Guests of Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World this week have gotten a little more than they bargained for. Rather than wistfully staring at construction walls and wondering what’s taking place behind them, some lucky folks are actually getting the chance to step behind the veil of the Fantasyland Expansion.
In what Disney is calling a “dress rehearsal,” guests in the popular park yesterday got to experience some of the soon-to-be open attractions for the first time. While Be Our Guest restaurant remains closed, visitors were able to ride Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid and experience the interactive Enchanted Tales with Belle attraction. Guests gave high marks to the new area, even commenting that the interactive queue for The Little Mermaid ride made the 30 minute wait time bearable. “They made the queue very interactive so you never feel like you’re standing in a long line,” remarked New Jersey resident and annual passholder Irene Ng.
The Fantasyland Expansion, the largest in the park’s history, is opening in phases. Earlier this year, the first new area of Storybook Circus opened, and includes themeing from the classic Disney film, Dumbo. The area which celebrates Beauty and the Beast, including Maurice’s Cottage, Gaston’s Tavern, and Beast’s Castle, will join The Little Mermaid ride in a “soft opening” scheduled for November 19. A grand opening celebration for the newest attractions will take place on December 6.
Photo copyright Disney.
