Tuesday, 11th August 2009

More maritime previews from Blockbuster Café

The modern, silver Ford Focus parked outside, its windows covered in High School Musical 3 stickers, has miraculously disappeared from beside the yellow taxi.

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Though vehicles are a feature elsewhere in Backlot, this car looked entirely out of place. So, with a removal, Disney Blockbuster Café actually scores new points.

And inside, those points have begun to mount up considerably when you take a look at the progressing theme in the Pirates of the Caribbean room. The sails, wooden banisters, wheel, yellow stained windows and ship’s stern have been joined by at least two huge ships’ masts jutting up from the floor at angles.

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One has a torn piece of wood angled across it halfway up, whilst the other, seen in the picture above, appears to have a crow’s nest. Notice also that the large garage windows have been given a blue-tinted covering, perhaps to simulate moonlight!

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Walking back around looking at the reverse of this area, through the door next to Restaurant des Stars, we can see that the storage cage next to the serving area has been dressed up with a full set of nautical accessories and props, from chests and barrels to bottles, nets and a wheel.

All looking very good — atmospheric, well-dressed. The only problem still? A distinct lack of Disney’s pirates. However, perhaps that’s where those display cases will come into play. A couple more, in fact, have popped up in the room on the far side of the restaurant.

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This additional room was actually originally just a raised outdoor terrace, but was soon enclosed for the park’s first Winter. It remains very cold, however, heated only by electric coil heaters, and the basic High School Musical posters installed to replace the torn-out props don’t help.

Here we can see the other half of the game — whilst the Pirates area is very well-themed but lacking in relationship to the Disney franchise, the ‘HSM’ area is, honestly, largely unthemed but playing very, very close to the franchise — almost like a walk through the film’s publicity department, in fact.

Pictures: Photos Magiques (see more in the latest update here!)

Monday, 10th August 2009

Recycling bin tests for a Greener Place on Earth

We can all admit that Disneyland, whilst responsible, is by its nature hardly the “Greenest Place on Earth”. Between the energy-guzzling attractions, seas of merchandise and fast food disposables, it’s hard to feel very eco-friendly as you enjoy the parks.

Surprisingly, the other international parks are already well-ahead on this one. Despite Europe — and especially the countries which feed into Disneyland Paris — probably being rather more keen on recycling, it’s the parks in California and Hong Kong which have double bins in most locations, with clever themed designs indicating the bin for recycling bottles and cans.

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Photo source.

Take a look at a few nice examples here, here, here and here.

And now, they’ve finally arrived in Paris:

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The new bins to have arrived in Walt Disney Studios Park for this test aren’t quite so special, but they’re certainly a positive step forward. Even if Euro Disney S.C.A. already claims to recycle 39% of its total waste, these make it clear to guests that the parks are taking responsibility for their waste, as well as allowing bottles and cans to be separated from the start.

With only Disney Studio 1 and Toon Studio having slightly different designs for their bins, the Studios would never be the first to lead with a clever themed design, but if the “test” is successful enough for these bins to show up everywhere (and why wouldn’t it be?), hopefully our new green conscience can come with a little more Disney magic, like above.

Picture (Paris): Photos Magiques.

Monday, 10th August 2009

Wild West Show – in under 90 minutes, please

April this year saw Mickey and the gang arrive at the show for several cameo appearances, with all advertising immediately skewing toward the Mouse and even changing the official name of the show, as recorded in the resort’s nomenclature guide, to “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show… with Mickey and Friends”.

So, longer name… shorter show? It’s probably not quite so drastic, but one of the actors who portrays Buffalo Bill himself has posted in his blog about the show managers emphasising a need to keep the show’s pace brisk and, ideally, under 90 minutes in length.

“Lest there be any doubt that the WWS is more factory than theatre, the latest directive from management is that the show must finish in 90 minutes.

“So I kept a ruthlessly rapid pace throughout both shows last night, bulldozing through moments where I normally allowed slight pause for theatrical drama, clipping the end of my fellow actor’s lines, ignoring interruptions where improvisation is called for, not waiting for audience applause to die down before delivering text, and cutting words from my own text where possible.”

