Sound the alarm, grab your Mickey Mouse ears, and sprinkle some pixie dust. Everyone’s wish upon a star is coming true! Next year, Tokyo Disneyland’s newest expansion is opening! For three years there has been a blockade along the border of the park between Tomorrowland, Toontown, and Fantasyland. Now, come the park’s 37th birthday, on April 15th, the walls are coming down and the gates will open with two new rides, a new castle, restaurant, and plenty more.
To help future guests visualize and to promote the new expansion, Tokyo Disneyland released a CGI concept tour of the area. While not everything announced is shown, there is plenty to be excited for. The new area will be a magical time spent in Belle’s village. Plenty of noteworthy details are present, including Maurice’s cottage (said to be the FASTPASS ticketing counter), Gaston’s stone fountain, and even the spider carriage. Popular film landmarks will no doubt serve as photos ops for meet and greet with their respective characters.
While several other buildings are shown, there is no statement about what they’ll host. Surely there will be new merchandise shops and food carts. Yet, just like how the Wizarding World of Harry Potter isn’t complete without Ollivander’s Wands or the Three Broomsticks, it would be unfitting to recreate Belle’s village without her favorite bookstore or Gaston’s tavern.
With seven months to go before the grand opening, our fingers are crossed that the Imagineers will get everything just right.
The Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast
Just like the Magic Kingdom in Florida, Tokyo Disneyland will feature Prince Adam’s castle, from the iconic film, Beauty and the Beast. However, the castle will not serve as a landmark for Be Our Guest, a restaurant. Instead, Beast’s castle will be a new Tokyo exclusive ride called the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and Beast.
Operating on a similar formula to Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, this new attraction will be a trackless ride in teacup-shaped cars that move, spin, and bounce in tune with the film’s musical numbers. Guests will follow Belle through the story of the film. Most details of how expansive the ride experience will be are still unknown, but judging from previous Tokyo exclusives rides, this new attraction already has high expectations.
In December 2018, the park released a peek at the animatronics and construction report, but no new preview has since been shown.
Happy Ride with Baymax
Tomorrowland will be getting its own little addition with a new ride themed around everyone’s favorite healthcare companion, Baymax. The Big Hero 6 attraction details are still a little foggy, indicating that odds are it won’t be as extravagant as Space Mountain or Monster’s Inc. Ride and Go-Seek. Other than a few concept drawings and a new promotional image, very little is known. In a press statement, Oriental Land Co said:
Guests can join their own personal healthcare companion for an exciting ride that swings them unpredictably round and round, will open in Tomorrowland along with a shop specializing in popcorn.
Disney park Imagineers have almost always delivered strongly, especially when it comes to rides based on popular films. Even if Happy Ride with Baymax isn’t a high-speed thrill ride through the skies of San Fansokyo, no doubt it will still have guests leaving with a smile.
Fantasyland Forest Theatre
Into the woods, it’s time to go! Fantasyland will be getting a new theatre just a short leap into the forest from Beast’s castle. Details of the show have yet to be revealed, but there are some theories to be had. Since Mickey’s Philharmonic Magic is already a permanent show in Fantasyland, the new Forest Theatre could see periodically recycled productions and seasonal/annual specials. This could be done in part to promote future films, park anniversaries, or holiday specials. It seems plausible as press statements say:
Guests will find Fantasyland Forest Theatre, the first full-scale indoor theater at Tokyo Disneyland with live entertainment featuring the Disney Friends.
While Mickey, Donald, and Goofy appear in the promotional art, and will for certain appear in stage productions, there is no mention of which Disney Friends guests will see. Also, if this is to be as grand an establishment as they say, hosting only a single show would feel like a bit of a missed opportunity. Depending on show length, cast members, stagehands, and the park’s 14-hour daily operation times, it’s not 100% out of the question for shows to be seasonally rotated, with possibly even two different shows every day.
Minnie’s Style Studio
Last but not least, Toontown is getting a new attraction that will serve as a new photo spot with Minnie Mouse. Concept art shows Minnie wearing matching dresses with guests, which could indicate that kids will be allowed to borrow pre-selected costumes and pose alongside the cast member in photo productions. While it is described as a new character greeting facility, odds are that it won’t feature anyone other than Minnie and related characters, Mickey, Daisy, and possibly Pluto.
With the Olympics and Disneyland expansion happening next year, Japan will be entering the new decade as a powerhouse, full of magic.
Sources: Oriental Land Co.
