Disneyland Paris over the course of this year has continued its series of small rehabs and upgrades over the year as we were able to report frequently here in the news. However, the sheer number of smaller projects makes it easy to miss a small change going on here or there. One of those small changes executed in the recent months was the update of the FastPass “return time window” signs and the “standby waiting time” signage at the FastPass equipped attractions. …[more] »
Digital FastPass Signage
October 30th, 2009 by Dirk
Disney Stars’n'Cars on the Big Screen
October 29th, 2009 by Dirk
The grand finale of the daily entertainment in the Walt Disney Studios Park is “Disney Stars’n'Cars” – a calvacade of oldtimers decorated in style for Disney Characters rolling through the Animation Courtyard to the Production Courtyard Stage like a small parade, where the large cast of Disney Characters (including certainly the fab five, classic characters like Snow White but also modern characters such as Mulan or Sully) disembark for a revue style song and dance show before being available for photos and autographs (and finally heading the parade route back on board of their unique cars).
If there is one downside to the popular event it is that many first time guests line up along the parade route for the entrance of the characters and then have to follow the oldtimers to the stage, where they have to stand behind those guests, which reserved a good position to watch the 20 minute show performance. However, the entertainment crew have tried to solve this problem as good as they can. For one thing the characters not performing on stage in any given time are working the crowds on the sides and behind the stage. And then the entertainment crew is making use of the giant video screen on the facade of the Disney Channel Studios building! …[more] »
Snow White on the Castle Stage
October 28th, 2009 by Dirk
After more than 4 years the Royal Castle Stage next to Sleeping Beauty Castle seems to be set to be finally used for a show again – instead of function as a photo location for Disney Characters (in particular the Disney Princesses). The last show performed on this stage for a longer period of time was the first version of ”Winnie the Pooh and Friends, too” which closed at the end of the summer season 2005. Once its sets had been taken down the stage was sitting barren and empty except for minor elements moved in temporarly for the popular photo opportunities. However, most of the time the stage looked just as on the photo on the righ, taken this summer. BUT – that is about to change … …[more] »
The Dining Capacity In Winter
October 27th, 2009 by DirkThe past busy summer season in both theme parks of Disneyland Paris saw the usual crowds descending on the restaurants during the core lunch and dinner hours. And even so the capacity in the table service restaurants of the Disneyland Park on most days was sufficient (and guests rarely had to be turned away), lines in the counter service and buffet locations were considerable and at times lengthy. In the Studios the influx as usually was handled by the numerous outdoor vending cars and in particular the seating in the La Terrasse area in front of the Tower of Terror. The Disneyland Park reacted not only by operating all restaurants with daily schedules for most of the summer but also by adding extra outdoor areas… …[more] »
Back from the “Disney Vault”
October 26th, 2009 by Andy de Maertelaere
New and and not so new: Torsten Schneider returns to support the DLP.info-Team. The Disney expert was one of the founders of DLP-Guidebook, the project that would lead to DLP.Info.
After being away from DLP.info to concentrate on his wine project we are happy to welcome him back as author on the Newsblog. Torsten will support the news team at the DLP.Info Newsblog where you’ll be invited to read his magical Disney contributions.
Welcome back Torsten!
Dine Now for Less?
October 22nd, 2009 by Dirk
The impact of the economic climate on Disneyland Paris has been discussed repeatedly and variouschanges introduced during 2009 (e.g. the late opening of the pools at the Disney Hotels or the high frequency of various special discounts and offers in the resort’s shops) have been 
identified as effects of that. However, there is another development over the past summer that seems to be “inspired” by the economic situation and the guests desire to save money – a more “aggressive” advertisement of the various set menus offered in the table service restaurants of the Disney Village. …[more] »
Ice Skating on Rockefeller Plaza – or not?
October 20th, 2009 by DirkTraditionally the center piece of Rockefeller Plaza between Lake Disney and Disney’s Hotel New York during the cold months of the year is the so called ”Rockefeller Rink” – an ice skating rink that guests enjoyed since 1992. So when the cart track (that in the recent years is the summer alternative) closed down and was taken down in early September (as reported) the work taking place behind hastily set up construction walls was certainly assumed to be the usually installation of the ice skating rink. However, that assumption turned out to be wrong, when the walls came down and the date of the official opening of the rink (last Saturday) arrived … …[more] »
Disney Blockbuster CafĂ© – Original or Not?
October 19th, 2009 by Dirk
It has been a while since we were able to report progress in the transformation of the former “Backlot Express” restaurant in the Walt Disney Studios to its new “Disney Blockbuster CafĂ©” incarnation – however, at the last update the interior (and exterior) seemed pretty much finished with only the display cases in both the Pirates of the Caribbean section and the (on the majority of days closed) expansion room of the High School Musical area still empty. However, finally these display cases have been outfitted with content as well. …[more] »
Return for more shopping – UPDATED
October 16th, 2009 by Dirk
Earlier this year the resort experimented with various free offers and discounts that were granted to guests who shopped in Disneyland Park during the first half of the day (granting these guests 15% off for additional shopping in the last hours of the long summer nights) or had lunch in one of it’s counter service location (which was good for a free hot drink / soft drink later in the afternoon). The special offers were detailed on the receipts guests received with their original shopping in boutiques / orders in the counter service restaurants… but the latest twist of these promotions has moved on to a new level:
When shopping in (selected ?) shops in the Disneyland Park guests will be informed that they will receive a 30% discount (!) for additional shopping in the Disneyland Park (certain items excluded). The special twist? …[more] »
Wicked Queen shows off new powers
October 13th, 2009 by Dirk
Halloween is a crazy time in which the dark powers of the Disney Villains are stronger than ever – and allow them to play a trick or two on guests at Disneyland Paris during the popular Halloween Festival … and it seems the Wicked Queen from Snow White must have mustered special powers – maybe thanks to the recent release of her movie on Blu-Ray and DVD? Afterall, how else could she have managed to ride on the special Halloween pre-parade float in front of Disney’s Once Upon A Dream Parade transformed into the Witch as well as on the spectacular (regular) Disney Villains’ float (representing the “Dreams of Power”) in the same parade as elegant Wicked Queen??
On a sidenote: today’s performance of the parade was missing the “jungle” themed “Dreams of Adventure” float featuring the stars of Disney’s Jungle Book and The Lion King.