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

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

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:

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?

Jeff Lukas’ 5/5/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on December 31, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Jeff Lukas visited the Magic Kingdom on Saturday and has some great newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

Welcome

We’re still letting the memories begin…

Work continues on the Main Street Bakery facade

Tangled characters meeting in Town Square until a new home in Fantasyland is ready

Pillow pets everywhere!

Still funny

Something for the ladies

That’s… different…

The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor is looking great following the refurbishment

Everything looks brand new inside

The Tangled meet and greet is being turned into the home for Merida from Brave

More steel rises for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Coaster

What appears to be a large weathervane appeared on the roof of Maurice’s Cottage, Enchanted Tales with Belle

We just keep moving ours…

The second tent is Storybook Circus is slowly being covered

No more steel frames to see at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station is coming along nicely

Just a peek over the walls and we can see Casey in all his glory! This looks fantastic for being just a water play area.

RFID FASTPASS scanner outside the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

The crane, the crane!

Most of the framework for the Castle Walls is standing now

“I wonder what they are building…”

Stroller parking now happening outside of Village Haus

It’s been quite a shuffle the last few years

Some facade work happening on “it’s a small world”

Work continues on the former plot of the Fantasyland Skyway Station

Work is wrapping up on the Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment

Everything out in the queue looks good

Bigger changes are expected for the indoor queue, at the very leas most of it has been rebuilt

I know it’s blurry, but you can see that the railroad ties are back

The new track should be a nice adjustment

Oooooooo….

Booooooooo….

The Robo-News man in Tomorrowland returned to service recently

He looks brand new!

Some new shirts at Philharmagic, I LOVE both of them

This shirt has been around, but still cool!

Center Street looks great as does all of Main Street following the 3 years of facade work that has been going on

Disney Finally Announces Opening Date for Most of New Fantasyland

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Magic Kingdom guests blink back in amazement at the scene: not one, but two colorful Dumbos spinning through the sky above Storybook Circus.

To the delight of fans of the beloved Dumbo, the Flying Elephant attraction, a second Dumbo flies alongside. The playful pachyderm is joined in Storybook Circus by the Barnstormer Coaster re-themed to the Great Goofini, the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station water play area and the Fantasyland Train Station — all part of the multiyear, largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history.

There’s more to come as the expansion of the New Fantasyland – nearly doubling in size — continues at Walt Disney World Resort. In fact, so many more attractions are coming on line later this year that Dec. 6, 2012 has been set as the Grand Opening of Fantasyland. Previews begin Nov. 19.
Slated to make their debuts:

Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, a major attraction where guests will travel with Ariel and her friends through their exciting adventures above and below the waves – all against a musical backdrop of songs from the film. The new attraction combines the enduring appeal of a classic Disney “dark ride” with wonderful technological innovations to offer guests a personal journey into the scenes of the film. Adventurers will feel as if they are descending below the ocean’s surface. Once “under the sea,” guests will find themselves immersed in the story of “The Little Mermaid,” sharing Ariel’s adventure through a magical cast of characters and a captivating musical score that will entice everyone to sing along. The fun continues at “Ariel’s Grotto,” a meet-and-greet with the mermaid heroine herself.
The castle of the Beast stands majestically upon a hill across an old stone bridge from Ariel’s new home. The Be Our Guest Restaurant will feature a lavish dining experience in the elegant ballroom, gallery, and mysterious “West Wing” of the castle. With seating for 550, this magnificent facility will offer “great food fast” service by day and full table service dining in the evening. Nearby in Belle’s Village, guests will find the rousing Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts.
Just outside the village is Belle’s cottage and Enchanted Tales with Belle. The adventure begins in Maurice’s workshop, where a magical mirror is the doorway to a captivating new kind of storytelling experience: guests will be transported to the Beast’s library to meet Belle and Lumiere, and share in a lively, interactive re-telling of the “tale as old as time.”

“Fantasyland is a place where a very special kind of memory is made: where children just old enough to understand the moment come in contact with princesses and heroes and meet their most beloved friends,” said Meg Crofton, president, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, United States and France.

“We are excited about sharing our treasured stories in new ways and giving guests the opportunity to interact with their favorite characters like never before.”
Beyond 2012, there’s more in store for Fantasyland guests:

Located in the Castle Courtyard in the center of Fantasyland, Princess Fairytale Hall will be the new home for visiting royalty in the Magic Kingdom. The castle-like entrance will feature walls of stone and stained glass windows, opening up into a large gallery – an airy space with a high ceiling, where portraits of the Disney princesses adorn the walls. When it’s time for their audience with a princess, guests will proceed to elegantly finished rooms to meet Aurora, Cinderella and other Disney princesses, such as Tiana and Rapunzel (2013).
The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will take guests on a rollicking, musical ride into the mine “where a million diamonds shine.” The coaster will feature a first-of-its-kind ride system with a train of vehicles that swing back and forth, responding to every twist and turn of the track. The journey will be accompanied by music from the classic Disney film and animated figures of Snow White and the Dwarfs (2014).

Step Through the Magic Mirror at New Fantasyland’s “Enchanted Tales with Belle”

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

Walt Disney Imagineering has provided a video taking a look inside Enchanted Tales with Belle today. Albeit still not as cool as the look we gave you a few weeks ago, it is nice to hear from those behind the project about it and see more of the little details:

A Look Inside the Ballroom at New Fantasyland’s Be Our Guest Restaurant

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

Disney has released a stunning video of the interior of the Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland. The sound-bites are from Chris Kelly (Show Producer, Walt Disney Imagineering) and Tim Warzecha (Senior Project Manager, Walt Disney Imagineering):

This video is released today as Disney formally announced that Be Our Guest Restaurant, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Gaston’s Tavern, Ariel’s Grotto, and Under the sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid will not open until Holiday 2012. The Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station and the second Dumbo spinner will open July.

