WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Walt Disney World Resort yesterday, and to say there is a lot going on would be an understatement. Adam updates us on the Fantasyland Expansion, the Skyway building demolition, changes at the Haunted Mansion, and much more. So let’s get started:
MORE STAR TOURS! Not too much, we promise…
WDWNT Reporter Coral Rivera has a few newsworthy photos to share with us from her most recent trip to Walt Disney World on Saturday:
Still no visible work being done to the Barnstormer track in Storybook Circus
Read More about Coral Rivera’s 4/30/11 WDW Mini-Photo Report
WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson visited most of the Walt Disney World Resort on Monday and took a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us:
Let’s take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited The Magic Kingdom and Epcot yesterday and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:
I think you know where we’re going…
WDWNT Reporter Taylor Martina visited the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Downtown Disney on Friday and has a number of newsworthy photos from his trip to share with us:
it’s finally exciting to watch Fantasyland progress, as we can now see details beginning to emerge!
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
Read More about Robert Ashburn’s 4/13/11 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
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.
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
Read More about Robert Ashburn’s 4/6/11 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
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…
Read More about Robert Ashburn’s 3/30/11 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
