What happened to Canada's Fantasyland in West Edmonton Mall Alberta? - Best Edmonton Mall

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Remember the non-Disney Fantasyland? The one in Edmonton, Alberta Canada? When you think of the name "Fantasyland", do you think "Disney"? Well... Disney thought "Disney" - so here's what happened to the Fantasyland in West Edmonton Mall.
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[@LakeNipissing]

Excellent research!! Excellent video! WEM's attraction hours used to be awesome in the 1980s!!

[@dilflife6533]

Lake Nipissing hi

[@vinnievee5710]

When I worked at galaxyland in about 2003 I got to go in the dark tunnels again. I remember them from when I was a kid. EVERYTHING is still there, the creepy wizard, the werewolf, all the props. The red eyes that used to flash in there would still flash. They use it as storage now for balls for the ballpit. Kids always pee in there and they have to change them out. I also remember riding up in the balloon.

[@kaob2629]

Those dark tunnels were the best part of “sockland” that’s what we called it lol

[@bootlegga69]

As someone who never went to Disneyland, I've never knew that Fantasyland was even part of Disneyland. I think it's ridiculous that a foreign corporation that didn't operate in Canada or even bother to trademark the name 'Fantasyland' in Canada won this court battle.

[@revertinotse8582]

bootlegga69 Well? Good thing West Ed changed the name from Fantasyland to Galaxyland. Otherwise we get sue for Copyright.

[@WhiteDragon103]

Disney is a megacunt

[@jaybrown6225]

BAH! Not only this load of crap, for some inexplicable reason the RCMP - YES, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Iconic Canadiana and national police force - decided to sign a deal with Disney in the mid 90s. Sort of a marketing contract designed to protect the RCMP brand? I remember the Disney conglomerate stomping around Canada putting the run on any little mom and pop that had the audacity to carve or paint any likeness of the RCMP and sell it for a few bucks. After 5 years of that BS someone decided not to renew the deal with Disney - but JFC people are stupid.

[@joewoodchuck3824]

Lawsuits aren't won or lost on the basis of justice. They're won and lost on who has the more expensive lawyers.

[@Blaqjaqshellaq]

@@joewoodchuck3824 Remember the "Chef Aid" episode of SOUTH PARK where Johnny Cochran used the Chewbacca Defense?

[@iLiveExtreme]

It’s crazy to see how different Fantasyland looks compared to today’s Galaxyland. It’s pretty sad

[@iLiveExtreme]

TheMaul3r nah, the original fantasyland was much better than what Galaxyland is today. There have been massive cuts and compromises made over the years

[@LakeNipissing]

Really?? You can't even move through the corridors of WEM on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday because it is so crowded. I like WEM, but I hate being there on weekends.

[@LakeNipissing]

I believe the cheesy blue and purple fiberglass poured all over Fantasyland and the Pebble Beach mini golf went out of style when they applied it more than 20 years ago. The place used to have class, now it's tacky.

[@iLiveExtreme]

Lake Nipissing word lol. I work at WEM and I’ll tell you right now, malls are not “obsolete”

[@pluto8404]

@@iLiveExtreme mall?... ive heard that term before. Is that some sort of irl amazon?

[@drnickriviera76]

I would say the biggest difference between Disneyland and WEM is the fact that Disney realizes the power of NOSTALGIA. They are constantly evolving Disneyland yet still retain much of Walt’s original vision of the Park in 1955, which is a huge draw for retuning visitors year after year and continues on to future generations. I really wish the people who run WEM would realize if they brought back some of that 1985-1990 magic to the mall experience it would become a vacation destination the way it used to be instead of just... another... mall.

[@kevtech733]

It is not actually fibreglass. The decor is concrete spread over a metal structure with metal meshing attached. Than painted. It is similar to putting stucco on buildings. I worked at the mall during some of the change over helping the contractor with fabrication of the metal structures. It was sad to see the water ways being covered with this decor of the old Fantasyland😥. Thanks for making the interesting video👍🏼

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Yes! I recently discovered this myself, that it is in fact concrete. Thanks for sharing! I miss those old waterways so much.

[@KindaSadOilersFan]

I’m a nine-year-old kid and I just love learning about history in Edmonton and really anywhere else

[@anthonykarosas3111]

I remember both the balloon ride and the play area tunnels. I only rode the balloon once or twice, but the play area was my favourite part of Fantasyland (until I grew too big to be admitted) and I can't count on two hands how many times I banged my head or scraped my elbows racing back and forth through those tunnels with the other kids.

