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New Fantasyland

Recap of New Fantasylandยฎ Grand Opening Ceremony

Off to Neverland Travelยฎ was fortunate enough to receive a royal invitation to the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Newย Fantasylandยฎ Area of theย Magic Kingdomยฎ Park. The ceremony, which was held last Thursday, was an event filled with stars, Disney characters and surprises!

The ceremony started with the introduction of the Royal Mistress of ceremonies,ย Ginnifer Goodwin, who plays Snow White on the hit ABC-TV drama “Once Upon A Time.” She talked about how Disney has held a special place in her heart since she was a little girl and howย Newย Fantasylandยฎ allows her to step into the middle of all those childhood stories.

Ginnifer introducedย ย pop star Jordin Sparks, who took us on a musical tour ofย Fantasylandยฎ by singing a beautifulย medleyย of some classic Disney songs, like Heigh Ho, Casey Jr., Under the Sea, and Beauty and the Beast. Her rendition of ย theseย timeless melodies from classic Disney films was simply amazing!

Now, it was time for the dedication. To help, Mickey Mouse and Tom Staggs, Chairman ofย Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, joined the stage.

Walt Disney onceย promisedย that Disneyland, and by extension all of our parks, would never be complete as long as there is imagination left in the world. New Fantasylandยฎย is a spectacular addition to the Magic Kingdomยฎย that delivers on Waltโ€™s promise. Weโ€™re thrilled to take guests beyond the walls of Cinderella Castle to discover new worlds featuring iconic Disney characters and stories in ways that are more imaginative, more interactive and more immersive than ever before.โ€ –ย Tom Staggs, Chairman ofย Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

Tom asked Ginnifer to do the honors of dedicatingย Newย Fantasylandยฎ.

To all who believe in wishes and dreams.
To all those who are young and young at heart.
And to always believing that once upon a time will end with happily ever after.
Newย Fantasylandยฎ will always be yours.

Several legends of Disney Animation were also in attendance at the Ceremony. Those guests includedย Jodi Benson (Voice of Ariel),ย Paige O’Hara (Voice of Belle),ย Jo Anne Worley (Voice of the Wardrobe), John Musker and Ron Clements (Directors ofย The Little Mermaid).

The ceremony ended with some daytime fireworks and the cheers of thousands in the audience as they were showered with confetti. It truly was a Magical event, and Off to Neverland Travelยฎ was honored to be a part of it. Enjoy a few of our photos from the ceremony, along with a quick video overview. To view our complete album from the event, visit our album on ourย Facebook Page.

Final Countdown To New Fantasyland

We are just 6 days away from the highly anticipated Grand Opening of the Newย Fantasylandยฎ Area in theย Magic Kingdomยฎ Park. Officially opening on Thursday, Dec. 6th to park guests is the Enchanted Forest, consisting ofย Under the Sea~Journey of the Little Mermaid,ย Enchanted Tales with Belle,ย Ariel’s Grotto, Be Our Guest Restaurant, and Gaston’s Tavern.ย Storybook Circus, also part of theย Newย Fantasylandยฎ expansion, previously opened to guests.ย Future additions to New Fantasylandยฎย includeย Princess Fairytale Hall(2013) andย Seven Dwarfs Mine Trainย (2014).

We thought that someย Newย Fantasylandยฎ Fun Facts would be a great way help pass these few remaining days!

  • Originally 10 acres, the Newย Fantasylandย expansion doubles the size to 21 acres!
  • Inside the Library atย Enchanted Tales with Belle,ย guests will find over 12,000 “books.”
  • Beastโ€™s Castleย contains 115 windows.
  • The design teams called the lion-like figures flanking the door at the entrance toย Be Our Guest Restaurantย โ€œgolions,โ€ a combination of goat and lion. The figures above the entrance doors, eagles with snake tails, were called โ€œsneagles.โ€
  • Be Our Guest Restaurant’sย centerpiece chandelier measures more than 12 feet tall and 11 feet wide. It boasts more than 84 candles and more than 100 jewels that hang down to give it added shine.
  • As a way to identify them, the six stone figures on the bridge leading toย Be Our Guest Restaurantย were all given the name โ€œFrankโ€ during the design phase.
  • At the Magic Kingdomยฎ Park, Disneylandยฎ Paris, Hong Kong Disneylandยฎ, and at the Disneylandยฎ Resort, Timothy Mouse carries a magic feather atop theย Dumboย attraction. At Tokyo Disneylandยฎ, he holds a circus whip.
  • Talk about authenticity! The music heard from the old fashioned calliope in the front ofย Peteโ€™s Silly Sideshowย was recorded from a set of antique circus crank organs owned by a collector in Southern California.
  • Of the 183 characters inย Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid,ย more than 70 percent (128, to be exact) are featured in the โ€œUnder the Seaโ€ scene.
  • Theย Audio-Animatronicsยฎย figure of the sea witch Ursula is 7 1/2-feet tall and 12 feet wide.

Video: Step Inside the West Wing of Beast’s Castle

As we get closer to the Dec. 6th Grand Opening of theย New Fantasylandยฎย area of theย Magic Kingdomยฎ Park, information continues to surface about the attractions, venues, and meet and greets that will be available to guests. Today, we have a video explaining some of the detail andย story lineย involving the West Wing of Beast’s Castle, which will host theย Be Our Guest Restaurant.

Theย Be Our Guest Restaurant will feature three uniquely themed dining rooms – the mysterious West Wing, an elegant ballroom, and a beautiful Rose Gallery (which will be used only at lunch). Joinย Imagineers Chris Kelly, Ted Robledo and Tim Warzecha as they explore the Be Our Guest Restaurant.

