When the French financial institute Crédit Mutuel announced that it had become one of the Official Partners of the Disneyland Resort Paris earlier this year it also stated that it would eventually (amongst others) “propose innovative payment alternatives to the resort visitors“. At the time no further information was available but now the resort and Crédit Mutuel have revealed the (maybe only first?) “innovative payment” system to be offered to (selected) guests in the resort: a contactless payment system! (more…)
Archive for the ‘Disneyland Park’ Category
Contactless Payment tested
Friday, July 24th, 2009UP has blown into the Studios & Disneyland
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
Disney Pixar’s UP is ready to return to France (after its official premier at this spring’s film festival in Cannes) July 29 when it opens nation-wide in cinemas. By then it is the first European country that opens the movie as in most other countries the movie will only arrive in cinemas in late September, in some even only at the end of October (when France will already be looking forward to the DVD release currently scheduled for November 29, 2009). However, as always the Disneyland Resort Paris is ahead of everyone else and things take flight (literally) already! (more…)
Walt Disney at Phantom Manor
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
As has been covered already on the Mousekingdom Blog The Walt Disney Family Museum will open coming October in San Francisco, California, giving guests a unique look at the man who started it all – Walt Disney. Housed in three historic building specifically redesigned and upgraded to state-of-the-art facilities in the heart of the Presidio (part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area of the National Park Service) the museum will display more than1,600 drawings, works of art and other items telling the story of Walt’s life, from his childhood days in Marceline, Missouri all the way to the top of the world of Hollywood, certainly also covering his contributions that helped revolutionize animation and forever changed the film industry and family entertainment.
Where the museum plans to set itself apart from many exhibitions and works in other media covering Walt Disney is by telling “the story of the man behind the myth in Disney’ own voice and in exhibits that reveal his expansive vision, from early drawings of some of his most popular characters to plans for Disneyland and EPCOT” … and certainly by way of the unique items on display. To increase anticipation of the museum’s opening a weekly press release featuring a unique look into different galleries and exhibits of the museum has been launched. If you are interested check out the Mousekingdom Blog for the first installment (and certainly the following installments). That first sneak peek covers the very first gallery to be encountered in the museum which covers the very early year of Walt’s life from 1901 to 1923.
As interesting as the man and the myth Walt Disney is and as relevant as he certainly is to Disneyland Resort Paris one could wonder why this post here in the DLP.info News & Rumors Blog – just because the resort is paying tribute to Walt Disney itself in “Walt’s – An American Restaurant” and to some degrees inside Lilly’s the boutique next door named for his wife?
No, the reason is actually the photo illustrating this article that was provided by the museum as part of the first sneak peek into the gallery of Walt’s early years. But where is the connection of that photo to the Disneyland Resort Paris? Need a hint? Take a look at the title of the post again - really (more…)
The Mystery of the Invisible Pigeons
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
The crew preparing the Hyperion airship in the hangar in Discoveryland for its next big expedition to the top of the world packed already various expedition gear that guests can see anchored to the outside of the cabin – including boxes with life (audioanimatronic) pigeons, that can ben seen moving their heads in the boxes and can be heared from below the airship as well (as seen in the stock photo).
However, guests venturing in the area right now might be surprised to hear the pigeons calling out (as usually) but not being able to see any pigeons, as these have disappeared… have they flown out? Did a mysterious power make them invisible? Nobody knows – but for the time being they are gone. However, this is not the first time this is happening – similar strange occurances were also reported in 2001.
Hurry… the SALE is ending soon!
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
Walking down your local high street you will be hard pressed to miss the huge “SALE” signs all over the place as the regular summer sales are combined with special sales due to the economic situation. So surprise – the Disneyland Resort Paris is also currently (since June 24) conducting a resort wide sales in its shops and boutiques for a various products from clothing, to all kinds of souvenirs but also upscale pricy collectibles such as Disney Classic Collection figurines. Signage has been further increased compared to the prior years to make guests aware of the specials deals available.
