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From the Disney Food blog...

Disney World’s “Be Our Guest Restaurant” to Open in Late 2012

Dec 13th, 2011 by AJ.

We’re getting anxious for more news on the Be Our Guest restaurant, which we first reported about way back in September 2009.

Luckily, we now have a vague idea of when we might be able to try it out! We’ve just heard word that Be Our Guest will be opening in late 2012. And we think Advanced Dining Reservation availability might be just around the corner.

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Be Our Guest Restaurant Concept Art, Beast's Castle

If you haven’t heard about this new spot in the updated Magic Kingdom Fantasyland yet, here are a few details…

Location

The restaurant will be located in the Beauty and the Beast area of the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Fantasyland expansion. And the actual dining rooms will be inside the Beast’s Castle!

Atmosphere

There will be three dining rooms in the restaurant, seating 550 people. Will you be seated in the Library/Gallery, mysterious West Wing (where the enchanted rose is kept), or the two-story Ballroom, where a snow effect in the windows will make guests feel as though they’ve stepped into the film?

Medieval windows will extend to the ceiling to create an enchanting castle-like feel. Murals will feature our favorite characters from the movie as we dine. At the moment, this will not be a character meal; but I’m hoping for some fun animatronic action to occur from time to time. Fingers crossed!

The restaurant will offer table-service dining during the evening, and counter-service dining during the day. This is part of a new approach to dining that Disney has been testing out with some of its newer restaurants, hoping that it will create better guest flow and save money at the same time.

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Belle's Cottage Will Also be an Addition in the New Fantasyland

Need to Know

Here’s what we don’t yet know: the menu. Will entrees be influenced by French cuisine? Advance Dining Reservations — how soon can I call to reserve a spot (rumors are flying that we’ll be able to book soon)?! Will an audio-animatronic Lumiere greet guests upon arrival or be found within the dining room? Will we see alcohol served inside the Magic Kingdom?

We can’t wait until the restaurant proudly presents our dinner!! We’re also looking forward to more info about Gaston’s Tavern!!

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2011/12/13/disney-worlds-be-our-guest-restaurant-to-open-in-late-2012/

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Two pics from Fantasyland this morning. The first is on the bridge leading to the new restaurant (not yet open but you can peak inside) and the second is from the Arielle clamshell ride.

The next batch of attractions is scheduled to open by the end of the year. They are the princess laden "Enchanted Forest", which will include the "Under the Sea, Voyage of the Little Mermaid" ride

And that's the way it should stay!!!

December update photos posted on Dizfanatic - photos by Scott Keating www.scottkeating.net and www.aerog.com

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Belle's Village

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Dumbo

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Circus Tents

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Seven Dwarfs Mine Coaster 12/7/11

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overview 12/7/11

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Little Mermaid 12/7/11

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Storybook Circus 12/7/11

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http://dizfanatic.com/GallerySK.aspx

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From Orlando Attractions Magazine...

Fantasyland Update: New Dumbo topper spotted in Storybook Circus site, and other photo finds

Dec 42011 Filed under: Disney, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Posted by: Don Gworek

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The tall center of one of the two new Dumbo spinning rides is now visible over the construction wall of Storybook Circus, in the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland expansion.

Beautiful elements of the Dumbo story can be seen. The stork is delivering Dumbo, and Mrs. Jumbo looks proudly upon Dumbo’s flight.

Note also some paint tests in progress on the Barnstormer roller coaster loading station in the background.

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Here’s the Dumbo area, as seen today. The show building of the queue portion of the new Dumbo attraction was painted yellow a few weeks ago. Note the brown steel rising at center.

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The Storybook Circus area, as seen today, overlooking the Tomorrowland Speedway from the Tea Cups area.

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Just several months ago, this curve of the Speedway was being reconfigured — the curve was tightened, all four tracks shifted in about 15 feet — to allow for more room in Storybook Circus. Notice the trees to the left at the fence.

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A few months later, the trees were gone.

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The original tents are still down to their structures. These tents were built in the 1980s, when this area opened as Mickey’s Birthdayland.

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Theming as of today of Prince Eric’s castle at the Voyage of the Little Mermaid attraction.

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Work on a new roof line started a few weeks ago. The arrow points to the new roof.

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The new roof may be for the building with the pink roof in the Fantasyland expansion artist rendition.

