WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth was on the scene for a soft opening of New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom earlier today, so get ready for an exhaustive look at Gaston’s Tavern, Bonjour Village Gifts, Ariel’s Grotto, Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, and Scuttle’s Scavenger Hunt in photos:
We begin with a popcorn cart! We know this is what you waited for…
A nearby seating area
One permanent looking wall on the Mine Train side
Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
Amazing…
The details are stunning
We know…
Cool sign
A full color Ariel on the front of a shipwreck
The backside of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Ariel’s Grotto had a 20 minute wait
Not working yet
Cool sign
Attraction exit for the ride
More Mine Train
The village off in the distance
Bridge to the Be Our Guest Restaurant
This is the Magic Kingdom?
It’s so purty…
The entrance to Be Our Guest Restuarant
This is detail at the Tokyo DisneySea level
Looks like this will be the check-in desk for the restaurant
Mine Train track
Enchanted Tales with Belle got signage
Lumiere Lamp!
The wait time sign is a bird house that looks like their house!
We’ve already seen this…
The backside of Castle Wall
FastPass isn’t running yet, but eventually will be distributed at Mickey’s Philharmagic along with Under the Se: Journey of the Little Mermaid
Another look at Mine Train
Big open path for guests to enter the land today
Stroller parking has to be done outside of the new area for now
We’ll be back in a few…
Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall
Still there
Little Mermaid merchandise is now available at Sir Mickey’s
DINGLEHOPPERS!
Creepy…
Back to New Fantasyland
Over the bridge again
Amazing tile mosiac
A look across the bridge
Menu is out
Gaston greeting guests
I love this photo…
Let’s eat!
Pork shanks and LeFou’s Brew are the specialty
A look at the menu
Looks better than a turkey leg…
cinnamon bun!
You can wimp out and get your brew in a generic cup…
SHANK!
The interior looks just like the film
Bambi?
Antlers is all of his decorating!
This guy looks down in the dumps…
Antler chandelier
There are antlers made of stained glass…
LeFou is losing
Gaston’s hat
Inside Bonjour Village Gifts
Exclusive merchandise
Gargoyle candle holders and picture frames
There is a tribute to long-tim Magic Kingdom Vice-President Phil Holmes
Lots of hidden references we’ll get to…
Back to Mermaid
I hate to say this, but it reminds me of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea…
Detail!
Speaking of 20,000 Leagues… THE NAUTILUS!
A second hidden Nautilus submarine in the Magic Kingdom, the other is in the tree at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
We love themed pavement
This queue is incredible
This is the interactive queue element
We’ll keep our eyes peeled
I have a feeling we’ll be looking in these windows for something
A Scuttle animatronic in the queue for Scuttle’s Scavenger Hunt
Cool detail
The loading area
Stingrays on the moving walkway
If you want to see the full ride, we have a video available
The ride includes the recent changes to the DCA version, including Ariel’s new hair
Other than a few minor changes, the ride portion is the same
King Triton has a very different beard in this version…
We’ll be back
Exit
Back to Ariel’s Grotto
ARIEL!
The water is a little murky right now
Water features everywhere!
Storybook Circus looms in the distance
The backside of Mine Train
This might be the most beautiful queue ever made
Even with Mine Train not finished, the setting is visually stunning
Scuttle’s footprints in the pavement
We can’t stop looking at it! Apparently the song “Whale of a Tale” is in the area music loop as well…
Event the water fountains are themed…
So, here is the interactive queue element
Through projection technology, you can point out items that shouldn’t be there
The little crabs will pick up and take away the stuff if you point to it
Some old legends about the sea are written on the roof of this rotunda
The mural looks fantastic
No hidden Mr. Limpet figure in Florida… 🙁
The audio-animatronic Flotsam and Jetsam weren’t working yet
Awww…
I can’t get over his beard…
Back to Ariel’s Grotto
I love that Gaston gave the statue to the town… of himself…
Even though it wasn’t open, cast members were happy to show off the Be Our Guest menu
A themed tarp under the bridge until work is done on Mine Train
MORE FOOD!
YOU BOUGHT WATER? LEAVE!
This is amazing…
This is my favorite sign ever…
A beautiful restroom building
What a water fountain
The village is intricately detailed
We’ll be looking at this for a while…
So, the hidden details in the Phil Holmes portrait, there is a Magic Lamp, peanuts, and an apple. We assume these are nods to Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, and Dumbo/Storybook Circus
He has a ring to celebrate his 40 years with the Magic Kingdom, and we assume the portrait celebrates him signing off on the New Fantasyland project
There’s a map in the book that includes Mickey’s Toontown (No Fair) and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Belle’s Village is right behind the Mermaid queue
Scuttle talks to guests while interactive crabs remove items
Wow…
PHOTO-BOMBED WITH A THUMBS UP? HOW DARE YOU!
Bonjour Village Gifts
The cast member costumes look great
Plenty of Beauty and the Beast merchandise available
Be Our Guest restaurant plates and cups
There is Phil
Gaston’s Tavern shirt!
Another one
Eco-friendly printing
A French book on display
Looks like it is Beauty and the Beast
CHEAP WEAPONS
We end as we started… WITH POPCORN!
Coverage won’t end for New Fantasyland here, we will continue to cover the preview period up until the grand opening of New Fantasyland on December 6th! We still have yet to see the Be Our Guest Restaurant, so stay tuned!
