Don't Get in a Rage!

Another attraction at Tokyo DisneySea is the Raging Spirits attraction. But if you want to experience the ride fully, don't forget to pick up a copy of El Rio Perdido Heraldo newspaper.

This piece of print, however, is very hard to get a hold of, and we only managed to grab a snippet. I hope that we can understand fully what Spirits might be Raging!

What Do You Celebrate?

Our last 'What Do You Celebrate?' interview for 2009 is with a current Cast Member at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. Her name is Kaitlyn Robrock and we are very happy to welcome her to DF'82! Let's have a look at how and why she celebrates Disney...

How did you become a Disney fan?
Disney fan since birth, [I] have also felt it is "inside" me.

What is your favourite Disney Theme Park?
Tokyo, even though I've never been.

Which is your favourite attraction - past or present - and why?
Fave ride is Indiana Jones, because I pretend to be the heroic driver who saves people in my car!

Is there one show or parade, which you feels best embodies the spirit of Disney?
Fantasmic! best represents Disney's spirit by using excellent music, colours, characters, a simple story, water and fireworks.

What is your Disney "Guilty Pleasure"?
Guilty Pleasure is collecting art books or Imagineering books because I have the hopeless dream of one day contributing to Disney on a very grand scale, and be a household name for it!

How do you bring your love of Disney into your daily life?
Collectibles on display in the house, Disney clothes, music always playing, plush Minnies on my bed, Disney brand food (which is new!), playing the game of recognising voice actors in Disney works, and working in Disneyland as my job!

Shall We Take Another Journey?

The week between Christmas and New Year is a very hectic one in the Royal Household. Although we do get a lot of relaxation time, there are many, many people to see and many things to do!

But one thing we could do, for a little change, is to travel to the centre of the earth. But where could we do this? Well, in Tokyo DisneySea we could take a Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Let's check out the brochure!

Happy Boxing Day

Today in the UK - and many other countries, especially those in the Commonwealth - is commonly known as Boxing Day. Named this due to the historical events of giving gifts to those less wealthy and slaves - usually in the form of a Christmas Box.

Nowadays it is a very popular day for sales to start in shops, and it can be one of the busiest shopping days of the year! So why not try going to the Thunder Mesa Mercantile Building in Frontierland, Disneyland Paris, and see if they have any special sales on?Perhaps a hat or two, or some pistols? Everything a marksman or a frontier-person needs in Frontierland!

Merry Christmas!

To all those who celebrate it, everyone here at DF'82 would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas - may your days be merry and bright!

Chante, c'est noel, sing a long sing the song of Christmas. Chante, c'est noel, it's a wonderous time of year.

Holidays In Epcot

One of my favourite Walt Disney World parks during Christmas is actually Epcot. I adore the Magic Kingdom - especially Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party - but Epcot is a fascinating place to be during the Holiday Season. With their Holidays Around the World celebration, it is a great place to learn about how Christmas is celebrated in other countries - or what we, in the UK, call 'Christmas'.
I was lucky enough to work in Epcot during the Christmas season of 2004, where I was also lucky enough to be involved in the Tree Lighting Ceremony. This involved riding the Epcot Bus with characters, and other Cultural Representative Cast Members (at least one from each Pavilion in World Showcase), to help Mickey and Minnie Mouse turn on the Christmas Lights at Epcot!

And one of the most beautiful sights to behold: well, it was the turning on of the Lights of Winter holiday archways. These lights danced, flickering on and off in time with the music as you walked under it. Unfortunately, these lights have been retired this year due to obsolete technology. But it is still nice to admire the lights of Christmas past.
The Christmas Tree is decorated beautifully, with Christmas baubles depicting each country in the World Showcase, as well as slogans with "Happy Holidays" in their languages - or the country's seasonal message.

Konichwa to the Tower of Terror

As we continue our tour of other Tokyo DisneySea attractions, today we are introduced to the Tower of Terror. Of course, the ride is in Japanese - but for those of us who speak English, here is a handy guide to what we are about to experience.

