That is my favorite thing about all of Walt Disney's creations. There is always something new mixed in with the classics. Some traditions remain the same, but some are meant to evolve.
Our yearly trip to experience the happiest place on earth is a tradition that will never change, but the parks are constantly evolving to enhance the Disney magic. While I always love all of the classic rides and shows, I had most people asking me about the new experiences - MagicBands featuring FastPass+, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Be Our Guest Restaurant and New Fantasy Land in general.
New Fantasy Land is the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom park. So naturally each year I've loved seeing all of the progress! This was the first year that all of the advertised expansion projects have been completed, and I immediately booked a FastPass+ to ride the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train!
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Review:
The new audio-animatronic technology enhances the dwarfs' characters with expressions portraying their unique personalities which adds a realistic approach to the ride. This was my highlight! The second our mine train entered into the dark-ride portion of the coaster I was in awe. I have always been a fan of the dark rides and this took it to a whole new level. The jewels are sparkling, the dwarfs are singing - it is Disney magic at it's finest!
The Criticism:
The 3-minute ride length felt far too short as most of the rides in the park seem to have a longer length. I do know that the Big Thunder Mountain railroad is listed as the same ride time; however, since Big Thunder Mountain Railroad does not have the same hybrid dark ride portion as the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, I personally thought that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad felt longer. I think I was expecting more of a Splash Mountain dark-ride portion rather than the short glimpse riders receive.
The Wait Time:
The approximate wait time to experience Walt Disney's 1937 classic, Snow White, in a modern hybrid ride ranged from 55-60 minutes when the park first opened up to 120 minutes in the heat of the day.
The Conclusion:
I enjoyed the attention to detail portrayed in the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but factoring in the long wait and short ride. I would only ride this again with a FastPass+ or a 25-minute wait. However, if you haven't experienced it, definitely ride it at least once during your Disney World trip!
Be Our Guest Restaurant Review:
I LOVED the Be Our Guest Restaurant. They are now open for lunch and the price difference is quite significant - which is a plus for experiencing Disney on a budget. Their dinner prices can run upwards of $60 per person, whereas Ryan and I ate lunch for $30 total.
The castle's detail is fantastic. I felt like we were actually stepping into the Beauty and the Beast movie. The menu is a bit fancier than your average quick service restaurant, featuring items like a Croque Monsieur, Braised Pork, and Carved Prime Chuck Roast Beef sandwich among others. You aren't going to find a cheeseburger at this location! Once you pick out your main dish, take a look at the desserts - the downside to the lunch menu is that you can't order "The Grey Stuff" on a platter like you can from the dinner menu, but if you order The Master's Cupcake it does feature Lumiere's delicious "Grey Stuff" as the frosting.
Once you order and pay at the quick service-style counter that is where the quick-service ends and you pick out your seat. I highly recommend skipping past the two-story main dining hall and finding a spot in The Rose Room or the West Wing. If you can't find a spot, be sure to walk over and at least see the famous rose! If you are utilizing the new MagicBands the waitstaff will know exactly where to find you from the GPS-like RF Technology located inside of the MagicBand. There they will deliver your meal on real china and assist you with anything else you may need. Once you're finished, there is no need to throw away a tray as the waitstaff comes by to take care of all the clean up. I highly recommend this upgraded quick-service meal!
Overall New Fantasy Land Review:
New Fantasy Land is a great update to the former area! People of all age can appreciate the new land. Parents will appreciate the purposefully retro feel of the Storybook Circus while younger fans will love meeting the classic characters in the big top tent, riding the kid-friendly rides, and playing in Casey Jr.'s Splash 'N' Soak Station. My favorite ride in this area is still Under the Sea - Ariel's Journey! The bright colors and movie songs really make this ride a family favorite and do-not-miss ride while in New Fantasy Land.
MagicBand Review:
I loved the MagicBand. I think the Disney company has really stepped up their technology game, and this is the latest and greatest. Our customized MagicBands came in the mail 2-3 weeks before our trip, and we put them on as soon as we got off the airplane. From there, we no longer needed anything else as all of our information regarding The Disney Magical Express (our free transportation from MCO to Disney property), our hotel reservation at Caribbean Beach, park tickets, FastPass+ selections, food reservations, photo pass and departing flight information was all stored on this band. It has multiple uses as your park pass, credit card, and room key.
My favorite part about the RF technology used in the bands was that my MagicBand knew which rides I was on without scanning it at all. At the end of the day, I could see all of my photos from rides, PhotoPass photographers, and dinner all by scanning my personalized MagicBand. It works in the parks, hotels, Downtown Disney and even in the Disney Store and Magical Express at the airport.
And remember to download Disney World's refurbished new app, "My Disney Experience" which allows you to make reservations on the go, change and make FastPass selections, and see current ride wait times. Ryan and I were skeptical after trying to use their first version of the app, but after using this we're fans - nice work Disney World!
TIP: You are only allowed to book three FastPass+ reservations per day, but once you use those you can go to any FastPass station and get additional passes until all reservations are full.
Thanks for reading along about a few of the new aspects of Disney World's Magic Kingdom!
