Monday, 7th July 2014

Imagineers talk Ratatouille in new ‘making of’, construction and timelapse videos

With the public opening date now just days away, Disneyland Paris is teasing Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy in another new “Making Of” video, filled with backstage construction shots and Imagineer soundbites.

Almost every detail of the land, attraction and restaurant may have been revealed during the Grand Opening Preview, but this video gives a deeper look into the work that went into creating it. An impressive list of creators talk about the project: Tom Fitzgerald, Liz Gazzano, Laurent Cayuela, Beth Clapperton, Bjorn Heerwagen and even composer Michael Giacchino.

“There are two main characters of the attraction: there’s Rémy, the rat and the little chef, and there is Paris, the lovely city” — Liz Gazzano, Executive Producer, Theme Parks, Pixar Animation Studios

“All the sets are big, so all of the imperfections one sees when one is very small we exaggerated”  — Beth Clapperton, Art Director, Euro Disneyland Imagineering

“The music is in touch with the story every step of the way, and that’s what’s really fun about the ride – it really is a lot like the film as far as the story goes. You start off really beautiful – and here’s what I’m dreaming, here’s what a I want – then you get dumped into an environment in which, it could give you what you want – but you’re gonna have to fight for it to get it” — Michael Giacchino, Music Composer, Ratatouille film & attraction

It’s still refreshing to see Disneyland Paris letting the creators of a project talk about it like this, something only really begun recently with Disney Dreams!. Even with sanitised soundbites it often provides the best form of promotion.

• Previously — First Ratatouille interior scenes, props, Ratmobiles revealed in new teaser video

In fact, with such a big E-Ticket, they could have been producing separate featurettes covering each aspect of the attraction, such as the musical score, teasing things over weeks and months, rather than this single 2-minute video a few days before opening.

Still, there’s great footage of the Ratmobiles “waltzing” into the unload station, something it seems impossible to get bored of seeing, so let’s not complain too much.

Want to see more? You’re in luck. Much of the construction footage comes from a longer 6 minute package of “b-roll” shared in full on our YouTube. Watch it all here:

Meanwhile for an overview of the whole construction project, they didn’t forget the traditional Disney timelapse. From a camera positioned steadily atop Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop (unlike the many fans trying to get construction photos from the ride below), this footage covers roughly two years from 2012 to 2014.

The original version lasted only 30 seconds, so here it is slowed down to a more leisurely 2 minutes 30, giving a better look at La Place de Rémy taking shape:

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more Ratatouille: The Adventure videos

Visit our Ratatouille: The Adventure pages for more about the new attraction

Monday, 16th June 2014

Watch – Ratatouille: The Adventure TV spot launches with thrilling Ratmobile ride

Here we go — Disneyland Paris launched the official Ratatouille: The Adventure TV spot today online and on television, taking viewers on a simulated 30 second Ratmobile ride through the new attraction. Watch the French version for the first time above now.

Focusing purely on the ride experience of Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy, without mention of the land or Bistrot Chez Rémy, the commercial does a fine job of quickly and simply conveying the concept and scale of the attraction – big and small.

Beginning in a live-action Gusteau’s restaurant dining room, we see Rémy invite a family into his world by shrinking them into the Ratmobile. The trackless ride vehicle then careens around the kitchens, encountering several known obstacles and story points from the actual ride such as the serving trolley and a fiery oven. Though relatively faithful to what’s expected of the final experience, it’s worth noting all the footage is simulated and not real ride footage.

Ratatouille: The Adventure Disneyland Paris ride TV spot commercial advert
Ratatouille: The Adventure Disneyland Paris ride TV spot commercial advertRatatouille: The Adventure Disneyland Paris ride TV spot commercial advert
Ratatouille: The Adventure Disneyland Paris ride TV spot commercial advertRatatouille: The Adventure Disneyland Paris ride TV spot commercial advert
Ratatouille: The Adventure Disneyland Paris ride TV spot commercial advertRatatouille: The Adventure Disneyland Paris ride TV spot commercial advert
Ratatouille: The Adventure Disneyland Paris ride TV spot commercial advert
Ratatouille: The Adventure Disneyland Paris ride TV spot commercial advertRatatouille: The Adventure Disneyland Paris ride TV spot commercial advert

Being an advert, it of course takes numerous liberties both with the storyline of Ratatouille and the ride itself — there are no 3D glasses to be seen, for a start.

