Marie Colabelli: “It was 2006, that was the last update. In talking with Don when we were wondering if it would be even possible, he was like ‘The best way to do it is just approach her and see what happens.’ And she was so thrilled and moved and very… this legacy to her is very close to her and so the idea that she would participate in something that we know is a classic within a classic, she was lovely.” Canada Far & Wide Marie Colabelli on working with Angela Lansbury: “I don’t think that we could believe it. And making it seamless so that you shouldn’t know where original started and where new… you know, that was the goal.” That’s why I think it looks so seamless, because he’s got a lot of the original talent working on our show. Don acting as our producer and director for this film had the connections to bring the original talent together. He knew where all the backgrounds were in the Animation Research Library. Tom Fitzgerald: “Don Hahn actually found some of the original animators. It’s all carried by the film and beautifully I think.” There are no live singers, performers, or dancers.

We’re not telling the original story from the film. Tom Fitzgerald: “We have this twisted tale. Here’s what Tom and Marie had to say about the new experiences. But it’s appropriate I think that they open with Festival of the Arts.” “That drove our team to get them ready at the same time so we’ve been hopping from theater to theater as we mix them and finish them up for Guests. “The Festival of the Arts seemed like the perfect timing to debut them,” Tom Fitzgerald shared.

I had the opportunity to speak with Imagineers Tom Fitzgerald (Portfolio Creative Executive) and Marie Colabelli (Senior Producer) about the upcoming experiences. Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along and Canada Far & Wide are both fun additions to the park and the third, Awesome Planet, will embody the core message of The Land Pavilion. During a Walt Disney World media event on January 13th for the Epcot International Festival of the Arts, which runs from January 17th through February 24th, I got to experience two of the new attractions that will premiere with the start of the festival.

Beauty and the beast sing along epcot