Products included in the sale are varying from shop to shop (even so basically all shops offer some discounted products) as inventory of certain items may be depleted in one shop while still existing in others. So browsing through various shops may reveal great deals. Discounts are offered of 30%, 40% and even 50% on certain items! In addition some items habe been newly priced at 0.50, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15 or 20 EUR as part of the sale. However, if you want to make a great deal you better hurry as the sale will end on Tuesday next week (July 28). But there is (more…)
Sorry… we are closed / not yet open
Monday, July 20th, 2009
Yes, it is summer high season for the Disneyland Resort Paris from early July to late August, yes the parks are busy and yes, the Disneyland Park has extended operating hours and features additional entertainment such as Goofy’s Summer Camp, Disney’s Fantillusion and in particular the Enchanted Fireworks to bring the day to a majestic finale in the skies above Sleeping Beauty Castle. But guests could be excused for believing that they are in the Disneyland Park on a slow off-season day thanks to additional signs posted on the entrances to various attractions – minor and major ones such as Phantom Manor – that inform about staggered operating hours, i.e. certain attractions opening later than the park and / or closing earlier. (more…)
Buy a PREMIUM FastPass
Sunday, July 19th, 2009
Since its inception the concept of FastPass has resulted in sometimes heated discussions among fans and regular guests whether it created a two class society among guests or was unfari to guests who were not aware of the FastPass system or did not know how to “trick” it to their advantage. Afterall the FastPass system allows guests to obtain one free FastPass at a time for one FastPass enabled attraction such as Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Peter Pan’s Flight etc. which then reserves their spot in the line for that attraction, so that they can return at the designated time and bypass the regular line to enter the attraction after a short, roughly 10 minute, wait in a designated FastPass line. With the time passing these discussion died down – but they are sure to be revived now that the Disneyland Resort Paris has started offering an upcharge Premium FastPass for a test phase. (more…)
Works in Progress at Disneyland Paris
Saturday, July 18th, 2009
There is always something new at the Disneyland Resort Paris … however, some of the surprises are not really ment to attract guests … one of those is the maybe biggest surprise of this summer season … despite it being July, the Disneyland Park having extended operating hours and it supposedly being the busiest time of the year there are several highly visible in two cases even the guest flow impeding construction / rehab projects going on in the Disneyland Park. On this scale a true first at the Disneyland Resort Paris, which usually made sure that all major, highly visible cosntruction projects related to renovating or rehabing were done prior to high season.
So which construction projects are currently happening inside the Disneyland Park? (more…)
Partial Restaurant Price Cut
Thursday, July 16th, 2009
As widely reported France reduced its value added tax (VAT) as applicable to food and drinks and the related service in restaurants (but NOT for take-way foods and drinks) effective July 1, 2009 from 19.6% to 5.5%. While restaurants are not obligated to hand the reduction down to customers early reports indicated up to 80% planned to do so. So what about the restaurants at the Disneyland Resort Paris? There is a mixed answer here - but guests can save some money. (more…)
Let’s Go Back…
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
For this news we invite you to journey back in time … to Discoveryland pre-2005. Where today Buzz Lightyear is recruiting guests to help im fight against Zurg’s latest attempt in taking control of the toy universe, back then Timekeeper (an incredible robotic animatronic) was presenting guests his latest and greatest invention: a time machine, which allowed him to take guests on a journey to the past and the future to meet dinosaurs, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells and many more in places as close as Paris or Vienna but also as far away as space and the depths of the sea in a 360 degree surround cinema projection.
Fans of the resort often stated that the instrumental score for the time travel attraction was one of the most stunning score pieces written especially for the Disneyland Paris (where the attraction premiered before also being added to Tokyo Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World). Unfortunately said score by Bruce Broughton was never officially released till today. However, Bruce Broughton now has released one cue from the score titled “Let’s Go Back To The Future” running 2:51 on his website, where it is currently the featured clip. So visit his website, enjoy the excerpt from the score and travel back in time to the Discoveryland pre-2005…
Photo: brucebroughton.com
