Disney and Florida Attractions News Blog

The model for the New Fantasyland expansion, which was last on display for media during the Summer to Remember press event and for Disney fans at the 2011 D23 Expo, is currently being placed into the One Man’s Dream exhibit at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Imagineers Chris Kelly and Tim Warzecha discuss the three chandeliers they recently installed. The largest measures more than 12-feet-tall by 11 ½-feet wide, features 84 candles and more than 100 large crystals.

By the way, the ballroom is just one of the wings the Be Our Guest Restaurant will feature. We can’t give all the info away yet, but another wing of the restaurant will be themed after the darkened West Wing of Beast’s Castle.

Opening in time for the holidays 2012.

Meg Crofton, President of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations for U.S. and France, announced general opening timeframes today, April 27, for several attractions in the Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland project.

-- The second half of the Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction will open in July 2012, along with the Casey Jr. Splash ‘n’ Soak Station.

-- Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Gaston’s Tavern, and Ariel’s Grotto will open in time for the holidays. Disney has even released a sneak peek at the interior of the new restaurant here:

-- The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will debut in 2014.

This minotaur, a mythological figure that is a combination man and bull, was recently installed at the Be Our Guest Restaurant, part of the Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom Park.

Two of these sculptures will welcome guests at the front entrance of the restaurant. Their design was inspired by animated footage from the “Beauty and The Beast” film, specifically the scene in which Belle enters the castle for the first time.

Reported by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Disney Parks Blog

For reference, the area on the left will be Enchanted Tales With Belle, Beast Castle (which will contain the Be Our Guest Restaurant), and Gaston’s Tavern. The buildings and rockwork on the right side will house the Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid attraction.

“Be our guest! Be our guest! Put our service to the test!” Or so the song goes. Who doesn’t love this playful scene from “Beauty and The Beast,” in which the enchanted staff welcomes Belle to the castle in grand style?

And speaking of “style,” Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) has been busy recreating the castle’s very detailed beauty in the form of the Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park.

In this video, provided by WDI, Senior Concept Designer Ted Robledo presents our very first sneak peek inside this highly anticipated restaurant. Imagineers recently put the finishing touches on one of its major elements: a massive mural that will serve as the restaurant’s backdrop. Here, Ted shows how WDI combined digital technology with traditional artistry to create a sweeping landscape that gives guests the feeling that they really are walking into a part of the film.

From the Disney Parks Blog

Some of the first areas of our New Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom Park will be opening by late March, featuring a re-imagined version of The Barnstormer and a relocated Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction. When they debut, cast members working in these areas will be wearing new costumes inspired by the “Big Top” setting of Storybook Circus.

The Creative Entertainment Costuming team worked with Walt Disney Imagineering to develop these designs to bring the environment of Storybook Circus to life. The bold colors evoke the spirit of the ringmaster or sideshow barker, while the tails and detailing provide a period look of the 1930s.

In this video, you’ll see how the partnership between Walt Disney Imagineering and Creative Entertainment has produced an entire collection of unique costumes to be worn by cast members in each area of New Fantasyland, creating a rich sense of place and community.

From the Disney Parks Blog

(excerpted from The Disney Parks Blog)

The Disney Parks Blog will partner with Walt Disney Imagineering to bring you a live chat with Walt Disney Imagineer Chris Beatty on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. EST.

Chris is one of many Imagineers who have been tasked with taking favorite Disney films, such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid,” and transforming them into immersive experiences that will thrill guests when New Fantasyland debuts late next year.

AllEars.Net had the opportunity to meet Chris and chat with him about the Fantasyland Expansion last month at the 40th Anniversary celebration in the Magic Kingdom. You can see the video HERE.

Walt Disney Imagineering just shared this time-lapse video that shows the amazing progress that’s been made so far on the expansion. More importantly, this clip gives you an idea at exactly how large the expansion will be. I know I’ve said it before, but it’s the biggest expansion in Magic Kingdom Park history!

Just for your reference, the left side of the construction represents the future area of Be Our Guest Restaurant, Maurice’s Cottage, and Gaston’s Tavern. The large building on the right side will house The Little Mermaid. (Storybook Circus, which is not included in the frame, will begin at the far right of this attraction).

The attractions and other guest offerings in New Fantasyland will open in phases beginning in late 2012.

Information and video from the Disney Parks Blog.

Here are more artist renderings of the new Fantasyland coming to the Magic Kingdom. (From the Disney Parks Blog)

The new Fantasyland will include an area dedicated to Beauty and the Beast, including Maurice's Cottage (left) and the Beast's Castle (middle).

Once inside Maurice's Cottage, guests can engage in a playful storytime with Belle and Lumiere.

Gaston's Pub will be another highlight of this new area.

The interior will be themed after the one featured in the film - a hunting lodge full of antlers.

The Journey of The Little Mermaid will feature a statue of Ariel at the entrance.

Inside the attraction, Ursula the sea witch bubbles up some trouble.

Princess Fantasy Faire will be the place to meet and greet your favorite Disney royalty.

The Seven Dwarf Mine Train will whisk guests along a twisting track through a diamond mine.

Storybook Circus will be the new home to Dumbo the Flying Elephant, which will double in size and feature an interactive queue.

from the Disney Parks Blog

With all the updates we’ve done on the “royal” side of the Fantasyland expansion – Beast’s Castle, Maurice’s Cottage and Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid – the plans for Storybook Circus seemed to be a bit more mysterious. Until now.

Storybook Circus will be based on our animated film, “Dumbo.” Here, Casey Jr., the famous locomotive from the movie, has rolled into town and brought the grand Storybook Circus with him. The area will be filled with colorful circus tents and nods to the famous film. For example, guests – especially little ones – are welcome to cool down with Casey Jr., who can be found near the train station, getting splashed by playful circus animals.

Just past Casey Jr., guests will encounter big-top circus tents that lead to a “double” version of Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Also, in the tradition of classic air shows, Barnstormer will take on a new look and theme, becoming a spiraling stunt plane built by The Great Goofini.

Information and Photos from the Disney Parks Blog by Jennifer Fickley-Baker

“Beauty and the Beast” was released in theaters in 1991, and to say that I was obsessed with this movie is putting it mildly. I was 12 years old when it debuted and I must’ve seen the film at least 10 times that summer. In my mind, nothing was better than spending an afternoon wrapped up in this tale of “far-off places, daring swordfights, magic spells, a prince in disguise!” I remember sitting in the theater, dreaming of visiting Belle’s quiet French village, exploring the halls of the Beast’s mysterious castle and whirling across the golden ballroom in a gown of the same color.

Soon fans of all ages will have the opportunity to do just that and take a trip through the world of “Beauty and the Beast” at the Enchanted Tales with Belle storybook adventure, which is currently under construction as part of the Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom Park.

Walt Disney Imagineering is currently building Maurice’s workshop, which will serve as scene one of the experience. The workshop, which is modeled after a French cottage, will be surrounded by a wishing well, footbridges and lush landscaping. Once inside, guests will step through a magic mirror and find themselves inside Beast’s expansive library, which he created as a gift for Belle in the film. This room will serve as the setting for a memorable character interaction experience with Belle – which will require a little help from Lumiere, the enchanted candlestick.

Another “Beauty and the Beast” experience planned for this area is the Be Our Guest Restaurant, which will allow up to 550 guests to dine in the ballroom, gallery and “West Wing” area of Beast’s castle.

These and other Fantasyland enhancements will open in phases starting in late 2012.