Attended Fantasyland Expansion Soft Opening October 14

[lily23]

Hi guys! Long time, no see.

So we went to Orlando for the Food and Wine Festival (awesome as always) and then went to Magic Kingdom on Sunday. Low and behold, a "dress rehearsal" in progress since Friday for parts of the Fantasyland Expansion. My impressions:

- The general theming/decorating attractiveness of the area exceeded my expectations. Everything looked lovely, and seemed to organically blend with the rest of Fantasyland. This is done with a little entrance area that has the same make-up as Cinderella's castle, a good idea, really. It makes it look like the expansion has always been there and wasn't just tacked on.

- Gaston's Tavern was delightful, complete with "antlers in all of his decorating" and Gaston himself greeting guests outside. I really felt immersed in the film, nicely done! The cinnamon rolls are delish, by the way! I noticed they were selling some kind of concoction clearly intended to compete with Butterbeer. Didn't try it, didn't feel like spending the ten bucks (was broke from food and wine festival)

- We got to see the "Be Our Guest" dining room, and let me just say, Holy Cow, it was AMAZING! I really can't adequately describe it. It looked EXACTLY like the ballroom from the film, brought to life. It is STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL. I was ready to get married there, forget eating in my shorts and t-shirt with a bunch of other sweaty guests. This room is worthy of royalty!

- The Little Mermaid ride is, as far as I can remember, exactly like the one in California, once you board your "clam" (that is to say, it ain't that impressive). But the queue, castle and surrounding area are light-years better than DCA; much as the surrounding area and queue of Tower of Terror is better in Orlando than DCA. Very pretty, very immersive, very true to the film. Again, nicely done! We got to do the ride twice; the first without incident. The second time, it broke down and we had to be escorted out. Hey, that's why they have soft openings, right?

- The Beasts Castle is (as, I believe, King Eric said quite some time ago) completely ridiculous looking. If they intended it to look large and far away, they failed here terribly. It looks like a child's toy perched on top of a bunch of rock. Unless they are somehow not done, and will be adding more elements to force the perspective more? I hope so, it really looks plain silly right now.

- We did not experience the princess meet-n-greet; there was quite a wait, and no one in my party was interested.

- The Dwarf Coaster doesn't look half way done, so I guess a long wait for that one. Too bad, because it will be quite some time before one can see the whole effect of the expansion, because the coaster is "front and center" and kind of blocks everything else.

Anyway, so glad we picked this weekend to go to Food and Wine Festival, and I can't wait for it ALL to be finished! I really do think it's going to be amazing!

[goofy donald]

from pictures I've seen and from my visit near the beginning of the year i think it does a far better job at the forced perspective when your walking towards the land, once you get there however and your right near it as you said its a different story.

[Kidgenie]

RE: Beasts Castle, from the main path of the Enchanted Forest, if your even with Belles Cottage or back more, Beast's Castle looks good. Same for past the popcorn cart on the way to Voyage of the Little Mermaid. If your past that or back more, it looks good. It is vulnerable to bad show from between Belle's Cottage and the Popcorn Cart.

I think it largely depends on angle and light as well.

Here I am fairly close but I still think it looks good. This is actually the closet of the three shots I am about to share, but with the tree and lamp post in the foreground, I think it helps to create the force perspective they were going for.



And in this next shot, I am just past Belle Cottage, but towards the Castle, not away from it. This one is ok but doesn't look as good to me. Even though this shot is a bit more farther back, there is nothing in the immediate foreground to force the castle to look far way. Still, through a camera's lens, it looks better here then it does with human eyes.




But from a distance, I think it looks great, human eyes or camera lenses..... Here you have to look over the Construction Wall, as this view is from Storybook Circus, but imagine once that wall is gone what a view this will be.

[Micoofy Duck]

to each their own. You and others want to look at it like a "toy" prop, me and many others will see it for what it is, a forced perspective jewel in the backdrop of the new fantasyland.

[lily23]

to each their own. You and others want to look at it like a "toy" prop, me and many others will see it for what it is, a forced perspective jewel in the backdrop of the new fantasyland.

uh.... I don't "want" to look at it like anything. I just saw what I saw. It doesn't look right.

[jcruise86]

I just saw Cory's photos this week
Link: http://micechat.com/14704-be-our-guest-magic-kingdom/
I know there is no substitute to seeing it in person, but it sure looks impressive. It’s not Tokyo Disney Sea or phase one of Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but the new Fantasyland area reminds me of them and of DCA’s Carsland because the area appears from photos to so well themed that it looks like it is itself an attraction–a place where I just want to hang out and take it in at different times of the day. Congrats to Disney’s Imagineers!

[Wild Ol' Dan]

Howdy Pards,

I was there on Saturday the thirteenth. New Fantasyland is, indeed, stunningly beautiful...detailed...and absolutely amazing!

LeFou's brew was delicious and is going to be incredibly popular. The "Be our Guest" ballroom, entryway, in fact everything about it, is beyond belief in it's detail...it will be a delightful enchanted Disney dining experience.

The Little Mermaid area is beautiful and truly magical...

