Archive for November, 2011

Disney Wants to Know…

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

…about you fans and therefore added an online Disneyland Paris survey to hear from you. The will ask all sort of questions, some of them that fans will be eager to talk about. They’ll ask about the merchandise they sell and what you think about it. How you feel about special events and they even ask you what you would like Disney to add for there big fan community or what would bring you back to the park even sooner as you originally planned (I picked new attraction on that, it worked every time so far). This is a great chance to tell them how you feel about Disneyland Resort Paris and your love for the mouse. Be critical! They ask you to be, but remember that this is a survey to bring us fans even closer to the mouse so do keep it nice and clean. Disney wants to listen to you, the fans, and they are proofing this with this fun and informative survey.

The survey will be online and active as from 24th November to 12th December. However it looks like they started a little early as the link already works. The survey is open to everybody as from the age of 16 and is heavily targeted to “real” Disney fans. Yes they want to hear from you Disney fanatics. Have a good read while you go through the survey as you might find some hints of things to come. If they survey is a success we might even see more interaction with fans and might see some special fan events coming our way.

You will also be able to answer one very important question! What Disney fan sites do you visit. We are right there among a fast collection of Disney dedicated fans with their site. So we would not only like you to take the Disneyland Paris Survey but we would be honored if you tick our box as sites you visit. Thank you! And now, enjoy the Disneyland Paris survey. (in English or French)

Duffy Arrived!

Friday, November 11th, 2011

He has landed in Paris, Duffy the Bear. Duffy is traveling the world and has made his way into the Disneyland Paris parks shops. Disney is targeting young children, with this new “Disney” bear, making it hard to resist for parents to open their wallets or purses. He is a real sweet and ready to be taken home for cuddles and love. But you can’t just get the bear alone! He will need some things to wear.

The bear has several different outfits he can wear. All these outfits can be bought separately in the shop. There are already a nice assortment of different clothing assemblies to choose from, but guest can expect this range to grow over time. The range of clothing has several Disney related movie theme’s like Buzz and Cars, but also Pirates among others. There are also special sets that can be picket up. For example, during Christmas season the bear can be bought in a Christmas outfit.

The bear is getting a lot of attention in Disneyland Paris. He is represented all over the resort. You can find him in most stores in both parks, the Disney Village and the hotels. There seems to be one shop that has some extra love for the bear and it looks like it that this shop will be the central Duffy place. The small, but wonderful, Storybook Store at Main Street U.S.A is the place to be for new Duffy fans. You’ll see some extra decoration dedicated to the bear. It already starts outside the shop where guest can see a collection of big suitcases with stickers showing of all the places he has visited before he came to Paris.

To make sure visitor will follow the bears footprints, or should we say paw prints, stickers of his paws have been placed on the floor in front of the shop. Once guest have entered the shop they are greeted by an over sized Duffy. He is sitting behind the post office desk inside the shop. This desk used to be Tigger’s place, but it seems that Tigger is now (unfortunately) gone for good to make place for the new bear.

The bear comes with a nice back story to give it a reason of existence in the Disney world. With Mickey Mouse traveling around the world so much (he needs to be at many places to make many children happy), Minnie made him a special bear to take along. Minnie made the bear when Mickey set out sail on a long sea voyage. She made the bear so Mickey would never be lonely. Mickey loved the bear and named it Duffy. Once back home Mickey and Duffy shared their magical memories with Minnie.

If children want to know about these memories they can buy a Duffy book. The book will tell you about Duffy’s adventures. An ideal addition for Duffy fans to read before it’s “night, night” time.

Duffy was originally created and sold at the Once Upon a Toy Story at Walt Disney World but it was in Tokyo where he became popular. The bear started of as “the Disney Bear” but was named Duffy once he reached DisneySea Tokyo where he was promoted to such an extend that everybody had to had one in Tokyo. Duffy was re-introduced at Epcot at Walt Disney World in October 2010. Then he went to Hong Kong Disneyland, Popped up at Disney’s California Adventure and was finally introduced at Disneyland Paris in November 2011.

To make sure guest will get to know the new Disney character he will get greet and meet area’s and might be integrated in parades and special festivities like Christmas.

Big Thunder Mountain – another update

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

As covered in the past weeks Big Thunder Mountain was closed from late afternoon on October 27 till midday October 31 (when it re-opened after Disneyland Park received all required approvals and permissions to do so from the authorities) after one car derailed on what is assumed to have been the ride’s second lifthill. Now the french website Midi Libre has published the first photo taken on-site of the derailed car.

When the attraction reopened on October 31st capacity was significantly reduced with only three trains operating. However, one of the three trains runing was a train retrofitted earlier this year with enhancements to the lap-bar system in all carriages. As can be seen in the photos on board of this train all lap-bars feature a vertical bar going down from the actual lap-bar in the middle of it. Also a forward extension of the seating has been installed featuring a ”hump” right under the position in which the new vertical element of the lap bar comes down. This two element-system adds a separation between the two guests in each row, prevents sliding on the seats and makes it more difficult especially for smaller guests / children to wriggle out of the lap bar system – thus increasing further guests safety. A predecessor of this new system had been tested in selected carriages at the end of at least one train in the past year already.

The new system should have no impact on the ride’s capacity as on October 31st repeatedly parents with one young / small child were seated in one row nevertheless with the kid being placed with one leg to each side of the “hump” thus in an especially safe position.

Fun on the ice skating rink

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

In time for the winter season the giant Zorb balls have left the Rockefeller Plaza at Disney’s Hotel New York and in their place the ice skating rink has returned. During the Halloween weekend already guests of all ages took turns on the rink during daytime as well as night time hours, when the rink is illumuniated.

