Saturday 31 October 2009

Happy Halloween!

Today is the one day of the year that we can all act like kids, even if we're not at the Disney Parks.

So from DF'82 to you - have a very, scary, happy Halloween!

Friday 30 October 2009

Beware When Visiting Pinocchio



One ride I really enjoy at Disneyland Paris, even though it scares me a little, is The Adventures of Pinocchio - or Les Voyage de Pinocchio (let's face it, the title in French is much more exotic!). Possibly one of the reasons I enjoy it so much is because it is not an attraction that you can experience at Walt Disney World.
The ride is very similar to its sister attraction at Disneyland, California, but once again it is the theming of the area that I really love. Just after you exit the ride there is a lovely Disney Detail, which is more than often overlooked.

Of course, this isn't just theming...Stromboli is really in the area, looking out for Pinocchio! So if you are wandering around, keep a watchful eye out for any Stromboli-like characters lurking...
Although, I didn't realise that Stromboli also sold pretzels - interesting!

Thursday 29 October 2009

Getting Dressed Up For Halloween

Halloween is a great time to get dressed up and do some trick-or-treating. This Princess will be dressing up like Lilo for this Halloween! However, it is not just the people that get to dress up...the parks get to dress up too!

Let's have a look at how they were disguised last year:

Wednesday 28 October 2009

Helping To Make Your Trip More Magical

We at DF'82 want to help people with their trips to Disneyland Paris - we understand that when you visit the Paris parks, especially from overseas, your time is limited and you want to make the most of your visit. It's easy to waste time on rides and attractions, when you could have easily visited them at another point and walked right on! It's also easily to completely overlook something that really should not be missed...

I previously had Chris from the fantastic Yet Another Disney Blog contact me with a few questions about his family's upcoming Disneyland Paris, and Europe, trip:

My wife and I are planning to spend a couple of days at Disneyland Paris next April, and we could use some advice on hotel options and travel logistics.

We will fly to/from Paris CDG airport. Our plan is to spend our first two nights near the Parc, then relocate to a hotel in Paris for the remainder of our stay.

So let us see what tips I can give them to help make their trip as magical as possible!

Flying Into Paris CDG Airport
This is the best airport to fly in to if you wish to get to the Disneyland Paris Resort area. There is actually a bus that runs direct to the hotels (both the Disney owned and the Neighbour hotels) from the airport terminals. VEA shuttle (http://www.vea-shuttle.co.uk/roissy-orly-disneyland.asp) is quick and convenient, and leaves every 20 minutes. The shuttle used to depart direct from each terminal, but now there is a shuttle bus that takes you to the actual VEA bus, so everyone is boarding the bus at the one stop. A good point to note is that a lot of European nationalities do not enjoy queuing - you will really need to watch your place in line and do not let anyone else push you about!
If there are only two of you, you're probably cheaper getting the shuttle. A one-way trip on the shuttle for an adult is €17, and €13 for children ages 3-11. You can buy your tickets on the shuttle (using credit cards is acceptable) or online (only for adult tickets). But a taxi is much more convenient, and better at busy times - on our last trip, the Royal Family (three of us) got a taxi and it was only about €10 more. But I think the shuttle is the best bet - it drops you right at the hotels!

Staying In And Around The Resort
With regards to staying near the Resort, there are Disney hotels and there are non-Disney hotels, all within close distance. The non-Disney hotels all provide shuttles to the Parks, as do the Disney ones. The four main Disney hotels are within walking distance. The Santa Fe, one of the cheaper Disney ones, also is within walking distance but a shuttle is slightly easier. I think the distance is about a 20 minute walk - and on early mornings, it can be very pleasant and refreshing. The Disney website is great and you can have a look at different resorts, including those which are in the area but not Disney owned: http://hotels.disneylandparis.co.uk/.

If you have any questions about your trip - or a possible trip - to Disneyland Paris, please email me!

Monday 26 October 2009

Monday Memories...Photopass

As I am currently enjoying myself in Walt Disney World (I know, way to rub-it-in!), one of the things I have really liked and utilised is the Disney PhotoPass.

When visiting the World the past couple of trips - including this one - we have done the pre-purchase Disney PhotoPass CD. This way you can get a CD of PhotoPass shots (all yours, ALL copyright too!) for $99.95 instead of the usual price. And another great benefit is if you purchase it in advance, International Shipping is free!



