Belated Thanks

I meant to post this yesterday, but real life got in the way! Although I am not American, I would like to wish all those who celebrate it a belated, very happy Thanksgiving. I think it's always nice that we take a minute, or two, to think about what we are thankful fo.

I also thought I would take a break from my regular posting to just say a couple of the things I'm thankful for. Of course, I am thankful to my family and friends for everything they have done for me.

Relating this to Disney, however, I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to work for the Walt Disney Company at Walt Disney World. I'm thankful not only because it helped me make a lot of life-long friends, but it reintroduced my love for all things Disney. It also made me thankful for the efforts of all the cast members and those who have worked to make the Disney magic so strong. Basically, it just made me more aware of the (Walt Disney) World around me, and made me appreciate so much more - in the parks and in my life, really.

Finally, I'm thankful to all the friends I have made through my love of Disney. Those I have met, and those I have yet to meet, I thank you all for being a part of my life. I feel like I should be singing the Golden Girls theme tune right now. And thank you to you, the person reading my blog. You and I have been through a lot, haven't we? Let's hope there are many more to come - the World of Disney is a big place, and there's still a lot we haven't seen!

Doing the Snowman

If you've followed my posts on this blog, you may remember how on certain Disneyland Paris' attractions you weren't allowed to dance outrageously?

Well, as snow has been falling throughout the United Kingdom, I thought this would be appropriate.

It seems Disneyland Paris don't like Snowmen, or women, dancing too outrageously either!

From The Day We Arrive On The Planet

Disneyland Parc, Paris, has many exciting attractions and some fantastic entertainment, enough to keep you busy for days! Do you all still have your ticket? Those of you who have managed to lose it can pick up another one from Guest Relations at the front of the park - just tell them you're with DF'82! Because, you're going to need your ticket to come along to one of the Park's most popular and mesmorising shows - "The Legend of the Lion King".

Situated in the Videopolis Theatre in Discoveryland (next to the large Hyperion Ship), this show preimiered in June 1994. It replaced the "Mickey's Showtime" musical show. It tells the story of the Walt Disney Pictures 'The Lion King', with Simba, Timon and Pumba helping you learn about la Legende de la Roi Lion. The show uses some fantastic special effects, and has a truly energetic cast, retelling the story using dance, action and music from, and inspired by, the film. The costumes were mainly designed by Sue Lecash, who had studied African dress specifically for this, and created 118 animal headdresses for this show alone!

When this show first opened, it was necessary to get reservation tickets to make sure you could get into the show. This required a lot of queuing, first to get the tickets and then to get into the show itself! Of course, the show has been running for several years now, and tickets are no longer required. The Legend is performed in English and French, and your times guide will let you know which show is which - although, the musical numbers remain in English for both.

As you may remember from a previous post, the Cafe Hyperion is a counter service restaurant attached to the Videopolis Theatre. So, although you need to arrive about 25-15 minutes prior to performance for a seat in the theater, you can purchase your food at any time and coincide it with a show, sitting in the dining area of the theatre.

I have heard that this show may be closing in 2009 - so, shall we watch a viewing of it whilst it's still around to entertain us? And entertain us, it will!

It's An Epic Stuntshow!

As many of you know, the "Lights, Motors, Action!" stuntshow in Disney's Hollywood Studios over in Walt Disney World, Florida originated in the Walt Disney Studios over in Paris. So I thought that today we would have a brief look at that very show.

Moteurs...Action! as it is called in the Disneyland Resort Paris version holds many similarities to it's baby brother in Florida. The same kind of cars are used, Opel Corsas (or better known to us Brits as Vauxhall Corsas), with the black cars being evil and the red car being the goodie.

The show premiered in March 2002, and to cope with the many languages of the European counterpart is mainly presented in English and French. One presenter speaks English, while the other speaks French, and through talking to each other, you can get the gist of what is happening without having to know both languages. Because of this, the show runs slightly longer (40 minutes in Paris, opposed to 35 minutes in Florida). Of course, the sets themselves are similar as the Floridian stuntshow is still set in a European courtyard.

