First, guests will arrive in The Garden of Tangled, a very romantic valley filled with vibrant purple flowers in the distance, an elegant tower stands in front of a cliff with a waterfall cascading down its face. In front of the tower is a storybook that reads:
"After years watching the world from her window, Rapunzel lets down her golden hair to leave her tower for the very first time and convinces a reluctant Flynn Rider to be her guide".
When guests activate the bronze crank on the storybook pedestal, a window on Rapunzel's Tower opens with a magical sound, and a wide-eyed Rapunzel begins to hoist up her long sparkling braid, and to her amazement, sees Flynn Rider tangled up in it. She then lets out a startled shriek and sends him plunging to the base of the tower. A photo frame with Pascal carved into one corner sits on the pathway leading to Rapunzel's tower, and frames up the perfect photo opportunity of the majestic tower rising from the valley floor.
The music box with a sun icon on top plays the tune of "I See the Light", and shows the scene of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider bobbing on a boat and releasing floating lanterns that drift up and down above the water, in the kingdom's way of honoring their missing princess.
"Tangled" Storybook
"Tangled" Bronze Crank
"Tangled" Photo Frame
I See the Light Music Box
Close-up of I See the Light Music Box
Concept art for a whimsical passage featuring miniature scenes from “Tangled"
The Garden of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs[]
Next, in a forest filled with ferns, flowers, and gnarled trees, stands a mountain with a waterfall, a wooden track, and a bridge wrapping around the mountainside. The storybook reads:
"With Snow White safe and sound in their cottage, the dwarfs get to work in the mines while the fun-loving Dopey explores the mountainside aboard a jewel laden mine cart".
When guests activate the bronze crank on the storybook stand, with a "Heigh-Ho" from deep within the Dwarfs' Mine, Dopey emerges in a mine cart full of jewels and takes a journey along the mine track over a bridge, in and out of the mountain, before returning to work in the mine. A photo frame decorated with adorable forest critters frames the perfect spot for taking pictures in front of the waterfall and the mountain.
The music box denoted by an apple icon plays the scene of six of the Seven Dwarfs digging among sparkling gems in the mine to the tune of "Heigh-Ho". Typical of the Dwarfs, Doc bosses around an irritated Grumpy, Sneezy fights off a sneeze while trying to carry a pile of gems, Happy and Bashful smile happily while they work, and Sleepy appears to have fallen asleep on a mine cart! Dopey is nowhere to be seen, as he is having fun riding on the cart in and out of the mountain.
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" Storybook
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" Bronze Crank
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" Photo Frame
Heigh-Ho Music Box
Close-up of Heigh-Ho Music Box
Concept art for a whimsical passage featuring miniature scenes from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"
The Garden of Beauty and the Beast[]
Later, guests will arrive in Belle's Rose Garden, where a rose mosaic marks the spot with the best view of the Beast's Castle on the snow-dusted mountain. The storybook on the side of the mountain reads:
"As Belle and Beast dance together in the ballroom of the enchanted castle, friendship blossoms into romance".
Turn the bronze crank on the storybook stand and the majestic ballroom perched at the side of the castle will begin to rotate, revealing the Beast and Belle waltzing inside the ballroom to the song, "Beauty and the Beast". The photo frame featuring Mrs. Potts, Chip Potts, and Lumiere marks the spot for the perfect snapshot of the Beast's Castle.
To the left of the castle, the music box with a rose icon plays "Be Our Guest" as Lumiere conducts the dinnerware in a very festive dance scene that includes all the famous enchanted residents of the Beast's castle such as Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, Chip, and Fifi, while champagne flows and beer steins sing.
"Beauty and the Beast" Storybook
"Beauty and the Beast" Bronze Crank
"Beauty and the Beast" Photo Frame
Be Our Guest Music Box
Close-up of Be Our Guest Music Box
The Garden of Cinderella[]
Soon afterwards, guests will arrive in Cinderella's Forecourt Gardens, framed by topiaries and hedges trimmed with crenulation resembling the walls of King's Castle. The storybook in front of Cinderella's shimmering blue castle sits on top of a pastel-colored mountain and reads:
"As the castle clock strikes midnight Fairy Godmother's spell is broken, and Cinderella must rush home after dancing the night away with Prince Charming".
Turn the bronze crank and the hands on the castle's clock will turn to midnight with a loud chime, and the drawbridge to the castle begins to close. The garden's photo frame, featuring Cinderella's friendly rodent friends Jaq and Gus, stands in front of the mountain for a perfect view of the castle.
The music box in this garden, with a pumpkin coach carved into the top, plays the tune "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" and shows the scene of Cinderella's magical transformation. As Fairy Godmother waves her wand, the pixie dust travels from the left side of the music box to the right, transforming Cinderella's dress into a ball gown and her animal friends into horses and footmen.
"Cinderella" Storybook
"Cinderella" Bronze Crank
"Cinderella" Photo Frame
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes Music Box
Close-up of A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes Music Box
The Garden of Little Mermaid[]
Finally, guests will arrive at an archway leading to an oceanfront land where seashells line the pathway. Guests might even find marks of the tide coming and going in the floor. Prince Eric's Castle is nestled within a sandy cove, and his ship is anchored offshore. The storybook next to the castle reads:
"Hoping they'll share a kiss, the mermaid princess Ariel goes on a romantic boat ride with Prince Eric as sea creatures serenade them".
Turn the storybook's crank, and the branches of the weeping willow tree covering a cave are pulled back, revealing Ariel and Prince Eric sitting across from each other in a rowboat, holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes. As their boat rotates, it appears as though they might be about to kiss. Ariel's aquatic friend Flounder and a collection of dancing fish circle the rowboat and spout water as the song "Kiss the Girl" plays for Ariel and Prince Eric. In front of the scenic view of the castle is a photo frame with Flounder carved into the corner of the frame and a clamshell carved into the top.
"The Little Mermaid" Storybook 1
"The Little Mermaid" Bronze Crank
"The Little Mermaid" Photo Frame 1
The last scene, further away from the music box, is an undersea cove. The storybook here reads:
"King Triton joyfully celebrates Ariel's marriage to Prince Eric in his underwater kingdom".
When the crank is turned, the music of The Little Mermaid's "Happy Ending" plays, and the central waterfall parts to show Atlantica in a water show. A photo frame with Sebastian carved into one corner sets the scene for a perfect picture of King Triton's castle.
A music box sits at the end of a winding pathway that seems to lead under the sea. When activated with the bronze crank, the light shines on an underwater scene and an animated Sebastian conducts an underwater orchestra of sea life to the tune of "Under the Sea".
The scene where Rapunzel begins to hoist up her long sparkling braid and sees Flynn Rider tangled up in it was inspired by the Rapunzel scene in Sprookjesbos at Efteling, Netherlands.
With the exception of Doc, the Seven Dwarfs' models in the music box in "The Garden of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" are references to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom.
Netherlands has a Fairy Tale Forest (under the name Sprookjesbos in Dutch) at the amusement park Efteling, where a number of well-known fairy tales and fairy tale figures are depicted by animated statues and buildings. Most of the figures are inspired by The Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, and Charles Perrault.
Phantasialand also had a fairy tale forest (called the Märchenwald) but it was demolished on 8 October 2007.[3]