The former Backlot Express Restaurant in the Walt Disney Studios continues its transformation into the “Disney Blockbuster Café”, in particular the creation of the area with decorations based on the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie trilogy – however, different from the area based on the “High School Musical” franchise, the Pirates of the Caribbean area is closed off during the ongoing transformation and at least rudimentary measures are taken to prevent close-up views of the inside – however, word about the progress is getting out nevertheless… (more…)
Archive for August, 2009
Get ready to board the bridge
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009Early Morning Swimming at Disney Hotels? (updated)
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009
No, sir – not this summer. In the recent weeks fans have heatedly debatted the decision of the management to limit operating hours of certain attractions inside the Disneyland Park, i.e. opening them late and closing them early. While the opinions of fans seem to go apart, whether this is acceptable in the current economic climate or not, general consensus seems to be that the way the operating hours are communicated (with signs at the entrance of the according attractions but not on any leaflet or centralized information board) is extremly problematic. However, cost cutting measures are also affecting the guests of the hotels – at least those that are staying in the Disney Hotels which are fighting decreased occupancy rates despite numerous deep discounts in the past months. (more…)
Popularity of the PREMIUM FastPass
Monday, August 3rd, 2009
Late last week we were informed about a change to the current test of the PREMIUM FastPass concept of the Disneyland Resort Paris - an additional sales location! BHaving limited the number of PREMIUM FastPasses to be sold per day to just 160 the resort management had limited itself to just one sales location: the guest service / concierge counter inside the Disneyland Hotel. The assumption was that first of all guests of the most luxurious (and most expensive) hotel of the Disneyland Paris would be interested in buying the add-on to skip lines at all FastPass equipped attractions as often as they want per day (at the price of EUR 80.00 per person). However, as of last week (for the last days of the original planned test period till August 4) the PREMIUM FastPass was also on sale at the guest service / concierge desk in Disney’s Newport Bay Club! This could be interpreted in a way that they may have been unable to sell enough PREMIUM FastPass in the Disneyland Hotel (where guests of the suites and the Castle Club already receive various types of extra FastPass privileges included in their package) and are now trying to see whether there is interested from guests staying in the other Disney Hotels. However, it could also have been planned to add additional sales locations later in the test…
Construction FINISHED
Sunday, August 2nd, 2009Three of the resort’s ongoing construction / rehab projects have finally been finished nearly half-way through the summer season in the past days. In the Disneyland Park the scaffolding has come down around the Plaza Gardens Restaurant, giving guests of the buffet restaurant once again the opportunity to look out on the gardens during the meal while guests walking around Central Plaza can see the sun reflecting in the shiny shingles of the once again all pretty facade. Also finished is the rehab of the columns along the facade of the Annual Passport office just a few meters further up at the border between Discoveryland and Fantasyland.
The third finished project can be found in the Walt Disney Studios Park, where the small structure added in front of the Disney Channel building has been revealed as another merchandise kiosk offeriing a small assortment of products, including High School Musical themed items, such as Mickey and Minnie plush in East High basketball respectively cheerleader outfits. The new kiosk seems to reflect the new color scheme that the current rehab is adding to the Disney Channel building. The yellowish color is still the main color, but in addition to the blue / green accents (in the cas eof th kiosk in the form of neon lights) also red art deco accents have been added.
Deetailor’s Mission 09|08: Beyond a Speed Limit
Saturday, August 1st, 2009
See all of Deetailor’s missions: Click here.