[@colinbetchuk7166]

The rides that exists today that were original are: the Mine Bender (aka the Triple Looper), the Auto Sled ( the yellow tracked roller coaster), The Swing of the Century, The Flying Galion (different location), and The Galaxy Express (used to be The Fantasy Express).

[@DavePanter1974]

I've always thought this was a missed opportunity for West Ed to align their park with something that invokes nostalgic feelings in all Canadians. Instead of coming up with a brand new concept in Galaxyland, imagine if they had licensed the rights to use something already familiar to most Canadians but something that was also already nostalgic, similarly to how the Mall of America has Camp Snoopy. Imagine West Edmonton Mall's Fantasyland, rebranded after that icon of Canadian 80's nostalgia, "The Raccoons".

[@GoatMalp]

God I loved that leaping stream of water. It had so much character and felt so alive and playful.

[@thebuffalodude]

I still call it Fantasyland! I loved the kids play area, so much fun when I was a kid!

[@brandonwilson3248]

I remember WEM used to have such a magic vibe to it when I was younger. Now it’s just a really big somewhat modern looking mall. Minus galaxy land it is still a great place but it lost its magic when they did the renovations for sure.

[@vinnievee5710]

When I worked there in 2003 the whole scary tunnel was still there. They just use it as storage space now. All the entrances are boarded up except one and if you went inside it was ALL still there. The werewolf, the flashing eyes still worked and so did the creepy wizard. I remember playing there as a kid and it was 1000 times cooler. Renovation really killed the park vibe

[@masteryoshi7121]

You're my favorite WEM person in the world. Keep these video coming! YEAH!!!

[@canadianfull.1007]

Who remembers rock n ride?

[@revertinotse8582]

Yeah. I Remember Rock n Ride

[@zombie68972]

Kyle 87 Until my daughter’s friend died😢

[@yegmtb8377]

Right here dude

[@belowthesilvermoonBe]

Rock N ride! That was with live bands? That' was super fun! Omg it was forever ago! It was a little sketchy back then I remember. ..Not sketchy by today's standards though. It's hilarious the videos one stumbles upon as as 2021 arrives. Awesome video!

[@Bruhaha9]

"Funtasyland" I wonder what Disney would have done if it was changed to that.

[@RenwaldoVanVeenmol]

I went there once when I was a little kid. I remember all the rides having ridiculous admission prices themselves - never mind the admission just to get into the faire-area. The main roller coaster was $12 per person, they didn’t offer discounted childrens prices. All I can remember of the visit is being really disappointed because after my parents found out each ride cost extra money we turned around and left. We got to enjoy the rest of the mall that holiday though.

[@BestEdmontonMall]

IIRC, Fantasyland never had an admission price. Just like today, you can walk around inside without paying to enter. It's the rides which cost money.

[@everybodyhatescriss]

I wish they did an entire revamp on galaxyland. I know that sounds very expensive, but Imagine how cool it’d look

[@cardinal3829]

100% agree

[@xXPinkDummyXx]

Well you just predicted the Malls hasbro remodel

[@daneashley7651]

Galaxyland is lame. I loved the spooky haunted train ride as a kid. Now it’s a bunch of weird looking friendly aliens and boring af.

[@umok1993]

Dane Ashley give them respect by making us happy -.-

[@blazer007]

I was a young teen and inadvertently led a parade of cadets and officers through WEM's Phase III on opening day. I say inadvertently because some lady jumped in front of me trying to cut through the parade, and with the guest numbers double what they were expecting, the mall was packed! Very quickly, others jumped ahead of me as well and the cadets in front of me who knew the parade route were no longer in sight, so I ended up leading the parade without a clue where I was going; it was harrowing to say the least as I took the officers up and down the escalators and somehow thankfully met up with the others. The officers couldn't break the file so _had_ to follow me. lol I remember WEM being super classy, full of crystal, marble & brass. I moved to Toronto in 1986 and went back to visit WEM earlier this month with my cousin and all I could think of was what the heck happened? The place is lacking of all class and is now just a shadow of its former self. The high-end finishings I remember are no longer there. Even the logo which used to be cleverly designed with a "W-W-W" in a circle (which read WEM) is now very bland. And, what the heck was up with "GalaxyLand"? What a horridious name!! Couldn't they come up with something more creative than that? I loved the former "FantasyLand", and even though I'd been to Disney's parks many times one would have to be an complete imbecile to confuse them.

[@atherwitch]

Does anyone remember the wizard that was way at the end of one of those tunnels? He was in a tilted room and most parents couldn’t fit in there. He was sooo scary! This was exactly at the same time that McDonalds had pizza (mid 90s?) . Plus the one area that was all dark and shady for people to take “old timey pictographs”. Before Galaxy land there was some scary shit.

