As you explore the many things that Orlando has to offer, you come across the option of traveling to the happiest place on Earth, Walt Disney World! The choice that lies before you is which park to choose? How about wonderful Epcot with its Food and Wine festival? Would you be more tempted to time travel through the world of movies at Hollywood Studios? Or are you feeling a little more adventurous and would rather hang with the animals at Animal Kingdom? None of the above? Never fear – Magic Kingdom is here! As the ideas of Magic Kingdom swoops into your mind to save the day and relieve you of any more decisions, you realize that your work is still not done!
Within the Magic Kingdom park are three different dimensions that are waiting to be explored. The first is Adventureland, home to Jack Sparrow as he creates mischief in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride; and Brer Rabbit, in Frontierland, who has been kidnapped by Brer Fox who wants to cook him into soup on Splash Mountain! Traveling through time and space on Space Mountain, we come across the third part of the park, Tomorrowland, where we fight alongside Buzz Lightyear to stop the evil Emperor Zerg from taking over the Universe! Though these two dimensions are great, they’ve been the same for some time now -- same ol’ rides year after year.
Now Fantasyland is where it’s at! This part of the park is my absolute favorite even though it’s geared toward kids 3-10 years old. Renovations are being done throughout Fantasyland and the Walt Disney corporation is sparing no expense. The Mad Tea Party spinning tea cups, inspired by Alice in Wonderland’s Mad Hatter and his crazy tea friends, is currently being updated. Near the tea cups sits the Winnie the Pooh which used to be named Winnie the Pooh’s Honey Pot ride, and is now called The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Also, remember soaring with Dumbo the Flying Elephant next to the Carousel? I hope so because all you have now are the memories; the Dumbo ride has been taken out completely. This same loss has occurred with Snow White’s ride, Snow White’s Scary Adventures. In its place will be the Princess Fantasy Hall where children will be able to get their pictures taken and their autograph books signed by their favorite Disney princesses.
These few things are only the small changes that Disney is making. The real enhancement is the new extension to the park. This addition includes the tales of Beauty and the Beast, the Little Mermaid and the reintroduction of the story of Snow White. The entrance to the new part of Fantasyland was meant to look like the entry way to a castle and they did a great job with it -- clever idea and successful execution.
Walking past these castle walls, you are greeted on your left by a friendly Disney employee waving people into one of the new attractions, Enchanted Tales with Belle. Ever been to Epcot and experienced “Turtle Talk with Crush” inspired by the Disney Pixar movie Finding Nemo? Same concept, except in this interactive show, Belle has the audience act out parts of Beauty and the Beast. It includes tourists of all ages, adults playing the more mature roles. Honestly, I’d rather have my teeth pulled than sit through that.
Continuing onward is Be Our Guest, the newest and most popular restaurant in Walt Disney World. Be Our Guest, as the name suggests, was inspired by the movie Beauty and the Beast. You must cross over the castle bridge to reach this restaurant which has three dining rooms within the castle including the Grand Ballroom, the Forbidden West Wing and the Enchanted Rose Room, each seats about 550 people. The hostesses are stationed outside, beside the bridge and as my mom and I strode towards them, we were welcomed with friendly smiles and an enthusiastic “Bonjour!” We proceeded to ask about dinner reservations (mind you it was seven o’clock at night, so our hopes weren’t high) and were politely told that they had no more reservations for the night and were in fact taking reservations for November! Long story short, if you haven’t booked a spot six months in advance, you’re S.O.L.
If unable to dine at the castle, you are banished to Gaston’s Tavern. From the outside, it looks like a place for adults to grab a pint and shoot the shit just like the scene in the movie suggests. However, contrary to its appearance, it is merely a small place to grab a snack, having only a few things on the menu hummus and chips, mixed fruit, and sliced apples with caramel. Basically, for you health-conscience people who haven’t saved up your calories for Disney’s greasy, fat-filled foods, this is a decent alternative if you’re in need of a grab-n-go treat.
A single gift-shop, called Village Gifts, is located next to Gaston’s. Beauty and the Beast wine glasses and cheesy t-shirts with Gaston on them that read “The ladies love me” line the walls. It also offers a painting of the castle at the basement bargain price of $2,200.
The only ride available in this new extension is Under the Sea: The Journey of the Little Mermaid. Guests ride a clamshell car as they have an “underwater” experience through the tale of Ariel as she sings of her longing to walk on land and be “a part of that world”. We are greeted by dancing fish when Sebastian sings about how wonderful living under the sea is. Villan Ursula tells us of her evil plans of granting the wishes of “poor unfortunate souls” in return for something precious that the wisher holds dear. Continuing through, we see Ariel and Eric on their first date and then the ride abruptly ends with the two getting married and living happily ever after… WHERE IS CLIMAX! Because this ride is geared toward 3 - 5-year-olds it would explain why they skipped the part about Eric killing Ursula and saving the day. Though The Little Mermaid was my favorite movie as a child and I’ve been wishing that Disney would make a ride out of the movie, I was highly disappointed by how they went about granting my wish.
Overall, this extension was a bit of a disappointment. I was unable to eat at the fancy restaurant because I didn’t call in six months ago. Gaston’s Tavern was a lie; and The Little Mermaid ride was not even worth the amount of time I waited in line. The worst part was that the only part of the extension that looked intriguing has yet to be finished. The reintroduction of the tale of Snow White comes in a rollercoaster-sized package. The Seven Dwarves Mine Train will be a high-speed adventure through the diamond mines from the movie. Because this is a rollercoaster, this ride has promise and I can’t imagine it making the extension any worse than it already is.
