Our own Justin Heyman was lucky enough to take part in a play-test of the new Enchanted Tales with Belle attraction in New Fantasyland a few weeks ago. Lucky for us, he has a video of the entire experience to share with us:
It is important to note that what you see in the video is not the finished product and the attraction may change a lot before it officially opens on December 6th.
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Epcot and the Magic Kingdom on Sunday and has a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
Great chocolate art at the Festival Center at Epcot
It’s dark, but nice to see them use more of the pavilion space
Work continues on Test Track as we race towards December 6th
The IBM Runtime game is now closed inside Innoventions, it opened back in 2008
Rumor is that IBM Smarter Planet is getting some updates
I hope so because it wasn’t really working…
The seating area that was formerly Rockin’ Robots is now walled off as well
Some scaffolding inside
Still nothing going on at the former Segway Central
Habit Heroes is still closed…
The Epcot 30th display remains at MouseGear
What remains of the merchandise is on display
A lot of generic Epcot merchandise has filled in some space
Moving to the Magic Kingdom, the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction is picking up
An Orioles hat… how cute… 😉
Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
The now completed Storybook Circus
I love these seats…
That is some fancy lighting for an outside tent…
Let’s go to Pete’s Silly Sideshow!
The calliope is from Disneyland PAris’ Main Street U.S.A.
Reference to a classic Disney animated film by the same name
Into Pete’s mouth!
Meeting Minnie and Daisy
The theming is insane… the walls are labeled for easy construction, insinuating that the Circus moves from town to town
Goofy and Donald
A look up at the ceiling
It’s a tent
PANORAMA!
ANOTHER PANORAMA! AMAZING!
Minnie trains trick Poodles…
It looks much better when Adam doesn’t use the world’s brightest flash…
Awwww…
Daisy
Daisy will see you now!
Looks very “Museum of the Weird” like the Madame Leota cart
Exit
Into Big Top Souvenirs
Very fitting that they sell Popcorns Vinylmation here
Everyone loves this carpet!
The “Under the Big Top” series is also available
My favorite display
A close second is the Penguins cage holding the cold drinks
The strange tiny MousekeEars are also available here
A look at the new food carts in the area
I’m in love with a food cart…
Usual cart food though
So much time and energy spent on such little details
I love the striped curtain for when they are closed
Let’s go back in
Those random doors look themed…
THEY ARE!
GOOFY!
He crashed his motorcycle
Donald is a snake charmer
ANOTHER PANORAMA! ASTOUNDING!
Could have been a sign, but it is a material banner
I wonder if someone could go in that booth…
I hate to say this so soon, but I love Storybook Circus. It is simply 2 small rides, meet and greets, and shopping, but it is so well done. Kudos to Disney on delivering with a land that was rushed in as a replacement in the expansion.
If Storybook Circus is that cool, I can’t wait to see this…
Another new cart near the entrance
Not listed, but they have roasted almonds too
Another look at Mine Train
A look at what will be Princess Fairytale Hall
The former Skyway site which will now be restrooms and maybe something more…
They are still working on Village Haus
Another piece of track should be lowered into place shortly
FastPass+ equipment was simply covered after the tests ended, so it might just be permanent now
Cool popcorn bucket, but it must be pretty easy to spill…
Going back to Epcot, we take a look at Test Track through a rainy monorail window
Well, that was neat… I guess…
Adam got to stuff his face at the Disney Dessert Discovery event as part of the Food and Wine Festival
So much to eat and drink
Live entertainment
FLAMING DOUGHNUTS!
IN 3D!
WOOOOOOOAH!
Fruit? We didn’t come to a dessert event for fruit!
We came for flaming doughnuts!
Gross…
Thank you for the flaming doughnuts! Oh, and all these photos Adam…
WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom and Epcot on Tuesday and he has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:
A strange large canopy has appeared near the Magic Kingdom turnstiles… Not sure if it is RFID related or for something else…
Magic Carpets of Aladdin is open while some exterior work is being done
The Yankee Trader is still behind tarps
A view of the new walkway and restroom area from the front of the Haunted Mansion
A look at the former Skyway site
Princess Fairytale Hall construction
The Crow’s Nest is still behind walls
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom shirts are now available and they offer aid in the playing of the game!
OK… if you are buying more than that for Ebay, you are pretty dumb as they are not a limited edition item…
Frankenweenie flopped at the box office, but the shops at the parks are full of movie merchandise
It’s like they knew what the box office would be like…
I would expect to see all this stuff at the outlets and Cast Connection very soon…
Work continues on the Grand Floridian Disney Vacation Club wing
It is now set for a late-2013 opening
The parking lot is almost done
Moving over to Epcot, work is being done on Innoventions Plaza and the Electric Umbrella exterior
Test Track is now set to open December 6th
I expect these signs to vanish soon…
Disney released a ton of images from inside Gaston’s Tavern and around Belle’s Village in New Fantasyland today:
The statue of Gaston out in front
Poor Lefou
The Gaston’s tavern sign
Animals Gaston has hunted adorn the walls
His weapon
The antler chandelier
Gaston’s portrait
They have been playing darts, and Gaston is winning
So not only are there cinnamon buns and Lefou’s Brew, but there is a pork shank!
So, the menu is slightly more expansive then we thought, including chocolate croissants and even hummus
Even the water fountain is insanely themed…
Looks great!
This cart was out in Fantasyland for a while, but now that it is in its permanent home, I hope we are getting flavored popcorn at the Magic Kingdom!
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!
