Storybook Circus — A Few More Details

Jack Spence Masthead

Okay. Before you get all excited”¦ Nothing of any significance has been added to Storybook Circus since my last visit. However, I did check this area out today (March 31, 2012) just to see what was happening”¦ And I did find a few new details.

If you walk to the exit area of the Walt Disney World Railroad, you will find a lot of circus freight has been unloaded.

WDW Railroad Exit Area

If you examine the cargo closely, you’ll find a few familiar names. Within this first collection are the watering barrels of Dumbo, Caddy, Prissy, and Giddy. If you remember, Caddy, Prissy, and Giddy are three of the matronly, and somewhat cruel, elephants that taunted Dumbo.

Circus Freight

Watering Barrels

In the next collection of freight, we find a few more familiar names. Since my pictures are somewhat small, I’ll type out everything printed on the trunks.

Circus Freight

Property of HYACINTH HIPPO – The Most Exquisite Aerial Sensation of the Big Top“

In case you don’t remember, Hyacinth Hippo was the ballerina hippopotamus in the movie “Fantasia.”

Hyacinth Hippo

“THE BIG BAD WOLF – BALLONOLOGIST EXTRAORDINAIRE – He’ll Huff & He’ll Puff”¦ And Create the Animal of Your Choice“

BIG BAD WOLF

Melody Time BAND – BRASS HORNS – Always in Toon“

“Melody Time” was a Disney movie released in 1948 and was in the style of “Fantasia” only it featured popular and folk tunes rather than classical music. Also, notice the spelling of “toon” (tune).

Melody Time

A third pile of luggage reveals more interesting labels.

Circus Freight

“CIRCUS GRADE AND PERFORMANCE READY – RED’S AMAZING JUGGLING UNICYCLES – MANUFACTURED BY EBEN’S BIKES”

When I first published this blog, I did not know the reference to the next two labels. But if you check the comments, you’ll see that a number of people were smarter than me and clued me in.

Red’s Amazing Juggling Unicycles would be a nod to the Pixar short “Red’s Dream” released in 1987. In this film a red unicycle dreams of becoming a world class juggler. Eben’s Bikes is a nod to Pixar animator Eben Ostby.

UNICYCLES

“TEN SCHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE, LTD. – HATS FOR ALL OCCASIONS”¦ BIRTHDAYS, UNBIRTHDAYS, AND ALL DAYS BETWEEN”

There are two references here. First, the unbirthday from “Alice in Wonderland.” And second, Ten Schillings and Sixpence references the cost of the Mad Hatter’s hat. Before Britain converted to the decimal system, ten schillings and sixpence would be written as 10/6.

HATS FOR ALL OCCASIONS

Mad Hatter

A great new background music loop is played around the Fantasyland Train Station. All of the songs have something to do with railroads. For example, “Casey Jones,” “Freight Train” and “She’ll be Coming ‘Round the Mountain” are just a few of the selections played.

I also paid attention to the railroad tracks in this area. I can see three sets of tracks emerging from the Round House (restrooms) and two other spurs. They all converge to an area behind the plywood fence. By studying concept drawings, I can see that they terminate on a railroad engine turntable and the Casey Jr. engine (and possibly some of the circus cars) will create a water playground in this area.

Roundhouse

Train Tracks

Storybook Circus Concept Drawing

Storybook Circus Concept Drawing

To show you the detail the Imagineers are putting in this area, the tile work in the restroom floors simulates train tracks. I would have snapped a picture for you, but it usually isn’t a good idea to be using a camera in a restroom.

That’s all I have for this update, but I will continue to make regular trips to Storybook Circus to bring you the latest happenings. Stay tuned.

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25 Replies to “Storybook Circus — A Few More Details”

  1. Hey Jack,
    You learn something new everyday. I never knew that the 10/6 on the Mad Hatters hat was the price tag. For years I wondered what that 10/6 tag was. Now I know, thanks to you! Thanks again!!

    Rob

  2. Hi Jack! Wasn’t going to mention about Red’s since everyone else did….. thanks for the pictures. Your articles always help me get my fill until I get back down there!