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And did it work? At 90 minutes, the first show of the night was bang on management’s wishes. The second, a cheeky 87 minutes! “Management was perfectly tickled,” he continues:

“Pace is important, to be sure. Too often actors overindulge in their own stretched out moments of drama, or confusion, and the show slows to a crawl. Or. Stop.

“But to ignore the audience and the occasional special moments of improvisation makes the show impersonal and can undermine the credibility of the characters, in my view. Allowing for special moments yet keeping a good pace is not easy.” … “Perhaps one day we’ll be able to relax again and respond to the audience in a natural way that allows each show to be individual and special, and builds the credibility of the characters and the moment, without being slave to an arbitrary time limit.”

To be clear, 90 minutes or thereabouts is how long Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show is scheduled and advertised to last, but it appears keeping strictly to that length has never been so encouraged or enforced before now.

Why impose a limit on the legends of the Wild West? Could be for any number of reasons — simply keeping the show moving along at an exciting pace, making sure the arena can be cleared out and “turned over” more quickly, or — dare it be suggested — keeping the younger audience members drawn in by the new Disney Character cameos from fidgeting in their seats…?

Pictures: Photos Magiques/Disney; Quotes via Buffalo Bill’s Blog.

Sunday, 9th August 2009

Heigh ho! New Snow White happening in the works?

It’s Poppy the Monkey who shares this snippet of new information on magicforum, posting the following:

“After the success of the Mary Poppins and Sleeping Beauty happening – plans are underway for a new happening to launch in November this year.

The Snow White happening, temporarily called “Snow White – I’m wishing” will feature Snow White, her prince, the 7 dwarfs and possible the Evil Queen….

Plans are being made to have this show play on the old castle stage, unused for shows since Winnie the Pooh departed a few years ago.”

Sounds great so far, don’t you think? More streetmosphere, the Castle Stage (Le Théâtre du Château) finally back in use and all seven dwarfs together at once — a very rare sight in Paris.

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Whilst Step in Time Mary Poppins is a real joy and continues to be hugely popular, the Once Upon a Dream Sleeping Beauty event, with no real storyline and quite patchy recycled music, was less so. It’s possibly worth noting Snow White already appears to a slightly shrill old “I’m Wishing” track in the Disney’s Stars ‘n’ Cars stage number.

With each new streetmosphere event — including the return of Good Morning Main Street U.S.A. last month — it’s hard not to think of the ones which are becoming long-forgotten. The Main Street Quartet, Casey’s Ragtime Piano, The Gunfighters Stunt Show over the roofs of Frontierland and the Jesters and lute-playing Troubadour of Fantasyland — not to mention all the acts (including CinéFolies) in the now criminally streetmosphere-free Walt Disney Studios Park.

Still, one step at a time. The shocking discovery that the Castle Stage is actually… a stage …is a big moment, after all these years of building unpopular new ones over Central Plaza.

We’re wishing for November already…

Saturday, 8th August 2009

Buffalo Trading Company lives on… in Hollywood

Yes, the Hollywood Pictures store just across the street! As arno-hh on magicforum just spotted this week, if you walk through to the back of this movie-themed shop, you’ll stumble upon a very familiar display unit…

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Now suitably forming part of the Pixar ‘Cars’ merchandise display, the trunk end of the red motor car — a Cadillac Eldorado, perhaps? — has been given over to plush toys from the popular film.

It used to be one of the most memorable features inside the old store, with the front end actually sitting above it, hanging off the wall…

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So, even though the trendy new Starbucks Coffee might have been initiated into the resort’s photo library and nomenclature, the past hasn’t been completely forgotten.

What happened to the “hood” of the car? Well, perhaps it just became a very substantial conversation-starter in an Imagineer’s home? Keep your eyes peeled for more old props, anyway…

Pictures: arno-hh, Photos Magiques (more).

Friday, 7th August 2009

Winter Wonderland’s 12th season confirmed

Between the drama over The Tarzan Encounter cancellation and the new Goofy’s Summer Camp replacement, the life of The Chaparral Theater in Frontierland has been constantly at the peril of the rumour mill this year more than ever.