This way all our memories are easily kept and reviewed any time I want to see them...and it also means that I have photos of all our group, and not with me missing out (as I am usually the photo taker!).

Saturday 24 October 2009

Run From The Terror!

Today is the last ever Tower of Terror 13k in Walt Disney World, Florida. This Princess will be running in it - although I will have to make sure that my bodyguards don't get in the way too much...

Let's have a little look at this race and what it entails...

(Taken from the Disney website)

What lies beyond the fifth dimension, beyond the deepest, darkest corner of the imagination, can be found at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ 13K & 5K. We invite you to run into the next dimension, if you dare, on October 24 at Disney's Hollywood Studios™. A night race like no other you have experienced is awaiting your arrival, but beware, you may not return from your race quite the same . . .

The race starts in Walt Disney Studios and takes us out into the main roadways of the Walt Disney World Resort, around Wide World of Sports, and finally finishes up in the Studios at the Tower of Terror. We also get to run around the infamous Resort entry gates - that should be fun! And one of the most exciting things - the race all takes place at night time! That's right, the 13k starts around 10.30pm! Hopefully it'll be cool enough for a Scottish girl like myself.
Of course, there is also a 5k, which starts a little before the race, and runs throughout the Studios themselves. I think the evening will be terror-full for all! *Insert evil laugh, here*

Friday 23 October 2009

What Do You Celebrate?






Since I started DF'82, I have been very lucky to meet and/or become friends with some fantastic people throughout the Disney Community. And as I get to know these people and their love for all things Disney, I thought it would be a good idea to introduce you to some of these people too!

From time to time, here at DF'82, we will get to know these Disney Fans a little bit better. I don't know about you, but I love to hear why people love the Disney parks!

Our first interviewee this week is the lovely Ryan from the Main Street Gazette. I have no doubt that you'll have visited his blog, as it is one of the most informative (and regular!) of all the blogs out there. Welcome to DF'82, Ryan!

How did you become a Disney fan?
I was born in central Florida and my first trip to Walt Disney World was when I was two months old, with that kind of a start, is it any wonder that I ended up having this passion for Disney? My father was the driving force behind my love for the theme parks, while my mom was the enthusiast for Disney animated features. So, in the end, Disney has always been a family affair, and I am my parents’ child.

What is your favourite Disney Theme Park? (This can be in any of the Resorts worldwide)
Having only ventured into the parks found in the United States my knowledge of parks worldwide is limited, although there are plenty of fantastic parks that I will find my way to in the coming years. Of the parks I have visited, I must stick with the first Florida park. Disney’s Animal Kingdom, for sheer intrigue and voluminous storytelling, is making up ground, but the Magic Kingdom has so many memories, so many stories, and so many wonderful attractions, that it is still the first place I think of when I think of a Disney park.

Which is your favourite attraction - past or present - and why?
Hands down, I love Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in the Magic Kingdom more than any other attraction. It may not have the best queue or the easiest storyline to grasp from the attraction alone, but for visuals, both of and from the ride, and thrills there are no words more exciting than, “Hang on to them hats and glasses!”

Is there one show or parade, which you feels best embodies the spirit of Disney?
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth may be my favorite spectacular at Walt Disney World, but I cannot help but wipe a tear from my eye whenever I watch Wishes! It is the quintessential Disney experience. With fireworks, the characters who tug on your heartstrings, and just a bit of the fear a proper villain can bring, it is truly a magical experience.

What is your Disney "guilty pleasure"? (for example, here at DF'82 we love floors!)
I must admit, I have taken my share of photographs of floors, walkways, benches, and lampposts, but my favorite guilty pleasure is the restrooms. From the signs on the doors to the lighting fixtures, tile patterns, and other furnishings, the restrooms of Walt Disney World are a never ending supply of entertainment.

How do you bring your love of Disney into your daily life?
Aside from the Main Street Gazette, I tend to read books on Disney history and design, listen to Disney podcasts and theme park audio, especially ambient loops when I am writing, and try to wear a shirt with some type of Disney design once in a while.

Thursday 22 October 2009

Holiday Times At DF'82

For the next two weeks, the Princess is heading off for a small holiday to one of the most magical places on earth - Walt Disney World! Because of this, the blog will be a little irratic. I will make sure that every other day, or so, there is something to read here - I have plenty of material to keep the blog going!
So I hope you enjoy the blog and please keep visiting. If you need your Daily Disney Fixes, click anywhere on the right hand side - they are all truly fantastic blogs!

