Tokyo DisneySea's new Fantasy Springs land offers attractions based on three Disney franchises: Frozen, Peter Pan, and Tangled. We have seen Disney build rides based on Frozen at Walt Disney World and Hong Kong Disneyland, and Peter Pan has been a Disney castle park staple since the beginning. But Tokyo is the first place where Disney fans will be able to ride into Rapunzel's "Tangled" world.
And for that ride, Disney's Imagineers have selected a ride system that I would love to see more often in theme parks. Rapunzel's Lantern Festival is an all-ages outdoor/indoor boat ride, with its entrance set - like the other attractions in Fantasy Springs - among the land's impressive rock work.
The queue provides plenty of detail to explore as you snake your way toward the load platform.
Once aboard, the ride focuses on the Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, introducing both characters in its outdoor portion. As appropriate for this early moment in their story, Rapunzel remains far above, in her tower. But this Animatronic representation allows Rapunzel to remain an engaging character even at distance.
Enjoy these POV highlights from Rapunzel's Lantern Festival.
The iconic moment here is the recreation of the iconic image from the film, Rapunzel and Flynn surrounded by lanterns at the festival. But I wanted to show you this photo from Tokyo Disney that provides a compelling perspective on just how close fans get to the couple in their boats during this scene.
And do keep a lookout for Pascal the chameleon, who provides a unique through-line of sometimes snarky comedy for the ride.
Fantasy Springs opens officially at Tokyo DisneySea on June 6. For more coverage of the land's new attractions please see:
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I’ve always thought that it was surprising how little this film has been represented in the parks, especially considering how it checks so many of the classic Disney Princess Movie Boxes so well, not to mention it has a great villain.
What's here looks pretty good, but there's unfortunately not a whole lot to the ride. As a supporting attraction it's probably okay, but Tokyo DisneySea is also home to the absolutely amazing Sindbad's Storybook Voyage, so I worry this one might lose out due to comparisons between the two.
Similar in production value to the Ariel ride, though it seems to move awfully slow and doesn't have an uptempo song?
Light years better than the Peter Pan screens ride, but still pretty meh.
@thecolonel: I agree with the similarities to the Little Mermaid. The lantern scene with Rapunzel and Flynn in the boat together, while amazing in its production and effects, does have the same cadence and visuals as the “Kiss the Girl” boat scene in the VOTLM attraction. I’m a sucker for slow-moving boat rides or AA-based dark rides though, and this definitely scratches the itch of a relaxing few minutes out of the heat. But would I wait longer than 20 minutes for it? Probably not. It’s a nice supplemental ride to this land but not an “anchor” attraction for sure.
So, to recap, we got a mid- Frozen boat ride that's nothing we haven't seen before, we got a slow, somber Tangled ride that's nothing we haven't seen before, and we got a complete half-assed Peter Pan ride where you look at screens. This is meant to entice me to Fantasy Springs??
If this is what they're building in Disney Forward, ugh. Disney, where are the RIDES.
@thecolonel Isn’t Fantasy Springs supposed to be targeting young children/families who don’t wanna have to worry about height limits/scary rides?
Like what else are 3-6 year olds supposed to be riding besides “slow-moving boat rides or AA-based dark rides”. I agree that it would’ve been cool to see some more E-Ticket level stuff, but if Tokyo Disney’s goal was just to make the highest quality kid rides possible, I think they did a pretty solid job overall. I wish the Tangled ride was a little longer, but I’m not sure what else to complain about.
Isn’t Fantasy Springs supposed to be targeting young children/families who don’t wanna have to worry about height limits/scary rides?
I don't know, is it?
Like what else are 3-6 year olds supposed to be riding besides “slow-moving boat rides or AA-based dark rides
Teacups, Dumbo, Mater's Tractors, junior coasters, carousel, Casey Jr.; etc. Kids like to do more than sit quietly and listen to slow songs, you know.
I do love a classic boat ride and the AA for this are amazing.
All 3 of the rides look really good and in different parks I think would be a great addition. I however agree that they are very similar to each other. If Universal gets criticized for having too many screens then Disney has way too many slow moving boat rides! Regardless they will all have 3 hours plus waits once the land opens and they will remain super popular for a very long time I'm sure.
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The fact that the healing incantation scene photo is not a still from the movie is mind boggling!