First they said it would be gone by the Summer, then demolished over the Winter… now, it looks set to stand firm until at least 2010. After an ambiguous early Christmas press release, casting calls on French website www.paris-casting.com have finally confirmed that Mickey’s Winter Wonderland will be back for this year’s festive season!

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Yes, whilst we’re enjoying the Summer sunshine, the Entertainment department in Paris is already well advanced with their plans for this year’s Halloween and now just beginning on Christmas. The show will begin casting from 22nd August to find performers for its run from 7th November 2009 right through, as usual, to early March 2010.

Here’s the casting announcement, for the male and female hosts of the show:

Jusqu’au 22 août audition comédienne/comédien pour
le spectacle “Mickey et la Magie de l’Hiver”
par Disneyland® Paris

Dans le cadre du spectacle “Mickey et la Magie de l’Hiver”, Disneyland® Paris organise de nouvelles auditions.

Afin de tenir les rôles de Maîtres de Cérémonie, nous recherchons des comédiens/comédiennes sachant impérativement patiner sur glace :
– ayant de bonnes bases de danse.
– bilingues anglais/français.

Contrats CDD (statut intermittent) à temps partiel.
Pour la période de : début octobre 2009 à début mars 2010.
Cachet de 127 Euros brut/jour pour les répétitions.
Cachet de 159 Euros brut/jour pour les spectacles.

Rumours have persisted for over a year that the theatre at the back of Frontierland would meet the bulldozers sooner or later, likely hinting at a redevelopment of the area for something like… ooh, Splash Mountain, of course. All this, strangely, despite the fact that plans exist showing that it could sit perfectly well alongside a new version of that popular water ride, with only the Frontierland Depot railroad station moving further up the line.

Focus has been shifting constantly between possible candidates for a “20th Anniversary” attraction, and though Splash Mountain has been heavily rumoured (as it has been generally for over a decade), it’s still certainly at the upper end of the cost scale. With word coming that a different proposal has apparently been greenlit for 2012, should the Chaparral really be too worried just yet?

As for Mickey’s Winter Wonderland, the show will return just as it has for the past 11 years. The only rumours here, via magicforum, are speculating a replacement of the real ice rink in the stage with a synthetic plastic substitute. Perhaps a more eco-friendly Winter Wonderland this year, then.

Picture: © Disney; Casting link via Characters Photos News.

Friday, 7th August 2009

Pin Trading August 2009 releases – Pueblo pins!

And here they are — more from Minnie’s Party Train, Tinkerbell, Stitch and the ongoing Walt Disney Series, this month celebrating the Disney Cruise Line. There’s even a pin-version of the popular “I Heart MK” shirt — that’s Mickey, not Milton Keynes.

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The big news is down at the bottom, though — the now-annual Pin Trading Day, which has fallen again on the final weekend in August. Past events have seen special collector boards handed out with a free pin at the park gates, and a list of boutiques to visit to collect the rest. No word on if this will return for 2009, but the day will nevertheless be one not to miss for fans — whether you’re a fan of Pin Trading or not.

Acting as a central meeting point for the day, as you can see noted in the advertisement above, is the aptly-named Pueblo Trading Post! This lovely little boutique in the native wilds of Frontierland, just before you come to Pocahontas Indian Village and opposite River Rogue Keelboats, has been closed shut and mostly forgotten about for over 10 years — perhaps since as long ago as 1995.

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Now, the Pin Trading team has rediscovered it — and in fact, already held an event there recently — when the “Vinylmation” collector figures were introduced last month. However, the location is still a little off the beaten track, even with the keelboats brought back to life opposite, so any chance of a full-time return to use is hopeful to say the least.

But, for this one day at the end of the Summer season — Pin Trader or not — you’ve got the chance to conquer possibly your last undiscovered corner of Disneyland Park.

Pictures: Photos Magiques (more).

Thursday, 6th August 2009

Starbucks Coffee added to official photo library

With its huge, framed windows and earthy, warehouse feel, the mermaid-topped coffeehouse has become a beacon for what could be a “new” Disney Village.

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Sure, with the long-delayed planters and trees finally spread throughout the entertainment centre since Spring 2008, it’s been looking very, very different for over a year already.