And don't forget to sign up to be a fan of DF'82 on Facebook - that way you can keep up-to-date with the latest Disneyland Paris, and Parks, news when it's not posted here on the blog.

If you are in the WDW area, especially for the Tower of Terror 13k, drop me a line here and let me know!

Tuesday 20 October 2009

Learning More About The Nautilus

We've been spending some time in Discoveryland in the Disneyland Park, Paris, so today I thought we should head over to one of the most interesting and informative areas of the park. It's also an often overlooked area, due to its location - so I guess you could call it a Hidden Treasure!
We spoke about Les Mystères du Nautilus previously on the blog, but I wanted to go back to this area to have a look at the outside of the Nautilus!
I love to spend some time here, especially on quieter days as you really feel like you own the park. The attraction is only open at certain times - it doesn't usually open until about 10am and usually closes at sunset. But you can still enjoy the attraction by standing outside (which is great if you are a little claustrophobic). Even then you can still enjoy the hard work the Imagineers went to on this - and learn a little at the same time.

The sign reads (in English):

Length: 70 Meters
Width: 8 Meters
Weight: 1,500 Tons
Material: Steel-Plate
Power Source: Electricity
Depth Limit: 6.950 Fathoms
Speed: 50 Knots
Home Port: Vulcania

What a great tie-in to the Disney Classic 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.

Sunday 18 October 2009

Let's Look...At The Crossroads

I adore Disney's Hollywood Studios - it's a fantastic park, although I am still getting used to the name change. And one of my favourite sights when I enter the park is the Crossroads of the World.
I recently purchased the book "The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World" and in it they mention this particular location:
The crossroads is a replica of the original Crossroads of the World in Hollywood, California, with the addition of Mickey Mouse standing proudly on top. Not only doe the kiosk serve the functional purpose of providing park maps and various neccessities to guests, it also serves a less obvious purpose. Mickey has one ear higher than the other and his right hand is outstretched. What is he doing up there? His copper ear is grounded and acts as a lightning rod! [p128]

How clever! Although, I am sure I have seen this structure before, but in a smaller scale...

That's right - in Studio 1, in Walt Disney Studios, Paris, the building has been 'copied' and holds part of the large shopping store in the Studios. It is interestingly titled differently - "The Gossip Column".

Saturday 17 October 2009

The Details In The Ground

It's easy to miss things in the Disney Parks - it's very rare to be able to enjoy any of the Parks when there isn't quite a lot of people around. It's usually very busy, there are children running everywhere and having fun - and even a few adults too!

But one of the benefits to staying in a Disney Hotel or a Disney Neighbour Hotel in the Disneyland Paris area is the access an hour before the general public to the Disneyland Parc. It is worthy to note, however, that Adventureland and Frontierland is not open until the usual park times. If you are staying at a Disney Hotel, make sure to check the signage in your hotel as it will let you know what mornings are the Early Mornings in Parc Disneyland. When we were there during the summer, it was almost every morning!

DLP 2009 - Along To Castle

So, this Princess awoke early one morning and went for a little walk around Discoveryland - the usually VERY busy Land is unusually quiet first thing in the morning. And I managed to find this fantastic Disney Detail underneath the entrance to the Hyperion Cafe:

DLP 2009 - Four Corners

I do love details on the floor, and this is fantastic! This compass perfectly blends into the theming of the rest of the land, which - if you recall - is firmly planted in the world of Jules Verne and Leonardo DaVinci.

Friday 16 October 2009

Time for a Game

Following on from my earlier blog regarding the Hyperion Cafe and the Discoveryland area of Disneyland Paris, let's have another look at a clever Disney Detail.

Like most Disney Theme Parks, Disneyland Parc has an arcade area, allowing families and childrens to have an air conditioned break and try their hand at some 'modern day' gaming. But what I like is how the theming hasn't broken just to introduce us to the new arcade area.

Did you notice? The two gaming arcades are appropriately called "Arcade Alpha" and "Arcade Beta". Both 'Alpha' and 'Beta' are common in the scientific community for a number of different reasons (I'm a Princess, not a scientist, so I won't go into them all here!), having originated in the Greek alphabet. But this just highlights another way that the Imagineers keep us in the moment and keep the theming intact.

And it's yet another Disney Detail that often goes overlooked by the average Guest.

Thursday 15 October 2009

Round 'Em Up Pardner!