Christmas Is All Around

Everywhere and everyone is getting ready for the Christmas season. For those who celebrate it, it means getting the decorations up and gather presents for loved ones. The Disney Parks will also be ready for Christmas. Including the Newport Bay Hotel at Disneyland Paris, which is decked out and ready with some seasonal lighting.
Hotel New York has it's skating rink ready for guests to enjoy.
Sequoia Lodge has some nice decorations in the lobby stairwell.
And the Disneyland Hotel has it's beautiful tree ready in the lobby, as it welcomes guests to the Happiest Place in Europe!

Holidays at Disney Parks

When the Royal Family visited Disneyland California a few months ago, we were surprised to one day enter the park to find some Christmas decorations in place of Halloween decorations!
Christmas in the middle of October... What was going on? Well, it turned out that Disney were filming part of their commerical for the Holiday season. And we were lucky enough to see the man himself - the Big Cheese - getting ready to film his scene as we were leaving the park that night.

Go to YouTube and see the finished advert - and Mickey's blink-and-you'll-miss it scene!

What Do You Celebrate?

Today's What Do You Celebrate interview introduces us to another Disney fan. This fan is a little different to our previous guests - she is a slightly older fan (although one never reveals a lady's age!) and she makes movies for ABC Family TV. Her name is Jody Brockway and we're very happy to invite her here on DF'82!

How did you become a Disney fan?
I became a fan because of my daughter's love for all things Disney, especially the parks.

What is your favourite Disney Theme Park?
I have only been to Disneyland in Anaheim.

Which is your favourite attraction - past or present - and why?
My favorite attraction is California Soarin because it is so exciting to feel like you are flying and the visual experience is so beautiful.

Is there one show or parade, which you feels best embodies the spirit of Disney?
I love the show Aladdin.

What is your Disney "guilty pleasure"?
My guilty pleasure is Small World. I feel silly because I am an adult singing the song and feeling like a child.

How do you bring your love of Disney into your daily life?
At Disneyland I feel playful which is an important aspect for all of us to retain as we become adults. Disney reminds me of my playful self and that is a good thing.

If you want to know more about Jody, listen to Episode 139 of the All About The Mouse podcast!

All Aboard!

Do you need a break from all the Christmas shopping and festivities? Well why not try "An excursion to remember"?
Just hop on board the Euro Disneyland Railroad. You can board from Main Street Station, Town Square.

I love the small details like this throughout Disneyland Paris, especially ones which refer to Euro Disneyland.

Roy Edward Disney Dies, Aged 79

Some sad news to report here on DF'82. Roy Edward Disney, son of Roy O.Disney and nephew of Walt, has died today, aged 79.

You can read a news article here about the man and his sad passing, but he will be remembered by many Disney fans as helping to revive the Walt Disney Company and the heart of it, animation. Our condolences to his family.

Meet The Characters...At Christmas

I adore meeting characters throughout the Disney Parks! It is one of my favourite things to do when I am visiting any Disney Theme Park...and Christmastime is no exception. Many characters dress up in their Holiday finest when parading around the parks.

Shall we have a look at some of their outfit choices throughout some of the Disney Parks? First some from Walt Disney World.
And now some from Disneyland Paris.

Christmas At Sequoia Lodge

In our 'Ticket To' Series, we had a very brief look at the Sequoia Lodge resort at Disneyland Paris. It is actually one of mine, and my family's, favourite resorts in Paris. For those of you who have been to Walt Disney World, it is similar to Wilderness Lodge, and for those from Disneyland, it is close to Grand Californian Resort and Spa.Because of the Wilderness style of the Sequoia Lodge, it is a beautiful hotel once it has been decorated for Christmas. Let's have a short tour of some of their Christmas decorations.
We start of with the main entrance to the Lodge, where the restaurants are situated and where you exit and enter if you are going to and from the parks.

We then have the lobby area of the hotel, which also gets into the Christmas Spirit.

And finally, my favourite area of the main building of the Sequoia Lodge - the ski-style bar area. Beautiful!