[@sabrinamiller3671]

Yes, those tunnels scared me, but in a good way! I miss them.

[@msy77]

I’ve read numerous times that if you look through the cracks where they have boarded up the tunnels you can still see the flashing lights of the werewolves eyes. Supposedly they are still there!

[@AzrielKnight]

Discovered your channel a couple days ago and have been going through the videos with much nostalgia. This is great, and I appreciate the hard work. I was raised in the Edmonton aea in the 80's and 90's and have a lot of fond memories of the mall. Skipping school to go there, attending the grand opening of Red's, seeing the dolphins...again, thanks for doing this.

[@rainsf0rd]

Don't know how I stumbled on this channel. But, it's pretty cool. Lots of nostalgia from watching these oddly Edmonton-specific videos!

[@doanster]

My favourite video from you so far! So many childhood memories...

[@Retrodude1985]

I remember been to WEM when the name Fantasyland used to be. I really enjoying the rides like yellow railed coaster, the ship ride and even the tunnel one I’ve been there few times. They should of call this “WEM Land” of something catchy but Canada’s Fantasyland will always be remembered as a greatest theme park in WEM.

[@werethless12]

I still call it Fantasyland LOL

[@bethanyperry7245]

werethless12 so does my 43yr old husband, lol.

[@kirbysuperstaruhh3769]

So does my mom LOL

[@keatonhawkswell5714]

Great video! I would love a video on the changes to the water park.

[@LakeNipissing]

That would be a great one. I have been going to the World Waterpark annually for 31 years... have seen lots of changes!! A few good, many not so good.

[@alishanosirrom]

These videos are so binge worthy!

[@Dr.SickofYou]

I dunno, my kids have a blast every time, and they love the purple rocks. Nostalgia means nothing to them.

[@Zombastrophe]

What a stupid comment...

[@Tfwire]

This hits me right in the childhood just sayin

[@david_walker_esq]

I wonder why 555 Group doesn't redevelop the amusement park into a Nickelodeon Universe, bringing it line with their US offerings. The introduction of Viacom IP would certainly improve the look and theme of the park's attractions. It seems odd that the park opened without any form of preexisting IP. When they opened the Mall of America in Minnesota, the amusement park was themed as Knott's Camp Snoopy. It would be great if 555 Group would update both the amusement park and the water park with Nickelodeon and Dreamworks theming. Imagine World Water Park rethemed with Shrek's Soggy Swamp, Kung Fu Panda Zone and Madagascar Rain Forest just like the upcoming Dreamworks Water Park at American Dream Meadowlands in New Jersey. These theming elements can even be extended to the Fantasyland Hotel.

[@DisneyMarkUK]

The original Fantasyland is sooooo much like our now defunct Metroland at my local mall here in the UK. Aahhhhhh memories

[@TheJerryRiders]

Awesome

[@tristancampbell2968]

and the peacocks!, what happened to those, the animals around were incredible. I just found this channel, Im from Edmonton, this is awesome

[@rabidwallaby84]

Can't say I ever consider Disney when I think Fantasyland

[@kaob2629]

I wish they could’ve kept the theme and just changed the name. The old park was so much better. I hated the changes they made to make it “Galaxyland” and the name they chose. I remember that contest though, my dad always joked that they should call it “Fun to See Land”.

[@CoryTheRaven]

Ironically, I'm a huge Disney fan, but not until I was an adult. When I hear "Fantasyland", I immediately think of WEM. And yeah, I do miss the old theme. Running around the tunnels of the play area was the best.

[@marknetw]

3:00 please please share videos of the old walk through !!!

[@amangill3154]

I remember the park when it was fantasy lady we used to go every weekend for the water park or the rides I remember going on the auto sled and the car or plane ride by the train station

[@okayman2057]

Oh the nostalgia. I was just a wee kid when I went to galaxyland. Not fantasy land. Would have loved to see that transition.

[@dasupalouie]

Keep up these videos! :D

[@tyroneemail]

I remember the competition and I submitted Galaxyland.... But i never heard anything from it

[@marksaulnier2222]

One of my school mates dad was on the mind bender during the crash, I never rode on it in my life 🙃

[@HerrenGamingNews]

I thought of the Fantasy Land Hotel when you said Fantasy land.

