Walt Disney World changes name on Fantasyland carousel

May 25, 2010, 3:37 PM · Walt Disney World announced today that as of June 1, Cinderella's Golden Carrousel in the Magic Kingdom will be renamed Prince Charming Regal Carrousel.

Why? Well, Disney's added a backstory to the ride:

Following their fairy-tale romance and happily-ever-after wedding, Cinderella and Prince Charming took up residence in Cinderella’s Castle. With peace throughout the kingdom, Prince Charming had time to practice for jousting tournaments. In the countryside near the castle, he built a training device of carved horses, on which he could practice the art of ring-spearing, a tournament event in which a knight rides his horse full speed, lance in hand, toward a small ring hanging from a tree limb, with the object of spearing the ring. This event was known by various names throughout the lands, but generally came to be called “carrousel.”

The carrousel device drew the attention of the villagers, who wanted to take a turn on this amazing spinning contraption. So Prince Charming had a second carrousel constructed closer to the Castle, where everyone could take a spin on this wondrous invention. Instead of a working knight’s training device, however, this new carrousel is more befitting its regal location in the Castle Courtyard – its rustic training horses replaced with ornately decorated prancing steeds adorned with golden helmets and shields, flower garlands, feathers and other festoons. Prince Charming invites one and all to test their horsemanship skills and to enjoy their own happy ending.

Thoughts?

Replies (25)

May 25, 2010 at 3:43 PM · First obvious snarky joke: They've gotten a hush-hush divorce, and Cindy got the castle, while Charming's lawyer could get him only the merry-go-round.
May 25, 2010 at 3:59 PM · Robert, sounds to me like Disney is trying to make it boy friendly, especially with all the princess stuff going on in the near future in that general location.
May 25, 2010 at 4:02 PM · I agree with Bob. Plus Robert...Love the "real" backstory! I don't think it really matter what they call it. We all know it is just a carousel that is something more for the little ones to ride. Now if they did change it to a jousting kind of ride then it might really be something for the guys to enjoy.
May 25, 2010 at 5:00 PM · I think the new name is horrible. I'm going to miss them calling it Cinderella's Golden Carousel, and probably will still call it that. It sounds like a desperate attempt to get more boys on the carousel! I understand they need more boys in fantasyland due to the princess theming, but i much prefer Cinderella's name for it.
May 25, 2010 at 5:15 PM · I think they changed the name just so that Fantasyland wouldn't be unofficially known as Cinderella land. With Cinderella castle, Cinderella's Golden Carousel, and the new Cinderella Chateau opening in 2012, I think it is really just renamed to help keep the balance.
May 25, 2010 at 5:31 PM · seriously guys...it's a carousel.
May 25, 2010 at 6:07 PM · Ummmm.....the carousel had a name?
May 25, 2010 at 6:31 PM · seriously.........


WHO GIVES A CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. why does there need to be more boys on the carousel? isn't tom sawyer's island enough? instead of renaming the damn carousel, why dont they fix "disco yeti"

Nib high football rules!!

PRINCES CHARMING'S "WORD"

May 25, 2010 at 6:40 PM · I'm with Derek on this one...

Maybe they could just remove the attraction altogether and put something else in its place, something that doesn't scream "midway ride" at the top of its lungs.

May 25, 2010 at 8:17 PM · If they want to make a back story with the prince practicing with rings tied to a tree, they should add brass rings for the riders to grab!
May 25, 2010 at 8:28 PM · Agree with Derek.

Also, Luis -
Word to the wicked stepmother!

May 25, 2010 at 8:31 PM · I don't think the name is going to either drive boys to the ride nor keep girls off of it. It is just a carousel, and little ones will want to ride the white horses regardless of the name attached to it. If they want to make the area boy-friendly then this is a small step in that direction. A big step would be bringing back MR. Toad's Wild Ride
May 25, 2010 at 9:10 PM · The rumored seven dwarves mine train roller coaster would also fit in with the area as well. Whether the Barn Stormer is rethemed to this ride, or that plot of land is used to eventually put a fresh ride system in there for the dwarves ride, either way it would be a welcomed addition and help to even out the heavily princess focused area.
May 25, 2010 at 9:38 PM · Every park should have an antique carousel. What is wrong with that? The name change is alright. They have done that with some other things over the years.
May 25, 2010 at 9:41 PM · Its still the same Carousel right?