During nighttime a new lighting feature of the fountain between the ice skating rink and the hotel entrance further adds to the atmosphere. The lights ”under” the individual fountains in the long rectangular bassin at the top of the rink used to illuminate the fountains constantly. Now these lights regularly turn on and off individually under the different fountains further livening up the scene.

However, as of later today guests on the rink will also be able to enjoy a more festive holiday atmosphere. Just as this post is published the hotel’s christmas tree is set up at the top of the ice skating rink above the water bassin (which had to be drained temporarily to allow for the installation of the platform for the tree in the bassin).

Giant Mickey

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

Are you looking for that very special christmas gift for a true Mickey Mouse fan? Or do you need something to adorne the entrance hall of your villa? No need to think about the price of the item? Than you should drop by the Gallery Mickey shop located on the first floor of the Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Paris!

A huge Mickey Mouse figurine limited to just 250 copies has been put on sale here at the price of EUR 3,500. However, the limited figurine is really a giant one. The photo on the left shows the shop window that reaches from the floor all the way to the top of the doors – just to give you a reference for the figurines height. As the size would make it rather difficult to transport the figurine back home for guests shipping is available depending on the destination at EUR 149.50 in France, EUR 299.00 in Europe respectively starting at EUR 1,200.00 by airfreight to other international destinations.

Victoria’s New Menu

Monday, November 7th, 2011

Victoria’s Home – Style Restaurant is a (by many guests) overlooked alternative to grab a small snack or sit down for a full lunch / dinner. Sure, seating is limited indoors and outdoors but it features a unique atmosphere. Its three rooms offer a unique private feeling while the outdoor seating in the gardens between Gibson’s Girls and Central Plaza on bright sunny days allow guests to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the Main Street, U.S.A. with their food (and maybe even catch a glimpse of any show taking place on Central Plaza). Also their is a limited amount of additonal covered seating available in the Discovery Arcade.

Its location off to the side between Gibson’s Girls and the Plaza Gardens Restaurant is maybe one of the contributing reasons for the restaurant often being overlooked. While the drinks and bakery items on the menu are a staple in the meantime, the warm lunch / dinner options have seen numerous menu changes over the years in an attempt to make it more interesting to guests. Most lately the restaurant was offering pizzas – which are also available in various other locations throughout the Disneyland Park … time for another menu change!

The latest menu now offers “bruschetta” / toast in three different variations all coming with a side salad. With this latest menu Victoria’s sets itself further apart from other restaurants adding a new flavor to the restaurant offerings of the Disneyland Park.

The Dragon’s Regimen

Monday, November 7th, 2011

As widely reported the Sleeping Beauty Castle at the heart of the Disneyland Park has returned from its extensive rehab earlier this year more beautiful than in a long time. However, there us still one area that is off-limit for guests currently where a rehab is still on-going: the dungeon / caves under the castle.

All three entrances are closed off – the gates in front of the bridge leading to the front entrance are closed, a special construction wall blocks the rear entrance and the gates in front of the stairway leading from Merlin’s shop down into the cave are also closed.

However, with a bit of luck guests may be able to catch a glimpse of the ongoing work from inside Merlin’s shop despite a black tarp which is supposed to prevent guests from seeing behind the magic (see photo above)…

Christmas decoration at Town Square and Central Plaza

Sunday, November 6th, 2011

Directly after the Halloween evening started Disneyland Paris to install the last Christmas decorations.

Especially some shops at the Main Street, the Town Square with the large Christmas tree and the Central Plaza with the little winter wonderland needed a redesign after the Halloween season.

From the 2nd november the Disneyland Park guests could see the daily progress. One of the best points to observe for example the work at the Town Square was from the Disneyland Railroad station at the begin of the Main Street. The installations proceeded also during the days so that all changes have been finished in time before the weekend.

  

New Sign in Belle’s Village

Sunday, November 6th, 2011

The Christmas season starts now and a lot of guests in the last weeks had the possibiliy to visit Belle’s Village. Most of the small houses offer christmas decorations, warm clothes like gloves and woolly hats or a warm tomato soup.

Some small houses are not used unless as nice photo points. Most of them are on the way to the attractions “Le Pays de Contes de FĂ©es” or “Casey Jr” in front of the seats next to the “Old Mill”.

In this year one of these small houses got a new sign: “Chez Christine Laurent - Elle ne perd jamais le fil!” (= “At Christine Laurent – She never loses the thread!”)  Maybe this sign is dedicated to the portuguese screenplay writer and actress Christine Laurent. She is also a costume designer which could be the connection to this sign.

Christine Laurent’s most famous work was writing together with Pascal Bonitzer and Jacques Rivette the screenplay to “La Belle Noiseuse” (“The Beautiful Troublemaker”).

Halloween at Disneyland Paris, a photo memory

Sunday, November 6th, 2011

Last week Disney’s Halloween Party and the Terrorific Night took over Disneyland Paris for several nights of ghostly fun. If you have missed out the fun – after all the partys were sold out – or just want to relieve the fun we have just added a photo show featuring 122 unique impressions.

Beside the street atmosphere of the Halloween Party and the Terrorific Night, take a look at the unique atmosphere and entertainment in particular the sound & light show “Mickey and his Magic Halloween Night” on Central Plaza.

This midnight extra vaganza on Central Plaza combined a) a stage show with a large cast of dancers and numerous Disney characters (including Mickey, the Disney Villains, Merlin and many more) with b) low level fireworks on both sides of the castle as well as in front of it and c) still pictures as well as video projections on the castle.
The DLP.info Photoshow also includes some shots of Disney’s Maleficous Halloween Party.

 

       

P.S.: for high resolution versions of the photos just click on the photo in the show – additonal controls will show up when you move your mouse over the photos.

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