When in Frontierland you have to do what the Cowboys do, right? And what is more fun than the Rustler Roundup Shootin' Gallery? Situated just before the entrance to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and across from the Thunder Mesa Building, this is a great hidden attraction in the park.
Here you can have hours of fun hitting all the different targets and practicing your best John Wayne. Or would it be Davy Crockett? Instead of using bullets, the guns use lasers to hit the targets - and when you hit a target correctly, some strange and interesting things happen...

The Shootin' Gallery is coin-operated and has 74 different targets. For €2 you have a shot 10 times. Although I don't usually encourage people to have a go at things which cost extra once you're in the Park, this is a great addition and is fun for kids of all ages. Just take a look at the King!

Wednesday 14 October 2009

When You Need a Trip

If you are an avid reader of DF'82, you will know how much we love the Riverboat and any excuse to take you on the many tours around the Thunder Mesa area.
But now, if you want to take a trip and you just happen to be wandering around Disneyland Paris, you can book one yourself!
As you can see from the top of this advertistment, you can book your package through the Thunder Mesa River Packet and Steam Navigation Company. And who wouldn't want to go on the "Safe" and "Relaxing" S.S. Mark Twain?
Now, I need to go and book myself a Royal Package...

Monday 12 October 2009

Monday Round-Up

I have been away this weekend, so am a little slow on any News from Disneyland Paris. But thought I would introduce you to what the Resort has in store for 2010. Thanks to DLRPToday.com, the new 'party' will be named the New Generation Festival, starting April 2010. Here is some of the Official writings of the new party:

Disney new generation festival

A new generation of Disney stars and stories are landing for one year only at Disneyland® Paris from April 2010.

Join the festival-fun at the all-new generation shows and parades – where new Princess Tiana jazzes up the Once Upon a Dream Parade, and gourmet chef Remy* drives you wild with excitement in Disney’s Stars ‘n’ Cars. Or choo-choo-choose which star to meet first on the Disney all stars express and at Monsters Inc. Scream Academy* –shriek n’ greet like no other!

And, starting from Summer, shrink to the size of a toy in Toy Story Playland* for the BIGGEST new family attractions: Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, Slinky Dog(1) Zig Zag Spin and RC Racer(2).


Finally, gather in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle for a true Disney showstopper finale – an all-singing, all-dancing, all-together perfect end to the perfect day.

The Disney new generation festival might only last a year but your all-new memories will last a lifetime.

*Inspired by Disney•Pixar films Ratatouille, Monsters, Inc., Toy Story(1) Slinky®Dog is a registered trademark of Poof-Slinky, Inc. All rights reserved.(2) Hot Wheels® is a registered trademark of Mattel, Inc. Hot Wheels® Trademark and Track Used With Permission © 2009 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

This all sounds really exciting! And let's have a look at some of the new parades and shows that we will have:

Welcome Princess Tiana to the Disney’s Once Upon a Dream Parade
Princess Tiana from Walt Disney Pictures’ “The Princess and the Frog” brings a little jazz, snazz and pizzazz in the Once Upon a Dream Parade. She is joining the Disney Princesses in their Dreams of Romance. Hop along with your little ones to twist and twirl to the romantic music from each of their worlds and give a warm welcome to this new Princess.
Ratatouille(1) starring in Disney’s Stars ‘n’ Cars

Drive your little ones wild with excitement as Disney’s Stars ‘n’ Cars presents the all-new Ratatouille roadster. It’s a party on wheels that goes into a spin when Remy pulls up alongside you! Get a taste of his cooking capers and the other crazy cars and characters. It’s the perfect recipe for a fun-filled motorcade.

Disney all star express
Get on track with the festivities on the Disney all stars express. This is your ticket to choo-choo-se which of your favourite Disney new generation Characters you want to meet n’ greet first. Will it be Buzz(3) ? A rendez-vous with Remy(3) ? Shootin’ the breeze with Woody(3) ? All aboard! It’s Minnie and her all stars express!

Disney showtime spectacular
It’s Showtime! It’s time to shine. It’s time to gather in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle on Central Plaza stage for an explosion of music from maestro Mickey. Together with an all-new A-list of guest stars it promises to be an all-singing, all-dancing all-new showstopper finale!

Monsters Inc.(2) Scream Academy
All screams are welcome at Disneyland® Paris. Thrill-filled shrieks, surprised yelps and screams of delight! At Monsters Inc. Scream Academy we welcome screams to break the decibel meter! Join in the tonsil-tingling fun as you shriek n’ greet Sulley and scream as loud as monster-possible – it’s ear-popping fun for all the family.

