I have been to Walt Disney World many times. Each time my family visits there is something new and special to experience. That said, our last visit was by far the most magical of all of them! My two daughters and I had the opportunity to attend the Grand Opening of New Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom and I have to say, I now know what it's like to live inside a fairytale!
There are two new castles..yes, TWO!! The first one is Beast's Castle and it is breathtaking! The details of the Castle and Be Our Guest Restaurant are beyond description. As you walk down the bridge toward the entry of the restaurant you are immediately transported into the world of Belle and the Beast and their beautiful love story. Cast members in Royal attire welcome you into the Castle and the movie comes to life as you pass by the gargoyles, suits of armor, and beautiful stained glass art work.
Be Our Guest Restaurant is magnificent! There are three themed dining rooms: The West Wing ..darkly lit and complete with the Rose and portrait of the Beast as a prince, The Rose Gallery with large twirling figures of Belle and Beast as the centerpiece of the room, and the Ballroom. The Ballroom is the main dining area of the restaurant and is an exact replica of the ballroom where Belle and Beast danced and fell in love. Large twinkling chandeliers hang from the ornately decorated domed ceiling and the windows ..oh, the windows..I admit I cried when I saw them! I could've stared at the snow falling outside those windows for hours..it is one of those magical Disney touches that leaves you feeling like you are part of the fairytale..and speaking of being part of a fairytale..You really do get to be part of one in Enchanted Tales with Belle! You enter Maurice's workshop and an enchanted mirror takes you through a doorway to Beast's expansive library where Belle and Lumiere invite guests to be part of retelling the "tale as old as time. ( I don't want to post too many pictures of this experience..this magic is such a wonderful surprise for both children and parents)
Not far from Beast's castle is Belle's Village. There you can shop at Bonjour Village Gifts, grab a bite to eat and have a sip of "LeFou's Brew" at Gaston's Tavern, or take a break and rest near the bronze statue fountain of Gaston and his trusty sidekick LeFou! Bonjour! Village gifts offers uniquely themed merchandise. I purchased one of the beautiful Beauty & the Beast wine glass but have my sights set on a full set of dishes the next time I visit!
The second castle is Prince Eric's from the Little Mermaid. As you enter the castle you see that the detail here is just as amazing as in Beast's. Seashells are embedded into the walls and into the ground along your path to board your giant clam shell and journey under the sea with Ariel and her friends! The colorful underwater scenes are straight out of the movie and we found ourselves singing along to all of the classic songs from the soundtrack that are playing throughout the ride! You can meet Ariel and have your picture taken in Ariel's Grotto in this new area as well.
You don't want to miss the Storybook Circus section in New Fantasyland! Inspired by Disney's classic character Dumbo, Storybook Circus has big colorful circus tents and a new interactive queue area. Your kids can play and entertain themselves while waiting to ride one of 2 Dumbo the Flying Elephant aerial adventures! ( It's also the perfect spot for a tired Mommy to sit and relax a bit) Also in this area you'll find The Barnstormer, a fun roller coaster that's great for all ages, Casey Jr. Splash 'n' Soak Station , here you can cool off with Casey's "steam" and enjoy monkeys, elephants, and camels spraying water, and Pete's Silly Sideshow where you can meet and take photos with Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy!!
As if all of that wasn't fabulous enough, Disney Parks will be adding more to New Fantasyland with Princess Fairytale Hall in 2013 and the Seven Dwarves Mine Train in 2014!! New Fantasyland far exceeded my expectations and I am already looking forward to my next trip there! ( In February in case you were wondering! :) I can't wait to go back, there is always a magical experience to be had, new details to be discovered, and special memories to be made!
For more information about New Fantasyland visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/new-fantasyland/ and to book your Disney World vacation visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/
*Disclosure ~ big thanks to Disney Social Media for inviting me to attend this special media event. Travel, resort stay, special events, and branded merchandise were included in my visit. I was not asked at anytime to post about New Fantasyland. All opinions are my own**