What's Happening At Disneyland Paris

As we are rapidly approaching the Christmas holidays, I thought it would be appropriate to have a quick look at how Disneyland Paris is celebrating the Christmas and New Year season for 2009!

A brand new show has been introduced to the Castle Stage, since the start of the Christmas season. Entitled Snow White's Happily Ever After, the show features the beautiful Snow White, her handsome Prince, the Seven Dwarfs and - oh no, I think the Evil Queen/Old Hag also makes an appearance. Although she frightens me, I have no doubt that this show will be a must see during the festivities in Paris!

It's a small world Celebration has also been reintroduced to the Fantasyland area of Disneyland Paris, where a brand new Christmas soundtrack also features. The site DLRP Today (a great source for all Disneyland Paris fans) has a brilliant article detailing this celebration, as well as some videos, and an interview with the Costuming Production Senior Manager.
Of course, Christmas at Disneyland Paris also includes the favourite attractions such as Belle's Village, Snow Flakes on Main Street, Santa's Village, the Christmas Parade and the Christmas Castle Tree Lighting Ceremony.


First Picture from DisneylandParis.com

Get Ready For Some Magic!

We previously looked at some of the Information cards from Tokyo DisneySea, and today we are introduced to another! This one is for the Magic Lamp Theatre, a 3D attraction at Tokyo DisneySea.

What Do You Celebrate?

Today's DF'82 celebrate interview is with a celebrity of sorts! Chuck Canzoneri is a huge Disney fan, with a love for all areas of the company's operations. He has also co-hosted several All About the Mouse Podcasts, so you may recognise him! He resides in California, and is lucky enough to travel to Anaheim on a regular basis.

How did you become a Disney fan?
I lived in Florida as a child, just 90min from WDW. My family would plan trips and not tell me about them. So we'd be woken up super early in the morning, put in the car where I would fall back asleep. And when I woke up again I was at the Magic Kingdom. (How cool is that surprise.) There's a lot of factors that go into making a Disney Fan: the films, the shows, the toys and games. But I'd say all of that was the gunpowder and the surprise trips are what lit the fuse.

What is your favourite Disney Theme Park?
Epcot. Always loved the Future World Half and as I grew up, I became more excited to visit World Showcase. The delicious food is what makes this a no-brainer.

Which is your favourite attraction - past or present - and why?
That changes every year/month/day/hour. It's been Tower of Terror, Thunder Mountain, Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular. Right now I'm really big on Billy Hill and the Hillbillies. And while I deeply miss the original Journey into Imagination, I keep finding my way back to Pirates of the Caribbean (Disneyland Version). The level of detail is beyond belief and I'm impressed by how this slow moving boat ride with very few thrills remains a "must do". It must be the atmosphere which completely transports you away from reality.

Is there one show or parade, which you feels best embodies the spirit of Disney?
Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams. It even contains "To all who come to this happy place... welcome". It features the classic Disney films, past and present and was the perfect mixture of characters and dancers. It didn't need a special angle like Stars n Motor Cars or Jammin Jungle Parade. Disney itself was the hook.

What is your Disney "guilty pleasure"?
Figment, and I'm not guilty about it at all. I love Figment. It's the only character I've met where I was meeting HIM. It's the one who makes me smile whenever I see him.

How do you bring your love of Disney into your daily life?
You'll find your answer here...

Ending the Studio Tram Tour

Thank you for joining us on our small look at the Studio Tram Tour at Walt Disney Studios, Paris. Just as the tour is ending, we have a look at a few more boneyard pieces which are now left here as distant memories. Shall we have a look at them before disembarking?
Well, thank you again. Remember, please mind your head and watch your step as you leave the vehicle, and enjoy the rest of your day here at DF'82.

There May Be Dragons Here

After experiencing Catastrophe Canyon, we can breathe a sigh of relief that it was all just a movie set. But as we pass by the boneyard and film set again, we eventually come to London, England, 2022. And all is not what it seems.
Now we are on a replica of the set from the 2002 film "Reign of Fire". In this, dragons invade the city and destroy it. But don't worry, we don't actually come face to face with a dragon. Just some of his very hot fire and large roar!