Hello, and welcome to [B]Dateline Disney World![/B] This week, we have continued coverage of [B]New Fantasyland[/B] along with news from both the [B]Magic Kingdom[/B] and [B]Epcot.[/B] Lots to talk about, so let’s get started!

[img]http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.com/Other/DDW/i-tgSgFTp/0/O/magickingdom-5.png[/img]

Welcome to the Magic Kingdom!!

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1161.jpg[/img]

Here are the wait times at the Magic Kingdom from around 1PM on the day I visited. Manageable, but summertime is still lingering.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1092.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1093.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1096.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1097.jpg[/img]

[center][size=5][b]Construction Kingdom[/b][/size]
[img]http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.com/Other/DDW/i-M7dg4fZ/0/O/inside-magickingdom-02.png[/img][/center]

Starting over at the left side of Fantasyland, the Yankee Trader gift shop received a picture scrim, and as with all of these, it looks very nice.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1098.jpg[/img]

I very much appreciate that Disney does this as opposed to just putting up a bland color.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1099.jpg[/img]

Work continued on the Tangled/new restroom area, with more wire coming in for the rock work.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1100.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1101.jpg[/img]

Here are some views of what is happening on the other side of the wall from the second floor of Columbia Harbor House.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1105.jpg[/img]

You can see above that a dome has topped off the steel of one of the buildings.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1106.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1107.jpg[/img]

Lots going on behind that wall, much more than it appears when on ground level.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1108.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1109.jpg[/img]

Here’s the dome from over by it’s a small world.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1110.jpg[/img]

Workers tending to the beginning of the rocks.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1111.jpg[/img]

And lastly, here is a shot from the other side of the Carrousel that shows how these new buildings will fit into Fantasyland.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1150.jpg[/img]

I’m taking a wait and see approach to how I like these additions, but the new restroom is definitely needed in that area, so I look forward to it being completed.

Over at the Castle Wall, we some even more progress as Disney pushes toward its November 19th previews.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1113.jpg[/img]

This looks like the final layer of detail.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1115.jpg[/img]

Close up of said detail.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1116.jpg[/img]

The tarps have also come down on every spire, and its definitely starting to look complete.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1117.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1118.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1124.jpg[/img]

Arches looking nice!

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1151.jpg[/img]

Workers were doing detail work in the middle of the day.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1152.jpg[/img]

From down by Winnie the Pooh, you can get a real feel for the size of this wall. It is pretty large.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1148.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1149.jpg[/img]

Spire with Beast’s Castle in the background.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1154.jpg[/img]

I also walked over by where Snow White used to be to give another perspective on how this new entryway to New Fantasyland will look.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1156.jpg[/img]

Heading over to the Beauty and the Beast area, there was some work going on. They’ve added some artificial grass to some of the show buildings.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1114.jpg[/img]

Gaston’s and Bonjour! Village Gifts really look no different from this side of the walls, except the blue roofing in the background here is a little odd in my opinion. Maybe going with more “autumn” style colors like they already have would work better.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1121.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1122.jpg[/img]

Here’s Maurice’s.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1126.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1125.jpg[/img]

Over at the Beast’s Castle, there was some work being done. It really puts in perspective how small this castle is! Forced perspective is a really neat thing that Disney puts to use.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1123.jpg[/img]

We also saw some detail work here on these things that lead into the Be Our Guest restaurant.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1127.jpg[/img]

Work continued on the large hill for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train as well as some work on ground level.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1119.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1128.jpg[/img]

More and more steel gets put up every week.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1129.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1137.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1138.jpg[/img]

At the Little Mermaid, the theme this week is grass. Lots of it going on the show building.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1120.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1158.jpg[/img]

I think it looks great, and it explains the parts of the building that have been white for so long. They have these spikes that are now sticking out of the white parts, and the fake grass is being attached to them.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1134.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1130.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1131.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1132.jpg[/img]

I think it adds a nice layer to the show building.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1135.jpg[/img]

Over in Storybook Circus, work progressed on the entrance to Big Top Gifts.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1136.jpg[/img]

And Pete’s Silly Sideshow.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1146.jpg[/img]

The unannounced yellow tent also saw more progress.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1142.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1145.jpg[/img]

Anyone know if these trees are new? I can’t remember them blocking the tents last week.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1143.jpg[/img]

Also at the Circus, Casey Jr. went 101 the other day for some reason or another, which led for a nice opportunity to get photos of it with no people around!