  3. Actually, the 10/6 is an old way of writing the price in Britain before the money changed. It is literally ten schillings and six pence as on the box, the cost of the hat, not its size. I always thought it was the size too.

  4. DO You know when the rest of the circus area is suppose to open? We are going in November and my boys would be wild for the train waterpark area.

    Jack’s Answer:

    Disney has not announced any firm dates for any future Fantasyland openings. However, I suspect that most, if not all, of Storybook Circus will be open by November. But this is just my very unofficial opinion. Don’t hold me to this. LOL

  5. Jack,
    Great report on the little details that make the magic. I really love the thought they put into those labels! One quick note, though, a common misconception about the sign on the Mad Hatter’s hat – 10/6 is not the size of his hat, it is the price, which was 10 schillings and sixpence. Over here most are not familiar with this British system of denoting prices, and so it is usually misread as the size of the hat.

  6. 10/6 is not the Hatter’s hat size, it’s the price tag. (“In this style, 10/6”) 10/6 is the short way to write 10 shillings and 6 pence.

  7. Hi Jack,
    I think you confused Bongo the juggling bear and the unicycle Red from the Pixar short “Red’s Dream”. In the latter Red, the unicycle is the one juggling when he dreams of performing in a circus. You can find this short on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA1vZ8wJTys
    It was Pixar’s 3rd short film after André & Wally B. and Luxo Jr.

    Keep your blogs coming!

  8. The reference to the Mad Hatter’s hat can also be found on the trunks in the Town Square Theatre. I guess Mickey really travels all over with those trunks!

  9. Hi Jack! The detail is amazing! I am soooo psyched to see the finished project. It is going to be an area that will be hard to compete with…

  10. Thanks for the update, Jack.
    This is so exciting. The idea for the play area is fantastic.
    I can hardly wait patiently until our December trip.

  11. hey jack
    thanks for the update. I can’t wait to see the new storybook circus next time i visit as well as the other attractions and resturants that will be opening later. can’t wait for your next blog and as always keep up the great work.

  12. Hey Jack, I apologize if this has already been explained, but could you tell me anything about “Pete’s Silly Sideshow”? Is it a shop? Snack stand? Attraction?

    Jack’s Answer:

    Sorry. But I have no information about “Pete’s Silly Sideshow.” I’ve seen a lot of chatter on the internet, but no one really seems to know what it’s all about. As soon as I find out, I’ll be posting the information.

  13. Thanks so much for the pictures and detail! I’m sure I would have missed all this on my own, but now that I know, my friends and I can find these for ourselves when we visit WDW this fall.

    Minor nit: The “Ten Shillings and Sixpence” sign is a reference to the Mad Hatter’s hat, but the 10/6 tag on his hat is not the hat size. It is the hat price tag of — you guessed it — ten shillings and sixpence.

  14. Hi Jack

    Another great blog and I can’t wait to see Story Book Circus for myself.

    The 10/6 on the Mad Hatter’s hat isn’t referring to the size of the hat but to the 10 shillings and 6 pence. That is how the prices were written before we got decimalised currency over here.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Heather

  15. Red’s Amazing Juggling Unicycles would be a nod to the Pixar short Red’s Dream. Ten Schillings and Sixpence could be noted as 10/6, for a little more Alice in Wonderland reference. I still love the minute details that Imagineers put into these things.

  16. Thanks for the update! The “Red’s Juggling Unicycle” signage is a reference to an old Pixar short where a unicycle in a bicycle shop dreams he’s a circus performer.

  17. The “TEN SCHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE, LTD” logo is likely a reference to the card on the Mad Hatter’s top hat- “10/6, in this style.”

    Everything looks great; I love the suitcases! The “freight” area was still blocked off when I was there a couple of weeks ago.

  18. The only thing the Red’s Unicycles reminds me of is a Pixar short, “Red’s Dream”. Could that be it?

  19. I cant see the comments so Im sure Im just repeating someone but….”Reds Dream” was a Pixar short. I want to say it was the very first but not positive.