Madame Wardrobe has pulled out an all-new formal ball gown for Belle, made with luxurious fabrics and detailing.

After much anticipation and hard work on behalf of the Creative Costuming team, Belle will begin making appearances in her new look this Sunday, Feb. 3, at the Disneyland Resort. She is sure to dazzle our Guests with a complete makeover from head to toe, wearing her elegant attire at Ariel’s Grotto Princess Celebration in Disney California Adventure park. Belle will also wear her new gown when participating in shows and character greetings at Fantasy Faire, opening in Disneyland Park March 12.

Walt Disney World Resort Guests will experience the grandeur of the new ball gown starting Feb. 10, when Belle visits Princess Storybook Dining at Epcot and participates in Enchanted Tales with Belle in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park.

What do you think of Belle’s new look?

It appears some of the elements for the Adventureland interactive game have been installed

This icon should help guests locate the game area

Not sure what this will do

A different icon near this cannon

You can see the cannon aiming at something behind this tarp

Another game area

Looks like there is a skeleton under the water where the Junior Jungle Boats used to be

Another game area being set-up

The Crow’s Nest is still behind walls

We expect this is where the game will begin for guests

Golden Oak Outpost is closed again…

The tower from Tangled visible from Frontierland

Kind of strange…

Work is speeding along on the restrooms on the former Skyway site, rumors still indicate we will see guest charging stations for electronics in this area as well

The tower was installed recently

The Royal Majesty Makers out and about in Fantasyland

Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction continues

The construction walls were updated with the Dwarfs now mimicking the areas they are in

This scene is near Enchanted Tales with Belle

The small Lumiere on the signage now swings his arms back and forth

Looks like another device built by Maurice

More new Mine Train walls

Some new concept art shows off the interactive queue

Looks like fun

The finale scene

Everyone has clocked in, meaning they are working hard on the new attraction

Another look at Mine Train

Some more walls came down revealing a small section of the bridge

A look from the other side

100 minutes for Mermaid… yeah, Fantasyland is a total failure

All of the screen-based wait times signs in the park were themed recently, all of them now match the physical signage now

The back side of Mine Train

Triton’s Treasures is being built and is coming along quickly

Wait for Ariel’s Grotto

Some cool walls you can look through were put up as well

Let’s take a look inside

A lot of work still to be done

This wall is near Winnie-The-Pooh

Near the Mad Tea Party

Another look through the walls

Moving to Downtown Disney, the volcano at Rainforest Cafe is coming along nicely

Splitsville opens December 19th

Curl is also moving to some small space next door to Splitsville

Looks like there is space for another store as well

There’s an outside bar as well

Frankenweenie merchandise available in Caribbean Plaza

Still not selling…

A Halloween collectible cup is now available at Sunshine Tree Terrace along with that Orange Bird thing…

Lights on inside Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

Let’s check out Storybook Circus at night

Still strange…

As they need this path to move consturction items into Mine Train, it may be a long time before you can travel from Circus to Mermaid

The calliope looks great

Look closely

HA

We’re already in Storybook Circus… so this can be confusing…

Another look at Mine Train

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid looks great at night

A great new place to watch fireworks

Gaston’s chair has arrived at Gaston’s Tavern!

Be Our Guest restaurant was open for guests to tour

The lobby

Gorgeous interior

Lots of ordering kiosks for counter service

It’s a scroll

RFID technology like the new room keys will be used in the ordering system

Touch the magic rose thing… you will get a plastic rose “puck” with an RFID chip which you will scan at your table so they know where to bring your food

It will be interesting to see how this works

Menu

Different kiosks look like different items

The ballroom

I assume this is “Be Our Guest” in French

Hopefully we will see more soon

You can see a early carving of the music box from Be Our Guest restaurant in Maurice’s workshop at Enchanted Tales with Belle, since Maurice built it and all…

I love this animatronic so much…

Plenty of Imagineers and construction workers out at Mine Train

We know New Fantasyland is stunning during the day, but just wait until you see the incredible lighting and ambiance at night. We take a video tour of New Fantasyland at night, including a look inside the stunning ballroom at the Be Our Guest Restaurant, in our latest video:

We begin with a popcorn cart! We know this is what you waited for…

A nearby seating area

One permanent looking wall on the Mine Train side

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Amazing…

The details are stunning

We know…

Cool sign

A full color Ariel on the front of a shipwreck

The backside of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Ariel’s Grotto had a 20 minute wait

Not working yet

Cool sign

Attraction exit for the ride

More Mine Train

The village off in the distance

Bridge to the Be Our Guest Restaurant

This is the Magic Kingdom?

It’s so purty…

The entrance to Be Our Guest Restuarant

This is detail at the Tokyo DisneySea level

Looks like this will be the check-in desk for the restaurant

Mine Train track

Enchanted Tales with Belle got signage

Lumiere Lamp!

The wait time sign is a bird house that looks like their house!