But from start to finish, this is without doubt one of the most polished and effective TV spots Disneyland Paris has produced in its history.

It’s also refreshing to see that the commercial doesn’t — as yet — finish with any promotional discount offer. Et voilà: an investment like Ratatouille: The Adventure sells itself.

• Discover Ratatouille: The Adventure on the DLP Guide mini-site!

Saturday, 14th June 2014

Disneyland Paris launches official online Ratatouille: The Adventure mini-site

Ratatouille: The Adventure official Disneyland Paris mini-site website ride attraction

An official online mini-site promoting Ratatouille: The Adventure can now be found within the Disneyland Paris website, offering a peek at the attraction, an online Rat Booth and a competition to win “complètement toqués” prizes.

The pages don’t reveal anything new to us Ratatouille connoisseurs, but they’re fun to explore with a clever 3D navigation system — like Google Street View for rats! — around the floors of Gusteau’s famous kitchen.

Explore the website for yourself here

At the time of writing, only the French version can be accessed, but a UK edition should also be available shortly at www.ratatouille-attraction.disneylandparis.co.uk and other local versions will no doubt follow.

This sudden flurry of promotional activity comes as the resort prepares to launch the official TV spot for the attraction on this coming Monday, 16th June.

Featuring a family being shrunk down into a Ratmobile from their table at a fancy restaurant, the commercial will premiere on the official Disneyland Paris YouTube channel and be available to watch here on DLP Today too. Having seen a preview, it’s a relief to say that for once, given the patchy history of Disneyland Paris TV adverts, it does a fantastic job at communicating both the concept and scale of the ride, big and small…

Saturday, 14th June 2014

Be Ratatouilled: ‘Rat Booth’ app makes you a rat before you even reach Place de Rémy

Disneyland Paris Rat Booth app, Ratatouille: The Adventure

Disneyland Paris has launched one of the first elements of its Ratatouille: The Adventure advertising campaign with a new “Rat Booth” app designed to turn you into a rat using your phone or portable device’s camera and a range of customisable options.

Available for iOS and Android devices, the app utilises augmented reality to map a rat’s face onto your own. As you look up and down, grin or frown, blink or gaze in wide-eyed wonderment, your Rémy-alike does exactly the same.

You can personalise your RatBooth rodent with a range of fun “accessories” borrowed from humans, and take a photo or even a video of its movements.

Disneyland Paris Rat Booth app, Ratatouille: The Adventure" width="640" height="427" /></a></p>
Disneyland Paris Rat Booth app, Ratatouille: The AdventureDisneyland Paris Rat Booth app, Ratatouille: The Adventure
Disneyland Paris Rat Booth app, Ratatouille: The AdventureDisneyland Paris Rat Booth app, Ratatouille: The Adventure

The app features numerous mentions of the new attraction Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy, including on the splash screen and after taking a photo.

A link to “discover the attraction” leads to www.ratatouille-attraction.disneylandparis.co.uk, revealing the location of the promotional website, although this link was inactive at the time of writing. A guess at the French address, www.ratatouille-attraction.disneylandparis.fr, reveals the new mini-site in all its glory, including an online Rat Booth.

• For Apple devices, the 66.3 MB App Store download requires iOS 7.0 or later, while the 44 MB Google Play download requires Android 4.1 and up.

Discover more about Ratatouille: The Adventure on the DLP Guide mini-site

Thursday, 5th June 2014

Disneyland Paris “keeps the magic alive” in perfect new resort video trailer

Over the years we’ve seen countless Disneyland Paris trailers cut from the vast archive of footage covering the resort’s attractions, but this one might just be the best.

Simply titled “Disneyland Paris – Faire vivre la magie pour nos visiteurs”, the video appeared without fanfare on the resort’s YouTube channel on Tuesday 3rd June. Running at just 2 minutes 14 seconds, it probably does a better job of selling the destination than any single one of the account’s other 581 videos.

Much of, if not all, the footage is recycled and not filmed especially for the trailer, some of it dating back decades and some of it — such as the swooping fly-over of Disney Magic on Parade! — relatively new.