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From Orlando Theme Park News...

Storybook Circus: The Great Scaffolding Appears

postdateicon.png Saturday, December 17, 2011 | postauthoricon.png Posted by OTPN administrator | postediticon.png Edit Post

Welcome to a new Storybook Circus update! Today we have quite a few news to share with you, therefore we will start right away by taking a look at the humongous scaffolding that has gone up all around the future home of Dumbo's interactive queue:

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As you can clearly see, work is speeding up to get the area ready to open early next year:

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The three-ring circus will surely look fantastic:

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A look at the new circus tent from another angle:

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The building that will house the new interactive queue is really massive:

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A closer look at one of the two covered outdoor queues for one of the Dumbo attractions:

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The new Dumbo ride is showcasing a lot of new details:

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The golden storks are new:

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The base also has a lot of nice details:

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Notice the typical "D" of Dumbo:

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Goofy's Barn (the loading/unloading station of "The Great Goofini" coaster) is now red!:

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It looks nice:

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The two older circus tents have received new iron trusses:

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A closer look at the new trusses:

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A lot of work is going on behind the scenes:

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The new train station is coming along as well:

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Also, a pathway has been opened next to the Mad Hatter's Tea Cups:

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The attention to details on the concrete is commendable:

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It's almost time to say goodbye to the old Dumbo (which will be reused in the new location anyway):

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And that is all for now. We will have many more pictures of all the other areas of Fantasyland very soon.

Thank you very much for viewing, and have a great rest of your day!

<a href="http://orlandoparksnews.blogspot.com/2011/12/storybook-circus-great-scaffolding.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OrlandoThemeParksNews+%28Orlando+Theme+Parks+News%29">http://orlandoparksnews.blogspot.com/2011/12/storybook-circus-great-scaffolding.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OrlandoThemeParksNews+%28Orlando+Theme+Parks+News%29

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From WDW News Today...

Fantasyland Shrinks Before It Expands

Dec 18, 2011 by wdwntadmin ico_post_comments.png2 Comments ico_post_date.png Posted under: The Magic Kingdom

Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom are being given a special warning beginning today…

The problem is not so much the waits as much as it is the space. The construction walls for New Fantasyland are moving out again so some work on the pathways can be done to prepare for the opening of Storybook Circus in just a few weeks time. Christmas week is usually busy enough, but with the walls coming out, Disney is expecting guest gridlock in Fantasyland. The hope is that giving guests this warning will get many of them to experience Fantasyland before noon. Here’s how Disney is wording it to their cast members:

As we continue preparing New Fantasyland for its debut at Magic Kingdom Park, it will be necessary to expand construction walls throughout the area. We will be using a number of tactics to help ease Guest flow through Fantasyland during this time, such as temporarily removing merchandise or food and beverage carts from the land. To ensure our Guests have the best experience possible, we will be encouraging them to visit Fantasyland in the morning hours when they can usually enjoy the shortest waits of the day. We also suggest that families with strollers leave them parked in one of the designated Fantasyland stroller locations while exploring the land.

Our advice: try to stay out of Fantasyland until 2012…

http://wdwnewstoday.com/archives/8420

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From WDW Magic...

New Dumbo takes a test flight in Storybook Circus

Jan 04, 2012

The all new Dumbo spinner was spotted being tested yesterday over in the new Storybook Circus. The new Dumbo has most of it's theming in place, and several of the "Dumbo" vehicles attached to the arms. An engineer can also be seen riding along. Check out the photos below for a look.

The existing Dumbo will be closing January 9 2012, and is listed as reopening on February 18 2012, which we assume will be the opening date of at least one of the Dumbo rides in the new Storybook Circus.