Personally, I thought there was nothing wrong with the first name and I actually prefer it just because the new name seems harder to remember. I think it should have been Prince Charming's Golden Carousel.


Then again, Disneyland's is called King Arthur's Carousel so it is not that Disney is going into uncharted territory.


I like the Carousel so as long as its still around, I would enjoy it!

May 26, 2010 at 6:31 AM · At first I thought, "How stupid!" but then I decided, whatever, as long as the carousel is kept and well-maintained as a Disney attraction should be (and I'm sure it is), who cares if they want to re-brand it a little?

I'm curious, though, re: James R's predictable post [I was waiting for the "it screams midway" comment {g}], how many theme park goers are rabid in their antipathy toward so-called "off-the-shelf" rides? Have we ever had a poll asking whether TPIers ride them or not? Because personally I'll ride a Scrambler anywhere I find one and regardless of what it's called. I just like the experience. Don't care if it's the same from one park to another. It's fun and for me, very repeatable. Same for Spiders, Himalayas, Tilt-a-Whirls, teacup rides, and if there's any small child I can cadge into going on with me, carousels!

And I'm not sure I'd put too many carousels in the "off-the-shelf" category anyway. Certainly a carousel with unique and elaborate horses/animals, designed and painted a la the creations from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, is not something I'd call "off-the-shelf." Too much history is behind this ride for me to dismiss a classic just because one carousel ride experience is much like another -- they're often real slices of history and show great artisanship.

The new name is a bit harder to remember, though -- what was it, Prince Charming's Regal Carousel? Not that it matters, how many called it Cinderella's Golden Carousel rather than just "the carousel" or "the merry-go-round" or "the roundabout" (for the Brits) anyway?

May 26, 2010 at 8:01 AM · I totally agree that every park should have a carousel. It's tradition, it's family, and a rite of passage of sorts. I think that they should be well taken care of and treated like treasure.

However, a carousel is a carousel. Actually, I would rather have an antique one with the hand carved/painted horses and the traditional calliope/organ over any kind of theme. For those reasons, I care even less about the Disney carousel.

Now, how about that Yeti overhaul that seems to be coming?

May 26, 2010 at 8:06 AM · Seems to me like a pointless gesture. They dug themselves their own holes by making Disney movies focused primarily on girls. Just expand Frontierland and Tomorrowland and we've got plenty for us guys. ;)
May 26, 2010 at 8:32 AM · It'll always be Cinderella's Golden Carousel to me.
May 26, 2010 at 9:59 AM · Derek, the Disney World carousel IS a hand-carved antique carousel. The ride mechanism itself is not antique, but the horses were built by Italian woodcarvers in 1917 and then refurbished by Disney so no two would be alike. The scenes around the outside of the carousel are also hand painted. And I agree that every park should have a carousel. The new backstory also fits in well with the actual history of carousels, which were originally built for just that purpose - practicing jousting. Eventually they became a staple at amusement festivals and fairs, and as amusement parks and county fairs became the norm, they easily made the transition. They are usually equally popular with boys and girls. The name change simply gives the carousel a new story. I like it.
May 26, 2010 at 10:21 AM · Finally they changed that name…. It has been bugging me for a looooooooooong time…..

Now I can sleep at night…

May 26, 2010 at 11:05 AM · lol Brian
May 26, 2010 at 8:52 PM · Nope, not a big midway ride fan. If I can find it at the food court of my local mall, I pretty much don't want to see it at the world's most popular theme park.
May 28, 2010 at 9:19 PM · As any theme park history buff would know, merry-go-rounds were originally a mixture of ride and game- guests could reach for rings while riding, and if they managed to pull a golden ring on most carousels, they were given a free ride. The new description of the Magic Kingdom attraction sounds very similar to these classic rides- I wonder if they'll be refurbishing it so that it will actually include rings for guests to grab?
May 29, 2010 at 3:35 AM · Cinderella has the house/castle, so let Charming get the car/horses. Yes, it does sound a lot like some divorce settlement agreements we've heard of....but as a mom of two boys it is ok with me to let the guys have some more namesake attractions in Fantasyland, which is still dominated by the gals and princesses.

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