Footage of the resort’s Cast Members and artisans putting finishing touches to the “magic” begins the video, before it’s all shown in action. It ends, of course, with the official footage from Disney Dreams!, which never fails to impress.

Music is “Fly High (Trailer Music)” from The Amazing Hero: Caped Avengers Fanfares.

Place a Disneyland Paris logo and a call to action at the end and it’d make a perfect trailer for wider release — especially in cinemas, as @CafeFantasia suggested.

It’s certainly a world apart from the Disneyland Paris commercial currently gracing TV screens.

Named “Magical Answers”, this 30-second spot (below) follows three children discovering they can, amazingly, actually have fun at Disneyland; with an odd and almost disturbing tone of cynicism about the world around them, given their ages.

Normally, the narrative in commercials and newspaper articles is of a cynical adult realising they too can enjoy a Disney theme park; this advert however shows us a mournful young boy sitting alone in a plush mansion, looking skeptically into the eyes of a Buzz Lightyear action figure, before saluting the real thing — still bizarrely on his own.

Continuing the trend of advertising only to this specific bracket of families with very young children, it all feels oddly sombre and pessimistic, and features precisely three seconds of footage of an actual attraction. Filmed at Disneyland in California, the French Sleeping Beauty Castle was simply spliced into the shots.

It’s enough to put a vast swathe of the audience off wanting to visit Disneyland Paris altogether. Let’s hope those potential visitors at least make it as far as the resort’s YouTube, and watch the fantastic new trailer above instead.

VIA Disneyland Paris (YouTube)

Saturday, 31st May 2014

Disneyland Paris tantalises with new ‘Ratatouille: The Adventure’ press releases

Ratatouille – The Adventure Disneyland Paris

Rémy is almost ready for his Walt Disney Studios Park debut. Today, Disneyland Paris continues to tease the most anticipated new Disney Park attraction of 2014 with a new press information pack, tantalisingly filled with more information and confirmations about the ride, restaurant and La Place de Rémy as 10th July approaches.

About the ride itself, Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy, the release at last announces in official print the trackless ride vehicles and “enormous 3D projection system”. Newly revealed is that there will be five colours of ride vehicle, or “ratmobile” as they’re known. As expected, the six-seater vehicles will travel in groups of three through the ride, with each vehicle able to travel on its own, separate, unpredictable route.

Much of the experience’s storyline can now be pieced together, beginning on the Paris rooftops and following Rémy in a chase through the kitchens as he creates a special meal for us, the guests, or — in this story — fellow rats.

This leads nicely, of course, into Bistrot Chez Rémy next door, which will indeed serve a menu mostly consisting of steak entrecote, french fries and a side of ratatouille in a very fun dining room built entirely to rat-size from huge props.

Finally, even more fantastic details and nods for La Place de Rémy are revealed, with final props including Linguini’s bicycle, Colette’s motorbike and Chef Skinner’s stolen Vespa. The area will also include two named thoroughfares: Allée des Marchands and Rue Auguste Gusteau.

Meanwhile, several new images (below) have surfaced online showing the practically finished interiors of the Paris rooftops loading area, cold storage scene and Bistrot Chez Rémy dining room, featuring Imagineers and Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

The development is almost ready to be handed over, and the first previews will begin in just a few weeks’ time including an official press opening event on 21st-22nd June.

Ratatouille – The Adventure Disneyland Paris

The complete Ratatouille: The Adventure press release:

Official opening date:
Experience the magic of Ratatouille on 10 July 2014 at Walt Disney Studios Park

It’s officially on the menu: on 10 July 2014, Disneyland Paris unveils a new world dedicated to the Disney•Pixar film Ratatouille. Named La Place de Rémy in tribute to the “little chef,” this all-new mini-land will open in Walt Disney Studios Park and will feature a completely original attraction, inspired by Rémy’s adventures in the film.

The all-new attraction, the 60th to open at Disneyland Paris, is called Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy. Guests are shrunk down to the size of a rat and board “ratmobiles” for a zany culinary adventure through Gusteau’s famous restaurant. From a Paris rooftop to the restaurant’s bustling kitchen, cavernous food locker and busy dining room under the careful watch of Chef Skinner… this tasty adventure is full of twists and turns.

Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy anchors La Place de Rémy, a corner of the park’s Toon Studios that has been transformed into a Ratatouille-inspired version of The City of Light. This brand new mini-land, exclusive to Walt Disney Studios Park, also features Bistrot Chez Rémy, a table service restaurant serving, among other delicious dishes, the little chef’s famous ratatouille in a larger-than-life setting. A special boutique*, “Chez Marianne – Souvenirs de Paris”, will also open its doors.

Released in 2007, Ratatouille , which won the Oscar for best animated feature film, tells the story of Rémy, a rat who dreams of becoming a renowned French chef. Filmgoers got to know him in an adventure that took him to the top Paris restaurants. With the arrival of Rémy at Walt Disney Studios Park, guests will find themselves in the middle of his exciting culinary adventure.

Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy is a first of its kind Disney attraction that features trackless ride vehicles matched to enormous 3D projections of original animation by Pixar Animation Studios. The attraction takes creative imagination and technical know-how, the hallmarks of Walt Disney Imagineering, to create a state-of-the-art storytelling experience. The crazy culinary adventure begins 10 July 2014 , exclusively at Walt Disney Studios Park, Disneyland Paris.

The 60th ride at Disneyland Paris

The culinary world of the Disney•Pixar film Ratatouille comes to life in Ratatouille L’Aventure Totalement Toquée De Rémy, a first of its kind Disney attraction that uses trackless ride vehicles matched to an enormous 3D projection system featuring original animation from Pixar Animation Studios.

Guests shrink down to the size of a rat and join Rémy, the “little chef” from the film for a crazy culinary adventure that sends them scurrying through the kitchen, dining room, and walls of Gusteau’s famous Paris restaurant.

Synopsis

The adventure begins when guests become rat-sized and board a « ratmobile », a vehicle that looks like a cute version of the furry rodents from the film. Soon the ratmobiles are on a Paris rooftop where they encounter Rémy and the ghost of Gusteau as they discuss the special meal Rémy wants to prepare in guests’ honor. Moments later, Rémy’s excitement leads to him and the ratmobiles plummeting down to the kitchen floor of Gusteau’s restaurant. Being rats in a human world is fraught with danger, so Rémy and his new friends in the ratmobiles have to quickly move out of sight before Chef Skinner spots them. Rémy leads the way as all of the rats move from one tight hiding place to another. Luckily, Rémy’s human pal Linguini is there to help.

Ride in the “ratmobile”

Guests will discover a vehicle that is, shall we say, a little unusual, letting them enjoy the experience as though they were the size of our lovable little rodents. Welcome to the ratmobile! Specially designed by our Imagineers, this strange and amazing car, which will make all real rodents green with envy, comes in five colours. It is great for families since it holds six passengers. The ratmobile travels in groups of three, but like real rats, none of them follows the same route. They move using a technology that requires no rails.

Now guests can really experience what it’s like to be a furry little rodent in a human-sized world as they dart quickly from hiding place to hiding place during this zany culinary adventure.

Ratatouille – The Adventure Disneyland Paris

La Place de Rémy:
Disneyland tribute to Paris

The new attraction, Ratatouille L’Aventure Totalement Toquée De Rémy, will be located in a new area of Walt Disney Studios Park called La Place de Rémy in honour of the energetic “little chef” from the film and the city he loves, Paris. This new mini-land pays tribute to the real City of Light while at the same time evoking the whimsical Paris seen in the film.

Also on the Ratatouille-inspired menu is a restaurant, and not just any restaurant, but Bistrot Chez Rémy, with a similar atmosphere and proportions to the restaurant experienced at the end of the attraction. Completing the mini-land, and arriving in the autumn, is a new boutique, once again paying tribute to France: “Chez Marianne – Souvenirs de Paris”.

The Paris of Ratatouille draws inspiration from several iconic neighbourhoods of the City of Light. Place Dauphine and Boulevard Haussmann particularly influence its architectural design. The colours of building façades and the entire neighbourhood are purposefully more intense than in real-life Paris. The Imagineers chose the Paris of the Ratatouille film world which is a valentine to the City of Light. The vitality of the film is completely preserved.