[@paulthompson6745]

mcdonalds pizza was awesome

[@justimagine2403]

Very strange... as we have in Altoona Iowa, an Adventureland. Our Adventureland has a train around the outside of it, and two tunnels that go into a main street. I think the difference is our Adventureland paid Disney for consulting on how to build and layout the Altoona Iowa park. I wonder if they will ever be pushed to rename their park since I would be confused if I was sent to Adventureland in Iowa and expected a Disney experience. But then, what about the movie of the same name?

[@jw-hy5nq]

right after they changed their name to galaxy land they successfully sued a furniture store in Cold Lake (300 km east of Edmonton) that had gone by the name furniture galaxy for several years and had a sign similar to their new one. Crazy how the law works when you have more money than the little guy.

[@Jeffmorgan83]

I remember when it was called Fantasy Land. When I was a kid in the early 90's we would make trips from Winnipeg to Edmonton with my mom and grandma to visit my uncle and cousins. West Edmonton Mall was one of out favorite destinations. I live in Edmonton now and the theme park has definitely lost it's charm with all the kiddie purple fiberglass.

[@chrissmith513]

Miss Fantasyland 🙁🙁🙁

[@Tambuger]

I have a formal report on solar power energy due tomorrow and all I want to do is watch your videos. XD.

[@BestEdmontonMall]

That's all we want, too. :)

[@windsonma8209]

Yes, and I might rename it as WE Land or WEL short for West Edmonton Land. Kind of Cheap but I think it fits according to the name of the Mall.

[@marknetw]

Do you have videos or pictures of the old train tunnel or the kids tunnel in the play area?

[@BestEdmontonMall]

I've yet to find footage of the interior of the tunnels - the search continues.

[@marknetw]

Best Edmonton Mall I remember there were creatures in the walk through it was scary as a kid haha, I remember Frankenstein from e train itself. Also there used to be a robot laser game walk through in the arcade area, hard to find anything on any of this

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Lucky you... that's one of our future videos. Stay tuned for robots.

[@marknetw]

You're freakin kidding that's awesome!! Ive been looking up old videos for 20 years lol

[@marknetw]

Best Edmonton Mall i can't wait for robots!!!

[@realitycat22]

So did Disney have plans for a Disney Park in Canada?

[@myztklk3v]

i miss fantasyland

[@itookachonce1032]

Did anyone else think the fantasy land was that Disneyland thing that was open for like a month in Canada

[@jareddion9759]

That was a good learning experience too tell you the truth about why galaxyland isn't doing so well is that the people that grew up with the rides have grown up and a lot of what is in the mall is just a cash grab im from a generation that i want value if im investing my money into it now a days its like people are constantly in your face asking you too spend cash. also i think rockin ride should come back to galaxyland i remember being a kid and going to this for my first time i think they would have to increase security but it would get people away from looking down at there phones and dancing and hanging out with other people there age. if west edmonton stopped with a whole cash grab idea the mall would become popular again.

[@xcoasterenthusiast]

They should retheme Galaxyland into another Nickelodeon Universe just like the other theme parks by Triple 5

[@TN-wv6ok]

Alejandro Garza They just shouldn’t retheme Mindbender

[@tristancampbell2968]

what happened to that ball machine in phase 1. It was actually the coolest part of the mall for me when i was young. It was not big and didnt take much energy for such an awesome machine. I would watch that as long as i could as a kid. Where is that thing?

[@sabrinamiller3671]

In our hearts and memories... le sigh...

[@DavePanter1974]

It can now be found at TELUS World of Science 11211 142 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5M 4A1 [phone] g.co/kgs/xhE8mf

[@stvitalkid7981]

There are videos of one of them at the new Science Centre location on this channel.

[@invictrus]

Yet another reason to hate Disney!

[@mandimcca2662]

I miss those days.it hurts me how this city is greety and they don't wanna help the community better.I seen a new advisement that there were gonna expand it more then they took the add down.I wonder if it was fake or real

[@yegmtb8377]

Who remembers Rock n Ride anyone

[@uploaded113redone]

It's 2018 and i still had no idea that Disneyland has a fantasyland i would of just assumed they stole the name from West Ed Mall

[@N0xKn1ght]

Oh the irony we can watch and buy Disney just about everything, but we make a theme park and call it Fantasy Land and Disney loses their minds.

[@thestuffz]

3:20 any word if that lambo raffle thing is legit or not? I could never find who wins these cars.

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Legit. It went to a visitor from Yellowknife.

[@MrJoeyWheeler]

My question is, why didn't they just go for "Fantasy (space) land"? If they can do it for "Super Heroes" as opposed to the trademarked "Superheroes", then that should work.

