If you’re a regular Disney Parks Blog reader, you’re certainly familiar with one of our guests’ favorite places at Magic Kingdom Park: the Central Plaza area between the end of Main Street and Cinderella Castle. Well, we’ve just begun a project that’ll make it even better. We’re adding several new elements to the area, including sculpted gardens, additional pathways, expanded restaurant seating and even a special viewing area for fireworks and other performances.
Look closely at our fly-through video and you’ll notice that the enhancements will include new trees and more landscaping in the Central Plaza area. The sculpted gardens planned for the location are inspired by the lush grounds seen around European castles and chateaus.
To make it easier to move around, two additional pathways will be built around the plaza.
Also, seating outside of Casey’s Corner and The Plaza restaurant will nearly double in size.
From Disney California Adventure to New Fantasyland, we have a long-standing track record of being able to make enhancements while maintaining the magic of the Disney experience, and we look forward to continuing that tradition with this work.
This multi-phase enhancement project has already begun and it’ll be completed in 2015.
Comments
Would love to see the statues and the Rose Garden remain.
Concerned about the concrete surrounding the plant bed areas. People, particularly the elderly or disabled, used to be able to sit on the concrete. Now it appears the concrete is low to the ground and not able to provide seating areas for some who need it most. That is a true concern in this area. Please make accommodations for those unable to sit on the ground to watch the fireworks.
I’m taking a vacation to Disney World in May. Since the construction and redesign enhancements are beginning now, does that mean when I get there, it’s going to look all torn down and unfinished? I LOVE the new concept ideas but I don’t want the magical atmosphere and environment feel to be ruined for the first-time guests I’m bringing. One of my favorite things is turning the corner of Main Street and seeing the castle and the Mickey/Walt Statues. It would be sad to turn the corner and see a bunch of construction workers and machines tearing the area apart. I’m just wondering if the enhancements will alter the experience of guests at all.
Wow! Awesome!! 🙂
I noticed the tech booths area seems to be enhanced with castle turrets. Looks nice.
Will the Rose Garden still be there in two weeks, or has it already been torn down? I’ve never seen it before and I was hoping to get the chance to on my next Disney visit.
Will the Walt & Mickey & miniature (I.E. Chip & Dale, Goofy, Donald etc. – around the Hub) statues’ be staying?? 🙂
Sure do miss Fantasy in the Sky where it did not matter where you watched them from since it did not have ‘Castle’ shots. Guess they should go ahead and fill everything in because they will need the space in a few years.
Please, save the Rose Garden. We visit it every trip. And will there be topiaries?
The hub used to have benches, large trees for shade, etc. Much of that has been taken out already.
Now we are losing a good part of the moat, the rose garden, and probably the remaining large trees.
I agree the Magic Kingdom will lose a good amount of charm…
I noticed that there are no street car tracks in this new rendering. Will the horse-drawn trolleys be removed during this update?
I like it.
Will certainly help with some of the bottleneck that happens after the fireworks.
Though it’ll feel weird not crossing a bridge onto the Central Plaza anymore.
Sad to see the old Swan boat dock and the rose garden path go…
Looks pretty bare… add some more trees and foliage, please. Really miss them
Those gardens to either side of Main Street, where Main street bridges the canal, do they possibly go down under Main Street? If so this would be a great way to go under Main Street during the parades it would be a fantastic pedestrian underpass.
We’re heading to the Magic Kingdom for our first time, for our honeymoon, in early September… Does this mean that the hub will be torn up?
It’s about time Disney is doing something about the traffic problem around the hub area, it just comes to a halt during parades and fireworks times though out the year. this has needed to be done for years.
Please, please,please,please,please,please,please,please, do not take out the Rose Garden! It is such a wonderful spot for families with small children, children with sensory sensitivities, and just anyone that wants to get away from the crowds and have a nice little relaxing moment in the most magical place on earth! Please keep it there!
This is nowhere near complete yet folks, they are just starting right now….. as he states in the post….
“This multi-phase enhancement project has already begun and it’ll be completed in 2015.”
Does this mean a rework of Epcot’s central plaza is next..? Please..? Pretty please..?
Does this mean the end of the moat? This will be great for scooters and strollers! So much paved space!
With the increased use of scooters in the park – this addition will be fantastic.
When will the improvements be completed? We are heading down next week and I’d love to see it completed!
I think this looks wonderful and may clear up a ton of congestion in the hug and on the bridge.
Question: Will they keep the little statues that dot the hub right now?
Fantastic!
It looks like a giant snowflake, in the last frame of the clip. 🙂
….IS the Hub that big??
(And like Joe, I’m wondering about the castle paths too–I liked the Rose Garden back when Belle was still there, and that little out-of-the-way path to get to the Tomorrowland section.
Parade viewing is nice, but it’s nice to have secluded areas too.)
Will the special viewing area for fireworks be for everyone or only for fast pass +?
Do you know if they will make a special viewing area for the Castle Projection show and fireworks wheel chairs?
The trees are nice, but they block the view of the stage and the Castle Projection show.
I like the idea of the 2nd pathway. I’m assuming that will be so people can walk around during the parades & fireworks with more ease.
Love this look! And we’ll truly enjoy the enhanced walk space.
~Mark.
just wondering if the Rose Garden path is going to be removed ?
Joe – The entire area around Cinderella Castle will be redesigned, including the Rose Garden. When complete, the area landscaping will feature many different types of plants, including roses.
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