Disney/Pixar’s Brave opens in theaters June 22, but the theater won’t be the only place fans will be able to see Merida, the main character from the film. Soon, she will be coming to Disney parks in a new meet-and-greet experience.
At the Magic Kingdom, Merida will be in Fairytale Garden with three cubs from the film. The setting will be inspired by her home, set in the Scottish Highlands, and children will be able to participate in fun activities like archery lessons while waiting for their chance to meet Merida. …

Earlier this week, we told you about Storybook Circus “soft-opening” in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland, and today we have several photos to share with you of the new attractions that are now available to guests.
The three attractions that are now open include:

The first section of “Dumbo, the Flying Elephant” For the first time in Magic Kingdom history, Dumbo spins clockwise
“The Barnstormer, Starring The Great Goofini” roller coaster
“The Fantasyland Train Station,” one of three stops for The Walt Disney World Railroad

Says Chris Beatty, Creative Director, Fantasyland Expansion for Walt Disney Imagineering:
The Storybook …

The first phase of Magic Kingdom’s new Fantasyland is now officially open!
Currently, Disney is calling the opening a “soft opening,” which means that they are still preparing the area for guests, so you can expect that not all areas will be fully operational at all times.
Currently, guests are able to experience the Great Goofini, a revamped roller coaster previously known as Goofy’s Barnstormer. Guests can also ride the new railroad attraction and the Flying Dumbo ride. This ride will eventually feature an interactive queue and dueling carousels, but the main …

We’re getting our first look inside what is destined to become the hottest eatery in coming months at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom:  Be Our Guest restaurant!
Inspired by the animated Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast, this new restaurant, which will seat more than 500 guests, will be located within Beast’s Castle, one of the most highly anticipated features of the Fantasyland expansion.  Guests will be seated in one of three areas:  the Library/Gallery (Belle’s favorite!), the foreboding West Wing (home to the enchanted Red Rose), or the expansive, cathedral …

According to Disney, there will be 15 to 16 new looks for the different parts of the refurbished Fantasyland, whose first elements will be opening later this month.
Says Pam Flint, who works with Walt Disney World costuming:
We put a little storyline together to try and help us figure out where we wanted to go with the costumes. We wanted all the locations to have very specific costumes to make it more of a community look.
While we don’t have information about all of the new costumes that visitors will see when …

Work continues to progress on the Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom theme park, which means park guests will need to say goodbye to a beloved Walt Disney World attraction – Snow White’s Scary Adventures.
The attraction, which has been a fixture at the park since 1971, will close for good on June 1, 2012 to make room for a new Disney Princess meet-and-greet location. Those who love the classic ride will be able to enjoy a new Snow White-themed attraction, however – the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster.
Several elements of …

To celebrate Leap Year, Magic Kingdom will be offering “One More Disney Day.” This means the park will open at 6 a.m. on February 29, and close March 1 at 6 a.m. The park will re-open on Thursday at 9 a.m. as scheduled. The full calendar of events can be seen below, including special hours for many of the attractions, restaurants and entertainment.
Attractions

Country Bear Jamboree -10 am on Wednesday to 6 am on Thursday
Haunted Mansion 6 am on Wednesday to 5 am on Thursday
It’s a Small World 6 am on Wednesday …

Work is progressing on the Magic Kingdom’s new Fantasyland, and sources tell us that a portion of Storybook Circus will be open sometime in late March.
One of the elements visitors can expect to see during the opening will be the first carousel of Dumbo the Flying Elephant, which will also feature multicolored circus tents and other decor inspired by the Disney film. Once the entire section is complete, Casey Jr., the locomotive from the film, will make an appearance as well.
Aside from Storybook Circus, the Disney Princesses will be getting …

Over the weekend, singer Kelly Clarkson was spotted at Walt Disney World on Sunday, February 19.
The singer could be seen wearing a mile-wide smile as she posed for photos with Beauty and the Beast in the Rose Garden area of the Magic Kingdom. Clarkson even posed with a rose in her teeth, proving that you’re never too old to have a little bit of cheeky fun at the “Happiest Place on Earth!”
Source

Late last month, we gave you a sneak peek of some of the cards players could expect to see when Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, a new role playing game, arrives at Magic Kingdom theme park. Now, the game has an official debut date: Wednesday, February 22.
The game will be included with the price of regular park admission, and we now know more about the back story of this game. Says Imagineer Jonathan Ackley, producer and creative director of the project:
Hades, lord of the underworld, has his mind set on …