Wanna see the spectacular Broadway-quality live show The Legend of the Lion King in the Disneyland Park? Just queue roughly two hours to 90 minutes before the show time ... that is what the thousands of guests who were won over by the show this summer were telling all their friends ... BUT as of this week this is no longer true as the resort has now introduced a ticketing system. NO long stand by queues anymore - guests can only get into the auditorium with a special show ticket!!
While free it is still hard to get a ticket - earlier in this week tickets for the performances at 2.15 and 3.15 pm were handed out as of noon, as of Thursday this was moved back to 12.30 pm. Tickets for the shows at 5.45 and 6.45 pm were handed out at 4.00 pm. And we mean "at" not "as of"! Even so the park maps do not include any information about this new ticketing system because they were printed in August already tickets are gone in a few short minutes. Reports indicate that numerous guests are turned away from the shows now since they don't have tickets and are rather disgruntled ... because they did not know that tickets are encessary for the show as the park maps / guides don't indicate this.
The "Ticket Cart" was placed in front of the now closed Visionarium on Wednesday but moved to the main entrance of the Videopolis Theater (opposite the Space Mountain Fast Past entrance) as of Thursday. The line for the tickets build up way in advance and as no real queue-set-up has been installed so far there is a lot of queue-jumping according to first reports. In an attempt to cut back on guests (especially fans) getting a few extra ticket (just in case some other friends of theirs happen to drop in) tickets are only handed out at presentation of a valid Disneyland passport. 

With the end of the summer season nearly a months ago work on the huge Discoveryland rehab has picked up again ... so time for another update: at Space Mountain prying eyes of fans witnessed the return of the metal flags on the roof of the SpaceMountain station building, regarding which we received an interesting note: it is not planned to reopen the queue area around on the first floor of the station as unfortunately some guests in the past used to spit from up there unto guests and castmembers in the boarding area.
More obvious work is taking place at the entrance of the land: the water ways have been fenced off and drained for some cleaning and repainting (as earlier in the year done at the Nautilis Lagoon). Hopefully the fire effect that originally added to the atmosphere of this area at night will be reinstated at this occassion too. To allow for easier painting of the rockwork, the giraffe and the monkey with the megaphone added for the Lion King show premiere had been moved away from the rockwork slightly to the side earlier in the summer already.
As reported prior to the final day the Visionarium closed on September the 5th - for good as the official website acknowledges too. Earlier rumors that the attraction may reopen seasonal e.g. next spring during the closure of Space Mountain are contradicted by this official statement. Also there are so far unconfirmed reports that a salvaging crew of Imagineering moved into the building on September the 6th and removed selected props and equipment including the Audio-Animatronic of 9-Eye and Timekeeper.

The Disney Village is having great causes for partying. Fans may party that the huge mushroom outside the Rainforest Cafe that burned down shortly before the summer season has finally been replaced or that Billy Bob's facade ist getting a new paintshop showing that the new management continues its drive to to improve the impression of the resort ... but most guests will very much prefer the official party events of the Village.
Certainly the Halloween Festival in the Village starting next Friday is one of these with numerous minor events (e.g. on the main stage and at Billy Bob's) and the big party in the actual Halloween Night. But there is another festival inviting guests to party at the Village during the same time: the Oktoberfest which is celebrated from October 1st till 23rd at King Ludwig's Castle. Based on the famour Oktoberfest in Munich the restaurant offers a special Oktoberfest menu for 22.50 Euro per guests and a discounted price of 8.50 Euro per liter beer. On Fridays and Saturdays there is also special entertainment in the form of a Bavarian Folk Band and the comical duo Ericka & Kurt performing in the restaurant. So: PROST!

The Resort has released the first official information regarding this year's Halloween Party scheduled for the actual Halloween night on October 31st. Even so last year's parties were a huge success and tickets for the actual party on Halloween Night sold out in advance with the exception of tickets reserved for Shareholders' Club members, this year will see onle ONE party in the Disneyland Park (plus the usual disco style party in the Disney Village targeting locals, for which a different ticket needs to be bought) - during the night from Sunday to Monday, still reports are tickets are selling fast at the price of 26,- Euro per guest.
What can guests look forward to from 8.30 pm to 1.00 am? Certainly special entertainment on numerous stages, streetmosphere, characters, decorations, a unique family-friendly-ghostly atmosphere and the attractions of the theme park. In Halloweenland special concerts will take place on the Spider Web Stage which is the location of a huge rock concert and the meeting point of Disney Villains and all Halloween creatures.The Phantom-Orchestra will entertain guests taking a ghostly cruise on the Phantom Cruise Line during the night with live music in the meantime. Even more ghosts, to be exact 999 of them, will be the stars of a "light and sound show" taking place around Phantom Manor, as they try to escape from the haunted mansion.
As usual guests are invited to show up in costume - to help the resort is offering free makeup- and hair-do-workshops all night long at which professionals prepare guests for the ghostly fun ... so everybody climb out of those coffins and cold dungeons - it is time to spook the Disneyland Park!