But this is the first actual step in putting some of that feeling into the buildings themselves, the first major addition to the Village since those trees set it on a new path last year. It might have taken a slightly controversial icon of globalisation to achieve it, but the result is incredibly good for the place.

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It was all designed jointly by Starbucks and the former Disney Construction Company (DCC, who were behind Val d’Europe), which is now part of DLP-I — the Paris branch of Imagineering, in charge of smaller projects, and especially non-park work (thanks Kristof, magicforum). Between the many Disney-owned and several tired-looking venues in the Village, a Starbucks as swanky as this really gives the street the feel of a “happening” place.

Even better, it’s genuinely eco-friendly, too. Starbucks gushed about the new store on their blog back in June, and included two previously unseen pieces of concept art:

Starbucks at Disney Village Paris

Have you heard the buzz about the new Starbucks store in France?  On June 20th, we opened a new store in the Disney Village Paris that is truly in a class of its own. It is the first international store to be built using our new design concept that connects our stores to our coffee heritage.  This store is also the 50th Starbucks store in France and marks the 5th anniversary of this important market.

So, what’s so special about this new store?  Inspired by artists’ studio environments and modern design in Europe in the 1930’s, this store is not only beautiful but also includes local materials and green design to enhance the customer experience.  This new store design is part of our effort to have all of our new company-operated stores worldwide certified by the end of 2010 under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. This is a key component contributing to the Starbucks ™ Shared Planet ™ goals in environmental stewardship.

The LEED ® Green Building Rating System evaluates a building on various criteria including energy performance, indoor environmental quality, community connectivity and regional materials.  Accordingly, the innovative design of this store includes the following features:

  • Adjustable, low-energy lighting system
  • Mixed-mode HVAC system (mechanical and natural ventilation) saves energy  and makes use of existing building tower feature
  • Large, operable windows provide natural ventilation, ample daylight and fresh indoor air quality
  • Water efficient fixtures in restrooms and bar areas
  • Low emitting materials reduce off-gassing and allow the aroma of our coffee to be the star
  • Salvaged and recycled construction materials & furniture (including reuse of local French wine barrels and authentic champagne riddling racks)
  • Recycling available for customers and store partners
  • Measurement and verification plan to monitor energy and water savings over the life of the store

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The new location was officially opened on 20th June 2009 by Euro Disney CEO Philippe Gas and Starbucks Coffee CEO himself, Howard Schultz:

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You can find a whole fact sheet about the store here, which reveals, for example, that certain wood is from used barrels reclaimed from the French wine industry, the exterior wooden cladding is made with reclaimed Champagne racks from France, the countertop uses a material containing recycled mobile phone parts, and so on.

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Compare the design of the new Starbucks Coffee to the corner of The Steakhouse just to its left, and the remnants of rethink after rethink are all too clear. The minimalist Frank Gehry architecture of 1992 meets the new colours of 2005, meets the balloons of 2006, meets the red horseshoe border of 2007, and so on.

Hopefully this modern and clear vision set out by the Starbucks won’t just be applied to any other new buildings but to the older buildings, too. That said, it’s not necessarily the design style of Starbucks’ exterior that most of us would like to see transplanted to the other locations like The Steakhouse, Hurricanes and World of Toys

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Since the post-1992 additions of Planet Hollywood and King Ludwig’s Castle, for example, there couldn’t (and probably shouldn’t?) be a consistent, shopping mall-type design through this street.

But at the same time, should every location be as loud as this Starbucks or King Ludwig’s? No, smaller stores like Hollywood Pictures should probably have a more standard exterior, with only the larger, more special locations “jutting out” with more outlandish architecture, like the style used at California’s Downtown Disney. The only problem is that those forgotten stores currently have near-enough cardboard cut-outs for their signage, cheaper than those you see in your local town. So, you can guess what it all boils down to in the end — money. Something which Starbucks could pour a lot of into their project.

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However, if or when this long, long looong-awaited World of Disney mega-store finally opens in front of the Gaumont Cinema, the Village’s existing Disney Store will likely be redundant. It might even clear out the need for the Hollywood Pictures and World of Toys stores further up, since the former is very similar to those in the Studios and the latter rather dated.

