RUMOR: Magic Kingdom to undergo expansion?

Today Kris Theiler (VP of operations support for domestic parks and resorts) had the chance to speak to a couple of Disneyland Cast members about her experience with the company. She talked a little bit about the restructuring and how she now does double duty for both DLR and WDW. She mentioned her work on DCA including the expansion and then mentioned she was also working on the expansion in the Magic Kingdom. During a Q&A after her presentation a cm asked if she could elaborate on the Magic Kingdom project, wanting to know if it was for the park or the recent DVC expansion. Kris responded saying it is inside the park but she couldn't elaborate any further and said there would be an announcement about the project soon.

Also another small tidbit from Kris was that Disney is constantly looking at ways to improve and change Fastpass including even charging for fastpass (no surprise there.) She did mention that the "father" of fastpass believes that fastpass should always remain free as it is a service that they owe to the public however a pay system for a "magic pass" is currently being tested in HKDL.

The is currently being rumored around forums such as WDWMAGIC, disboards and mice chat saying that in 2010, the Magic Kingdom will recieve an expansion. The above quoted did originally come from one of those sites, but never actually posted a source/link so that is why it is being called a rumor. The expansion will possibly include a snow white roller coaster, a little mermaid attraction, a beauty and the beast dark ride to replace the snow white dark ride, a it's a small world refurbishment and a possible return of Mr. Toad. This would be big for the MK as there hasn't been any major additions to the park since 1994 and this rehab of all of fantasyland would be big in providing that by adding an E-ticket snow white ride and a little mermaid ride.

Before anyone gets TOO excited, please remember that these are just rumors and have not yet been announced by Disney, and likely won't until atleast after the Space Mountain refurb is done, probably early 2010 as the project is said to not be starting until late 2010 and ending late 2012. Hopefully this ends up happening though as it is much needed.

The image below shows a map of MK with the likely area to expand upon colored in. The only thing about the map is that it is likely not going to happen that land is built in the yellow area b/c it is around the area where the fireworks are shot off behind the castle so if anything was built there, it would have to be shut down during the fireworks. So it COULD happen, it is just not as likely.