Character Meet and Greet Changes Coming to Walt Disney World

Some character meet and greet changes are happening at the most magical place on earth, mostly due to the New Fantasyland Expansion in the Magic Kingdom.

Beast will be greeting guests at Be Our Guest Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom prior to dinner ONLY.  This is a photograph opportunity as the Beast does not give autographs.  This makes sense as it is his castle, after all.

Marie from the Aristocrats will be leaving the France Pavilion in EPCOT and will be meeting guests in Town Square, near the flag pole, in the Magic Kingdom.  Marie is taking Daisy’s place as she is moving to the circus in the all new Pete’s Silly Circus in the Storybook Circus area of the New Fantasyland.  Note that the France Pavilion is currently under renovation with a new covered character meet and greet location coming soon.

Chip and Dale in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom

Donald will be joining Daisy in the circus and therefore will no longer be greeting guests in Frontierland.  Instead, guests will find Chip and Dale in Frontierland.  Chip and Dale will no longer be greeting guests in Tomorrowland.

Winnie the Pooh at the Magic of Disney Animation at Disney's Hollywood Studios

The Winnie the Pooh meet and greet in the Magic of Disney Animation at Holywood Studios will be transforming into an area to meet characters from Wreck It Ralph by November 1, 2012.

Winnie the Pooh at Character Landing in Disney's Animal Kingdom

Eeyore at Character Landing in Disney's Animal Kingdom

Tigger at Character Landing in Disney's Animal Kingdom

It is also rumored that the Character Landing at Animal Kingdom featuring the lovable Winnie the Pooh characters will be closing.  This means that guests will have fewer opportunities to meet the characters.  Tigger and Winnie the Pooh can be found at the United Kingdom Pavilion in EPCOT.  Tigger and Winnie the Pooh rotate with Piglet and Eeyore in the courtyard in front of the Sorcerer’s Hat at Hollywood Studios, and of course, all four characters can be found while dining at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom for any meal of the day.

Winnie the Pooh and Tigger in the United Kingdom Pavilion in EPCOT

Piglet in Hollywood Studios

Tigger and Eeyore in Hollywood Studios

Most of these changes will take place October 1, 2012, just in time for EPCOT’s 30^th Birthday!

Magic Kingdom--No Longer a "Dry" Park With Alcohol Added to Be Our Guest Menu

Disney fans have been waiting patiently for details of the Fantasyland Expansion attractions, shows, and restaurants.  So, when Be Our Guest started taking Advance Dining Reservations for dinner, the spaces filled up quickly. Just recently more details were released regarding the dinner menu which will feature beer and wine selections.  This seemingly minor decision has stared a firestorm of controversy as this will make alcohol available at the Magic Kingdom for the first time in history. 

The Magic Kingdom has been known as “dry” park since it opened in October of 1971 based on Walt Disney’s wishes that the Magic Kingdom be a family oriented park with families participating together—making memories, family memories.  He had seen alcohol being served at other fairs and carnivals where the adults sent the children off to play while they headed to the “beer tent” or other establishment that served alcohol.  That’s why Walt was adamant that the Magic Kingdom be alcohol free.

What made current Disney leadership make the decision to include alcohol as a part of the menu for Be Our Guest?  Reports indicate that the availability of wine and beer with dinner are a continuation of the “theme” for the restaurant; a part of the “story.” 

The other three Disney theme parks offer alcoholic beverages for purchase.  Guests at EPCOT have beverage stands at virtually every Nation pavilion in World Showcase and are welcome to promenade around World Showcase Lagoon while consuming an alcoholic beverage.  Restaurants have alcoholic beverages for sale as well.  Hollywood Studios sells alcohol at most restaurants and nearby some counter service locations.  Disney’s Animal Kingdom has similar offerings. 

It is my understanding that Be Our Guest will not offer “to go” options for the beer and wine served Be Our Guest during dinner, so guests should not see alcoholic beverages being consumed throughout the park.  This is similar to Club 33 in Disneyland.

Amazingly, I’m indifferent to this announcement.  The availability of alcoholic beverages does not change my feelings about Be Our Guest, the Magic Kingdom, or Disney in general.  Some feel that this decision is a “slap in the face” for Walt and does not “obey” is wishes.  Hmmm. . . well, the current design of EPCOT wasn’t his initial wish either, but we enjoy the park without scorning the fact that it isn’t Walt’s original design.

Can the availability of alcohol change a trip?  Well, other than the husband’s consumption of a beer or two at the Beirgarten in Germany, it doesn’t change our trips at all.  Though, we have seen the affect of alcohol on other guests and it isn’t pretty.  Cast Members have shared stories with us that indicate the same.

Will the decision to serve alcohol at Be Our Guest be reversed to the outcry of dedicated fans?  Doubtful.  Will there be expansion on the serving alcohol to Gaston’s Tavern?  Hopefully not, but the mighty dollar and guest demand may prove otherwise.  

Be Our Guest Restaurant Ready for Dining Reservations

It’s official!  Walt Disney World guests wishing to dine at Be Our Guest Restaurant, the Beauty and the Beast themed restaurant in the new Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom, will be able to make Advanced Dining Reservations on Monday, August 20, 2012, for dinner beginning November 19, 2012.

The opening of Be Our Guest Restaurant has had fans salivating at the opportunity to eat at the new restaurant in the Magic Kingdom.  Be Our Guest will feature a counter service meal for lunch with china plates—not paper, guest-activated terminals for ordering along with traditional cashiers.  Lunch will be served to you rather than you carrying lunch to your table. 

Dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant is table service with French inspired cuisine and three dining rooms—West Wing (not the White House) with the enchanted rose, the Rose Gallery with figures of Belle and the Beast, and the Ballroom with twinkling chandeliers.

Some speculated that Be Our Guest would offer character dining, but there was no need with the addition of many character meet, greets, and interactive opportunities slated for the new Fantasyland.

Guests wishing to make Advanced Dining Reservations beginning Monday, August 20, 2012, may do so by phoning 407-WDW-DINE.  On-line reservations will open on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.

Will you be dining at Be Our Guest?

Next Phase of Fantasyland Expansion to Open December 6, 2012

Walt Disney World fans have been waiting patiently to find out when the next phase of the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland expansion would be open for guests.  Well, the news is out and on December 6, 2012, guests will be able to ride Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid attraction, eat at Be Our Guest Restaurant, meet Belle at Enchanted Tales with Belle, visit Ariel’s Grotto, get a snack at Gaston’s Tavern, and shop for a souvenir at Bonjour! Village Gifts. 

Disney announced that previews of the above will begin on November 19, 2012.  I’m assuming this means “soft openings.”  Attractions or venues with soft openings means that the hours of availability will be less than normal and the number of guests able to ride/dine/shop will be limited.  This means that guests traveling during the Thanksgiving holiday may get a sneak peek!

Annual Passholders, Cast Member, and Disney Vacation Club Members will be able to get previews even earlier than Nov. 19, 2012.

For fans, this is big news.  Once the fences and walls went up in the Magic Kingdom due to construction the anticipation began and has grown ever since.  Of course, there is even more Fantasyland to be completed even after this phase is open.

What does this mean for us?  Will we be visiting the new attractions?  Not yet.  We would prefer to wait until the next phase is complete, but you never know. . . I’m sure we will hear, see, and read more about the new additions soon!