The stadium in Paris holds a little less, with a capacity of 3,000 guests per show (with usually 2 or 3 a day). But, does the 'hero' red car win in this one too? Ah, well, there is only one way to find out...

Joyeux Anniversaire Mickey!

It's a very special day today - and myself, like many others around the globe, will be celebrating it in different ways. But what day is it? Well, it's Mickey Mouse's birthday!

Today is the Mouse's 80th birthday - and he doesn't look it, does he? As most of you will probably already know, Mickey was originally going to be called Mortimer Mouse, but it was Walt's wife, Lilian, who suggested Mickey. A very wise woman indeed, she realised that the name may not suit this little Mouse, and suggested Mickey. The rest, they say, is history.

Now, what kind of present do you get the Mouse who seemingly has everything? Well, I'm sure another little piece of cheese won't go wrong! So, let's all have a little  bit of cheese and toast to our beloved Mickey Mouse - Joyeux Anniversaire, Mickey!

Memorabilia Monday - EuroDisney

After my weekend away, and all the excitement of Halloween, Memorabilia Monday returns! At least until the run up to Christmas and the Holiday Season.

Today's piece of memorabilia that I have for you all is one I recently acquired on eBay - and is a piece of EuroDisney memorabilia. As you may, or may not, know, Disneyland Paris was originally called EuroDisney. With a re-branding to help attract more tourists, the Resort was renamed Disneyland Paris - the holding company still remains as EuroDisney, however.

Anyway, this piece I managed to obtain is a lovely little Opening Day Issue Stamp. It's not very much, but I like it because it's very hard to get any memorabilia to do with EuroDisney anymore! I'm not very much into stamps, so if there are any of you who know more about this stamp, please comment and let us all know.

It Was All A Fantasy

I've been having a bit of a mind-blank over the past week. Not sure what to write about next on this blog. The days passed by, one by one, and before I know it, a week has gone by without a new post. And I apologise for this!

But a recent post on Ryan's blog (the Main Street Gazette), focusing on Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom and in Disneyland, inspired me to look further afield. I like to focus on Disneyland Paris on this blog, as there are far too few websites looking at this beautiful resort. But for the next few days, I'd like to have a look over at the park that started it all - Disneyland.

While I get out of my funk - and the depressing knowledge that I don't have a Disney trip for a while - let me share with you some happy memories of the original (although, 2006 version of) Fantasyland. My most recent trip to California was during the 50th Celebration, and to honour this, there were many 'golden' references throughout the park, specifically Fantasyland.

Happy Guy Fawkes Day

Taking a break from all the election news around the world, and a break from our look at all the Disney parks, today is a special day here in the UK. While it's not a national holiday, as such, today - November 5th - is Guy Fawkes Day or Bonfire night.

Celebrating the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot, in which Guy Fawkes and several others tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament, it is a night where the skies of the United Kingdom are filled with fireworks. There are many organised displays up and down the country, and many places have bonfires, which traditionally would have a 'Guy' is thrown upon it. Don't worry folks, it would just be a dummy.

All the fireworks going on outside my home tonight remind me of all the different Disney theme park fireworks displays there have been over the years. And a good excuse to share a lovely photo of Illuminations with you, too.

Spin Me Round

Sitting quietly in Fantasyland, Parc Disneyland in Paris, is one of the most thrilling, terrifying and stomach-churning rides of the entire park. No, I'm not talking about Space Mountain or even Tower of Terror - I'm talking about Mad Hatter's Tea Cups, or informally as The Teacups.

Like it's sister attractions throughout Disney parks in the rest of the world, Mad Hatter has his tea cups placed in Fantasyland. Of course, due to the inclement weather Paris experiences throughout the year, this attraction has a beautiful glass roof, shaped like a petal, which helps blend it in to the surrounding gardens. It consists of 18 tea cups, with two to four persons per cup!

As with every Disney Theme Park attraction, ride or building, it's the little details that I love. Like this - the giant milk jug and sugar holder. Just to help you feel like you really are at a tea party.

An attraction that I don't get to experience very much, as my father gets violently sick on them, on our last trip my mum and I made the effort to have a go on them. And neither of us were sick - luckily!