Disneyland Paris World of Disney Store Video

You saw last week some pics of the new World of Disney Store to open at Disneyland Paris on July 12, and today let's have a closer look at it with this excellent video posted on Youtube by Disneyland Paris. The store will be twice as big as the current Disney Store in the Disney Village and, good news, it will have exclusive merchandise products. The two Mickey and Minnie bronze statues are in fact coming from the NY Disney Store ( i knew i had seen them somewhere! ).




video: copyright Disney

Photo: copyright News Parcs

Tony Baxter Wishes a Happy 20th Anniversary to Disneyland Paris !

Legendary Imagineer Tony Baxter was Disneyland Paris main show-producer 20 years ago, and last saturday he was back at DLP fior the 20th Anniversary press event. DCP forum member djrom36 met him in front of Sleeping Beauty castle and Tony is sending to all DLP fans a warm "Happy 20th Anniversary DLP"! I remind you that Tony Baxter will be at Discoveryland Videopolis April 12 in the morning for a one hour "master class" followed by questions/answers and autographs.




Video: copyright djrom36

Disneyland Paris That Never Was !

As you know we are planning to reprint the great Disneyland Paris "From Sketch to Reality" book and we are now entering in the production of the book, the printing itself should happen in a few weeks. There is 750 pictures in the book including 250 renderings from Walt Disney Imagineering but those of you who don't already own the book might not know that you'll find also in the book many artworks showing the "Disneyland Paris that never was"! I will show you today some of them, beginning by the one above showing a winter scene of DLP entrance as envisioned by WDI Imagineers.

The next one below is part of the concept-arts for the very first concept of Main street, and we were at two fingers to have at DLP a really different Main Street than the one which exist now. Instead to have a “turn of the century” theming, Eddie Sotto, Main Street show-producer, had designed a Main Street set up at the 1920’s-30’s, at an era which was ruled by gangsters but also the golden era of jazz and cinema, and it would have been a totally different design as you can see on the Colin Campbell artwork below.



Another artwork, this one by Eddie Sotto himself, is showing the elevated tramway concept, going all along Main Street and inside the MS arcades. The idea of the elevated tramway was finally realized at Tokyo Disney Sea in the American Waterfront area.



Always in that 1930’s theming, a luxurious art-deco restaurant - a kind of private“club 33” -located behind the Main Street Transportation Co. building was envisioned and would have give you the feeling that you’re dining on a train.



One of the most amazing concepts for DLP castle was the one looking like a futuristic castle designed by Tim Delaney.



In Adventureland the Temple du Peril had several exciting ideas, unfortunately never realized like the one below...



In Discoveryland Star Tours almost had an AT - T at the entrance instead of the X-Wing fighter...



...but one of the greatest concept ever envisioned for DLP, the one that would have stunned all DLP fans, was the first concept of Space Mountain at that time called Discovery Mountain...



...in which you would have found not only the Space Mountain coaster but also the Nautilus submarine as well as a Journey to the Center of the Earth drop ride - the vulcano that you can see in the background of this Tim Delaney artwork.



Mind you, the DLP concepts that never were were also envisioned for the outside of the park, like this incredible restaurant concept supposed to be build in what is now the Disney Village...



...or this amazing concept for one of the hotels of the park which was designed with the shape of an aircraft carrier by austrian architect Hans Hollein.



There is dozens more of these "DLP that never was" artworks in the Disneyland Paris book, all fascinating, and that's one more good reason to pre-order your collector copy right now, specially considering that during the pre-order period which will end in a few weeks you also have a 20% discount on what will be the final price of the book. I repost below the video showing you each page of the book and to know how to order and send your payment please go HERE. Paypal or bank wire transfer payments are accepted.







Artwork: copyright Disney

Video: copyright Alain Littaye 2012

Was EuroDisney Cursed from the Start ?

In Europe, when you sign an important agreement, you generally come with some gift to celebrate. It's probably the same anywhere in the world but i wouldn't be surprised if in Asia they were also making sure that the event happens a "good" day, or they will ask monks to come to ask the protection of gods, etc...

But, anyway, in Occident we just bring gifts. And so did Michael Eisner to french official - who became later french president - Jacques Chirac, on March 24 1987 when Disney signed the final contract for what will become EuroDisney, then Disneyland Paris. And what did Eisner give to Chirac, you ask? He gives him an original cel from Snow White. Wow, that's a pretty cool gift, you think. Well, uh, yes and no. Have a closer look at the above picture and you'll see that this cel shows the witch giving to Snow White the POISONED APPLE!!