One of the most important elements of La Place de Rémy is its fountain. Filmgoers saw a typically Parisian example in front of Gusteau’s restaurant in the film. To recreate it in the Park, the Imagineers studied many Parisian fountains. The inspiration for our fountain was found in Place des Vosges, with its circular basins and lion heads spouting water. Once the shape and dimensions were decided, the designer Harley Jessup, who worked on the film

Ratatouille, personally added the finishing touches that make reference to Rémy, his rat friends and the kitchen. Gourmet rats, of course, hold up sculpted bottles of freely flowing champagne.

La Place de Rémy will include two main streets: Allée des Marchands and Rue Auguste Gusteau. A tribute to the world’s greatest chef, Paul Bocuse, who provided plenty of inspiration for the creators of Ratatouille, will be unveiled on the central square near Bistrot Chez Rémy. The lampposts and benches will also be typically Parisian. Thanks to all these elements created by Disney’s Imagineers, guests will be able to stroll through Paris as it appears in Ratatouille. Fans will also be able to spot references to the film, such as Linguini’s bicycle, Colette’s motorbike or the Vespa stolen by the dreaded Chef Skinner.

Ratatouille on the menu
at Bistrot Chez Rémy

Delicious French cuisine, like that presented in the Disney•Pixar film Ratatouille, can now be enjoyed by all in Bistrot Chez Rémy, a themed table service restaurant inspired by the world and recipes of the film. The upscale, but light-hearted 370-person restaurant is the creation of Rémy, the rat who loves to cook, and is located in a new corner of Walt Disney Studios Park that’s been transformed into a Ratatouille-themed version of The City of Light. Join us for lunch or dinner at Bistrot Chez Rémy from 10 July 2014.

Bistrot Chez Rémy will welcome guests into a world where they are shrunk to the size of rats immersing them in an oversized world where jam jar lids serve as table tops and champagne corks are turned into chairs. Designed by Rémy and his friends, the restaurant also features everyday human items made large like paper cocktail umbrellas turned into parasols, giant cookbooks standing on end, and plates used to separate seating areas.

On the menu during this Ratatouille-inspired experience, Rémy has prepared a unique menu that includes entrecote, chips, and of course, ratatouille! The “little chef” recommends a seasonal salad to start and a choice of dessert: a selection of French cheeses, including Brie de Meaux, and a fruit salad. Bon appétit!

Ratatouille – The Adventure Disneyland Paris

From fantasy to reality with the creators
of Disney’s attractions, the Imagineers

Guiding Disneyland Paris guests from the dream of animated films to the reality of the Parks with their illusions intact takes more than the wave of a magic wand. It’s all in a day’s work for the Imagineers. This unique group of Creative and Technical people transforms the biggest animated films into immersive experiences you’ll find nowhere else.

The birth of the Imagineers

Walt Disney Imagineering was formed by Walt Disney in 1952 to plan, design and build Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. Today, Imagineers are responsible for the creation, from concept initiation through installation, of all Disney resorts, parks, attractions, cruise ships and new entertainment venues all over the world. The Imagineering team includes planners, artists, designers, project managers, engineers, architects, art directors, audiovisual specialists, animators, production groups, programmers, site planners, financial analysts and researchers – more than 140 unique disciplines in total. But their work doesn’t stop there: they also design and create restaurants, boutiques and hotels, in short, everything that contributes to “immersing” guests in the magic of Disney.

The unique strength of Walt Disney Imagineering lies in its fusion of creative and technical talents, building new types of shows and entertainment inspired by Disney’s dreams and stories. Thanks to their expertise, Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy puts state-of-the-art technology to work, to bring the story to life. John Lasseter who not only directs the Disney and Pixar animation studios but also holds the position of Principal Creative Advisor with Walt Disney Imagineering, himself said, “I promise you that we will not only continue to make the best films, but also the best attractions.”

Wednesday, 16th April 2014

First Ratatouille interior scenes, props, Ratmobiles revealed in new teaser video

Ratatouille Disneyland Paris teaser preview video

Beyond the all-important date (10th July if you haven’t managed to catch it yet), Disneyland Paris more than exceeded anticipation for yesterday’s rumoured Ratatouille: The Adventure announcement by including a little video teaser alongside. Well, perhaps “little” isn’t the word.

Because despite running to just 1 minute 3 seconds, for the first time ever the video reveals a number of glimpses inside the huge new Ratatouille showbuilding, allowing a look at the attraction’s physical scenery, giant props and even trackless ride vehicles. The emphasis being on giant: everything is giant.

