Disney World's New Fantasyland Adds Beauty & the Beast, Little Mermaid to the Magic Kingdom

Hey, Disney fans, in case you haven't heard yet: The newest addition at Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Orlando, FL, is its New Fantasyland, which will surely make a whole new generation happy to visit the themepark. According to CNN, Disney doubled the size of its former Fantasyland section of the park, making it the largest expansion in the park's 41-year history when it officially opened earlier this December. The highlights of these magical add-ons are the pieces devoted to one of my favorites (and I'm sure several others), Beauty and the Beast. 

In the area called The Enchanted Forest, visitors can enjoy an interactive story telling like feature with Belle inside her father's cottage (though inside resemble's Beast' library) at Enchanted Tales with Belle, with photo ops a plenty with the Disney Princess as guest join her in retelling the movie's story. The villainous Gaston is also now featured, with a fountain statue in the town square part of the land and the tavern from the movie which offers food and drinks. Right near Enchanted Tales with Belle is The Little Mermaid section. Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid is the main focus, which is a smilier ride to the one on the West Coast at Disney’s California Adventure, however, the Magic Kingdom as added in the recreation of Prince Eric's castle for a more visual effect.

IGN reports that details on Beast's castle, which has been stunningly recreated and includes the French-inspired Be Our Guest restaurant and attraction. Be Our Guest (pictured above) uses the elaborate ballroom as the main dining hall, and other locations at the restaurant include the armor hallway and Beast's parlor where guests 'magically' put in their orders during lunch and the food comes to them wherever they are (menus available online). Two other dining areas include the West Wing (devoted to the Beast with shredded curtains and enchanted rose included) and the Rose Gallery (which features a large music box centerpiece and a 7-foot tall Belle and Beast rotating on top, and characters from the film all over the walls). Dinner brings not only elegant food selections, but stands to be the first and only location in the Magic Kingdom where alcohol can be purchased (although only wine and beer).

Also at New Fantasyland is Storybook Circus, which opened this past summer, and includes several circus-inspired rides for the kiddies. Among them is a now revamped Dumbo ride with a special awaiting area that kids can enjoy instead of just waiting in line. To come in the future at New Fantasyland is Princess Fairytale Hall in 2013 (an elegant meet and greet with several Disney Princesses) and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in 2014 (roller coaster ride based on the dwarfs from Snow White thats ends with a musical celebraion).

--Andrew Villagomez

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