[@claudiostruckingltd911]

it'll always be known as fantasyland

[@wickywoo1635]

I remembered the train ride. It went into a cave, and there were employees dressed up as hollywood monsters who growled "Rarrrrrrwww" so I was sitting behind the conductor, an elderly man.... friendly looking grandpa dude. So I felt braver and said "Oh rrawwwwwww" yourself. ahahahahahaahah then I could imagine the elderly engineer had a grin..... hee hee. And I do remember the cave like exhibit in the mountains of the play area... it was called "Wizard's Cavern", near the end there was a circular swirly display to induce hypnosis. The floor was slanted to further create the sensation of veritgo. Then hall would open up to a chamber to represent a Wizard's lab, with slanted windows and a animatronic of a Wizard at work, skull candel holder, old tombs, caldron and vials, crow also animatronic. but an steeper floor angle, parallel to the animatronic... This was after the inclined vertigo swirly hall.. They should reopen that.. It's a shame that it was walled off. And behind the mountains there were slides. You'd get a wicked static because they were plastic.

[@mlgdigimon]

It is still the largest in the American’s

[@Camman010]

I have been to West Edmonton Mall. It is a good mall but the indoor mall in North America is dead. I think the statistics say their are only 1000 indoor malls left in the US today. People would rather go shopping on Amazon or at Walmart.

[@colinbetchuk7166]

Edmonton has a population of about 1 Million yet nearly over 8 Million visitors from around the world visit West Edmonton Mall annually.

[@matt2244]

I will always call it Fantasyland.

[@theniftylynx6897]

Are you sure you don’t own a time machine?

[@Mgallowa]

So you're not gonna mention the accident? I feel like that really had a negative impact on the general feelings towards the park.

[@BestEdmontonMall]

This video was about the name change, I have another video about the accident which was years earlier.

[@Mgallowa]

Oh cool cool thank you!

[@newageretro]

OMG, those slides look just as crazy as I remember them as a kid!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/goOYopaIj52LgdU

[@blackwar12]

if they did keep the name, they would've simply did to it what they did to bourbon street, and would be completely different today anyways.

[@marcelamcneil8876]

i'd chosen wonderland

[@eviek3432]

I miss the old design.

[@icelineman]

Mac pizza tasted like card board

[@aussiecan]

Edmontonland

[@TheLegendOfKyler]

weird... I never associated Fantasyland with Disney... was Disneyland called Fantasyland? Oh well. I like Galaxyland and its space theme.

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Fantasyland exists within Disneyland and Disneyworld, it's to where their iconic castles lead.

[@TheLegendOfKyler]

oh okay. a person like me, whos never been do Disneyland and doesnt really know anything about them, wouldnt know that. cool tho, learn something new everyday.

[@p0tent49]

They could have just changed the name and kept everything the same.

[@rbgamergirl2858]

p0tent that’s what I was thinking

[@DTMB35]

Nothing escapes the wrath of Disney

[@nurrakugy5126]

Fuck disney.

[@jeanetteraichel8299]

I never thought of Disney when I heard the name Fantasyland. Disney sucks

[@revertinotse8582]

Well? I guess No one going to California Anytime Soon. Once Mentioned the word Fantasyland. People will tend to Throw up. I would Assume to the People's living up North in Canada

[@jenniferhewitt9962]

They should have changed it to fantastic land

[@falonokanee486]

Cosmo vs micky mouse.

[@itriied5027]

Do you live in Edmonton?

[@BestEdmontonMall]

Yup!

[@itriied5027]

Same!

[@colinbetchuk7166]

So do I. I've seen the changes.

[@EternallyGod]

Who goes to a mall anymore?

[@heathernaistus5021]

Haha,

[@KevbotFalconhammer]

Why not just rename the park Fantasy Land instead of Fantasyland?

[@worseto1]

Wow what bothers me is that grown men and women would sue each other over some bullshit like this .A little kids park!!!!!!!

[@daryllloyd4441]

All I know for sure is Edmonton OILERS SUCK! But the mall there doesn’t 😐

[@dannyvalentino1020]

Seriously Disney?

[@tinotse2007]

The word Fantasyland didn,t fit West Ed Mall Name. So glad Disney sued our mall. For copywriting

[@revertinotse8582]

@Siri E Blow Me. You Don't like my Answer. Just STICK IT!!!!!!

[@tinotse2007]

WHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! ( SARCASM) Don,t care what you think. i,m not. SO THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@revertinotse8582]

@Siri E That was meant for you. To wipe your so Called Tears. I was being Sarcastic. Get a CLUE!!!!

[@byronsilas5134]

Another demoqueer thing, period,.....