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!
The Starbucks Coffee Company is a certified LEED store and they are showing their commitment with a permanent sign on their facade. The sign reads; “This store is registered with the goal to be LEED certified”. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The sign is also translated to French.
LEED follows the Green Building Rating System that has been developed by the U.S. Green Building Council or the USGBC since 1998. They stand for high standards related to healthier work and living environments to improve the employees comfort. To get certified you need to follow a long list with implementation for improving things like water and air quality, reducing waste, usage of materials and resources, benefiting the owners, the employees and the society as well. For more on LEED and the points system they use to certify, you can visit the U.S. Green Building Council website.
Merchandise for the movie “G-Force” is found in numerous shops all around Disneyland Paris, in particular the Disney Store in the Disney Village, the Disney Hollywood Store and Studio 1 in Walt Disney Studios and Emporium in the Disneyland Park but also in other shops; in fact there is more G-Force merchandise than merchandise for UP. Plus the G-Force merchandise is placed more prominently then the new UP movie is.
Could it be that the cuddly factor makes the big difference here?
G-Force is a Jerry Bruckheimer produced Disney feature starring computer animated guinea pigs saving the world (the first movie for Bruckheimer starring computer animated characters in the lead parts).
G-Force has also an exclusive for Disneyland Paris. The “I was born ready” T-shirt can only be bought at the Paris resort. Next to the T-Shirt there are the action figure toys for the boys and the more cuddly plush for the little once and the girls.
With UP getting rave reviews more collectibles might find its way into the shops, but even if the characters are likable it will not be easy to beat the possibilities G-Force has in merchandise and its bigger market appeal. However, even with their nice display and choice, G-Force might not be able to brake the Cars merchandise success. Cars premiered in 2006 and merchandise of this Disney/Pixar feature is still going very strong at all Disney shops around the globe.
At the Hollywood Pictures Shop in the Disney Village pins used to have a very nice corner just for themselfs. They where displayed on a nice sized wall at the left hand entrance of the shop. Character pins, attraction pins, hotel pins and many other themed pins. There was also a selection of lanyards and bags to choose from.
At the side of the wall was a little table where pin traders could show of their collection and start trading for pins still missing from that collection. Unfortunately the pin trading corner slowly but surly got deserted over time as most pin traders would meet inside the park and trading at the Hollywood Pictures store got absolute.
The pins are now pushed further back inside the shop where they are displayed on a smaller rack. Bags and lanyards are still on display too but the choice of pins did shrink. The limited pins are on display inside a small plastic cube. The display is a nice feature and looks very nice and inviting to guest.
However, the move to a smaller section inside the store might be an indication that the popularity of the pins are not as big as it used to be.
Scaffolding is being put up around the small building at the Disneyland Park right hand exit. It is expected the building will undergo some small restoration, a paint job and some clean up where needed.
These refurbishments are being done during most of the years on many of the parks buildings, mainly to make sure they keep their fresh and new look.
We already mentioned the closure of the go-karts at the New York Hotel a little while ago. The Go-karts are rented out so children can have a little race around a set up track. The Track is laid out at the ice skate ring and is only open during the busy summer month season. With winter nearing, the go-karts are being put away.
The area has now been completely fenced off in preparation for the colder seasons. Some work is being done on the pavement that surrounds the inner ring. Work should not take too long and the area will most likely be re-opened before the busy winter time. Watch out for the popular ice skate ring to open soon after…
The summer promotion offers in the shop might have come to an end a couple of weeks ago but the next promotions have already been displayed since back then. This “new” promotion is valid for the rest of the September month with a lot of merchandise on offer in many of the different Disneyland shops. Some of the shops show so many red promotion cards it feels as if half of the shops goods are on sale.
Good for Disney bargain hunters or if you need to bring lots of present home for those that stayed behind.
The collection of articles reduced varies from small to big items. What stand out are the Mickey Magical Party items, they are all on the promotion shelves. However the products with the biggest discounts are the Go Green collection. This collection is being offered with a 40% off the regular price.
Picking something up from these shelves should give you a double good feeling. You save 40% and you’re doing some good for the environment.
The promotion end on the 1st of October, but could well be the day the next promotion takes over.Die Rabattaktion läuft bis zum 30.09.
The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at the Walt Disney Studios is a favourite attraction of many guests. Closing the roller coaster for rehab might disappoint many first time, as well as returning visitors. Disney has therefore put a warning note into place at the parks entrance as well as the ticket machines. Like this visitors can decide to change their Studios visit to another day and hop over to the Disneyland Park.
While many guest will be able to park hop from one gate to the other, those visiting only for the day could change their plans without having to enter the park first to encounter the disserted backlot area. The Studios has enough alternative rides, like the Tower of Terror or the Crush’s Coaster, but it’s still a nice gesture to warn those that didn’t know about it prior to their visit.
The note reads: Dear Guests, We would like to inform you that “Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in Backlot will close from 14 to 25 September 2009 inclusive. Please take this information into consideration when organising your visit. Thank you and have a wonderful day at Disneyland Paris.
Inside the Walt Disney Studios work on the new Toy Story Playland area has started. The “big toys” is rolling in to prepare the land for its new inhabitants from the Toy Story gang. A big yellow crane is spotted just behind the Toy Story decorated fence that encloses the area.
The fence is covered with a big Toy Story scene where Buzz and his famous friends are doing the best they can to try and hide the work for the guests in the best possible way.
However, peaking trough the fence reveals groundbreaking work is taking place. The area is being prepared for the new kiddie (and 
those young at heart) attractions.
But it will be a while before the new land is ready and until that time it’s the “big boys” that will be able to play with the big toys to get the attractions into place.
The statue of King Ludwig originally located outside King Ludwig’s in the Disney Village on the 
restaurant’s terrace disappeared when the terrace was closed in and transformed into the bar of the restaurant.
The statue has returned and found a new place right in the middle of the restaurant’s main dining room on the ground floor.
For the statue to fit at its new location the restaurant had to sacrifice some of its tables. Less place for guests, but those that do get a place are now able to dine with a king.