Although it's one of Snow White most famous sequence, you'll probably admit that Eisner could have found a better symbolism at a time he was signing a major contract to bring to France a Disney Magic Kingdom... A bit like if it was going to be a poisoned gift... And, although for the french state DLP has always been a good operation in terms of revenues that the state is getting from VAT, other taxes, and of course tourism, almost since the start DLP had these financial problems that we all know.

So, i'm asking the question: was Disneyland Paris cursed from the start thanks to Eisner more "Goofy" than ever? Of course not - well, probably not - but if one day you're signing this kind of major contract, you better choose as a gift something with a more appropriate symbolism!

Picture: copyright Reuters

Disneyland Paris Update - Part One

I have a long Disneyland Paris Update for you today, with many pictures shot last week by a friend of mine. So many that the update will be divided in two parts, today is the first part and the second one will come later tomorrow.

Those who arrive to the resort going through the Disney Village will see some Christmas decorations as DLP put some christmas trees, big christmas gift boxes as well as a small christmas stage. There is also a little christmas village as we will see later in the part two of this update. But for an unknown reason the trees seems to be concentrated in the middle of the DV, which is quite odd.









More interesting is to have a look at the huge World of Disney Store which will open next year - and be part of "what will be new" during DLP 20th anniversary. The works are well advanced now and if everything goes fine they should be ready to open the WOD store on time.







At the entrance of the park guests will always find the welcome sign placed on Main Street Station, and yes, the Mickey's Winter Wonderland show is back this year at Frontierland Chaparral Stage.





The giant Christmas tree on Town Square is back too, as well as christmas decorations on Main Street buildings.







Talking about Main Street shops and merchandise what is really new is the arrival of Duffy the bear, who began its merchandise career at Tokyo Disney Sea and then to DCA. Guests will find quite a lot of Duffy merchandise and, strangely, also inside Story Book Shop which is normally a shop dedicated to books and CD's merchandise as well as stationery. Whether you'll be outside or inside the shop, you can't miss Duffy!







Duffy even stands now where Tiger was at the entrance of the store...











On Central Plaza, the freshly repainted castle looks great and around the center of the plaza you'll find other christmas trees. However, as the giant stage is not yet removed - it should be next year - it's hard for DLP to put more decorations on the plaza as they used to do a long time ago... You'll note also some fences around the area located in front of Casey's Corner, some refurbishment for sure...and also that the Dragon Grotto under the castle is closed for now, probably for the same reasons. The day these pictures were shot Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain and Autopia were also closed, which, considering that BTM and SM are two of the most popular coaster rides, is may be a little bit too much at the same time.









We will end this first part with a great picture of the glass sculptor inside the castle shop, and don't miss the part two, as i have interesting pics for you!



All Pictures: copyright Disney and more


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Disneyland Paris Update : All about DLP 20th Anniversary

A lot of you asked for it, so here is the awaited update about DLP 20th Anniversary and what you can expect...or not. Recently, Philippe Gas, DLP CEO, announced in a radio interview that there will be no new attraction before fall 2013 or 2014. At least, this is clear, don't expect any new ride before two years. But as you will see, that doesn't mean there will be nothing happening at DLPR next year.

Let's begin by what is cancelled or delayed: i've told you in a previous update that Jack Sparrow audio-Animatronics will be introduced at DLP Pirates of Caribbean. And they will be, but instead to do the POTC update next year the park delayed it to the next fiscal year - which begin in October 2012.

The update of Phantom Manor and Big Thunder is cancelled for now, and no new date is scheduled, which doesn't mean they will never happen in the future even if it might take some time.

Star Tours 2: There is still no news about a Star Tours update at DLP and when Philippe Gas was saying that considering ST2 budget he was wondering if DLP shouldn't build a new ride instead he might be right. Recently Tokyo Disneyland announced that ST2 will come at TDL in 2013 for a cost of....7 billion yen and this makes 67M Euros, which is indeed a lot of money. DLP can easily have a new dark ride ( in the category of Buzz Lightyear ) for this price, and even if the cost are always a bit higher for TDL, ST2 cost can't be less than 50M euros for DLP. It doesn't mean that ST2 will not come to DLP but here too DLP fans might have to wait a bit to get it...

The awaited Ratatouille dark ride at WDS is always supposed to be the next new big attraction but apparently the park is still waiting for the budget approval from the banks, and the very last news i had says that DLP is expecting a decision from the banks no later than the end of this year, i.e in one month from now. However, even if the green light was given early January, considering the needed time to build the ride and this whole new area an opening - as confirmed by Philippe Gas - won't happen before fall 2013 or 2014.



