New Fantasyland opened for its “Dress Rehearsal” this weekend and many guests were drawn across the stone bridge to foot of Beast’s Castle. Inside the mountain is the “Be Our Guest” restaurant, which opened its lobby to allow guests a sneak peek at the ballroom and entry hall. I took a quick video and some photos, of course.
The restaurant’s spacious interior re-creates the look of the film in great detail. Lunch guests enter through the Armor Hallway, where six suits of armor stand along the wall (listen closely for an occasional whisper from the metal figures), and into the Beast’s Parlor to place lunch orders on five guest-activated terminals. For dinner, guests enter directly into the majestic Ballroom.
If you visit the Magic Kingdom this weekend you’ll see a large temporary structure just on the other side of the front gates. It has some fancy sensors and a few cameras; the thought being Disney will be testing RFID enabled devices for admission soon.… Read More »Disney Parks Magic Band Appears on FCC Site
Yesterday the Magic Kingdom… …major sections of the New Fantastyland expansion opened for a dress rehearsal. Technically, they could close it again at any time before the official opening in December, however the history is once a section opens they don’t close it again except… Read More »New Fantasyland Dress Rehearsal Photos
Around the time that Walt Disney was first presenting the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City, Mary Poppins was about to be released, and he was also trying secretly buying up land in a mosquito-ridden swamp land we now know and love, he realized he needed a little help in representing the Company at all the events where he was asked to appear. Thus the Disney Ambassador program was born and has been in place ever since, 47 years later.
Today at Epcot, a ceremony was held to choose and announce the two new Ambassadors from five finalists for the 2013-2014 season. On hand were Vice President of Epcot Erin Youngs, President of Walt Disney Parks and Operations, United States and France, Meg Crofton, current Ambassadors Norman Vossschulte and Jennifer Mason, and 65 former Walt Disney World Ambassadors to welcome the new team members.
Ambassador Finalists 2013-2014.The five Walt Disney World Ambassador finalists with Meg Crofton
In a twist a little like a Miss America pageant, all five finalists were called to the stage and were able to say a few words about themselves and their journey, while their fellow Cast Member friends and family cheered on. World Showcase Cast Members stood behind them with giant posters featuring their faces and names as we waited with anticipation for the announcement. Mickey and Minnie joined in, carrying the Ambassador pins and scroll featuring the Ambassador pledge. The scroll was read aloud before the names were chosen, while the Voices of Liberty sang softly in the background. Meg Crofton had the honor of announcing that Tye Arnold and Richard Tamayo were to be the newest Walt Disney World Ambassadors as confetti and applause filled the American Gardens Theater.
I think we can all agree that it makes perfect sense for a walk-around Gaston to appear in Belle Gaston’s Village outside Gaston’s Tavern and next to Gaston’s Statue… and Disney World today confirmed that would happen with the photo below: Via the Disney Parks… Read More »Gaston Announced to Appear in Belle’s Village
Our spy in the park today sent us five great photos of Maurice’s cottage and even more of New Fantasyland including Gaston’s Village and the bridge to Beast’s Castle and the Be Our Guest restaurant. This was all possible due to the removal of walls… Read More »Walls Come Down Around Maurice’s Cottage in New Fantasyland
I’m back with another FastForward video. These are fun little experiments with a different view on Disney’s amazing rides and attractions. This new FastFoward is fun ride through Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s popular roller coaster Expedition Everest. I’ve added both a time-lapse and a tilt-shift miniature… Read More »FastForward: Expedition Everest
Rhinoceroses have been hunted to the point of extinction for the value of their horn on the black market. One Disney Animal Keeper is turning that perceived value into a plus, and raising money by creating works of art that represent the Rhino Horn. Chad… Read More »Rhino Art Created by Disney Animal Keeper Goes to Good Cause