In fact, all of New Fantasyland lends a whole new level of wonder and beauty and magic and delight to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

But, don't come and visit. Stay away. You wont like it. The lines will be too long, there will be too many strollers parked in the middle of the pathways. LeFou's brew gets sticky on your fingers. Everything costs too much. You wont like it...the lines will be too long. Have you ever been trapped inside a very small area with a kid crying at the top of his lungs? The place will be noisy...it will be too hot or too cold...the wind will be blowing...it will rain...you'll get sunburn... blisters on your toes.

I guess enchantment is largely dependent on your own attitude. Disney has put it's heart and soul into this place...and, frankly, I plan to return as often as I can. But, all you other folks...well...you wont like it. Too much beauty and wonder and delight is simply not good for you anyways...and who, on earth, would possibly want to visit an enchanted, peaceful, magical place like this in today's day and age? Let's keep these enchanted forest pathways absolutely clear and free of crowds, and strollers, and overheated, hyperactive, misbehaving, noisy, crying children...and yelling, overheated, exhausted parents with sore feet.

Only those of us who truly believe should visit here...I'm comin' Tink! The rest of you, pay no attention to that second star to the right... you wouldn't be interested anyway...

Adios for now. Talk to ya on down the trail.

Wild Ol' Dan

[sbk1234]

Dan, you always make me smile.

[MANEATINGWREATH]

This is definitely the right direction for the Magic Kingdom. If the money was provided, every last land in the park (including the rest of Fantasyland) would be absolutely incredible. Can you imagine a new Tomorrowland? What about a revisited Frontierland? The possibilities are truly endless with this sudden surge in creativity. Excellent work all around.

[Barbaraann]

Glad that Dan is back spreading his own joy to us at MiceChat. I have been missing him of late. I should have known he was off doing fun things like visiting the theme parks.

I am truly looking forward to the new Fantasyland. Fantasyland has always been my favorite land in the Magic Kingdom. I must wait til April to see it all, well almost all. I understand there's gonna be a brand new coaster themed around the 7 dwarves. I guess that means I'll make a return trip soon after it makes it's debut.

[Wild Ol' Dan]

Howdy Pards,

Well as I said I just got back from visiting Fantasyland and for those who have not seen the New Fantasyland...you wont like it...it's just too big now...too many details...too much beauty...and too many water falls...way too much enchantment...and wonder and magic...

You know one of my favorite parts of the Old Fantasyland was and is a 3D adventure called Mickey's Philharmagic. Can you imagine having Tinkerbell fly up right in front of your face and practically touch your nose? Can you imagine Flounder from the Little Mermaid swimming right up to you? I have to admit that I am always holding out my hand to help Donald Duck when he gets in a mess of trouble. It's a wonderful adventure filled with the wonderful magic and music of Disney that I truly enjoy...so much so in fact that I return two and three times a day on my Magic Kingdom Journeys. Who hasn't wanted to fly with Peter Pan high over London? Who hasn't wanted to fly on a magic carpet with Aladdin and Jasmine? Who hasn't wanted to set down at the table full of desserts and treats of all kinds as Lumiere sings "Be our Guest?" I almost had that huge, delicious pastry...but my hand went right through it! And when Ariel throws some of those jewels around...well...I almost had one of those too...a big, bright, expensive looking one...it was right in front of me...and when Donald got splashed by those marching broomsticks, I got wet! I was that close!

If you let your heart be light, you can find some wonderful stuff around Fantasyland... now more than ever. I hear tell that there is a magic mirror in Maurice's Workshop...you know, Belle's father...anyways there's a magic mirror out there in that workshop now that starts to glow, and grow, and magically opens up into a doorway directly into the Beast's Castle...a doorway you actually walk through! Then you meet up with that Enchanted Wardrobe...and even Lumiere himself as a candlestick...and then the very beautiful Belle in her castle library.

Now, of course, all that couldn't possibly be possible...for that to happen the place would truly have to be enchanted. So...unless you are prepared to experience something your eyes have never seen in person...unless you are prepared to open up your heart to the fantastic beauty and wonder and magic of the place, you should stay away from New Fantasyland. Don't walk out into that enchanted forest...who knows what you might find?

And as for Mermaids and talking seagulls and housekeeping crabs sorting out Ariel's human stuff...well, that's just a rumor...couldn't possibly be...

And Dumbo's Circus? Come on! I be done seen about everything when I see an elephant fly! There's more magic than ever now in the Magic Kingdom...more beauty...more enchantment...more heart. You wont like it...nobody will...too much wonder, and magic, and beauty...it just can't possibly be good for you...

Adios for now. Talk to ya on down the trail.

Wild Ol' Dan

[Witches of Morva]

ORDDU: Yes, the new Fantasyland is marvelous, indeed! My sisters keep escaping from Morva as often as we can just to be inspired by it. We were there just today, as a matter of fact--

ORWEN: --But don't tell the Horned King! If he knew where we'd been he'd end up torturing us twice as much as he usually does!

ORGOCH: I still say nothin' beats witches brew, though! Ya can just keep all that Pee-U's brew fer yerselves! I only like what comes outta my own dang cauldron!