New Fantasyland

For the past few years, a huge part of Fantasyland had been blocked off by walls.  These walls said things like, "Pardon our dust, preparing for New Fantasyland" or something along those lines.  There were little peep-holes in the walls so you could peek through to check on the progress of the area.  One day, Beast's Castle appeared on a mountain visible from behind the wall.  We waited with bated breath for the day when all would be revealed.

That day was December 6th, 2012.  We weren't there for that day, but we were there by December 9th, 2012.  And New Fantasyland shines!  The new area includes Belle's House, Bonjour Village, Gaston's Tavern, the Be Our Guest restaurant inside the Beast's Castle, a new Ariel's Grotto, a new The Little Mermaid ride, and Eric's Castle.  Another area also opened, and is considered a part of New Fantasyland: Storybook Circus.  It includes two new Dumbo rides, a giant splash station for kids, and character meet 'n' greet areas.  It's beautifully themed.

We began our trip to New Fantasyland by wandering over to Bonjour Village themed to look like Belle's "poor provincial town."  There's a little gift shop carrying some unique Beauty and the Beast-themed merchandise, a fountain out front with a statue of Gaston, and Gaston's Tavern.  Gaston's Tavern is most excellent: it uses antlers in all of its decorating.

 (The mantle of the "fireplace" in Gaston's Tavern)

Gaston's Tavern is also home to the new "Lefou's Brew," a frozen beverage with a foam on top.  It does look like a cup of beer-- until you taste it.  I personally really liked the drink, though online forums are divided on whether or not it's a success.  The drink is apple-flavored with hints of toasted marshmallow (the marshmallow sips were my favorite) and a passion-fruit foam top.  The drink apparently premiered as the "Red Apple Freeze" at Disneyland's Cars Land.  The drink is a hit out west, from what I read.  I think part of the reason for the mixed reviews at Disney World is the name-- "Lefou's Brew" does not lead people to expect a sweet apple flavor, but rather something more "butterbeer" like.  Incidentally, I heard that this drink is supposed to be Disney's answer to Universal's Harry Potter World butterbeer, though the two drinks have wildly different recipes.  I have not tried butterbeer personally, but I hear it's great, so maybe that also accounts for the mixed reviews on "Lefou's Brew"-- too many people at Disney World were expecting a drink that tastes like butterbeer, and were disappointed by the apple-marshmallow thing.  Anyway, if you go to Disney World, try it.  See what you think.  Maybe get it in a souvenir goblet.

After our trip to Bonjour Village, we wandered over to the Little Mermaid section.  The new ride is exactly the same as the Little Mermaid ride in California Adventure in Disneyland.  But, I love it.  Since my trip to Disneyland with Liz, I've really been noticing the theatrics of the dark rides.  The set design.  The sound design.  Most of all, the light design.  These rides amaze me.  They are three minutes of incredibly well-planned theater.  The sheer amount of time and talent that went into designing the light plots-- taking into account the constantly changing sight-lines of the audience-- amazes me to no end.  The way the sound envelopes you in your little ride car (in this case, a shell) and doesn't let you go until you're stepping off the ride-- it's incredible.  Really.  Next time you're on a dark ride, take a minute to appreciate all of the work of the set, sound, and light designers who made your three minute experience top-notch.

(From the "Under the Sea" section of the ride; photo via)

(A view of Eric's Castle from the bridge to Beast's Castle)

(Someone else's better photo of Eric's Castle; photo via)  

We saw the signs for Ariel's Grotto, but didn't go back there-- it's a meet 'n' greet area for children to meet Ariel and get her autograph.  It's a neat idea, but my mom and I are a bit past the "standing in line to meet characters" phase, unless we're on a cruise or it's Phineas and Ferb. (Don't judge until you've seen the show.  You'd stand in line, too.)

So after checking out The Little Mermaid section we wandered back through Bonjour Village, past the bridge to Beast's Castle, and over to Belle's House (note: I just realized this sounds a little like "over the river and through the woods...).  Belle's House houses the attraction "Enchanted Tales with Belle."  We didn't really know what it was, just that it was "part-show, part-walk-though, and don't miss it."  After about twenty minutes in line we found ourselves in the main room of Belle's oh-so French "Provencal" house, complete with a portrait of little Belle and her mother!!!  Then a cast member ushered us into Maurice's workshop, which featured a huge mirror.  The cast member explained that the mirror had been given to Maurice by the Beast, so that Maurice could see Belle anytime he wished.  We all then looked hard into the mirror, recited some magic words, and the mirror opened and we walked through it into the castle!!!!!  It really felt like magic.  

In Belle's room in the castle the wardrobe gave us all props/roles, then we entered the library to surprise Belle with a story.  If I were still little, I would have just been thrilled beyond belief.  Why?  Because Belle herself enters the room and we act out the story of Beauty and the Beast with her!!!  Then all of the people who played roles (like incredibly tiny toddler who played Chip) get to have their picture taken with Belle.  This was definitely an attraction geared towards families with younger children, but I still enjoyed it. 

 

(Belle's House)

After Belle's "Enchanted Tales" we left New Fantasyland-- it was time for us to begin our Mickey Party in earnest.  We headed down to Storybook Circus, which was just gorgeous at night, though I don't have any pictures, then had our hot cocoa and cookies, saw the parade, the fireworks, rode some of our other favorites like "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "The Haunted Mansion" and had a generally wonderful time.  But our New Fantasyland experience was not quite over.

We came back two days later for lunch.  At lunchtime, the Be Our Guest Restaurant is a high-tech quick service place.  You wait in line on the bridge to Beast's Castle.  Finally, you are ushered into the main hall of the castle, complete with talking suits of armor and screens that advertise what you can order when you get to the Beast's study.  Once there, a cast member hands you a magic rose that you touch to button on your order screen.  Using the touchscreen, you order your food.  We chose a croque monsieur with frites, a kids pork/sweet potato mash/green beans meal, a French onion soup, a lemon meringue cupcake, and a strawberry cupcake.  

After ordering, you enter the Beast's ballroom.  There are two antechambers, too: the West Wing and the Rose Gallery.  We opted to sit in the ballroom.  After finding a nice table for two and setting our magic rose on it, I got drinks and my mom got silverware (real silverware-- not plastic!).  Within a few minutes, our food came out to us, wheeled on a lovely little cart by a cast member dressed in the Beast's livery.  Our hot food was under a glass and our cupcakes were down a shelf.  I have never eaten such good quick service food.  It tasted like a sit-down restaurant meal.  The cheese on my French onion soup had clearly been heated under a broiler.  Yum.  The cupcakes were absolutely to die for.  I will be dreaming of that strawberry cupcake for a good long time.  And of course, the setting of the meal could not have been more gorgeous!

(Outside the restaurant/Beast's Castle!)

(Beast's Ballroom, photo via)

(Beast's study/ordering area. Photo via)

(Belle and Beast dancing "music box" in the Rose Gallery of Be Our Guest Restaurant)

(The Enchanted Rose, in the West Wing)

(The stained glass from the final scene of the film)

You really just need to experience the magic of this restaurant for yourself.  The detail of the ballroom is stunning; the atmosphere of the West Wing cannot be described.  And if you go at dinner, you do get an actual sit-down experience.  They also serve alcoholic beverages at dinner.  Plus, you might meet Beast in his study.  

The best part?  It's not over yet.  Opening in 2014, more New Fantasyland!  Here's a photo of the wall that still stands around the area that has yet to open.

(Unless otherwise noted under the photo, all photos belong to me.  Please do not use my photos without credit)