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Photos by WDWMAGIC

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Dumbo takes to the skies - notice the rider in the white construction hat on the left side

Fantasyland_Thumb_14995.jpg?Expires=1325711923&Signature=Yo856ZZ8y4HZF0zjcMZSNFqyX2SCEPrr6sS6UTXlFe5O-9GtniSTTYo5FFsQ-ukZMIIjYuzaxeGET99ry3iOEg7x2VLOxrcbh7wx99qixfN83W94JqQbYoOGO86Sh72RYoIGLxvgXkrXlVkAf8uoulZ1hFeL6fPLCN-iBeFmbW8_&Key-Pair-Id=APKAIXD73LCXQPO2WCKQ

Dumbo back on the ground after a brief test flight

http://www.wdwmagic....book-Circus.htm

Latest Fantasyland construction site update

Jan 04, 2012

Here is our latest look at the Fantasyland construction site from what may well be the last of our updates from Dumbo in its current position. New this week is the first test flight of the new Dumbo over in Storybook Circus, along with the addition of the skins on the Circus tents. Elsewhere, the never-ending rock work is still being installed on Mermaid, along with lots of exterior detailing and color. Landscaping and ground theming is being installed in Storybook Circus, and near to Beast's Castle. Most of the bridges are now in place, and the pit for the Seven Dwarf's Mine Train is continuing to receive foundation work.

As always, click on the thumbnails below for a larger look. Also be sure to check out some of our previous updates, including aerial photos.

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Photos by WDWMAGIC

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http://www.wdwmagic.com/Attractions/Fantasyland/News/04Jan2012-PHOTOS---Latest-Fantasyland-construction-site-update.htm

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From Chip and Co...

Video: Dumbo’s Storybook Circus Testing

Wednesday, January 4, 2012 Chip

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Dumbo Storybook Circus was ride testing today! This is part of the new Fantasyland expansion at Walt Disney World. Four Elephants were on the spinner, along with arms waiting for more. There will soon be double Dumbos in this area.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZkBQM6qM74&feature=player_embedded

Visit http://www.JeffLangeDVD.com or http://www.MouseSteps.com for more information.

http://www.chipandco...circus-testing/

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thanks for keeping this updated....its hard for me to stay around,...because of life...and the craving of the fort,...mainly the fort more so than the parks...but I'm trying to wait until they finish everything.....so this helps me see what's still left to be done, to curb the desire.... :) thanks again!!!!

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From WDW News Today. I didn't post every photo as there were a ton. If you want to see them all, check out the full post here...

http://wdwnewstoday.com/archives/8476

Adam Roth’s 1/6/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

Jan 7, 2012 by wdwntadmin ico_post_comments.pngNo Comments ico_post_date.png Posted under: Photo Reports, The Magic Kingdom

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday and has a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us (including a lot of New Fantasyland), so let’s take a look:

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Plenty of trees planted in New Fantasyland now, these will be staying

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Castle wall construction

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PROGRESS!

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Prince Eric’s castle is coming along nicely

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Another look at the Castle Walls

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A look at Maurice’s Cottage

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Work on the new Dumbo queue

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The tower that Goofini will crash through is coming along as well

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Belle’s Village

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Mermaid rock-work

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Bonjour Village Gifts

The Barnstormer building looks great off in the distance

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If you look in the bottom right, you can see the Dumbo title “D” clearly on the new spinner

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Hopefully this will be cleaned up and ready to open next month

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This area will take a little longer…

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More of Belle’s Village

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A better look at barnstormer and the top of the new Dumbo

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They have practically rebuilt these tents from scratch at this point

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The Be Our Guest restaurant building

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Work continues on the facade of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

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A lot of construction workers out and about

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Maurice’s Cottage, home to Enchanted Tales with Belle

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It's going to be pretty exciting times when the Fantasyland expansion is completed. Is Disney expecting a huge increase in MK attendance? They must be. Why do I think that?

The rumor, nothing official, is that the bus fleet is going to grow immensely in the next two years. Hundreds of drivers are being trained now. They are looking for bus trainers to train the new drivers.

Recession, what recession?

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Have they tapped you yet to train the newbies

The training program is horrible. I couldn't believe how poorly trained I was when I started driving and the process hasn't changed. It's pretty much on the job training after the formal training.

That explains why there are so many mistakes and inconsistencies with the new drivers and some of the veterans as well.

on how to cram as many people as possible in (and on) the bus?

You can't be trained for that. That's a talent that's acquired over time.

My signature move when people are clogging the aisle, something about staying with their family, is to stop boarding, open the rear door, walk outside to the rear door because that's the only way to get back there, and tell people, I don't ask, to move all the way back. I think families can stand to be apart for 15 minutes. The people who couldn't get on because other selfish people wouldn't move to the rear when asked, show their appreciation when I return to the front because they won't have to wait for the next bus. Most other drivers pack the bus, but I don't think they exit the bus and walk to the rear.

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