That said, what will really happen for DLP 20th Anniversary? What we can be sure of is the Meet with Mickey located in Fantasyland - all what we need to know is if it will feature a "talking Mickey" like the one they have at WDW or not, a big update of the day parade which supposedly will be called Disney Magic on Parade: "Disney Magic on Parade casts Disney Characters in a fantastic new carnival especially for our 20th Anniversary. Flying out from their unforgettable stories trailing light, colour, music and magic, they glide through the Park's atmosphere, before Mickey and friends in a spectacular finale". It seems that the update might be big enough - with new music, some changes on the floats of the Disney's Once Upon A Dream Parade as well as a new float "Dreams of Romance II" etc... -- that DLP guests will feel it is a new parade. There will be also a new show at the Theatre du Chateau located on the right of sleeping Beauty Castle, AND the new night time spectacular, a brand new show which will be a kind of "E-Ticket" for 2012 and this is the one we're going to talk about now.



Called "Disney Dreams" this new show starting in April 2012 and supposed to run every day - and not only during the summer season - is here to stay. Obviously the park will put a lot of money in it and you can expect the show to be at DLP not only in 2012 but for years to come. It will involve dazzling projections on water screens and on the castle, fire effects, pyrotechnic effects, laser effects, and the show finale is supposed to be awesome. The video projections on the castle will be much more elaborated than the one which were done in previous shows, and even better than the one done on WDW castle. Apparently the official storyline will be this one: "Sleeping Beauty Castle will see spectacular flights of fancy wrapped around it as Peter Pan's shadow escapes to bring you the rainbow reality of 'Dreams' -our unmissable new nighttime-spectacular show. This world premiere follows his adventure as he weaves his way between timeless Disney Stories, dashing through incredible lasers, fantastic fountains and peaking in an extraordinary finale". The show music, of course, will be from Disney classics.



But there is a great news, as it is Steven Davison himself who has been asked to design the show! As you know Steven is the one who designed Fantasmic and World of Color - and more recently the TDS Fantasmic version - and he is indeed the best person to design a show with projection effects on water screens. The involvement of Steven Davison is probably the best reason to have high expectations in DLP's 20th Anniversary show.



Even if the recently released show visuals that you can see above and on the top might remind you those for World of Color don't expect something as big as WOC. Simply because DLP is not going to create a lake in front of the castle but instead will use the water available in Sleeping Beauty Castle moats to create the water screens which are supposed to be as high as nine meters high, if not more. You may think there is not a lot of water in the castle moats but in fact they don't need a large volume of water to create these water screens. By the way, another good news, if confirmed, is that apparently the big stage built some years ago on Central Plaza will be dismantled so everyone will be able to have a perfect view of the show, even if you stand on Main Street U.S.A.

Works have already began on the preparation of the show with projectors installed on the roof of Gibson Girl and Casey's Corner as you will see on the two pictures below shot by a member of Disney Central Plaza forum. And it seems that the first projection tests also already began at night, after park closure.





One more thing about the companies which might be technically involved in the making of this show. It has yet to be confirmed but rumors are saying that it will be Aquatique Show International which will take care of the water screens, fire effects, etc..and that Cosmos AV or VLS previously involved in DLP press events might be involved in the projection effects. The video below will show you what Aquatique Show International is able to do, and it's pretty impressive.



My feeling is that DLP 20th anniversary show - although it won't be of the same scale as World of Color - will be really good, if not great, and will be a very good reason to visit the park next year, even if there won't be any new attraction.

Pictures: copyright Disney or DCP forum

Disneyland Paris launch an online poll for DLP fans !

Disneyland Paris has launched today a poll, and this one is to know better who DLP fans are and what are their expectations. It's the first time that DLP launch this kind a poll to better know what the fans expect from the park, and no need to say that you shouldn't miss this as it will be a unique chance to let them know what you are your expectations for the future!

The poll begin today, will end December 12 and you have the choice of language between french and english. The good point is that the poll is totally anonymous, i.e they won't ask your name, adress or tel number. At the end of the poll, though, there is a question about your email adress but even that if you don't want to give your email adress you don't have to.

So, go HERE, and tell DLP exactly what you think and want, that's the first time they do such a poll for the fans in twenty years, so not sure they will do it again anytime soon!

Picture: copyright Disney