Disney Imagineers Provide Tour of New Fantasyland Construction

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

If you’ve been dying to see what’s happening over those construction walls in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom, you’re going to love this video:

Disney Shares A “Behind-The-Walls” Look at Maurice’s Cottage in New Fantasyland

WDWNT on December 3, 2012

Earlier today, the Disney Parks Blog shared some photos of Maurice’s cottage in New Fantasyland, home to Enchanted Tales with Belle:

As you can see, the exterior is complete

The great tradition of Disney weathervanes continues…

Evidence of Maurice’s inventing will be strewn about

Enchanted Tales with Belle will offer a unique experience for guests with Belle and Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast. Guests will participate in a reading fo the film’s story, so it won’t just be a meet and greet experience. Rumors are circulating that this attraction may soft-open as soon as September 1st, so stay tuned for more information!

Tom Corless’ 7/25-26/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on December 3, 2012

I don’t often get to contribute with a photo report, but I took a short two day trip to Walt Disney World stopping at Epcot and the Magic Kingdom so I took some photos. Let’s take a look at a rare Tom Corless photo report:

Work continues on the separate entrance to Turtle Talk

One of the exhibits in the Turtle Talk pre-show is being fixed up

Some work happening between the Refreshment Port and the Canada pavilion in World Showcase

On to the Magic Kingdom, work continues on the former Skyway site, expected to soon be home to restrooms, a new pathway, and the Tangled meet and greet

The castle walls are coming along nicely

This section looks nearly complete

A beautiful lighting fixture has been installed in the passageway

If you were worried about being able to see the corner of the show building for Enchanted Tales with Belle, don’t be, they have covered it with rock-work

More castle wall work

The work to remove a planter in back of the Carousel is complete

The walls have expanded and scaffolding has gone up on the former Snow White’s Scary Adventures, soon to be Princess Fairytale Hall in late-2013

Despite 101-degree temperatures, construction workers are out and about

Work continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

Be Our Guest Restaurant off in the distance

More Mine Train

Heading into Storybook Circus, you get plenty of notice that Dumbo FASTPASS is available near Philharmagic

With a little paint, the facade for Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid will be complete

The backstage entrance is pretty much done

Big Top Souvenirs

I decided to check out the Dumbo queue

Pictures don’t do it justice, it’s really nice inside

Pull the string and it sets off LED fireworks!

This lights up above the box

Your “ticket”

Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak was awesome!

I took these photos early on Wednesday, but on Tuesday afternoon there was at least 100 guests playing in here

Even the little merchandise cart is intricately themed

These work walls have been here since Storybook Circus opened

I don’t think it is anything of substance as it is simply on the back of the storage shed for the Barnstormer trains

Justin “The Mayor” Heyman’s 9/19 – 9/26 Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

While Tom and the rest of our cast are down at WDW Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Epcot, I have just returned from a trip and bring you a rare Mayor’s Photo Report! Beware this report contains photos from inside Enchanted Tales with Belle! I also have brought you back some video from inside the attraction which we will be posting soon so stay tuned!

Some of the rock work in the queue of the Magic Carpets is getting some work done

The Rainy Day Cavalcade was out due to some rain earlier in the day

Drizella and Anastasia aren’t thrilled about the rain either

A Trio of Cranes now looms over the Magic Kingdom

Be Warned Enchanted Tales Spoilers Lay Ahead!

As you enter the area behind the walls you see a expertly themed entrance to Maurice’s Cottage

Cottage Light posts

Looking out from just outside the front door you can see the gargoyle lamp posts that line the entrance to Be Our Guest and in the distance Prince Eric’s Castle

More of the Cottage

Be Our Guest!

Signage for the Restaurant

A close up of the entrance to be our guest

Maurice’s water wheel not turned on yet

Picture inside the cottage of Belle and her Mother inside the first room of the cottage

This room is loaded with tiny details

Thanks to my wife for playing photographer but she forgot to hide in this picture!

More details in the first room

A book Belle has left out

Clearly a favorite of Belle’s

Moving into the workshop we see different items including this curious gift from the Beast to Maurice

Other Items in the workshop

Soon we will have full video from this experience but here are a few shots from inside the attraction after the pre-show casting room with the wardrobe and I was lucky enough to get a unique view of the show!

Is that a guard or our own Mayor?

Belle and the FANTASTIC Lumiere who plays host to us in the Castle

Belle finding her “father” locked in the dungeon

Pictures don’t do this justice

Before we move over to Animal Kingdom (Yes there is news in that park too) Let me just say how great this small attraction is.If WDI continues to put this much work and effort into everything they do we are all in for a lot of high quality fantastic attractions! The story is there, the kids (and adults) love it and the special effects are amazing.

Near the Local Foods Cafe (Yak and Yeti counter service) Anandapur Travel and Tourism was presenting Bhangra Dance Party with a Live DJ

Beastly Bazaar is closed

Though the signs say that this is only temporary we know that this is making way for a new Meet and Greet location

The queue at It’s Tough to Be a Bug is completely covered by the new netting though I don’t think it takes away much

Area’s that haven’t been covered by the netting are walled off

Wilderness Explorers Meet and Greet near the old bug fastpass machines

Rockwork near the entrance to Dinoland is getting a refresh

Thanks for reading!

Over 400 Photos of New Fantasyland Soft Opening from Earlier Today!

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

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!

Tag: Enchanted Tales with Belle