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1139.jpg[/img]

[center][size=5][b]This and That[/b][/size]
[img]http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.com/Other/DDW/i-M7dg4fZ/0/O/inside-magickingdom-02.png[/img][/center]

The Liberty Belle was back in action this week after being closed all of last week.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1104.jpg[/img]

There is a new refurbishment project happening at the smoking section in the old Swan Boat landing.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1160.jpg[/img]

And over on Main Street, the Fire Chief drove down Main Street with two of his lady friends and took in a viewing of the show down at Cinderella Castle.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1089.jpg[/img]

It’s stuff like this that really adds charm to the park, and I commend Disney for seeing more and more of it lately.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-IMG_1090.jpg[/img]

[img]http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.com/Other/DDW/i-vbVkdkc/0/O/epcot-1.png[/img]

Welcome to Epcot!!

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-P8140006-Edit.j.jpg[/img]

[center][size=5][b]This and That[/b][/size]
[img]http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.com/Other/DDW/i-SZZMqhJ/0/O/inside-epcot-02.png[/img][/center]

Over at the Living Seas (yes, I still call it that!), a new overhang was built in front of the attraction.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-P8140001.jpg[/img]

It more than likely has something to do with NextGen/Fastpass+ rolling in soon.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-P8140002.jpg[/img]

From the side, it looks very cool. But, when you look at it dead on, it completely blocks the building and is kind of an eyesore.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-P8140003.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-P8140004.jpg[/img]

So, I have mixed thoughts on it. It is sleek and will serve a purpose, but the way it blocks the really neat stylings of the Living Seas is kind of a let down.

Over in France, Disney announced some huge changes to the pavilion’s food offerings. Let’s start with the good. The current bakery, which is very small and congested is being moved into a new building extending out of the back of the gift shop. Walls have gone up here already.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-P8140039.jpg[/img]

The new bakery will feature a bread oven as part of the show, and will add lots of room and seating, which is sorely needed.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-P8140040.jpg[/img]

The old bakery will turn into a Glacier Ice Cream Parlor, which will be nice. It seems that aside from the typical chocolate and vanilla, glacier ice cream also includes more fruit based flavors as well, which should be unique and a nice offering. Now onto the bad.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld815-P8140037.jpg[/img]

Bistro de Paris is going under the knife. I have never eaten there before, but from speaking to some people who have, they say that it is a very elegant experience, and a top notch Walt Disney World eatery. The wait staff wore tuxedos, the area was dimly lit, and had a very classy feel to it. This week, Disney announced that they are going to “brighten” the place up a bit to make it less “stuffy” and more “family friendly”. When I see those words, I get a little nervous. It feels like they will be dumbing down the restaurant a bit. No more tuxedos for the waiters, probably brighter colors, etc. With there being so many restaurants in Epcot that have a more family friendly feel (like Le Chefs de France which is IMMEDIATELY downstairs from Bistro), it seems silly for them to take one of the hidden gems that was very classy and changing it. It makes me quite sad that I never got to eat in the original version of the restaurant, as it likely will not be anywhere near the same when it reopens later this year.

Well, that wraps things up for this week’s Dateline. What are your thoughts on the drastic changes in the France pavilion? Do you like all the artificial grass going up on the show buildings in the New Fantasyland? Let us know in the comments!!

If you’d like to support Dateline Disney World and you shop regularly at Amazon.comdisney world, Disney World Fantasyland Construction and Changes to Epcot’s France, please CLICK HEREdisney world, Disney World Fantasyland Construction and Changes to Epcot’s France before you do. It won’t cost you any extra, and it’ll help out the column!!

If you enjoyed the column, especially the photos, and you want to check out more photos and tutorials on Disney photography, please check out my photo site, [URL=”http://www.DisneyPhotographyBlog.com”]Disney Photography Blog[/URL]. And if you like listening more than reading, you can hear us talk about Disney and photography on my podcast, [URL=”http://www.ISO5571.com”]ISO5571[/URL]

Sharing is caring!

Cory Disbrow
Cory likes Walt Disney World so much, he recently packed his bags and moved to Orlando. Cory is a photographer and writes MiceChat's Dateline Disney World columns every Friday.