As I told you in recent posts, tomorrow, February 21, 2013, Â will be Periwinkle’s last day at Tinker Bell’s Nook in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom. Â If you wish to say goodbye, or see you later if she returns in the winter, be sure to stop by tomorrow. Â Rosetta should be the regular pixie that will meet along side Tinker Bell in the Nook for the foreseeable future. Â There could be some random appearances by Terance, but don’t count on that for your schedule!
On Tuesday, January 22 Rapunzel was out visiting guests at the Epcot International Gateway, which is where boats enter from the Epcot area resorts. Â I thought the photos turned out pretty well, so I figured I’d share them with you. Â Click photos for larger views. Â Continue reading Rapunzel at the International Gateway – photos
I arrived at the Magic Kingdom at about 8:30 a.m. ready to meet some characters that are difficult to find at Walt Disney World these days. Â For only one week (January 21-27) in Town Square at the Magic Kingdom they are offering “Long-lost Friends Week.” Â I had fully expected to see the exact characters that appeared but was surprised that Gideon wasn’t meeting with the Pinocchio gang. Â It’s funny to me that many guests have no idea where to line up for the quickest entry from the rope. Â I just waltzed right up to the rope while all the other people were forming a psuedo line behind the other section of rope. Â Continue reading Long Lost Friends day one – my experience and their full schedule and locations
Goofy appears in all four parks. Â He also appears at Chef Mickey’s, Tusker House and Cape May Cafe character meals
Peter Pan meets daily in the Magic Kingdom
Naveen meets in the late afternoon in the Magic Kingdom
Fairy Godmother meets mornings in the Magic Kingdom
– Magic Kingdom 2011
– Magic Kingdom 2011
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| On my recent visit to Walt Disney World I had the opportunity to take part in “Enchanted Tales with Belle” in the New Fantasyland area of the Magic Kingdom.  After dropping the bouncer at the gate a $20 and providing  the keywords “Donald rules,” I was allowed entrance to the new area.  I was excited to see what they were building on the other side of the walls with my own 4 eyes for the first time.  What should I expect though?  Is this going to be a show?  Is this going to be another “Play and greet?”  I found it to be more of the first, and less of the second.  It’s more of an experience than a show though.  It’s an effort to engage and interact with the guests of all ages in a very different way.  Let’s take a journey behind the wall and into Maurice’s Cottage, then on to Beast’s Library.  I’ll tell the story with photos and video.The area isn’t quite photo ready because the water and some more plants are yet to be added, but it is already looking quite amazing near the entrance to the area. |
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| Because most of the small group I was queued with was already inside the cottage, my time inside the first room was quite hurried, so I quickly shot a few photos of the entry area before moving on to the Magical Mirror stage.
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 From this scene we are ushered into Maurice’s workshop, which is rich with blueprints (bleuprints?) and gadgets that Maurice is currently designing.  Some are on shelves, while others are hanging from the ceiling. |
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| Â After entering the workshop, the Cast Member quickly gathers everyone and focuses their attention on the Magical Mirror.http://youtu.be/WtH1kUB-hAU |
| We step through the Magical Mirror and enter the Wardrobe room. Â I personally like the fact that Disney is entertaining us while we wait on the final scene. Â It is similar to the approach of the Haunted Mansion in that they are telling us the story in pieces, rather than walking a static queue line. Â The Wardrobe Room is quite simple in its decor. Â I believe that is to focus everyone’s attention on the Wardrobe and the Cast Member who is setting the stage.IMPORTANT! Â If you or your child want to be involved in the story AND get a quick photo with Belle, be sure to VOLUNTEER. Â My brother was on of the guards on our second viewing and it added to the fun. |
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| Here’s the full video of the Wardrobe segment…http://youtu.be/anGlKi-4uXU |
After Lumiere requests our presence, we are ushered into the grand Library . Â The room is well done and has some nice benches to watch the show portion. Â Lumiere is definitely the greatest feature of this segment. Â I found myself watching his seamless movements while enjoying the show. Â I like how the Cast Members interact with the guests when telling the story and Belle does a beautiful job as always. |
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The guests are then used to tell the story. Â With each person presented at the appropriate time in the story. Â It’s similar to the old Storytime with Belle, but is presented in a better fashion and AIR CONDITIONING!       |
| Â Here’s the final scene in all its glory in HD too!http://youtu.be/MF9uv_gXCC4 |
| I really enjoyed the Enchanted Tales with Belle experience and I saw the glow in the eyes of small children that I look for in a great attraction. Â I’m sure that my daughters would like to soak it all it by viewing several times when it reopens to guests in late October. Â Even though Disney magic is used to reduce the line waits, it will be very popular and probably have much longer waits than the new Little Mermaid attraction that will be an omnimover and have a higher guest capacity per day.I’ve heard that Enchanted Tales with Belle will operate from open to close (or near close) once it reopens, so arrive early to avoid a longer wait.NOTE: Â Don’t expect this to be a “Meet and greet” with a character. Â There are no autographs and I noticed that only those who participated in the show are given a quick photo op. Â However, as attractions move from Imagineering to Operations, expect that additional changes could happen, including eliminating the quick photos in leiu of higher guest capacity. Â (My observation)
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