WDWNT Reporter Robert Ashburn visited the Magic Kingdom on Wednesday and took a number of newsworthy photos to share with us. There is a ton of change happening at Disney’s flagship park as of late, so let’s take a look:
Welcome
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From the Disney Parks Blog:
Today, we’re happy to present a backstage look at the creation of Beast castle at Magic Kingdom Park, a huge milestone in the Fantasyland expansion.
In response to Monday’s post, many of you asked how tall the new castle is, or if it would even distract from the view of Cinderella Castle (this shot was taken from the queue at Dumbo the Flying Elephant). Well, the next few photos should put your mind at ease. As you can see, Beast’s castle actually uses forced perspective architecture to make the structure look more grandiose in size than it appears in reality.
Forced perspective works as sort of an optical illusion, tricking the eye into believing a structure is much larger or taller than it really is. This is done by manipulating the size and scale of a building, based on the perspective it will be viewed from.
The company’s use of forced perspective started with Walt Disney during the construction of Disneyland park in California. At that time, Walt paid special attention to the scale of each building, as well as the specific shrubs and trees that flanked them in order to create the best sense of height and drama.
As you can see in this comparison between the artist rendering and the current construction, the castle sits high atop what will be the Be Our Guest Restaurant, which is really the gateway to the castle’s interior. Here, the restaurant will offer quick-service lunches and table-service dinners inside the Beast’s elegant ballroom, gallery and eerie “west-wing.” The construction to the far left will become Maurice’s Cottage.
Word on the street is that WDI is preparing a video tour of the area for our Disney Parks Blog readers. More to come on this next week.
WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom on Sunday and has a few newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:
Almost all of the scaffolding is down from the Tower of Terror
The Disney Parks Blog had two interesting articles featured today connecting to “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast” realms of the Fantasyland expansion. First, a video with a behind the scenes look at the creation of the musical score for “Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid”:
Keep in mind that this video was produced to promote the upcoming California version of the ride, but it will be almost identical to the attraction opening in Florida in 2012. The second piece features the recently installed castle atop the “Be Our Guest Restaurant”:
Hi everyone. Today, we have a thrilling update for those of you who are excited to see the expansion of Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park come to life.
Walt Disney Imagineers are currently piecing together the Beast’s castle, which will sit high atop what will become the Be Our Guest Restaurant. The “Beauty and the Beast”-inspired restaurant, which is set to open in late 2012, will offer a lavish dining experience in the castle’s elegant ballroom, gallery and mysterious “west-wing.” The restaurant and castle will eventually be flanked by Gaston’s Tavern, Bonjour! Village Gifts, and the cottage of Maurice (Belle’s father).
Be sure to check the Disney Parks Blog later this week for some exclusive photos of WDI’s progress.
The castle construction is a major milestone in the expansion, which will nearly double the size of Fantasyland and include several new attractions, such as Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid, The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and enhanced versions of the existing attractions, Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Barnstormer.
The expanded Fantasyland is scheduled to open in phases, beginning in late 2012.
WDWNT Reporter Robert Ashburn visited the MAgic Kingdom on Wednesday and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
Winnie-the-Pooh movie poster at the TTC
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After months of speculation as to what was changing in the famous Hitchhiking Ghost scene at the Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion, we don’t have to wonder any longer. Phineas, Ezra, and Gus are now executing some ghostly gags through the use of new infrared technology that was installed while the temporary curtains and projection ghosts (or Curtain Ghosts as we have been jokingly calling them) were displayed. Guests are now seeing their heads “vanish” before their very eyes and ghosts not only sitting in the vehicle with them, but also on top of their Doombuggy. The technology also recognizes if there is one, two, or even no one in the Doombuggy and gives different effects accordingly as you’ll see in the provided video. This is just the first version of this scene to be tested while Imagineering works out the kinks with the system. Once this test and adjust period is through, expect to see the effect improved through some simple software updates and then rolled out to the Haunted Mansion attractions around the world. Without any further ado, here’s a quick look at the new scene:
Here are a few character updates for Walt Disney World in the next few weeks:
-From the Disney Parks Blog:
Heads up pirate fans – we’re happy to break the news that a new scalawag will land at Magic Kingdom Park in time for the May 20 opening of “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.”
The new pirate will be Angelica, who is portrayed by actress Penelope Cruz in the film. Angelica is the daughter of the legendary pirate captain, Blackbeard, and she’ll appear in Adventureland beginning April 15.
According to our partners in Entertainment, Angelica is “a world-famous pirate with a reputation for skill and cunning – rivaled only by that of Captain Jack. Fresh from her pursuit of the Fountain of Youth, Angelica, along with several loyal crewmen, will establish her headquarters adjacent to the Pirate’s League in search of willing pirates for future adventures.”
-In other news: Lightning McQueen will be replacing Herbie The Love Bug in “Lights, Motors Action! Extreme Stunt Show” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting in June to promote Cars 2. A remodeled meet and greet with Lightning and Mater should also debut around that time in the space next to the Premiere Theater where the current “Casa Della Tires” meet and greet resides.
-To promote “Winnie-the-Pooh”, Pooh is replacing Lotso inside the Magic of Disney Animation. The Lotso meet and greet will close towards the end of April.
-The Phineas and Ferb “play and greet” experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios previously announced will be debuting on May 16th. Guests will take part in the filming of a movie with the characters when the experience begins next month.
Again, while we have to wait another year for Under The Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid to open at the Magic Kingdom, the California Adventure attraction is opening June 3rd and the Disney Parks Blog is offering another look at some cutting-edge audio-animatronic technology:
We are just a couple of months away from the official opening of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure park. Walt Disney Imagineers are working hard to make sure you feel transported into Ariel’s world through every detail – the water, the fish, the hair….yes, the hair! Ariel’s hair posed a particular challenge for Imagineers, one they hadn’t encountered before – how do you make hair that’s technically out of the water look like it’s floating underwater? Take a look at their progress.
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth spent the day in the Walt Disney World theme parks yesterday and has plenty of newsworthy photos to share with us (mostly of Town Square Theater with a hint of Tiki Room):
Sign pointing guests inside
WDWNT Reporter Robert Ashburn visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday to attend the soft-opening of Town Square Theater, but believe it or not, there is other stuff going on at the park! Who would have though? Anyway, here are some other newsworthy photos from the Magic Kingdom
The covers for “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” projectors still look out of place…
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