Looming over the whole of Disneyland is
The Beast's Enchanted Castle, a magical yet ominous fortress that will create a new standard for Disney theme-park castles. Instead of being accessable directly from Main Street, the castle will sit on a craggy outcrop covered with small stands of trees and waterfalls. From the Hub, a large wrought iron gate becons guest to enter the Beast's lair. After a trek across a large stone bridge, which overlooks a seemingly bottomless pit (covered in a everpresent mist), travelers will reach the large wooden doors that always are open to the curious traveler. The first thing one will see is a large entrance hall. On either side, two magnificent archways lead to two stately dens complete with roaring fireplaces and numerous seating areas while at the end of the foyer, an enormous staircase leads to yet an even more impressive antechamber. The enchanted objects from the film can often be found milling about this area.
While no rides can be found within the castle walls, the main attraction will surely drive guests out of their minds. Located in the right anteroom is the
Once Upon A Time Theater, which holds a nightly show titled
"Beauty and the Beast". Unlike Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage at Disney's Hollywood Studios, this show will be totally true to the Broadway original and will be a seperate ticket event.
For those who walk upstairs, there are three ways one can go. A hallway to the right leads guests to the legendary ballroom from the film, which holds
The Enchanted Rose, an elegant restaurant that gives diners the ultimate dining experience. The eatery, which mirrors Victoria & Alberts in both pricing and dress code, will offer the best cuisine found on the entire property. Dinner will be the only meal served here. The highlight of the evening will be the appearance of Belle and the Beast themselves who invite guests to join them in a romantic dance across the ballroom, which overlooks the sparkling lights of Main Street, U.S.A. and the scenic beauty of Frontierland.
If family fare is more your style, the hallway to the right takes guests to
Lumiere's, a fanciful establishment that offers guests three magical meals daily. Note that the balcony seating for the "Beauty and the Beast" show can also be found along this walkway. Food will be American fare with a fairy tale spin. Breakfast and Lunch will feature appearances by ten various storybook characters ranging from Snow White and Cinderella to Alice and Peter Pan. Dinner will feature the enchanted objects (Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, etc.). At the beginning of the meal, guests will meet them in their fanciful form, but by the end of the meal, they will have become human again. Belle and the Beast will greet guests in the restaurant lobby, which is found in a goregous throne room. A twisting flight of stairs (or elevator if you prefer) will take you up to the dining hall, a bright and beautiful mead hall.
If you choose to opt out of a meal in the castle, one can instead walk straight ahead into the magnificent chamber holding
The Beast's Enchanted Castle Resort & Spa lobby. This new concept, which will revolutionize the concept of a Disney Resort will immerse guests in a fairy tale world unlike any other destination in history. The main floor holds the check in desks as well as a large lobby full of period furnishings and beautiful decor. On the backwall, the multi-tiered rooms will be visible to those below. While most of the rooms will be offered to the general public, one fourth of them will be given to Disney Interns and random park guests (free of charge) throughout the day. Each suite will feature lavish sleeping quarters and state-of-the-art technology and while some traditional hotel amenities will not be offered, there is plenty to make up for it. Select rooms will look out into the park while others can hold up to eight guests. An exclusive pool and spa along with a private dining room will be bestowed upon guests as well as access to parts of the castle (i.e.
Belle's Library and
The West Wing) that the average park guests will not be able to explore. One can also take advantage of a unique kids club that gives luckly children the opportunity to experience a special guided tour of the castle.
Unlike Cinderella Castle and Sleeping Beauty Castle before it, The Beast's Enchanted Castle will provide a less than simple passage to Fantasyland. The way to reach it will be by way of an enchanting labyrinth known as
Fairy Tale Gardens. The garden can be accessed right as you walk in the castle. On eitherside of the main wall (right before you reach the two den areas), two small archways leading to two seperate spiral staircases lead guests to a breezeway that looks out onto the Hub of Main Street. If one chooses to venture to the left, one will find
Storybook Grove, where Belle holds an interactive show everyday detailing the story of "Beauty and the Beast". (This will be a great alternative for families who could not get tickets to the stageshow.) While the show offered is enchanting, it is essentially a dead end. Note: While Fantasyland is not directly accessible from here, Tomorrowland is. To reach it, two sets of stairs leading down the side of the garden will take you there. To reach Fantasyland, guests need to take the hallway to the right, which deposits guests on the first-tier of the multi-level garden. Located at the base of the ballroom, which is surrounded by numerous rosebushes, this area is the perfect place to interact with some of your favorite Disney characters. A flight of stairs leads walkers to the second level. Here, one will find the gateway to Fantasyland. A third-tier holds The Disneyland Stables, which houses numerous furry friends, including the horses that pull the trolleys on Main Street. Subsequently, this area serves as a secret entrance to Frontierland.
Now that I have covered the castle, it is time to enter the most magical realm of Disneyland. Yeah folks, it's off to Fantasyland. Here is a picture of the castle that will make it easier to visualize the castle. This would be the view of the castle from the Adventureland and Frontierland side.
http://www.randysouders.com/beautybeast.jpg