Ears the News with Richard

The official Disney Parks Blog has filled in more details about the upcoming changes to Epcot's Boulangerie Pâtisserie as well as Bistro de Paris in the France Pavilion. The new bakery, currently under construction near the back of the pavilion will offer salads and sandwiches, along with the current baked goods selection.  They will also be adding a total of 90 seats to the dining area. The former Boulangerie Pâtisserie building will become home to a new Glacier ice cream parlor. Construction should be complete on Boulangerie Pâtisserie by late fall in 2012.

 

Bistro de Paris in Epcot's France Pavilion is currently closed for a three month refurbishment.  The refurbishment will reveal all new decor as well as a brand new menu.

The official Disney Parks Blog today released an interview with Jermoe Bocuse, owner of the three France Pavilion restaurants, where he discusses the upcoming changes.

"What’s the biggest change guests will see in the new upstairs restaurant?

Jerome Bocuse: It’s all new – new name, new dining room, new costumes for the servers, new menu. We’re still aiming for haute cuisine, but with a less formal atmosphere. Guests are in the park with their families, so we want to create an elegant, nice ambience, but not stuffy. Our guests want to experience true French cuisine.

Tell us a little about the new décor.

JB: Servers will be in less formal attire – no more tuxedoes – and the room colors will be fresh and bright. The theme is our family history, as we’ve been in the culinary business for two centuries. We have a long tradition of French chefs in the Bocuse family.

And cuisine?

JB: We want to offer a taste of the true cuisine of France – classical, but with an approachable, affordable twist. We brought a chef over about a year ago from a Michelin 3-Star restaurant in France, so he’s ready to go.

Bistro de Paris has lots of fans, why change the restaurant now?

JB: We’ve never changed the restaurant since it opened more than 25 years ago, and it’s time for a new look and new theming based on our family’s history.

How about the Chefs de France downstairs, any changes?

JB: It is a classic brasserie, and will stay the same. "

The restaurant is set to reopen on 12/1/2012.

The Magic Kingdom's massively popular "The Magic, The Memories and You!" is set to close on 9/3/2012 to be reworked into an all new show.  It is expected to return before the holidays this year. The new show will continue to use the same projection technology that has made the current show so popular.

The original "The Magic, The Memories and You!" has received multiple minor changes since it debuted back in early 2011, with seasonal inserts keeping the show fresh.  This upcoming change will be far more extensive, including an all new name for the show.

The official Disney Parks Blog has released another video in their series taking us behind the construction walls in the new Fantasyland. 

This latest video gives us a look at Belle's Village and the creation of the center piece fountain featuring the character of Gaston.

Video from the Disney Parks Blog.

Disney is set to resume testing of its NextGen FASTPASS+ system in September of this year. Earlier this year, a limited number of tests were carried out with the new RFID FASTPASS systems.  It is anticipated that this time the test will be taken further, involving the new park Wi-Fi service and the 'My Disney Experience' smart phone app, which was recently released in beta form.  Disney has been busy installing new RFID readers at entrances to many attractions as part of the new system.

Logo from the Disney Parks Blog

A new Phineas and Ferb interactive activity is coming to Downtown Disney next month. Starting 9/1/2012, 'Phineas and Ferb & YOU A Brand New Reality' is an augmented reality activity that allows you to interact with characters Phineas, Ferb, Dr Doof and Agent P on a screen, augmented with images of you. Disney has said that the activity will be free, and will also enable you to share a free digital photo of your experience. 'Phineas and Ferb & YOU a Brand New Reality' will be located next to Bongos on the West Side, and will operate from 9/1/2012 to 12/1/ 2012, from 2:00 PM to 9:30 PM daily.

Disney has today confirmed the reservation information for the new Be Our Guest Restaurant in the new Fantasyland. Reservations open at 7 a.m. on 8/20/2012 at 407-WDW-DINE, with the very first seating for dinner on 11/19/2012.  Online reservations will be available August 22 by visiting www.disneyworld.com/dine.

From the official Disney Parks Blog:



Photo from the Disney Parks Blog

On the Disney Dining Plan, Be Our Guest is one quick-service entitlement for lunch, and one table-service restaurant entitlement for dinner. Lunch is quick and casual, with guest-activated terminals that make ordering a snap (there also will be traditional cashiers for cash orders and special dietary requests). You order, take a seat and lunch is delivered to your table – on china, not paper. Dinner is table service. Cuisine is French-inspired to match the hit animated film’s theme, with three themed dining rooms: the mysterious West Wing with the “enchanted rose”; the Rose Gallery with twirling, larger-than-life figures of Belle and Beast; and the elegant Ballroom with domed ceiling, twinkling chandeliers and glimpses of softly falling snow outside.