It has been reported by The Hollywood Reporter that a prequel spin-off series to the 2017 live-action “Beauty and the Beast” is currently in development.
To make this news even more exciting, it has been confirmed that the series will star Luke Evans and Josh Gad, reprising their roles as Gaston and LeFou. While no further information has been released regarding storylines or setting, just the thought of having LeFou and Gaston in a series is enough to sell us. Will it be the story of how the best buds met? Will it document what Gaston was like when he only ate four dozen eggs every morning? The possibilities are endless.
The series is currently in the early development stages, but has been confirmed for Disney+. It will be a six-part musical series, with Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz co-writing, along with Josh Gad himself. While no other stars are currently reported as attached to the movie, such as Emma Watson or Dan Stevens, Alan Menken is in talks to return to compose the score.
Nothing quite sets the mood of a World Showcase pavilion (or any pavilion at EPCOT) like its background music.
At the France pavilion in EPCOT, a number of changes are underway, from a massive expansion to accommodate for the upcoming Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction, to the introduction of an all-new “Beauty and the Beast” Sing-Along coming to the Palais du Cinema alongside the return of the classic “Impressions de France.” All over EPCOT, it’s old meets new as pavilions are transformed and renovated for the future of the park.
Just this morning, the France pavilion received a new music loop with various songs from Disney movies, like “Be Our Guest” and “Human Again” from Beauty and the Beast, “The Aristocats” from the 1970 The Aristocats movie, and even a few chansons that sound right out of Ratatouille.
Here is a Video of the background music courtesy of wdwmagic.
“Get ready to step into a tale as old as time when you enter the new Enchanted Rose lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. As of today, this beautiful addition to the resort is now open!
Inspired by the magic and romance of Disney’s popular live-action movie, “Beauty and the Beast,” the lounge features four unique gathering spaces inspired by Belle and the Beast with elegance around every corner. Above the main bar, you’ll take in the sights of a gorgeous chandelier inspired by Belle’s flowing golden ball gown, while the library showcases classical baroque designs and French furnishings.
A garden room takes its inspiration from the enchanted forest surrounding the castle, and an outdoor patio evokes the romance of Beast’s garden terrace.
I recently shared a few details about the menu, which features a variety of delectable, shareable bites like artisanal cheeses, a house-made flatbread, short rib sliders, and even white sturgeon caviar. The lounge’s focal point is its library of wines. Sit back, relax and enjoy charming wines from around the world served by the ounce, glass, or bottle. Champagne, beer, and cider will also be available along with tableside cocktails.
While browsing the menu, you can read about a story of love that inspired the Amour cocktail. There’s also a story of envy to accompany the Envie cocktail. Brian Koziol, Master Sommelier, states “Our tales of tableside cocktails are a contrast of each other. The Amour is an elegant vodka cocktail featuring notes of citrus, pear, and flowers with a slightly sweet taste, while characteristics of the apple brandy Envie showcase apples, herbs, and bitters with a potent taste.”
Starting today, Enchanted Rose is now open! Guests can find it on the second floor of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
After the closure of Mizner’s Louge early this year, we’ve been eagerly awaiting more details of a new Beauty and the Beast themed lounge coming to Disney’s Grand Floridian Spa & Resort. Disney has released the lounge’s name and concept art, and also shared some menu items.
Here are the details from a Disney cast member;
“We recently announced a new “Beauty and the Beast”-inspired lounge coming to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Today, I have even more exciting news to share – including an official name as well as menu details.
Located on the second floor of the lobby, this re-imagined lounge will be called Enchanted Rose and will celebrate the magic and romance of Disney’s popular live-action movie. Featuring four unique spaces inspired by Belle and the Beast, you’ll find charm and elegance around every corner. The lounge includes a chandelier inspired by Belle’s flowing ball gown as well as a formal library that will showcase classical baroque designs and French furnishing. A garden room will take its inspiration from the enchanted forest surrounding the castle, and an outdoor patio will evoke the romance of Beast’s garden terrace.
Enchanted Rose will feature a delicious menu with a variety of shareable bites. Snack on an artisanal cheese selection with pine nut bread and raisins or enjoy an exquisite dish of white sturgeon caviar served with egg timbale, crème fraiche, and chives.
In addition, you could try the Mini Smoked Short Rib Sliders with glacier blue cheese and onion marmalade on brioche buns. Or if seafood is more your style, you can order the Espelette Pepper-Spiced Shrimp or Octopus a la Plancha with black olives, blistered tomatoes, and fingerling potatoes. There’s also the Crab and Gnocchetti Gratin, which comes with jumbo lump crab, gnocchetti sardi, robiola bosina mornay, and citrus breadcrumbs.
Other options include truffle fries as well as a house-made flatbread pizza featuring charred broccolini, seasonal mushrooms, fennel sausage, ricotta salata, and tomato confits.
On the beverage menu is a variety of beverages including cocktails and martinis as well as spirits, beer, cider and even a few non-alcoholic options for guests of all ages. Featured cocktails include beverages such as the Island Rose with grapefruit and rose vodka, lime, orgeat, pineapple, bitters, and rose water. You can also sip on the Lavender Fog (dry gin, crème de violette, English breakfast tea, vanilla, and cream) or the Garden Daisy (tequila, midori, lime, egg white, and cucumber). The lounge will also be pouring an extensive collection of wine and Champagne by the glass.
Non-alcoholic options include a Garden Cocktail (non-alcoholic spirit, lime juice, agave nectar, and soda) as well as the B&B (fresh-brewed iced tea, lemon, blueberry, and basil) and the Rosemary Cooler (Odwalla lemonade, vanilla, and rosemary).”