We’ve already seen this…

The backside of Castle Wall

FastPass isn’t running yet, but eventually will be distributed at Mickey’s Philharmagic along with Under the Se: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Another look at Mine Train

Big open path for guests to enter the land today

Stroller parking has to be done outside of the new area for now

We’ll be back in a few…

Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall

Still there

Little Mermaid merchandise is now available at Sir Mickey’s

DINGLEHOPPERS!

Creepy…

Back to New Fantasyland

Over the bridge again

Amazing tile mosiac

A look across the bridge

Menu is out

Gaston greeting guests

I love this photo…

Let’s eat!

Pork shanks and LeFou’s Brew are the specialty

A look at the menu

Looks better than a turkey leg…

cinnamon bun!

You can wimp out and get your brew in a generic cup…

SHANK!

The interior looks just like the film

Bambi?

Antlers is all of his decorating!

This guy looks down in the dumps…

Antler chandelier

There are antlers made of stained glass…

LeFou is losing

Gaston’s hat

Inside Bonjour Village Gifts

Exclusive merchandise

Gargoyle candle holders and picture frames

There is a tribute to long-tim Magic Kingdom Vice-President Phil Holmes

Lots of hidden references we’ll get to…

Back to Mermaid

I hate to say this, but it reminds me of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea…

Detail!

Speaking of 20,000 Leagues… THE NAUTILUS!

A second hidden Nautilus submarine in the Magic Kingdom, the other is in the tree at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

We love themed pavement

This queue is incredible

This is the interactive queue element

We’ll keep our eyes peeled

I have a feeling we’ll be looking in these windows for something

A Scuttle animatronic in the queue for Scuttle’s Scavenger Hunt

Cool detail

The loading area

Stingrays on the moving walkway

If you want to see the full ride, we have a video available

The ride includes the recent changes to the DCA version, including Ariel’s new hair

Other than a few minor changes, the ride portion is the same

King Triton has a very different beard in this version…

We’ll be back

Exit

Back to Ariel’s Grotto

ARIEL!

The water is a little murky right now

Water features everywhere!

Storybook Circus looms in the distance

The backside of Mine Train

This might be the most beautiful queue ever made

Even with Mine Train not finished, the setting is visually stunning

Scuttle’s footprints in the pavement

We can’t stop looking at it! Apparently the song “Whale of a Tale” is in the area music loop as well…

Event the water fountains are themed…

So, here is the interactive queue element

Through projection technology, you can point out items that shouldn’t be there

The little crabs will pick up and take away the stuff if you point to it

Some old legends about the sea are written on the roof of this rotunda

The mural looks fantastic

No hidden Mr. Limpet figure in Florida…

The audio-animatronic Flotsam and Jetsam weren’t working yet

Awww…

I can’t get over his beard…

Back to Ariel’s Grotto

I love that Gaston gave the statue to the town… of himself…

Even though it wasn’t open, cast members were happy to show off the Be Our Guest menu

A themed tarp under the bridge until work is done on Mine Train

MORE FOOD!

YOU BOUGHT WATER? LEAVE!

This is amazing…

This is my favorite sign ever…

A beautiful restroom building

What a water fountain

The village is intricately detailed

We’ll be looking at this for a while…

So, the hidden details in the Phil Holmes portrait, there is a Magic Lamp, peanuts, and an apple. We assume these are nods to Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, and Dumbo/Storybook Circus

He has a ring to celebrate his 40 years with the Magic Kingdom, and we assume the portrait celebrates him signing off on the New Fantasyland project

There’s a map in the book that includes Mickey’s Toontown (No Fair) and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Belle’s Village is right behind the Mermaid queue

Scuttle talks to guests while interactive crabs remove items

Wow…

PHOTO-BOMBED WITH A THUMBS UP? HOW DARE YOU!

Bonjour Village Gifts

The cast member costumes look great

Plenty of Beauty and the Beast merchandise available

Be Our Guest restaurant plates and cups

There is Phil

Gaston’s Tavern shirt!

Another one

Eco-friendly printing

A French book on display

Looks like it is Beauty and the Beast

CHEAP WEAPONS

We end as we started… WITH POPCORN!

Coverage won’t end for New Fantasyland here, we will continue to cover the preview period up until the grand opening of New Fantasyland on December 6th! We still have yet to see the Be Our Guest Restaurant, so stay tuned!

Our own Justin Heyman was lucky enough to take part in a play-test of the new Enchanted Tales with Belle attraction in New Fantasyland a few weeks ago. Lucky for us, he has a video of the entire experience to share with us:

It is important to note that what you see in the video is not the finished product and the attraction may change a lot before it officially opens on December 6th.

Some of the rock work in the queue of the Magic Carpets is getting some work done

The Rainy Day Cavalcade was out due to some rain earlier in the day

Drizella and Anastasia aren’t thrilled about the rain either

A Trio of Cranes now looms over the Magic Kingdom

Be Warned Enchanted Tales Spoilers Lay Ahead!

As you enter the area behind the walls you see a expertly themed entrance to Maurice’s Cottage

Cottage Light posts

Looking out from just outside the front door you can see the gargoyle lamp posts that line the entrance to Be Our Guest and in the distance Prince Eric’s Castle

More of the Cottage

Be Our Guest!

