Countdown to 'Beauty and the Beast' #8

Magical Monday- Gaston's Tavern at the Magic Kingdom

When the New Fantasyland expansion opened in December 2012, a large portion of the area was dedicated to Beauty and the Beast with Enchanted Tales with Belle, Be Our Guest restaurant, and Gaston's Tavern. Guests walking up to the tavern are first greeted by a fountain, which is a tribute to Gaston and gift to the village people (from Gaston himself). The restaurant itself, which serves quick-service snacks, lived up to the song and uses antlers in all its decorating, including a grand chandelier and the frame of Gaston's portrait. Gaston's Tavern also features a signature drink called LeFou's Brew (YUMMY!) that comes in one of two souvenir cups (you can never have too many!).

Check out the official Disney menu and a walk through of the tavern below.


Watchful Wednesday- Tamara Drewe (Luke Evans)

Based on the comic by Posy Simmonds, Tamara Drewe is a modern re-telling of Thomas Hardy's classic novel, Far from the Madding Crowd starring Gemma Arterton as the titular character. Directed by Academy Award nominee Stephen Frears (The Queen), the film also stars Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Tamsin Greig, and Roger Allam.

Countdown to 'Beauty and the Beast' #4

Magical Monday- Enchanted Tales with Belle at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

"Take me back to the day Belle and Beast fell in love!" If you are a fan of Beauty and the Beast, then New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom park is probably at the top of your Disney wish list. From the Be Our Guest restaurant to Gaston's Tavern, the area of Belle's Village is an immersive experience for any Disney guest. Also located in the village is Enchanted Tales with Belle, where guests can visit Maurice's cottage and travel through a magic mirror to the Beast's castle. The interactive show, which officially opened on December 6, 2012, allows kids and adults to take part in a retelling of Belle and Beast's story narrated by Lumiere and complete with an appearance by Belle herself.

Although the attraction itself is entertaining, you will not begrudge some of the wait time, if only to have the chance to explore Maurice's cottage. Here you can see several nods to the animated classic, as well as some charming new touches to Belle's story. One of my favorites is the painting of Belle and her mother hanging in the living room. I also love the wood carving of Belle and Beast tucked away on a high shelf in Maurice's workshop, which is actually a small scale model for the large music box in the Rose Gallery room of the Be Our Guest restaurant.

Josh Gad meets Gaston at the Magic Kingdom

Josh Gad recently headed down to my neck of the woods to visit the Walt Disney World Resort. While at the Magic Kingdom, Gad met up with Gaston in front of the tavern and had a few things to say about the upcoming Frozen ride at Epcot and Beauty and the Beast (jump to the 1:00 mark).

Source: Disney Parks Blog