Enchanted Rose will open this fall at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
I LOVE Hollywood Studios!!! Some of my favorite shows, rides, and restaurants are there. Plus, with the addition of Toy Story Land and, soon to be open, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, I am literally salivating to get back to WDW to see the new attractions. This park has some of the more unique attractions that you don’t necessarily associate with being Disney.
A lot of people have a negative opinion of this park when comparing it to Magic Kingdom or Epcot. It does not have the typical Disney nostalgic feeling. It does not have a heavy variety of rides like the Magic Kingdom. It does not have the plethora of the dining options of Epcot. However, what it does have are a combination of attractions, shows, and dining options that balance the park perfectly.
Since visiting for the first time in 2010, Hollywood Studios has underwent a tremendous amount of change. Some of these were necessary to accommodate the changes that needed to be made to enhance the park, some are a little bit harder to get over.
While the addition of the “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away” is a decent stage show that recognizes the characters of the movie franchise, and the March of the First Order is a neat thing to witness down the streets of HS, they still do not take the place of Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat, that was a staple of the Hollywood Studios landscape.
So here are my top 5 reasons why Hollywood Studios is my favorite Disney park.
The ShowsI
I believe Hollywood Studios has the best combination of shows of any park at WDW. While the park does not have the ride attractions of some of the other parks, although with the additions of Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge that changes, every one of the shows there is an enjoyable time.
The “Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular” is my favorite show to visit each trip to Hollywood Studios. Between the pyrotechnics, the choreography of the stunts and the comedic spots during the course of the show itself, this show takes the audience inside some of the best scenes from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (which, btw, is the best movie of the franchise, in my humble opinion).
Another show that I enjoy visiting is “For the First Time in Forever; A Frozen Sing-along Celebration”. I know what you are thinking, but no. I do not sing along. This is a fun show for the kids to sing along to all of the frozen songs but also get a hilarious history lesson from the official Royal Historians of Arendelle.
“Beauty and The Beast – Live on Stage” brings the classic tale to life in the open-air Theater of the Stars on Sunset Boulevard. This broadway-style show has been giving audiences a shortened version of the Disney movie since the park opened in 1989.
Beauty and The Beast
In “Muppetvision 3D”, you are treated to a 3D show that is more than just that. There are different times where the screen becomes just a piece of the overall theater and the theater itself comes to life, with Statler and Waldorf doing their typical heckling from the booth above and a cannon shot from the screen to the back revealing bricks and a hole in the back wall of the theater.
The Rides
While Hollywood Studios does not have as many rides as the Magic Kingdom, the rides that it does have are all worth riding.T
The “Twilight Zone Tower of Terror” and I have a love/hate relationship. I am not a huge fan of these types of rides that simply take you up and drop you several times, but this is different. The whole theme of the ride is fantastic. The back story, the look, the feel, the drama, the suspense of not knowing when it will drop, to wondering how many times it will drop (it drops a different amount each time) all works to make this one of the best rides at WDW.
Rock n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is another must when on a trip to WDW. From the speed on the initial launch from 0-57 mph in 2.8 secs, to the awesome soundtrack, this ride is literally a blast. Riders will experience a 5G start, and travel through 3 inversions while flying past bright neon road signs.T
Toy Story Mania has been the one ride at Hollywood Studios that seems to always have long wait times and is the one ride at HS that a fastpass makes a huge difference. This 3D shooter ride is one of the more technologically sophisticated attractions ever developed by Disney Imagineers.
This ride puts 2 people head to head, competing in 6 mini games ranging from tossing pies, darts, eggs, baseballs, rings, and suction cup type arrows. This game is so much fun and, for me, blows away another toy story shooter ride in Magic Kingdom. Always a great family adventure (and maybe a little competition)
Fantasmic
While this could have been added in the Shows category, doing that to Fantasmic would simply not do it justice.
This night-time multimedia event features fireworks, lasers, lighting effects, and music. It stars Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice from Fantasia as he fights the forces of evil.
Mickey invokes the characters and spirits of favorite Disney classics such as Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Aladdin, Pinocchio, The Lion King, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Tarzan and more.
The show takes a dark turn when the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs appears and gathers classic villains like Ursula, Cruella de Vil, Scar, Frollo, Jafar and a larger-than-life Maleficent, to turn Mickey’s dreams into a nightmare. Mickey must fight back the villains with all of the magic in his arsenal.
This 30 minute show might be the highlight of your HS visit and you will, no doubt, walk away amazed.
New Additions
Disney has put a lot of time, fortune, and imagineering into Hollywood Studios in recent years with the 2 newest additions of Toy Story Land and the new, yet to debut, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, as well as new attractions such as Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy.
Toy Story Land transports you into Andy’s backyard where you feel like the size of one of Andy’s toys. This new section which opened in June of 2018 features new rides in Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers, as well as the aforementioned Toy Story Mania. It also gives HS a counter-service restaurant in Woody’s Lunch Box. You may also see the Green Army Men Drum Corp or be made an honorary Green Army Man by participating in the Green Army Men Boot Camp.
Galaxy’s Edge opens in August of 2019. It will introduce 2 new ride attractions, a new restaurant, and transport a person into the worlds of Star Wars. I will refrain from speaking on this too much except to say, I cant wait for this to open.
Me in My Element
50’s Prime Time Cafe
This is my favorite restaurant in all of WDW. This meal has the feel of being in the 1950’s “every family kitchen”. The waiters/waitresses treat you as if you are a guest at their dinner table and must display appropriate manners or be punished for various things. The food is also pretty terrific. Give this place a try and allow the staff to put you in the middle of their show and you will walk away full from food and fun.
