Everything to Know about the New Beauty and the Beast Ride
Disney theme parks don’t introduce new rides often. In calendar 2020, we’ve only received two entirely new offerings.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll find Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Meanwhile, the world still awaits Ratatouille at EPCOT.
For its part, Ratatouille will imitate its predecessor at Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris.
The same is true of The Happy Ride with Baymax, a clone of Alien Swirling Saucers and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree.
In truth, the only other entirely new attraction just opened at Tokyo Disneyland.
Here’s everything to know about Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast.
A Sweet Ride
You may read the name and believe that this attraction already existed. It’s an understandable source of confusion.
Magic Kingdom operates Enchanted Tales with Belle, a walkthrough, interactive attraction wherein guests play roles (sort of) from the movie.
The Oriental Land Company, the owner of Tokyo Disneyland, didn’t want a clone of that experience. Instead, the company built something unique.
On Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast, you’ll ride through key moments from the film.
When I say ride, I mean it. Imagineers built a ride cart that looks eerily similar to a teacup.
The theming hides the utility of this design. You’ll think about Mrs. Potts and Chip when you check out your ride.
However, the spinning teacup serves a second purpose. It hosts up to 10 guests, thereby maximizing throughput.
Tokyo Disneyland officials knew that everyone would want to ride on Beauty and the Beast, so they built something close to an Omnimover system.
Teacups spin in and out of the entrance area in six sets, giving sixty guests near-immediate access.
The vehicles hide a secret trick, too. They’re trackless!
Tokyo Disneyland previously debuted the first attraction to use trackless ride technology, Pooh’s Hunny Hunt.
Enchanted Tale ups the ante by spinning the teacups around the room. You’re about to see how that helps…
A Tale As Old As Time
The moment you board your teacup, you’re ready for action, and the Imagineers lean into that.
What’s the most iconic scene from Beauty and the Beast? Well, I could argue several, but I suspect most would agree that it’s Be Our Guest.
The elaborate song and dance from the movie springs to life at the start of your ride.
First, Lumière lights up the darkness, and then napkins and flower arrangements dance on a table.
Belle makes her first appearance here, as you’re not reliving her point-of-view. Instead, you’ll enjoy a third-party perspective throughout the ride.
You’ll have no trouble getting into it, either. This rendition of Be Our Guest lasts 90 seconds and features many highlights.
Your spinning, trackless teacup allows you to move around the table, experiencing the ultimate dinner show from multiple angles.
Uncorked champagne bottles will send bubbles floating into the sky. Spinning plates will reinforce the song’s theme, and Belle will dance in her chair.
This one scene would justify the entire ride, but it’s merely the start.
You’ll also travel to other parts of the castle, conveniently skipping to other memorable scenes.
In exterior sequence will reveal Something There in a new light, as you smile at Beast’s shy spying on Belle.
For her part, the Disney Princess sings to her horse about the new emotions she feels for the brooding lord of the castle.
The snowy setting provides the perfect backdrop for this sweet song.
Later, the duo appears in their regal attire, with Belle wearing her legendary yellow ballgown.
The audio-animatronics stare into the night’s sky and steal furtive glances at one another, an ideal demonstration of an awkward first date.
The Grand Finale
You’re obviously familiar with the story of Beauty and the Beast. So, you know what happens next on the ride.
Angry villagers storm the castle, changing the setting from the warm glow of a date into the furious fire of torches and pitchforks.
Imagineers use shadows and tricks of light here rather than angry audio-animatronics.
In fact, Gaston possesses virtually no presence on this ride. When the name says Beauty and the Beast, you should take it seriously.
The residents of the castle receive Imagineers’ tender love and care, and that’s it.
Their leader receives the attention that Gaston never gets. Beast’s transformation will dazzle you with its technical wizardry and overall shininess.
In truth, I admire the optimism of the ride structure. It strips away most of the conflict of the story, focusing on nascent love instead.
Fittingly, Belle and her prince dance to the titular theme, Beauty and the Beast, during the final sequence.
Fans of Hallmark movies and other romantic stories will feel their hearts aglow with joy in this moment.
The grandeur of the castle setting somehow doesn’t distract from the dancing couple who have discovered true love.
This sequence hides one more secret, but I won’t ruin it for you. Watch this video to find out on your own.
Imagineers borrow one trick from Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway here. The trackless cart allows the guest to dance in unison with the happy couple.
Fittingly, the final notes from Beauty and the Beast signal the end of your journey, but you receive one final treat on your way out the door.
The last room includes an enchanted rose in a bottle, the perfect exclamation mark on a brilliant ride.
Final Thoughts
I cannot believe I’m saying this, but Disney Imagineers have leveled up in recent years.
Here’s a list of recent attractions the company has debuted at theme parks:
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Na’Vi River Journey
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
That’s not even all of them, and I didn’t count re-themes like the Incredicoaster or clones like Alien Swirling Saucers.
Yes, Disney’s getting better at ride design. Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast punctuates this argument with its magnificence.
You may wonder when we will get the ride in the United States, and that’s a great question.
Unfortunately, I cannot answer it. Pooh’s Hunny Hunt debuted more than 20 years ago. We still don’t have an American version of it, one with trackless rides.
Ratatouille opened in 2014 and would have arrived at EPCOT in less than six years if not for the pandemic.
So, Disney may wait a while before bringing this ride to its American parks. We’re all hoping that they move fast, though.
Enchanted Tale is quite possibly the greatest movie-based ride that Disney has ever created.