Signage for the Restaurant

A close up of the entrance to be our guest

Maurice’s water wheel not turned on yet

Picture inside the cottage of Belle and her Mother inside the first room of the cottage

This room is loaded with tiny details

Thanks to my wife for playing photographer but she forgot to hide in this picture!

More details in the first room

A book Belle has left out

Clearly a favorite of Belle’s

Moving into the workshop we see different items including this curious gift from the Beast to Maurice

Other Items in the workshop

Soon we will have full video from this experience but here are a few shots from inside the attraction after the pre-show casting room with the wardrobe and I was lucky enough to get a unique view of the show!

Is that a guard or our own Mayor?

Belle and the FANTASTIC Lumiere who plays host to us in the Castle

Belle finding her “father” locked in the dungeon

Pictures don’t do this justice

Before we move over to Animal Kingdom (Yes there is news in that park too) Let me just say how great this small attraction is.If WDI continues to put this much work and effort into everything they do we are all in for a lot of high quality fantastic attractions! The story is there, the kids (and adults) love it and the special effects are amazing.

Near the Local Foods Cafe (Yak and Yeti counter service) Anandapur Travel and Tourism was presenting Bhangra Dance Party with a Live DJ

Beastly Bazaar is closed

Though the signs say that this is only temporary we know that this is making way for a new Meet and Greet location

The queue at It’s Tough to Be a Bug is completely covered by the new netting though I don’t think it takes away much

Area’s that haven’t been covered by the netting are walled off

Wilderness Explorers Meet and Greet near the old bug fastpass machines

Rockwork near the entrance to Dinoland is getting a refresh

Thanks for reading!

Walt Disney Imagineering has provided a video taking a look inside Enchanted Tales with Belle today. Albeit still not as cool as the look we gave you a few weeks ago, it is nice to hear from those behind the project about it and see more of the little details:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Magic Kingdom guests blink back in amazement at the scene: not one, but two colorful Dumbos spinning through the sky above Storybook Circus.

To the delight of fans of the beloved Dumbo, the Flying Elephant attraction, a second Dumbo flies alongside. The playful pachyderm is joined in Storybook Circus by the Barnstormer Coaster re-themed to the Great Goofini, the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station water play area and the Fantasyland Train Station — all part of the multiyear, largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history.

There’s more to come as the expansion of the New Fantasyland – nearly doubling in size — continues at Walt Disney World Resort. In fact, so many more attractions are coming on line later this year that Dec. 6, 2012 has been set as the Grand Opening of Fantasyland. Previews begin Nov. 19.
Slated to make their debuts:

• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, a major attraction where guests will travel with Ariel and her friends through their exciting adventures above and below the waves – all against a musical backdrop of songs from the film. The new attraction combines the enduring appeal of a classic Disney “dark ride” with wonderful technological innovations to offer guests a personal journey into the scenes of the film. Adventurers will feel as if they are descending below the ocean’s surface. Once “under the sea,” guests will find themselves immersed in the story of “The Little Mermaid,” sharing Ariel’s adventure through a magical cast of characters and a captivating musical score that will entice everyone to sing along. The fun continues at “Ariel’s Grotto,” a meet-and-greet with the mermaid heroine herself.
• The castle of the Beast stands majestically upon a hill across an old stone bridge from Ariel’s new home. The Be Our Guest Restaurant will feature a lavish dining experience in the elegant ballroom, gallery, and mysterious “West Wing” of the castle. With seating for 550, this magnificent facility will offer “great food fast” service by day and full table service dining in the evening. Nearby in Belle’s Village, guests will find the rousing Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts.
• Just outside the village is Belle’s cottage and Enchanted Tales with Belle. The adventure begins in Maurice’s workshop, where a magical mirror is the doorway to a captivating new kind of storytelling experience: guests will be transported to the Beast’s library to meet Belle and Lumiere, and share in a lively, interactive re-telling of the “tale as old as time.”

“Fantasyland is a place where a very special kind of memory is made: where children just old enough to understand the moment come in contact with princesses and heroes and meet their most beloved friends,” said Meg Crofton, president, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, United States and France.

“We are excited about sharing our treasured stories in new ways and giving guests the opportunity to interact with their favorite characters like never before.”
Beyond 2012, there’s more in store for Fantasyland guests:

• Located in the Castle Courtyard in the center of Fantasyland, Princess Fairytale Hall will be the new home for visiting royalty in the Magic Kingdom. The castle-like entrance will feature walls of stone and stained glass windows, opening up into a large gallery – an airy space with a high ceiling, where portraits of the Disney princesses adorn the walls. When it’s time for their audience with a princess, guests will proceed to elegantly finished rooms to meet Aurora, Cinderella and other Disney princesses, such as Tiana and Rapunzel (2013).
• The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will take guests on a rollicking, musical ride into the mine “where a million diamonds shine.” The coaster will feature a first-of-its-kind ride system with a train of vehicles that swing back and forth, responding to every twist and turn of the track. The journey will be accompanied by music from the classic Disney film and animated figures of Snow White and the Dwarfs (2014).

As you can see, the exterior is complete