(1)Inspired by Disney•Pixar’s Ratatouille
(2)Inspired by Disney•Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.
(3)Inspired by Disney•Pixar’s movies Toy Story, Ratatouille

Thanks to DLRPToday.com for this information - if you want to keep updated on the latest Disneyland Paris news, this is the place to go!

Sunday 11 October 2009

When You Need a Detective

If you happen to be in Toontown, Disneyland California, and need a Detective we have just the one for you.

Toby Tortoise, Detective Agency
Slow & Steady Wins The Case

But who is Toby Tortoise? Toby is a character who appears in several Disney Cartoon Shorts. He is in the infamous The Tortoise and The Hare, Toby The Tortoise Returns and Mickey's Christmas Carol. His debut performance in the Tortoise and the Hare was on January 5th 1935, with the short being directed by Wilfred Jackson and including talents such as Ward Kimbell and Larry Clemmons. It actually won an Academy Award in 1935 for "Short Subject - Cartoons".

Saturday 10 October 2009

Why Did It Have To Be Snakes?

One of the Royal Family's favourite attractions in Disneyland Paris is the Indiana Jones ride, hidden at the back of Adventureland. I've spoken about the facts and figures of this attraction before, but there are some great details in the queue line of the attraction that are a must for any Indiana Jones' fans! And once again, it just shows us Disney fans the lengths that the Imagineers and creators of the parks go to, to make sure we are fully immersed in the story of the attraction.
It appears we have entered Indiana's camp area - but it doesn't look like he's around. He has left some artifacts and his truck here though, so he can't be too far.

Oh, it also looks like it might be laundry day for Jones too! I hope he, um, realises that he might have some company!
Snakes...oh...that can't be good. But it's just cement, right? Right?!

Phew, this looks like the train station - maybe if we board this we'll be taken right to Indy and we'll be all safe and sound. Or will we?

Friday 9 October 2009

Listen to Your Princess!

This week I was lucky enough to take part in the Disney Pyramid on the All About The Mouse Podcast! I was the 'celebrity' (well, I am Royalty!) and was teamed up with the lovely Ramon. We were against Steve from Muppetcast and his equally lovely wife Ashley.

Who came out 'on top'? Well, you have to listen to the show to find out! Download it from iTunes or from their website - www.allaboutthemouse.com!

Tips for Disneyland Paris

As part of my aim to bring as much information about Disneyland Paris as possible to the DF'82 pages, I am going to open up the 'floor' to questions from YOU, the loyal reader.

I may not be a fountain of knowledge, but I do have the means and the experience to help you plan the BEST Disneyland Paris trip you can! And so, if you have any questions about the Parks or the Paris area in general, please get in touch with me and I will try to help.

Because of this, I will post some of my tips and tricks on visiting the Disneyland Resort in Paris, what I found helpful and what I think can help first time visitors. So, if you have any queries or questions email me here.

Thursday 8 October 2009

More Main Street Buildings

Let's have another walk down Main Street U.S.A. in Parc Disneyland, and peruse the buildings that surround the street.
And what is this Disney Detail that we have?
Yes, this building is named the R.O.D. BLDG - the Roy O. Disney Building.

Roy O. Disney has a very important place in Disney history, co-founding the Walt Disney Company with his older brother Walt. After Walt's death, Roy became the Chairman of the company and was at the forefront of the construction of the Magic Kingdom and the Walt Disney World Resort.

And have you noticed the date on this building? This reflects Roy's birthdate. Once again, it's this attention to detail that makes us Disney Geeks very happy!

Wednesday 7 October 2009

Having a Wheel-y Great Time

We like to approach all the different Disney Parks around the world here on DF'82, so today let's take a quick trip over to fashionable, trendy California! And specifically Disney's California Adventure.

If you are a follower of Disney theme parks, you will know that Disney's California Adventure (or DCA, as it is known) is undergoing some major renovations and updates. Once the Imagineers have finished spreading their Pixie Dust, the magic is going to be unbelievable!
But part of the Adventure has already been updated - some of Paradise Pier to be exact. And if you head towards that area of the park you will know right away one of the changes - the Sun Wheel has now became Mickey's Fun Wheel.


