Field Trips with Sue

The Grand Opening Festivities for New Fantasyland at Walt Disney World

This morning was a Field Trips with Sue morning on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta and we talked about some of the major changes at Walt Disney World’s New Fantasyland. Here’s a recap.

The first Field Trips with Sue segment (click the link to see the segment) was about the Re-imagined test track and the new Splitsville Bowling Lanes.

• Re-Imagined Test Track: What could be better than swerving through ice and snow and barreling around hairpin turns at 64 miles an hour?  Getting to design the vehicle you ride in.  That’s the premise of the re-imagined test track. You become an auto designer. Although the ride itself is basically the same, there are two different experiences during the pre-show. For fast pass riders, you choose a car to test. For Standby riders, you can actually design your car.
• Splitsville: For those looking for something beyond theme parks, Downtown Disney added a new luxury bowling alley called Splitsville. It’s pretty glitzy too, not like Midtown Bowl where we normally go. It includes two levels of lanes, bars and restaurant including a sushi bar. Bowling balls even have Mickey on them.  Of course.

The next Field Trips with Sue segment (click the link to see the segment) was all about New Fantasyland. Disney has really gone back to their roots as premier storytellers and the New Fantasyland takes guest into the storybooks.

•  Be Our Guest Restaurant: This is my favorite new addition. It’s a replica of the Beast’s Castle. Walk across the bridge, past the gargoyles and through Iron gates. There are three main rooms where you can eat, the ballroom, which is where Belle and the Beast dance with gorgeous chandeliers and coffered ceilings, the forbidden West Wing, which is very dark and you can see the rose with pedals falling and the Rose Room where Belle and Beast dance on a music box. The castle makes you want to don a big yellow dress and dance with a beast! If you don’t want to eat at the restaurant, Disney offers sneak peak tours from park opening until 10 am.
• Gaston’s Tavern:
  
  

  Be sure to find Gaston when you visit Fantasyland. He’s the best new character and his Tavern is worth a peek, or even lunch. The LeFou’s Brew is a frozen concoction of apple juice and a hint of toasted marshmallow.

  My second favorite addition is Gaston’s Tavern, and that’s because that’s where you’ll find the pompous, conceited and hysterically funny Gaston. He is by far the best new character at Walt Disney World. His Tavern is quite manly, decorated mostly with antlers. This is also where you can get a Le Fou’s Brew, which is Dinsey’s answer to the Harry Potter Butter Beer. The foam on top is really sweet, but the frozen apple juice concoction underneath is pretty good.

• Dumbo: Parents of young children will love the new Dumbo ride. It’s now actually two rides, so the line goes twice as fast, which is a shame – because I can see kids crying because they want to stay in the queue. Now instead of waiting in a long hot line, you get a pager and let the kids play in a Dumbo themed playground with slides, and cargo nets. Best news for summer visitors, it’s also air conditioned!