We are counting down to the debut of the biggest expansion in Tokyo Disneyland's history. Last week, Jim Clark and Ted Robledo from Walt Disney Imagineering talked about Tomorrowland's new spinner ride — Disney's first-ever attraction based on Big Hero 6. Today, the design pros tell us about the new Belle's Village section in Fantasyland.
In addition to showing us Gaston's Tavern and Maurice's cottage, the new area is home to Beast's Castle and the new Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast trackless dark ride. Check out the video for some first live looks inside the new area.
The new attractions open at Tokyo Disneyland on September 28.
Update: Apparently the ride has soft-opened because the first POVs are showing up on YouTube.
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Aspects of this attraction look very cool, however the timing/pacing of it all seems really slow. Maybe it's a function of the attraction still going through its shakedown period, but the vehicles do a lot of dancing around each room with very little else physically happening save for the soundtrack playing out. The first room (dining room) progresses nicely as the scene plays out and the number of items on the table grows, but the rest of the rooms have very little plotting/progression in the scenes as each song plays out. What should be a single lap around the room to give each vehicle an up-close look at each part of the scene turns into a 3-4x do-si-do forcing guests to see the same thing multiple times with little changing in the interim.
Again, it could be the soft-opening and testing/spacing causing this or it could be the camera angles not accurately showing the rooms changing as the scenes progress. However, most of the sets and scenes are very beautifully presented and the attraction as a whole is very lovely.
The village looks fantastic! As for Enchanted Tale, it’s a nice plussed attraction with a clear emphasis on the music of Beauty and the Beast. The ride vehicles are impressive and large. Overall, it’s an 8-minute ride through five show scenes and a nice preshow to boot. Another well done attraction by TDR!
Belle looks realistic enough to almost need to wear a face mask- yet she's smart enough to know to stay six feet away from Guests all the same! Obviously smart since she's now statused safely at Tokyo Disney Resort and not here in the U.S.A. where she'd likely be furloughed despite seniority due to her location not being open when the pandemic began- though she'd probably be adept at fighting state unemployment systems.
Glad to see this expansion entertaining Guests- shame it couldn't open on Tokyo Disneyland's April anniversary as planned, but unlike their Osaka rivals, Tokyo Disney's big 2020 draws are open despite the pandemic crisis and the postponement of the 2020 Olympics. Congrats to Oriental Land Company and WDI!
After watching the video, I will say that Beauty and the Beast looks more like a ride-through show than a proper dark ride, but either way it looks like a fantastic attraction that's superior to what we're seeing in the US. I will say that among Disney's trackless attractions, I still think Mystic Manor looks like the best they've put out. However, this one is very likely to overthrow Pooh's Hunny Hunt as the signature attraction of Tokyo Disneyland, and I look forward to experiencing it whenever I finally make it out to Japan.
Man some people are bitter.
This looks great though! Would expect nothing more from the best Disney Resort in the world!!
AJ- "Ride through show", well said !
It's kinda amazing to see how far technology has progressed. The animatronics look so good and the music is very captivating and moving. I really love the overall style of the attraction and I think Disney did a wonderful job with this attraction/ mini land. However apart from all of the advancements of technology and the music, I find this attraction to be a bit...pointless? Im not sure how to put it. I am excited to ride it one day and experience it but, it's just a rehash of the music and story. If you strip the style away, then what makes this ride memorable in terms of the experience? I agree with what Russel said. It seems that the vehicles just move around while you watch whatever is going on. You aren't really apart of the story. It's similar to the Little Mermaid attraction, where you're just there seeing the story but in real life. Like wheres Gaston? He could've been a great addition and could've added some stakes and color to the attraction. It still looks to be an amazing ride but, with Disney I kinda expected a bit more story.
I think is an excelent area autside and inside the castle!
Nice to see that animatronics are still being made that don't use projected faces.
A very padded ride that borrowed a lot from Efteling. But the AA's look nice.
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It looks awesome!