Belle Joins the “New-Look” Disney Princesses at Disney Parks

Following in the footsteps of Cinderella a few months back, Belle will also soon have a new look when you visit her in the Disney Parks:

Belle_b7407326-8b7b-a1b2-9057-9c50ab9e1200

Madame Wardrobe has pulled out an all-new formal ball gown for Belle, made with luxurious fabrics and detailing.

After much anticipation and hard work on behalf of the Creative Costuming team, Belle will begin making appearances in her new look this Sunday, Feb. 3, at the Disneyland Resort. She is sure to dazzle our Guests with a complete makeover from head to toe, wearing her elegant attire at Ariel’s Grotto Princess Celebration in Disney California Adventure park. Belle will also wear her new gown when participating in shows and character greetings at Fantasy Faire, opening in Disneyland Park March 12.

Walt Disney World Resort Guests will experience the grandeur of the new ball gown starting Feb. 10, when Belle visits Princess Storybook Dining at Epcot and participates in Enchanted Tales with Belle in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park.

What do you think of Belle’s new look?

Dirk Wallen’s 2/2/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom on Saturday and has some fantastic pictures of new progress on the Big Thunder Mountain interactive queue, A Pirate’s Life: Treasures of the Seven Seas, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and more, so let’s take a look:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

While the Main Street Bakery is closed, guests can head to the Tomorrowland Terrace

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Plenty of options at Tomorrowland Terrace, including beignets!

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The flowers in the hub have gone to Valentine’s Day colors and the ducks love it…

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Valentine’s Day cupcakes available at Big Top Treats

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

I’ve heard of panning for gold…

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

More props and interactive elements have been installed in the queue at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The “exploding” crates are no longer under tarps

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

These huge machines popped up in the second-half of the queue over the weekend

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

It looks like guests will play some sort of game where they turn a lever

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Spinning handles on the back of another machine

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The refurbishment of Splash Mountain continues

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Lots of painting going on

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Golden Oak Outpost is closed again

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Work continues on the Adventureland Veranda building

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Another area of the building is also walled-off

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The Crow’s Nest is out from behind tarps and it looks quite different… we expect it to play a role in “A Pirate’s Adventure”

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

More props for “A Pirate’s Adventure” have been installed throughout Adventureland

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Jack Sparrow’s compass

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

This was the first prop installed a few months ago

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

A cannon

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Ball and chains

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Some props by the Jungle Cruise

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Nearby, a pirate skeleton lies under the water near a treasure chest

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

It appears these skulls near the Pirates of the Caribbean entrance will talk

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Another strange set of props

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Gun powder

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Sleepy Hollow Refreshments is open while the exterior is refurbished

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Walls up outside of the Haunted Mansion and Yankee Trader

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Tarps still up on Columbia Harbour House

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The latest progress on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day lanyards are out

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

As is the new Test Track logo pin

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Over at The Villas at the Grand Floridian, we can start to make out windows

Latest Progress on “Tangled” Restroom Area

A WDWNT reader was nice enough to send in the following pictures of the “Tangled” restroom area in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom that is currently under construction:

IMG_1833

As you can see, work is nearing completion

IMG_9731

IMG_0133

Pavement is down where guests can cross into Liberty Square

IMG_3262

There will even be a small water feature as guests cross a bridge

Stay tuned as we continue to track the progress on this new area of Fantasyland until it is completed!

PHOTOS: Limited Time Magic “True Love Week” Kicks-Off

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom earlier today and has photos of some of the offerings for “True Love Week” that started today:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Snow White and her Prince

Inside Town Square Theater, the Princess meet and greet area has been decorated

Rapunzel and Flynn

Cinderella and Prince Charming

Aurora and Prince Phillip

The characters are not signing, again they are using the autograph cards

The Mickey and Minnie meet and greet was also decorated

Minnie made Mickey a Valentine!

The magic wands are covered in roses

A banner up in the backdrop

Tiana and Naveen have a heart wreath as well

Cinderella’s Coach out by the castle walls

VIDEO: A Look Back at “Limited Time Magic” True Love Week at the Magic Kingdom

IMG_1036-XL

From February 11th-17th, the Magic Kingdom hosted Limited Time Magic’s “True Love Week” in honor of Valentine’s Day. The event consisted of several photo-ops, meet and greets with Princes and Princesses, and even a surprise musical medley from the Main Street Philharmonic. We have a short video to share with you that highlights all of the festivities. Enjoy:

VIDEO: Imagineers Give In-Depth Look at Big Thunder Mountain Interactive Queue

Picture 5

Since it was announced a few months ago, we have wondered exactly what will take place in the interactive queue for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at the Magic Kingdom. Well, wonder no more. In this video, Disney Imagineers take us behind the scenes at Big Thunder and show us the props and backstory that make up the new interactive queue:

So, what do you think?

Concept Art Revealed for the New Main Street Bakery with Starbucks!

For those of you who have been wondering how different the Main Street Bakery will be when it reopens in May with Starbucks inside, we managed to uncover some concept art of the interior that you will find very interesting:

MainStreetBakery

The interior is currently being gutted and is getting an entirely new design. Hopefully this new layout will speed up the lines and clear out some of the congestion that was always a problem with the old bakery.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available on the Main Street Bakery featuring Starbucks products. In the meantime, what do you think of this new look for the Bakery?

Tom Corless’ 1/14-1/17/13 WDW Photo Report

I know it is a few days late, but I decided that I should share some newsworthy photos from my last trip to Walt Disney World with you, so let’s take a look at a couple of interesting things happening around the resort:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The Epcot Center charm bracelet is now available

The “Oz The Great and Powerful” playground fro the Flower and Garden Festival is being constructed near Imagination!

The FastPass+ queue seems to be finished at the Seas with Nemo and Friends

Yes, the cut a hole in the mural…

The Main Street Bakery is closed until May to convert to Starbucks service

Tomorrowland Terrace has breakfast for now

FastPass+ scanners uncovered at Tomorrowland Speedway

Also uncovered at the Barnstormer

The umbrellas have finally arrived for the tables in Storybook Circus

The construction walls at the Grand Floridian now sport concept art for the Villas at the Grand Floridian

The FastPass+ scanners at Toy Story Midway Mania are tinker-toys!

The exhibit area at the Magic of Disney Animation now has a poster up for Frozen

There is also a poster for Planes

A Walt Disney World charm bracelet has also been released

There’s a ticket from 1981 on it

They also sell a large charm with this artwork

There is a Dumbo New Fantasyland board game out now

New magnet clips, including the Orange Bird

The kids cups at restaurants now match the light-up character they come with

A temporary banner has gone up at the Animal Kingdom turnstiles to let resort guests know they can enter here with their RFID tickets

Fab 5 figurines have been released, they are only $12.95 each

A new surprise release pin set has been started celebrating extinct attractions. The first pin is the Mickey Mouse Revue!