As many star Wars fans have bemoaned the new “Star Tours” attraction has not (yet) been announced for Disneyland Paris and will premiere exclusively at Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort Anaheim only this spring. Instead, for the time being the original Star Tours will continue to take guest in Discoveryland on what is supposed to be a space trip to Endor – as the attraction has dutefuly since the park opened its doors in 1992. However, Star Wars fans nevertheless have a reason to delight. Not only have Darth Vader and his Storm Troopers as well as Chewbacca returned since last year to the parks (posing for photos and autographs regularly in Discoveryland in the proximity of the Star Tours space port). In addition more and more new Star wars related merchandise is arriving the parks as well (more…)
Archive for February, 2011
May the Ohana be with you…
Monday, February 28th, 2011Rehabing an Adventure
Monday, February 28th, 2011
With the first months of the year being one of the rare slower times for the resort construction crews are out all of the resort. Their latest destination: Adventureland!
A new construction fence has sprung up between the Restaurant Hakuna Matata and the shop Giraffe Courieuse (opposite of the Adventureland Bazar). The whole are between the shop and the restaurant has been closed of with construction fence. Normally the now closed off area offers additional out-door seating for the restaurant as well as one of the area’s most lovely photo spots: a little water fall tumbling into a small waterway around which small paths sneak. However, as of last week Friday no work was going on behind the fences – yet.
Deetailor’s Mission 11|01: Welcome to Thunder Mesa
Sunday, February 27th, 2011
See all of Deetailor’s missions: Click here.
Sleeping Beauty Castle: Rehab Status
Sunday, February 27th, 2011
As reported the long awaited major rehab of the Sleeping Beauty Castle at the heart of Disneyland Paris has finally begun. While guests can still walk up the large stone bridge leading into the castle as well as through the castle (where both shops continue to be open for business) the main facade facing toward the Main Street, U.S.A. is already hidden behind scaffolding and white tarps up to half of the castle’s height.
Currently scaffolding is going up along the right side of the castle as well (i.e. behind the Castle Stage). Also the walkways leading around the castle on this side and to the wishing well have been closed off. This – in connection with the on-going re-paving of the parade route in Fantasyland – has turned the Castle Stage area into a dead end for guests that can only be accessed from Central Plaza. (more…)
Castle Stage Construction
Sunday, February 27th, 2011
The removal of the benches in the open air auditorium of the Castle Stage (as reported last week) continued during this week. As can be seen in the photo below the jump taken on Friday, February 25, 2011, all benches in the middle sections of the auditorium have been removed. Currently one the last rows in the far out sections to the left and right remain in place.
One could wonder why the area is accessible to guests at all at this time, since the re-paving project of the parade route (that has now reached Fantasyland) and the major rehab of the Sleeping Beauty Castle have closed all walkways leading from the Castle Stage area except the one to the Central Plaza with the effect that the auditorium currently is a dead-end. (more…)
Alternate Parade Route
Sunday, February 27th, 2011
As reported earlier the ongoing re-paving of the parade route in Fantasyland still forces the parade to operate in a unique, limited mode as introduced earlier this year in January when the re-paving project started next to Central Plaza. The parade enters the park on Town Square, moves up the Main Street, circles around Central Plaza and then heads back the Main Street to exit once again on Town Square.
This requires the Once Upon a Dream parade to be short enough to allow the final parade float and dancers to enter Central Plaza before the first float / dancer has circled Central Plaza and heads back onto the Main Street. This required some shortening – in particular the massive float of the Princesses for the final “Dream of Romance” act of the parade had to be cut. Only the smaller princess float of Jasmine and Aladdin remained in the parade, while the other princesses and their princes have to walk along. (more…)
No Seats Here!
Saturday, February 19th, 2011
Since early this year the wide walkways functioning as parade route to the right of Central Plaza a undergoing a roling full replacement rehab. As a result half of the parade route is blocked and the parade has been shortened allowing it to run from Town Square up to Central Plaza, then wind around Central Plaza and head back to Town Square. However, this is “old” news in the meantime. But then, when the construction walls for this repaving project was moved once again some surprise showed up at the Castle Stage… (more…)
It has begun
Friday, February 18th, 2011Fans have been clamoring for it for years already … it has been rumored mayn times … it was announced last fall … and now it has finally begun: the rehab of Sleeping Beauty Castle including an extensive repainting of its exterior!
First scaffoldings have popped up on the front of the castle facing toward the Main Street. Also first paint tests have been conducted in visible areas.
Annual General Meeting
Thursday, February 10th, 2011On March 4th EuroDisney S.C.A. scheduled the Annual General Shareholder meeting where the shareholders will have the chance to listen to last years results and the future plans of the company. All shareholders are invited to visit the meeting as long as they have requested your admission card by showing proof of owning shares. How to do this is explained on the EuroDisney S.C.A Corporate site.
Those that want to combine a visit to the park will have a chance to book rooms at a lower rate during the days of the general meeting.
Revenue UP!
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
Even with a big money pit still to fill, and the difficult financial times so many are witnessing, EuroDisney S.C.A. revenue is growing as we can see in the first quarter of this fiscal year. The biggest growth is the Hotels and Disney Village revenue. Here EuroDisney S.C.A. Sees an increase of a wealthy 14%. This because of an increase of 5,6% in hotel occupancy and a 7% increase in average spending per room. This translates in more filled rooms with more guests that have spend more to stay as was the case in the previous year.
Park revenue has also gone up. Numbers aren’t that high but still positive. A 3% revenue increase compared to the previous year. This comes from a 2% increase in park spending per guests and the 1% increase in visitors. Visitors from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have decreased, but extra visitors from France and Belgium made sure that this loss has been compensated into a positive number. (more…)