In that respect, you could argue it’s barely worth spending too much money on those old locations — just enough to keep them ticking over until they’re consigned to Yester-Disney Village. But, with the World of Disney forever on hold, that might not be any time soon.

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Realistically, Starbucks only adds to the jumble of Disney Village — but it does it with such style and thought that it’s really something to celebrate for the place. Here, at least, the original 1992 vision has finally been successfully updated for the 21st Century.

Perhaps if the entire area were being built today it’d all be like this — a real mixture of materials and textures, trees and planters from the start — the first environmentally-aware entertainment centre? As it happens, we’ve only the mermaid to cling onto… for now.

Pictures © Disney/Starbucks.

Wednesday, 5th August 2009

Halloween ’09 press release, website and rumours

Halloween? Must be August! The regular location of the season’s flash mini-site — www.magichalloween.com — has been updated for the upcoming 2009 season beginning this October 3rd. Generally, the look is the same — save for one noticeable new ingredient: balloons, of course — orange ones!

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New official website

And so, this annual season, which has been meandering between different themes for several years since the arrival of the Pumpkin Men in 2003 and the thankfully short-lived focus on Stitch later, finally appears to have been set on a steady course.

Things are much more family-friendly than the early years of the festival, whilst much more “Disney” than the first seasons featuring the Pumpkin Men. Overall, the events are moving closer in style to their praised Tokyo and Hong Kong cousins. Mickey and Minnie will return in their perfect purple, orange and green costumes, whilst Jack Skellington and Sally return with greater prominence since their hugely successful 2008 debut.

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Jack & Sally joined the Paris season in 2008

Orange paint still features, however. Whilst this year the orange Main Street is explicitly mentioned in the press release, for the two previous years the decorations have actually been cancelled — only to return to the street at the last minute. It seems Entertainment simply didn’t have the money for a replacement.

Interesting to note, for example, that the “Mickey’s Magical Party Time!” theme song began life as a new Halloween theme song, but Entertainment — to quote composer Scott Erickson in our interview“didn’t have the budget last year to update the parade and change the Halloween song”. What with the new characters, costumes and major new nighttime hard ticket event in Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party introduced last year, it’s easy to understand why.

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Mickey’s new 2008 costume set the festival on the right track

So, we come to 2009. And, with the events of Mickey’s Magical Party continuing through the Halloween Festival, it’ll be looking slightly different again from its previous 15th Anniversary-tinted years…

Disney’s Halloween Festival… something BIG is brewing in October!

– From 3 October to 1 November 2009 –

Marne-la-Vallée, France, July 2009 – From 3 October 2009 through to 1 November 2009, Mickey’s Magical Party adds even more fun to a marvelous month of mischief and mayhem. It’s the perfect month to make family and friends scream with delight. Join Mickey as he welcomes the Disney Villains, Pumpkin Men and Pumpkin Ladies and the star of the season, Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas to celebrate Mickey’s Magical Party for a frighteningly fun Halloween surprises!

Welcome to the Disney Halloweenmosphere

A full month of thrills, spills and chills galore at Disneyland Park, as Halloween invades Frontierland and Main Street, U.S.A.® with decorations, eerie events and hair-raising shows, face painting and oodles of tricks and treats. Family and friends, young and old, everyone is sure to have a ghostly good time with…

… the stars of Nightmare Before Christmas

Jack Skellington and his friend Sally, the stars of Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas, are back to captivate Disney’s Halloween Festival with their bewitching world.

… mischievous Pumpkin tricksters

When Disneyland Paris goes orange, you know the Pumpkin Men and Pumpkin Ladies can’t be far away. They are just itching to splash the road and shop fronts of Main Street, U.S.A. with their bright orange paint. Masters of the most devious decoration, mischievous jokes and pranks, Pumpkin Citizens take Frontierland by storm as they transform it into Halloweenland for a howling good time! No one can escape the antics of those uncontrollable Pumpkins we just can’t help but love!

… Disney Villains and Characters

Children of all ages are going to love staring down the infamous Disney Villains and becoming accomplices to their demonic deeds. Cruella De Vil, Captain Hook, Jafar and the wicked witch from Snow White take vile pleasure in posing with young guests and giving them a wonderful souvenir of the year’s biggest monster mash. Mickey and Friends have also spread the word to give guests a memorable welcome decked out in their finest Halloween costumes.