The centre of the Wheel no longer has the Sun (a symbol of Paradise Pier) but has the Classic Mickey-Head, as seen on original Walt Disney Mickey Mouse cartoons.


If you are unfamiliar with the Fun Wheel, it is a great family attraction based on Ferris Wheels from fun parks and touring fairgrounds. It has two sets of cars - ones that are designed to swing around a separate track within the wheel, and the other set are 'stationary' which gives a more sedate ride on the wheel. The ones that move on the wheel can actually get surprisingly fast and brings a fantastic thrill-ride element to a notoriously 'boring' ride. This Princess, however, prefers to stay a little bit more fixed on this attraction...

This wheel is actually one of only three similar spinning wheels in the world today - the other wheels are in New York (at Coney Island) and in Japan. The Fun Wheel has a 500-foot circumference, with 24 gondolas each accommodating up to 6 people. A great hidden Disney detail is when you look at the wheel across the lagoon, it looks like Guests board the attraction underwater! Another great detail by Imagineers. As I said, the Fun Wheel is part of the regeneration programme of Paradise Pier. Along with this update, there has been extra attractions and games added to the Paradise Pier area! There are some great new games-stalls, which have fun, family friendly side-show attractions, like you would find in a traditional fairground area. We will have a look at this area in a future DF'82 post.

Tuesday 6 October 2009

Need A Phone Box

You're visiting Disneyland Paris for a couple of days but suddenly there's an emergency. Your name is Clark Kent. And you have to find a way to change...into Superman.

Well, don't worry! Your run-of-the-mill U.S. style phone booth is right there, in Walt Disney Studios!

What I love about this is the amount of detail (I know, we say it a lot here at DF'82!) that has gone into the area surrounding the phone booth. The wall behind has been fabricated in such a way that it really looks like it could be a seedy side-street in New York City or Downtown L.A. Once again, immersing the Guest in the Experience and the Show of the Disney Parks.

Of course, Superman may need to watch for the legs of guests sitting near the booth - we don't want our Superhero tripping up!

Monday 5 October 2009

Monday Morning Round-Up

Let's have a look at some of the news affecting Disneyland Paris this week - and as predicted, it's Halloween related!

As we approach Halloween time, Disneyland Paris is getting its Halloween party in full swing! From yesterday, October 3rd, until November 1st, the Disneyland Resort will be full of ghosts and ghouls and...pumpkins! Mickey will be ready to meet you in his special Halloween costume, and you could also meet Sally and Jack from the Nightmare Before Christmas. If that doesn't make you want to celebrate this Halloween Festival, I don't know what will. There will be special shows and celebrations throughout the park during this time too - all for the price of regular admission.
And this year there is a new introduction to Halloweensphere - Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! Although this has been at the Walt Disney World resort for several years, this is the first time Paris has had an exclusive 'extra' party.


The Party runs on several nights - October 9, 16, 23 and 27 from 8pm to 11pm. Tickets for this are on a first-come first-served basis and are strictly limited - you can find out more about the party here. Select attractions are open during the party, and there are Dance Parties throughout the park and a special Merlin and the Witch Academy show! There is also the new Not-So-Scary show.
But on October 31st there is a special Halloween Party, where you are advised to aactually wear your spookiest costumes to the park. It is set to actually be quite a scary place, where villains will be out to scare you as much as possible, with their shows and the Fantillusion Parade.
You can find out all about Disneyland Paris at Halloween at their website here.

Sunday 4 October 2009

Camera...Action...Are We Missing Anything?

Even before you step into the parks at Disneyland Paris, you can't fail to notice the theming out front. For example, you haven't even reached the Disneyland Parc, but being introduced to the Disneyland Hotel you immediately know you are about to enter a place of fantasy and intrigue.
The theming of the Disneyland Hotel is very much in line with Main Street U.S.A., mainly because the building is part of the entrance to the park and can be seen from Main Street U.S.A. The Imagineers and Park Executives knew how important it was that the 'outside world' does not intrude upon the Guest Experience, and so the hotel was built in such a way that it blends in with the surroundings of the Parc.

When we enter the Walt Disney Studios, however, there are no hotels nearby, and the entrance is placed far back from the Village district and the Disneyland Parc. So, in order to prepare us for our Studios experience, the ground actually presents us with the 'build up' to our entry.
As you can see, the bricks on the ground in front of the Studio gates reflect the metalwork on the gates themselves. Allowing us to bring the lights, ready for the camera and the action!