We have over 400 photos coming up shortly, but first enjoy this video of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid from the soft opening of New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom earlier today:
We know New Fantasyland is stunning during the day, but just wait until you see the incredible lighting and ambiance at night. We take a video tour of New Fantasyland at night, including a look inside the stunning ballroom at the Be Our Guest Restaurant, in our latest video:
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom again on Monday and has some photos of New Fantasyland and other assorted newsworthy items to share:
The castle walls have been completely revealed
No bushes now
Scuttle is a living character in the Under the Sea queue, so he can interact with guests
He also talks to the crabs
Sleepy…
We think these crabs are going to become beloved
We have to stop here…
PORK SHANK!
and some LeFou’s Brew
Souvenir mug
Still awesome
Yep…
There are books titled for the land in the Magic Kingdom next to the Donald service statue
Some Haunted Mansion wallpaper in the background as well
I don’t think Phil Holmes asked for the tribute, I’m pretty sure it was just a gesture from the Imagineers
This is the souvenir goblet that will also be available at Be Our Guest Restaurant
A lot of decorations in this store
Some work took place of the roof of the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train
Gaston greeting guests in the town
Some filming going on
No more walls over here
Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall
A look at progress on the old Skyway site
Ummm…
Castle Dreamlights installed
Orange Bird ear hats available in Adventureland
Work continues outside of Magic Carpets of Aladdin
It’s worth mentioning that this attraction goes down for refurbishment in a few days, at which point we expect FastPass Plus to be installed
Some work has been done to the Pirates of the Caribbean queue over the last few months
Some staircases were refurbished
New lighting all around
The new merge point in place
Some work still being done
It is well-themed. It looks like toe fort was damaged in battle
The Crow’s Nest is still behind walls
Shrunken Ned’s Junior Jungle Boats is gone
Now just stroller parking
Some work still being done
It is believed this all ties into a Jungle Cruise refurbishment happening in 2013
So, we’ve been staring at this thing a lot…
So, here’s what reader Chris Currie believes it is…
 My guess is it is more for people counting than security. The white rectangular box on the left side is whats called a precision stereo camera and is dedicated to people counting. The second device in from the left is an Axis Dome camera, third device in is an outdoor laser measurement device from SICK AG, another Axis Dome camera and then another box style camera.
The two dome cameras are likely used for verifying the data from the precision stereo camera and the laser management device. The box style camera could possibly be used to test people counting analytic’s in a Video Management System.
That sounds about right
But no, it has nothing to do with them using RFID for park entry, this is simply an exit test
We’re exiting… goodbye!
WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen did some park hopping this weekend, so let’s take a look at some newsworthy photos from the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction
Princess Fairytale Hall
Work continues on the upper-level of Village Haus
Work continues on the new restrooms coming to the former Skyway site
Modifications are taking place at “it’s a small world” related to new guest flow for when stroller parking once again moves next door at the old Skyway site
More metal guardrails are being installed on the Tomorrowland bridges
Magic Carpets of Aladdin is closed for refurbishment
Work continues on the Grand Floridian DVC wing
EVEN THE WALLS HAVE WALLS!
Moving to Epcot, work continues on in Innoventions central
Still nothing up on the canopy at Test Track
Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the facade of Legend of Jack Sparrow is looking much better than when we first checked in
A large mural of the circular map from “At World’s End” covers most of the soundstage
Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope will start greeting guests on October 28th
AWESOME
Guests can color while the meet and greet is being installed
Plenty of Wreck-It Ralph merchandise available at Mickey’s of Hollywood
children’s shirt
Most of this stuff can be picked up at your local Disney Store
Scented plush
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom and the surrounding resorts on Monday and has a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
Work continues on RFID turnstiles at the Magic Kingdom
Walls up on the other side too
Holy…
That’s more like it…
That isn’t Osh Popham…
These “black and white” plush have been out for a few months now
We look at Wreck-It Ralph stuff for the 40th time
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom shirts are selling well
Still gross…
Wow…
Magic Carpets of Aladdin closed for refurbishment
A lot of guests want to see mermaids!
Walls still up at the Crow’s Nest
Golden Oak Outpost closed
I’d rather not…
This would be why
Holy lines Batman
You know what doesn’t have lines?
The new, shorter Country Bear Jamboree!
It will never break 12 again…
Lobby wasn’t touched
The theater is another story
New lighting is quite noticeable
These guys look brand new
All of the bears got new fur and clothing
They look incredible
The bad part of all this is the cutting of much of the show
The Five Bear Rugs no longer sing “Devilish Mary”
“Fractured Folk Song” was also cut, then the song order was changed as well
Lines from some songs were even cut
HE LOOKS AWESOME!
A lot of dialogue was cut as well…
It’s great that the attraction was completely restored, but it’s a shame we had to lose so much of it
The Gaston’s Tavern mugs are being repurposed at Sleepy Hollow
I think it’s a neat idea
Work continues on the new restrooms on the former Skyway site
There’s a chimney
The construction walls now extend to the “it’s a small world” exit tarps
Tarps still up at Village Haus
Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction
Cast Member previews are currently taking place
Guests are confused! EVERYONE SAID IT WAS OPEN!
I hope something will be done with pavement land at some point
Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall
The exit test is still happening
Work continues on the Grand Floridian DVC addition
A beautiful sight at your wedding!
The parking lot is just about finished
Let’s head over to the Polynesian
RFID is in full use over here
Let’s go shopping
A lot of the 40th anniversary merchandise has been rebranded
Toothpick holders!
Let’s go eat
BACON CUPCAKES!
IT’S BACON! Well, not completely…
Adam had to get one…
A nice secluded spot to enjoy a Dole float
A look across the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian DVC
We have our first wall
I think it will blend nicely