Tom Fitzgerald, Creative Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, and Roger Gould, Creative Director Theme Parks at Pixar Animation Studios, lead the commentary to enthuse about Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy, as Tom names it, with a smile.

After seeing the huge Gusteau’s restaurant sign being lifted into place atop the building, we get a series of blink-and-you’ll-miss-em peeks inside the ride’s actual show scenes. There’s the rooftops of Paris load unload area with giant chimney pots, the cold storage with a giant fish, and the dining room with giant trolly wheels.

Towards the end, we even see a real, finished “Ratmobile” ride vehicle for the first time ever. And just to add extra intrigue, perhaps, it’s brown, not grey/blue.

There’s spoilers aplenty, of course — but don’t forget that the physical scenery and props we see here are just the “base layer” of this trackless, 3D projection-filled dark ride. It won’t look like this when you’re riding through it, with 3D glasses plus finished lighting and animation, so there’s a lot left unseen and a lot that will only ever be possible to see in person.

Watch the video now, then scroll down for 23 screencaps and extra commentaryRead More…

Tuesday, 15th April 2014

Confirmed: Spider-Man to make first Disney park appearance at Walt Disney Studios Paris

Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Spider-Man, Walt Disney Studios Park, Disneyland Paris

In a world first for Disney Parks, Disneyland Paris confirmed on Friday that Walt Disney Studios Park will soon welcome Spider-Man to an exclusive meet and greet location in Backlot.

This followed a day exciting enough to set the spidey senses tingling in the park itself, when Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, stars of The Amazing Spider-Man, paid an impromptu promotional visit for the film’s imminent sequel.

Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Spider-Man, Walt Disney Studios Park, Disneyland Paris20140415_spiderman_5

Giving Walt Disney Studios Park a rare air of real “Hollywood” excitement, the pair, who star as Peter Parker (Spider-Man) and Gwen Stacy, conducted interviews in a red carpet event on Hollywood Boulevard.

Garfield later posed with Disney Voluntears and children from French organisation SESSAD inside Disney Blockbuster Cafe, just metres from where the Marvel meet ‘n’ greet tie-in is taking shape at the back of the park.

Andrew Garfield Spider-Man at Walt Disney Studios Park, Disneyland Paris

• Previously — Spider-Man photo location rumoured for Backlot in Walt Disney Studios Park

As reported previously, the new photo location will be housed within the disused side room of the restaurant. Disneyland Paris was typically vague in its announcement, stating on Twitter:

Very soon, Walt Disney Studios Park will be even more exciting with the opportunity for our guests to meet #SpiderMan himself !

And on Facebook:

It’s a first! Spider-Man is coming to pay us all a visit in Walt Disney Studios Park! Just a few more days and we’ll be sharing some truly epic moments with Spider-Man himself.

No dates were officially given, with only InsideDLParis reporting Spider-Man will meet guests from 19th April to 14th July 2014, a disappointingly short stay for the superhero.

Surprisingly, the tie-in appears to be taking place with the full support of Sony Pictures as part of a promotional deal with Disneyland Paris, proved not least by the appearance of the principal actors at the park. While The Walt Disney Company owns Marvel outright and has embarked on a new Spider-Man TV series, Sony Pictures continues to own the feature film rights.

Spider-Man at Walt Disney Studios Park, Disneyland Paris

Perhaps it’s due to this promotional aspect with the new film that Spider-Man apparently won’t be staying longer. Could Disneyland Paris extend his stay with their own money if he proves popular? Backlot needs permanent fixes, not temporary tie-ins, and making this unpopular land the permanent home of Marvel superheroes is without doubt the perfect fix.

For now, this new meet ‘n’ greet will be a tiny but welcome taste of what could be

Update — An official press release confirms the 19th April to 14th July dates and suggests that visitors “will be able to go home with their photo on the front page of the Daily Bugle”, the New York newspaper renowned for publishing photos of Spider-Man. Is that press release bumph or a hint at a fun souvenir photo design? Not long to find out.

