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- 9:04am - The park officially opened 4 minutes ago. I found the end of the queue for the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast. I decided I was just going to get in line and wait it out if it was not raining. So here we go.
- From my spot I could see the Baymax ride and popcorn shop that opened as part of the expansion, both are new to me.
- We are moving forward at an ok pace. On the right is the building that would have been used for FastPass, but that system was retired and now they use a digital Disney Premier Access system.
- To the left is the queue for Pooh's Hunny Hunt. If you were hoping B&B and Baymax would draw all the guests and Pooh would be shorter, that does not seem the case.
- 9:14am - 10 minutes in and we have rounded the corner to Belle's village and I get my first look at the Beast's Castle
- The Beast's Castle
- The Fantasyland Forest Theatre
- 40th Anniversary banners
- Gaston's
- Looking back the queue behind me
- 9:18am - I have reached the extended queue switchbacks for the attraction.
- Looking at Belle's Village. The layering and dimension in Tokyo is always great.
- As we wrapped they added a few switchbacks and the end of the queue finally caught up as everyone filled all the queue space.
- Looking back at the Village which is now free from the queue.
- A small vineyard
- Stroller parking, not one in sight at the moment.
- 9:49am - Almost to the castle grounds. The attraction marquee.
- The wait time is at 105 minutes
- Information about the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast
- The Premier Access scan point/entrance is on the right side of the entrance area.
- Several pictures of the Beast's Castle as I inched through the queue.
- Passing by the other side of the stroller parking area.
- Wrapping around the grounds as we snake toward the bridge to the castle.
- A video clip from the queue of the Beast's Castle
- Passing back by the entrance gate.
- 10:05am - An hour into the wait and I am on the bridge heading to the castle.
- Looking over the side of the bridge
- Approaching the courtyard
- To the left a little more outdoor queue, but all covered from here in.
- The right side (across the courtyard) is where the premier access queue is.
- Looking back.
- The small portion of outdoor queue that is covered has hvac vents in the ceiling.
- 10:15am - Entering the castle.
- Video: A look at some of the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast queue.
- Hall of Armor as we approach the merge point and end of the queue.
- 10:24am - 80 minutes to reach the merge point this morning.
- 10:26am - The preshow to Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast tells the story through a great stain glass window effect. The narration is all in Japanese.
- The Beast appears
- And Belle on the opposite balcony
- 10:29am - Then we move on to another queue space
- On either side of the walkway are additional spaces with a small scene to look at.
- On the left is this one featuring Mrs. Potts and Chip
- And the other side Cogsworth and Lumiere
- Signage for a single rider queue but there was not one available during my visit.
- 10:35am - Almost to the load area, which is in the kitchen.
- The queue moves at a good pace. Six teacups are loaded at a time and each seat 10 guests.
- Three teacups on each side are loaded
- The load area.
- Waiting for my teacup to arrive. The guests before us departing.
- 10:42am - Onboard and ready to start my journey
- First up Be Our Guest
- Scene 2: Something There
- Passing Belle and the Beast on the balcony
- Invaders in the Castle...
- The transformation scene
- The finale is a ballroom scene, but with everyone in human form
- 10:49am - Moving to the unload area. The level of detail and timing is impressive the Teacups finish their trip right on queue as the music reaches the last note.
- Seating is 4 in the front and 6 in the back.
- 10:50am - Exiting
- A look around the grounds on the way out.
- The backside of water.
- 10:53am - 110 minutes from entering the queue until leaving the castle grounds this morning.