‘Bonjour! Village Gifts’ To Offer Variety of Beauty and the Beast Items

When Bonjour! Village Gifts opens in the Enchanted Forest area of the New Fantasylandยฎ, it will offer guests a wide selection of themed merchandise fromย Beauty and The Beast. This continues the drive by Walt Disney Worldยฎย Resort’sย merchandising team toย provide themed merchandise in select stores throughout the parks. Another recent example of this was inside Big Top Souvenirs at Storybook Circus.

Minotaur candle holders, Be Our Guest Restaurant-inspired dishware, andย Beauty and The Beast clothing are just a few of the things that you will find in this location. Take a look around:

Gaston’s Tavern Brings Additional Snack Options to Magic Kingdomยฎ Park

As part of the Enchanted Forestย area inside the New Fantasylandยฎ, the opening of Gaston’s Tavern will bring additional snack options to guests of theย Magic Kingdomยฎ Park.ย Gaston’s Tavern carries out an amazing theme that is sure to please any Beauty and The Beast fan. Just like his personality, this location is all about Gaston.

Don’t expect the same ol’ snack options as a few will be exclusive to Gaston’s Tavern. Available items include:

  • Roasted Pork Shank
  • Warm Cinnamon Rolls
  • Chocolate Croissant
  • Mixed Fruit Cup, Sliced Apples with Caramel Sauce, or Mixed Vegetables with Dip
  • Hummus and Chips
  • LeFou’s Brew (available in a souvenir stein or goblet for additional cost)
  • Soft drinks, juices, milk, and hot beverages

LeFou’s Brew is a specialty drink made fromย no-sugar added frozen apple juice with a hint of toasted marshmallow, topped with all-natural passion fruit-mango foam. And the Roasted Pork Shank is a new spin on the popular Turkey Legs that can be found at other dining locations throughout theย Walt Disney Worldยฎย Resort.

While you are visiting Belle’s Village, be on the look out for Gaston himself! You never know when he will be out posing for pictures and meeting his fans!

Here are some photos of Gaston’s Tavern and Belle’s Village:

Photos: A Look Inside Magic Kingdomยฎ Park’s Enchanted Forest

Guests who visited theย Magic Kingdomยฎ Park this past weekend received an extra surprise when they were treated to a “dressย rehearsal” for the Enchanted Forest of theย Newย Fantasylandยฎ Area. Guests were able to experience theย Under the Sea~Journey of the Little Mermaid Attraction, take part inย Enchanted Tales with Belle,ย and meet and greet everyone’s favorite mermaid insideย Ariel’s Grotto.ย Althoughย Be Our Guest Restaurantย wasn’t serving food, guests were permitted to go inside and look around.

Whileย Enchanted Forestย remained open all weekend long, it is unclear how often these “Dressย Rehearsals” will happen between now and the scheduled soft opening date on Nov. 19. Special previews will be held starting Oct. 20 – Nov. 11 for registered parties of select groups, including Cast Members, Annual Passholders, D23 Members, and DVC Members.

Photos: Step Inside Peteโ€™s Silly Sideshow

Peteโ€™s Silly Sideshow, the new meet and greet area inside Storybook Circus atย Magic Kingdomยฎ Park welcomed its first guests yesterday. Inside, guests can choose to take one of two paths. The first will lead them toย The Astounding Donaldo, the most charming of snake charmers, andย The Great Goofini, circus stuntman extraordinaire. On the second path you will find Madame Daisy Fortuna, a mysterious gypsy fortuneteller, and the Parisian poodle trainer, Minnie Magnifique!

Take a peek inside the circus sideshow!

Photos: Castle Walls Emerge In New Fantasylandยฎ Expansion

Construction walls have come down around a section of the castle walls that will be part of the Newย Fantasylandยฎ at Magic Kingdomยฎย Park. Guests will be amazed at the amount of detail that they will see in the wall and the sections that are still to come.

Click the images in the gallery below to enlarge:

The grand opening of the Enchanted Forest section of theย Newย Fantasylandยฎย is set for Dec. 6, 2012, with limited previews of the area starting Nov. 19, 2012.

Magic Kingdomยฎ Park’s Be Our Guest Menu To Feature Wine & Beer

Walt Disney Worldยฎย Resort recently announced that beer and wine will be included on the dinner menuย when theย Be Our Guestย Restaurantย opens on November 19th.

โ€œAs part of the overall theming, we wanted to offer wine that enhances the guest experience and complements the French-inspired cuisine. The wines focus primarily on Franceโ€™s famous wine-growing regions, including Champagne, Alsace, Loire, Rhone, Burgundy and Bordeaux.” –ย Stuart McGuire, Beverage Director, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

The restaurant will also offer the leading French beer, Kronenbourg 1664, and various Belgian beers from that same themed area.

Longtime Disney Chef Roland Muller, a native of Alsace, France, has lead a team ofย Walt Disney Worldยฎย Resort’s Culinary Cast Members in creating the lunch and dinner menus for the restaurant. After more than three years of work, they are sure that guests will be happy with the selection.ย See a full listing of menu options here.

Enjoy this preview of some of the dishes you can expect fromย Be Our Guest Restaurantย when it opens in just a few short months!

Artist Rendering of Ariel’s Grotto Released

Theย Walt Disney Worldยฎย Resort has released an artist rendering ofย Ariel’s Grotto, a new meet and greet location that will be part of the New Fantasylandยฎ Expansion.

ย Ariel’s Grotto will be located near theย Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid Attraction,ย but will be a separate experience. When Ariel moves to her new location, she will meet her guests in mermaid form. The new Grotto location will officially open Dec. 6, but a preview period will start Nov. 19, 2012.

 

All images are artist renderings. Actual construction may vary.

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