Video featuring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone at Walt Disney Studios Park follows… Read More…

Tuesday, 1st April 2014

Video: Show Director Christophe Leclercq introduces ‘Swing into Spring’ (at last)

Swing into Spring Disneyland Paris season festival concept art

You’ve less than four days to get to Disneyland Paris for the opening of ‘Swing into Spring’, the almost mythical Spring Festival which now at last has been given its official English title, dates and some welcome publicity by the resort.

Released today is a new video featuring Show Director Christophe Leclercq, introducing the season of springtime decorations and entertainment. If not revealing any new details of the much-speculated festival, Christophe confirms again some important details, such as the main event featuring no less than 90 dancers, 22 musicians and a quite startling 33 characters, taking place “in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle”.

The video includes an additional piece of concept art for the Central Plaza “topiary” displays (above) which feature characters from Bambi, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Aristocats and The Lion King interacting with musical notes and instruments.

This is also the first time (besides a lone Belgian press release) that Disneyland Paris has confirmed the season will run from 5th April to 22nd June 2014.

In French, the season will be known as La Balade Printanière, or “Springtime Stroll”.

An earlier version of the video mistakenly subtitled Town Square as Times Square.

VIA Disneyland Paris (YouTube)

Monday, 31st March 2014

Ratatouille’s La Place de Rémy joins Walt Disney Studios Park and resort maps

Ratatouille Walt Disney Studios Park Disneyland Paris 2014 Map

La Place de Rémy has officially joined the Walt Disney Studios Park map. Pre-empting the expected guide map changeover on 3rd April, Disneyland Paris has released an early peek at the new, updated map for its second gate featuring the brand new mini-land.

Depicting the Parisian quarter to the right of Toy Story Playland in Toon Studio, the park map now shows the square, buildings, façades and all-important fountain of Ratatouille: The Adventure. The marquee logos of the ride, Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy, and the restaurant, Le Bistrot Chez Rémy, are both included, as is the logo-orientated style of the studio park map.

The map’s designers have chosen to end the façades immediately behind their rooftops, similar to several attractions such as Pirates of Caribbean on the Disneyland Park map, and not depict the massive showbuilding in any way. This makes the attraction the first to have a “hidden” or backstage showbuilding on the Walt Disney Studios Park map (even if in reality there’s no hiding it from within the park).

While Catastrophe Canyon and the Dinotopia set of Studio Tram Tour: Behind the Magic have been moved to the right in order to fit the latest expansion on, the rest of the park map remains completely unchanged:

Ratatouille Walt Disney Studios Park Disneyland Paris 2014 Map

In fact, so much so that the version sent out today still features the Playhouse Disney Live on Stage! logo — the attraction has been rebranded to Disney Junior. The full map also inexplicably features Disney Village in the bottom-left corner, seen from the same viewpoint.

Besides the park, Ratatouille will also be featured on the general Disneyland Paris resort map, with a few of its façades pictured above Buzz Lightyear:

Ratatouille Walt Disney Studios Park Disneyland Paris 2014 Resort Map
Ratatouille Walt Disney Studios Park Disneyland Paris 2014 Resort Map

Looking back through the park’s previous maps, it is now relatively impressive to see the changes and expansions since opening day — though they have certainly been somewhat lop-sided, with Toon Studio getting much of the attention.

In 2001, perhaps the barest Disney Park map in history was released for pre-opening brochures:

Walt Disney Studios Park 2002 Map Disneyland Paris

This was thankfully soon updated with more of the park’s finer details (if not any of the numerous expansion rumours of the time, which would take five years to materialise):

Walt Disney Studios Park 2003 Map Disneyland Paris

Then, the first and still biggest change to date came in 2007, when Crush’s Coaster, Cars Quatre Roues Rallye, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Hollywood Boulevard were all added to the map in one go:

Walt Disney Studios Park 2007 Map Disneyland Paris

In 2010, the map was updated with Toy Story Playland along with updated logos for Disney Blockbuster Café and Restaurant des Stars.

As with 2007, the early addition of Ratatouille will give the ride some much-needed advance publicity for guests visiting in the months before its opening.

While teasers have been shared online, the expansion must be one of the first in Disneyland Paris history not to see its construction walls decorated with even a modest teaser of what is being built within. With so many missed promotional opportunities already, it’s a relief to see this one seized, if only thanks to the traditional bi-annual guide map changeover…

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