaken. Thank you, Harry!

A snowy port that looks more than a bit like Port Discovery. 

When Tokyo DisneySea was first imagined, a frozen port of sorts made the short list of lands. The icy terrain even appeared on an early map of the park. (The top image. Click on it for a very large size.) For various reasons, it never made the final cut. The exact concept was also under consideration for Hong Kong Disneyland, which as we know would certainly have benefitted from something unique early on. It could have even changed initial perceptions of the park.

Interesting.

Nothing gets discarded when it comes to unbuilt Imagineering concepts. This Asian icy wonderland was once planned to be home to a variety of winter activities that could be enjoyed year round: jet skiing, an ice rink, and an indoor thrilling roller coaster. Let's be honest, here. In this new Disney world where intellectual properties and more importantly, potential for massive merchandizing, drives the company, a port without a connection would rarely be built. Even in Tokyo, they exist but are a rarity.

These three concepts above were created by Favilli Studios, one of the relatively new players in the theme park business...and the main creator of plans for the infamous Dubai Disneyland. Of course, to date, that park has not been built. I imagine it never will be. The planned mega resort for theme park lovers has had poor attendance and low if any profits since opening. (I broke the news on this proposed Middle East Magic Kingdom back in 2014. My detailed  look at it begins here.) 

Frozen instead of icy.

Removing the Glacier Bay concept but bringing an icy slant to Tokyo's expansion is our lovable snowman Olaf and his creator Elsa. With two strongly marketable characters- one for girls and one for boys- it's a bankable plan for the accounting books. 

For fans of Imagineering's most innovative work, Fantasy Springs will be a win. The new port will have several major E Ticket attractions based on Frozen, Tangled, and Peter Pan, all using innovative new ride systems, plenty of unique shopping, and a now requisite must-do restaurant experience a la Be Our Guest at Florida's New Fantasyland. 

Classic characters and beloved stories. That is the new direction for all of the Disney Parks- even if in some cases- like Epcot and Animal Kingdom- it's a big mistake. That said, leave it to Oriental Land Company and the Tokyo Disney Resort to get the best Imagineering work. With or without Disney characters.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company and Favilli Studios.)