Even so Halloween is the next big festival at the resort the final highlight of the year, the Christmas Season, is already starting to cast its white magic here and there - even at the Disneyland Park, where not only the the "Lights of Winter"-Arches have gone up already since they are part of the Halloween decorations on Main Street since last year (but don't get lit up in full show mode at night but in a Halloween mode with added orange lights). In addition the new 2004 Holiday merchandise is moving into selected shops. Not recognizable as Christmas preparations but maybe most interesting is the work going on to the right side of the bridge leading up to the castle: here the construction fence has reappeared that was in place in mid-June already. As reported back then the area behind it is prepared to hold the huge Christmas Tree of the park.
Admittedly none of these early preparations really creates any Christmas mood yet - for that guests have to hop over to the Walt Disney Studios. As they are not participating in the Halloween Festival the Studio Store on Frontlot has already been decorates for Christmas with large displays of the latest Christmas merchandise creating a magical atmosphere that is always welcome, even in late September ... HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Next week Friday the Halloween Season officially starts in the Disneyland Resort Paris - and first signs are already to be spot in the Disney Village and the Disneyland Park. For the second year the festival will feature to main storylines / themes: the Disney Villains and the Pumpkin Men.
As in the past the Disney Villains will be out in full force to wrack havoc on Halloweenland (aka Frontierland) and scare the guests especially during the main parade of the day, which they have taken over for a battle between good and bad. Once again the catchy theme song "Halloween - lo ween everybody" will underscore the floats from the Princess' Parade that will be redecorated with much effort to celebrate the arrival of the villains from the movies, that will star on the floats and even bring their own dancers and minions along.
The second main feature are the Pumpkin Men. Once again they are out all over the Main Street, U.S.A., which they try to paint orange and transform into Pumpkin Street. While most of the painters are still to be installed the "Lights of Winter" arches with their minor Halloween overlay in form of some orange lights are already up, soon to go up is the huge Pumpkin on Central Plaza where once again children will get their free Halloween-makeover. But the Pumpkin Men are set to not only repeat last year's popular performance as they are out in even bigger force this year, including a Pumpkin Postman handing out morange letters and packages, a Pumpkin Policeman who will hand out tickets to everybody not following the orange dress codes and a Pumpkin Men Color Rescue Party that will try its best to recolor guests in orange if necessary. Also for the first time Pumpkin Men will reveal some of their secrets in a Pumpkin Forest in Halloweenland and offer guests a glimpse on how they pump up all the orange color from the depts of the Big Thunder Mountain Mine. The orange steel element that was spotted near the top of the mountain most propably is a part of that to be extected themeing added right now. While most of the themeing is added in Frontierland on the go a construction fence has been erected next to the shooting range where the Spider Web Stage will go up, on which different bands including the Pumpkin Men Quartet will entertain the guests during the festival. Also the Phantom Cruise Line pulled by the ghoul can be expected to be spotted on the Rivers of the Far West shortly.
For the first time Pumpkin Men will also be spotted in the Disney Village that has its own Halloween Festival for which the first decorations around the entrances of the Buffalo Tranding Company (the main Halloween Store of the Village) have already gone up featuring the Pumpkin Men.

On Saturday 16 October the Pin Trading tradition turns three and Disneyland Resort Paris will be celebrating this special day with an exclusive party. Only 400 packages are offered for this special Pin Trading day. No time to loose for the pin collector, order your tickets now and go to the Disney's New York Hotel Convention Centre, Time Square Reception Room on 16th October for a day packed with surprises. The day starts at 2.00 pm with a special Birthday cake. While the rest of the day will be filled with Special Entertainment, various challenges, auctions of prototype pins, the presence of Disney artist and of course the traditional pin trading activities.
The day would not be complete without some special limited editions pins, only sold on the day and during the event. On top of that guests will be invited to have a “peak sneak” look at the next pins for the Halloween event at Disneyland Resort Paris. Shiver for the “Medusa Halloween” and the “Cruella Halloween” pin presentation. The celebration will end at 5.00 pm.
To book this event call +33 (0)1 60306063; for annual passport holders; Adult: 29 euros - Child: 27 euros; for non-annual passport holders; Adult: 32 euros - Child: 29 euros.

This seems to be the new basic attitude of parts of the Resort's management - no matter that the parks fight declining attendance and could need the good word of mouth from happy AP-holders. But what's happening? One of the free perks has been cut. "Vinci Park" which is operating the two Disney Village parking lots Ventury 1& 2 (and the future Village parking structure currently under construction) is handing out small flyers to AP-holders using on of their parking lots informing them that as off August 31st parking will no longer be free for them! Depending on the type of AP AP-holders instead must make use of their free parking entitlement for the theme park parking lot or the Disney Hotel parking lots.
This is happening only shortly after the furor has calmed, that was caused, when DLRP did not accept any "room only" bookings between Christmas and New Years Eve unless special requirements were met (as inquiring AP-holdes were told by the central reservation hotline)...

