There is a lot to do and see in Disney World. You can ride rides, meet characters, eat great food, and bowl. Yes, I said bowl. Yesterday, in Downtown Disney, Splitsville officially opened. While I was there earlier this month, I got the chance to preview the new two story bowling alley.
The first story contains ten lanes and features a sushi bar, seating areas for eating, a shop, and a bar (of the drink variety).
Up the escalator is a second level of bowling alleys (twenty additional lanes), billiard tables, more seating for meals,
While I didn’t get to bowl (the lanes filled up quickly), I did get to wander around, try the food (very good), and take in the ambiance.
There are plenty of retro looking signs as Disney touches. When I ran into Steve Barrett (aka Hidden Mickey Guy), he pointed out a hidden Mickey on a painting of an orange on one wall.
My only warning with Splitsville would be regarding children with sensory issues. When we went, there was loud music playing upstairs. If this is to be a regular feature of Splitsville, families with sensory issues would be better off staying downstairs. No matter which level you stay on, though, Splitsville looks like it will be a very entertaining addition to Downtown Disney.
Disclosure: I was invited to the New Fantasyland media event December 5th through 7th. Disney paid for my travel, our park tickets, room, and a few other items. I was able to take B along as my guest, but we paid for her own travel as well as an extra night in the resort. The opinions expressed above are my own.
Yes, New Fantasyland has Belle, the Beast, Ariel, and more, but there’s someone else. A guy that’s admired above all others. A guy who awes and inspires. A guy whom all other guys would like to be, even when taking his lumps.
Of course, I’m speaking about Gaston.
Gaston might not have a castle, like Beast does, but he’s got a nice tavern in New Fantasyland.
In front, there’s a lovely fountain of Gaston and his number one supporter LeFou.
Of course, as Gaston would be quick to remind you, he uses antlers in all of his decorating.
Unfortunately, at the media event, we didn’t get to try Gaston’s food. We did get to sample his tavern’s signature drink: LeFou’s Brew. It’s a frozen apple juice drink with a hint of toasted marshmallow and topped with a passion fruit foam. I found this quite tasty. I could definitely see this cooling you down after a hot walk through New Fantasyland.
So if you find yourself in New Fantasyland, stop on by Gaston’s Tavern for a brew. If you’re lucky, Gaston himself might show up and grace you with his presence.
Disclosure: I was invited to the New Fantasyland media event December 5th through 7th. Disney paid for my travel, our park tickets, room, and a few other items. I was able to take B along as my guest, but we paid for her own travel as well as an extra night in the resort. The opinions expressed above are my own.
On the new version of Test Track at Disney World’s Epcot, you get to design your own car from the ground up and then see how it handles the testing course. In building your car, you need to balance four factors: Capability, Efficiency, Responsiveness, and Power. As you choose items, you might increase one section but decrease another.
When I built my car, I wound up pushing up the power section above all else. Plasma engine? Sure. Side and rear rocket boosters? Yes, please. Top electrical box that sort of reminded me of a flux capacitor? Ok, that one wasn’t for the power as much as the geek factor.
In the end, I came up with this vehicle:
My car wound up coming in first in all of the Test Track courses. Except for the environmental test. It came dead last there.
My Aloha Friday question for today is: Would you design your Test Track car for Capability, Efficiency, Responsiveness, or Power?
Disclosure: I was invited to the New Fantasyland media event December 5th through 7th. Disney paid for my travel, our park tickets, room, and a few other items. I was able to take B along as my guest, but we paid for her own travel as well as an extra night in the resort. The opinions expressed above are my own.
P.S. If you haven’t already, try out my Twitter applications: FollowerHQ and Rout.
Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.
When you walk into the new Fantasyland area of Walt Disney World, you are magically transported into the storybook land of Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Dumbo, and (in 2014) Snow White. As you enter, you pass by a humble cabin that belongs to an inventor named Maurice. Some (I’m looking at you Gaston) call him "crazy old Maurice", but Belle calls him father.
The entry room contains many reminders of the humble family that lives here, including this nice touch: a painting of a young Belle reading a book with her mother.
Leaving the entry room you enter Maurice’s workshop. Here are many of Maurice’s failed inventions, pressed into service for other uses or just saved in case he needs it in the future.
Your guide points out the one feature that seems completely out of place. A golden mirror hanging on the wall.
The Beast gave Maurice this mirror so he could see Belle at any time. Magically, the mirror stops showing reflections and instead rapidly travels through woods to the Beast’s castle. As it focuses on the doors, it grows bigger and then the doors open. At this time, you realize that the mirror has opened too. You step through and are no longer in Maurice’s cabin. You are now inside Beast’s castle and you meet up with the enchanted dresser.
The dresser is incredible. It really looks like the Disney Imagineers pulled her right out of the Beauty and The Beast movie and stuck her in the attraction. Her eyes are the most amazing feature. My guess is that they are LCD screens because they can’t possible be classic animatronics.
Dresser (and a cast member) ask you to help put on a play to surprise Belle. You will be recounting the time Belle and Beast fell in love. Parts are chosen and props are handed out. What impressed me here is that they have a large amount of props that can be given out. Even a group with a large amount of children will find parts for everyone who wants to participate.
With this completed, you are moved into another room. This one contains a mantle upon which rests Lumiere. He prepares everyone, dims the lights, and calls in Belle. And then in walks the Disney princess.
With everyone’s help, a play is put on, everyone marches around the room with Belle, and she poses for photos with the play’s "cast members." As an extra special present, she hands out bookmarks to people who had roles in the play.
I’d recommend this attraction to anyone. Even if you don’t participate, the entire experience was a lot of fun. I could see our kids having a blast. NHL has already said the he’d want to be the Beast. JSL loves putting on shows and would relish the audience (as well as getting to work with Lumiere and Belle). This is definitely destined to be an instant Disney World classic attraction.
Of course, words (and photographs without the flash since flash photography isn’t permitted) only go so far. Luckily, Attractions Magazine filmed an entire show and posted it on YouTube:
And that’s only the beginning of the magic that New Fantasyland has to offer.
Disclosure: I was invited to the New Fantasyland media event December 5th through 7th. Disney paid for my travel, our park tickets, room, and a few other items. I was able to take B along as my guest, but we paid for her own travel as well as an extra night in the resort. The opinions expressed above are my own.
There is a lot to do and see in Disney World. You can ride rides, meet characters, eat great food, and bowl. Yes, I said bowl. Yesterday, in Downtown Disney, Splitsville officially opened. While I was there earlier this month, I got the chance to preview the new two story bowling alley.