… Mickey’s Magical Party takes on the colors of Halloween

More enchanting than ever in her delightful witch costume, Minnie leads the dance in Town Square. Disney Characters take advantage of this scare-a-licious month to don their mischievous pumpkin masks as they ride Minnie’s Party Train in all its Halloween splendor.

Meanwhile, the Disney Villains have spent all day preparing to invade the stage during the final show It’s Party Time… with Mickey & Friends. Captain Hook, Gaston, Jafar, Frollo, Cruella De Vil, Maleficent the witch from Sleeping Beauty and other fiendish folk are going to perform a devilish rendition of the “Mickey Dance” on the new Central Plaza Stage. It feels so good to be bad, and they’ll do whatever it takes to ensure we never forget!

… Disney Once Upon a Dream Parade to a Halloween tune

The Disney Once Upon a Dream Parade will kick-off with a special Halloween theme, as the Pumpkin Men and Ladies join in the abominably bewitching parade, along with Jack and Sally from Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas and the Disney Villains, of course!

The spectrrrrraaaaaaaacular month of Halloween is also your last chance to get down to an intergalactic beat with DJ Stitch and the “It’s Dance Time… in Discoveryland” show. Hurry, his space mission ends on 8 November 2009.

And for that fiendish final touch, Disney’s Halloween Festival continues with parties you won’t want to miss to enjoy Halloween to the max!

Disney’s Halloween Party: 31 October is Ghoul’s Night Out!

Guaranteed to be a scream! Get ready for the most magical night of the year at Disneyland Paris! The now-famous Disney’s Halloween Party* will take place on 31 October 2009 in Disneyland Park. A one-of-a-kind experience to enjoy with family and friends from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

By the light of the moon, Disneyland Park will reopen its doors to a most terrifying atmosphere featuring a wide variety of events, surprises and boo-groovy music until the late-night hours:

  • Spooktacular street entertainment and stage shows throughout the evening
  • The Disney’s Fantillusion Parade led by the vicious Disney Villains, where the world of darkness meets the enchanted world in a fantastic twilight spectacular.
  • A special Halloween Sound and Light show with the fangtangulous backdrop of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

And oodles of other dreadfully delectable surprises!

*Paid event: €32 for adults and children, free for children under 3.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Want to celebrate Halloween in pure Disney style that’s fun without being scary? Then Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Party is the place to be!** Four dream opportunities for family fun with Mickey and Friends in their most boo-tiful Halloween costumes on 9, 16, 23 and 27 October 2009 from 8 to 11 p.m. with tricks and treats galore! Places are limited to this one-of-a-kind event for children of all ages who just can’t wait to get dressed up. Disney Characters and Villains will be there to create an exclusive and interactive experience of exciting and truly unforgettable moments.

In addition to exclusive events and shows, guests will enjoy access to a number of attractions in Disneyland Park open especially for the grand occasion: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio’s Fantastic Journey, Lancelot’s Carousel, Peter Pan’s Flight, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups, “It’s a small world”, Sleeping Beauty Castle in Fantasyland and Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland. And the fearsome Phantom Manor and the legendary Big Thunder Mountain in Frontierland.

**Paid event: €25 for adults and children, free for children under 3.

All the fun and fantastical ingredients are there to make Disney’s Halloween Festival the most monstrously magical month of the year at Disneyland Paris, from 3 October to 1 November 2009.

— — —

Did you get all that? Let’s have a quick recap of what’s new…

  • Disney Villains invade It’s Party Time with Mickey and Friends — this is instead of the standalone Disney Villains’ Halloween Showtime which used the previous stage during daytimes in 2007 and 2008.
  • Minnie’s Party Train also takes on a Halloween theme with decorations — no wonder poor old Casey Jr. huffs and puffs with all the extra layers on top of him these days.
  • Disney’s Once Upon a Dream Parade slated to “kick off” with a Halloween theme — suggesting it’ll be similar to last year’s pre-parade, a few special floats running separately to the main parade, rather than a full overlay — which had actually been rumoured to happen for Christmas and/or Halloween this year.
  • Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties return for a second year on 9th, 16th, 23rd and 27th October, with the big plus being that the event has broken out of its Fantasyland-only confines of the first year and now allows access to Adventureland and Frontierland. It will be interesting to see, now, how they go about properly differentiating it from the 31st October Disney’s Halloween Party, other than just being a cut-down version…
  • And as for the Halloween Soirée itself, this press release lists only a “light and sound show” — rather than the usual fireworks. We’ll have to wait and see…