The Disneyland Resort Paris always knew how to play the synergy game as far as advertising other Disney properties and making some money with it was concerned - as soon as a new animated Disney feature was ready to open in European cinemas guests were able to choose among a huge merchandise collection in the resort shops. The current "Home on the Range" is no exception with plush version of the leading cows all over Frontierland already... Unfortunately this synergy was a one-way-street. Other Disney properties in the recent years mastered the art of not mentioning the Resort unfortunately rather well. This seems to change now.
The DVD-release of "Disney's The Lion King II - Simba's Pride" as "Special Edition DVD" at least in Germany includes a long "Need Magic"-trailer showing scenes from both theme parks, the Village and the hotels of the Disneyland Resort Paris. The trailer is played automatical as last trailer before the DVD-menu loads. While using the "Need Magic" claim it is none of the short ads broadcasted on TV but instead rather sucessfully presents the magic of the resort in high quality ... definitely something for the die-hard-DLRP-collectors! Please note: we were unable to confirm wether the trailer is included in the UK-release of the DVD too, but the German release also includes the main feature, the same bonus material and the menus in English as well as in German!
But this is only the first step as Disney is widening its relationship with the well known German producer of large scale model trains LGB. LGB added two highly detailed replicas of enclosed waggons from the original Disneyland Anaheim railroad to its product line - the Lilly Belle and the Long Island - plus a Disney Starter Set (available as 230 V and 120 V versions for the international markets) consisting of a replica of the Fred Gurley locomotive (with lighting and smoke generator!) put in service at Disneyland Anaheim on March 28, 1958, two open passenger cars, a complete track oval and everything else needed to start the fun. And large scale in the case of LGB means "G-scale" or 1:22.5 so fourtimes as big as the common HO (1:87) - save for childrens' hands too and ready to be operated indoors as well as outdoors. But what is the connection to the Disneyland Resort Paris?
LGB will release the "Disney Train Adventure" in time for the christmas season in Europe and the US (for the later a 120 V version will be available) which is a combination of a fun board game and a modell train. It consists of a circular track (1.30 meter in diameter), a locomotive, an open sightseeing car and an open gondola car. The game board (coming in 8 pieces) fits right into the track-circle and actually is a map of the Disneyland Park. Also included are figurines of Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy, action cards, game chips and a spinning wheel. After each of the up to four players has chosen one of the Disney characters they board the train and by spinning the game wheel it is decided at which of the stations the train will stop. The players have to leave their ticket ships at the station before boarding again. The player first having visited all stations wins the game - but action cards which pose difficult assignments or quizz questions put hurdles before completing this task. Players take turns in spinning the wheel and filling the position of the engineer driving the locomotive around the park. When presented at the toy fair in Nürnberg this spring the Disney Train Adventure received the "Toy Innovation" award in the category "team-encouragement" for its unique fusion of modell train and board game elements. The version on display at the fair and depicted on public relations material for the European market includes a multicolor map of the Disneyland Park at the Disneyland Resort Paris as the game board (which did include an Adventureland station too by the way)! So better start saving now as the game is supposed to be priced around 180,- Euro / 220,- US-$.
Disney Train Adventur photo © LGB, 2004 - the photo is a collage, actual sizes and design may vary - Home on the Range merchandise photo © Joel, 2004

Sometimes too few guests in the park are still too many. That is the case with the new The Legend of the Lion King show. Even park attendance is below estimates, waiting times for one of the show's five daily performances regulary is between 90 minutes, sometimes more than 2 hours!
The park claims to be overwhelmed by the interest in the Broadway quality show and states that guests would still be satisfied by the many other attractions, if they are among the numbers turn away from the theater. While those who manage to get one of the scare seats are full of praise, there are more complaints and disgruntled guests, annoyed by the waiting times, annoyed that they felt they had to buy lunch to get a seat in the restaurant area of the theater for a show included in the passport price or even unable to catch the show at all.
Fans and experts had predicted these problems, as the theater seats only 456 guests plus 1000 additional guests on seats with not so good or partially impaired views in the area reserved for restaurant guests (with an estimated daily average attendance of 40,000!), the fact that the show was at the center of a Europe-wide promotion campaign, the still huge popularity of the Lion King among guests of all ages and the great word of mouth due to th show's outstanding quality. Assistant General Manager Domenica Cocquet told Le Parisien as an immediate step additional signage would be installed at the queue area, indicating up to which point of the line would get a seat for the next performance and as of which point they would have to wait for one performance longer. On long term she said the temporary closure in January would be used to add extra seating levels increasing capacity. On a side note she confirmed that the show is supposed to run at least 3 years - so plenty of time to catch a performance or two or...

The respected international news agency Reuters supplying major magazines, dailies, radio- and tv-stations with content yesterday released an article by Caroline Brothers finally bringing the "Tower of Terror is going to go into the WDS"-rumor into the mainstream media. But just as DLP.info and other websites who had published this information since 2002 the article is unable to name any sources but instead speaks of two internal sources which claim that management