Of course, Halloween often has other events beyond these widely-communicated ones above. There’s the temporary Trick or Treat Stage in Frontierland, for example, usually home to small shows like Goofy and the Magic Cauldron.

Good news here — we’ve heard that plans have been moving ahead for Jack Skellington and Sally to take on stronger roles than just meet ‘n’ greet characters, by taking part in their own show on this special Halloween stage next to Cowboy Cookout Barbeque.

As with all creations starring these characters, the event has even been approved by Tim Burton himself. However, with the official website listing only a “brand new, devilish show to the sound of your favourite Disney hits” starring “the witches”, has another new Halloween plan already been scuppered?

Pictures © Disney.

Tuesday, 4th August 2009

Pirates dock at Blockbuster Café, Disney on horizon?

After the changes seen in our four month news round-up, now come more new additions. The Pirates of the Caribbean room, situated to the left of the serving area, with large windows looking out across to Armageddon: Les Effets Speciaux, continues to impress rather more than its High School Musical partner.

Now, in addition to the ship’s wheel and wooden bannisters — not to mention the ceiling filled with torn “sails” — a large ship’s stern, with three lanterns and yellow stained glass windows has appeared, just behind the wheel —

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Photo: VDR, Main Street Gazette forum

If you’d have asked any fan what the inside of Backlot Express needed — beyond a more interesting menu — they’d have probably said more atmosphere, a more enclosed environment. So, on first glance, this area of the re-do seems to have the right intentions.

Whilst the generic props warehouse of Backlot Express was interesting enough, it was generally too bright and too barren for an Aladdin’s cave — too cheaply-built, to put it bluntly. Will these changes solve that? Banners and posters based on High School Musical and decorations merely similar to Pirates of the Caribbean? This ship’s wheel, stern and torn bedsheets look nice and all, but what relevance do they have to this Disney franchise?

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Different themes – very different budgets

For a Disney theme park restaurant — especially one with “Disney” in the name — it all feels slightly distant from the mouse. Imagineering appear to be only very loosely involved — if involved at all. The ‘HSM’ theme was likely a popular choice because a few posters and banners are enough to support it.

The pleasing canyon mural by the payment desks has been replaced by a giant poster for High School Musical 3. The room is now a branding assault on the eyes, not a themed environment.

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Old Backlot Express decoration

Rumours promised us actual props from the Pirates trilogy, to arrive “at the last minute”. Since the restaurant was also rumoured for completion in July, but continues to tip-toe ahead with only slight changes each week, that “last minute” doesn’t appear to have come yet. In fact, no-one truly seems to know how this project will turn out.

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Old Backlot Express decoration

Previously, guests could admire an array of items in this props warehouse ranging from the rather famous (real Armageddon miniature sets, a real Speeder Bike from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi) to the not-so-famous (hundreds of bric-a-brac items).

Whether the redecorated venue sinks or swims rests on this. If the new restaurant doesn’t feature real props from its two chosen franchises, what will have been the point?

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Generic basketballs, bibs and pom-poms now serve as set dressing

The worst thing about Backlot Express was and is its ugly, unwelcoming exterior, second its menu and third its interior. Like every other change across the Studios — the change to Restaurant des Stars, the tiny ice cream kiosk, the plethora of entrances now leading into Walt Disney Studios Store — this could end up just another cover-up job. None of the issues have really been addressed, there just appears to be a hope here that in-your-face branding based on distant franchises will suffice.

But still — we must watch the horizon with hope. Since Jack Sparrow came back from the dead (sorry — spoiler), anything is still possible. Isn’t it?

Pictures: VDR, Main Street Gazette forum; Photos Magiques; DLRP Today.

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