Picture Perfect Postcards

No postcard collection is complete without some lovely pictures of Mickey and Minnie posing in a picture perfect way!These special edition postcards, available in conjunction with the Disney's Star Festival 2009, were sold in a set along with a lovely casing folder, seen here.
And what better way to sign off this post than with a lovely signed postcard of Minnie Mouse - beautiful!

Winnie The Postcard

The Japanese adore Disney characters, and so they also love there merchandise to reflect this. And postcards are no exception. Not only does Tokyo Disney Resort have postcards relating to the scenery and to special celebrations, but they also had a series on Winnie the Pooh visiting Disneyland!

Unfortunately, the Royal Family didn't get a chance to collect all the postcards in the series, but here are some of my favourites that I did manage to get! I think Adventureland is my favourite.

Konichiwa Postcards

Let's have a look at some more beautiful postcards from Tokyo Disney Resort, this time in the gorgeous Japanese style.

We can see Mickey and Minnie in traditional Japanese dress, in the first postcard they are spending some time at Tokyo Disneyland (notice Mickey has his must-have bucket of popcorn - I wonder if it's curry flavour?) and in the second they have ventured over to Tokyo DisneySea. A great souvenir!

Postcards From Japan

For the next two weeks, we are taking a bit of a summer holiday here at DF'82 - or should we say an Autumn Holiday?

But this does not mean there will be any downtime for DF'82! Instead, we are going to have a look at some fantastic souvenirs and memorabilia from around the Disney World. It is always fun to see what things we have collected or can collect from our visit to a Disney Theme Park.

Today, let's have a look at some recent postcards from Tokyo Disney Resort, celebrating the new re-release of Captain EO, and their various celebrations.

Continuing with Cendrillon

Continuing with our look at the beautiful Auberge de Cendrillon, we can see the detailing that has gone into the stained glass windows around the restaurant. Showing yet again, just the attention to detail there is with windows throughout the Disneyland Park.
But possibly the most amazing part of the garden is the fountain situated amongst the tables and seating area. Whilst the fountain is used as a floral display, the detailing that has gone into the fountain itself is truly a hidden treasure of Fantasyland.

Details of Cendrillon

The grounds of the Auberge de Cendrillon restaurant in Fantasyland are truly beautiful. And the best thing is, if you get there outwith lunch or dinner, you can have a look around the garden area without bothering dining guests or cast members.

This weekend, we are going to make you feel like Royalty and experience the beauties of life as a Princess (or a Prince!).

The tables and gates throughout the area have lovely detailing, possibly with Cinderella having had them custom made for her restaurant!In the garden area you can see the beautiful Pumpkin Coach that Cinderella used on the night she went to the ball with Prince Charming. Complete with beautiful furnishings and velvet seats inside.
There is also some lovely artwork on the walls around the restaurant, showing some of Cinderella's mice helpers.And we can also see a sweet reminder of where Cinderella has came from. Fantastic detailing!

Dining With Cendrillon

As part of our 'Quick Bite' series, let's head to the beautiful restaurant in Fantasyland: Auberge de Cendrillon. As this is a Character Dining location, and quite pricey, I didn't feel it was right to give it a 'Quick Bite' title.The restaurant has a beautiful ballroom-type setting, and is open for lunch and for dinner, separately. It does have a set menu and features characters from Cinderella (it is hosted by Suzy and Perla), as well as other Disney Princes and Princesses.

You and your little royalty can interact and dance with the characters, as well as enjoying foods such as veal, lamb or scallops. As you can see from the menu, prices are €59.20 for adults and €24.80 for 3-11 year olds.
If you are interested in eating here, reservations are suggested as it is very popular!

Join us here at DF'82 again tomorrow and Sunday to experience the beautiful details around the Auberge de Cendrillon!

Today in Tokyo

Summer in Tokyo Disney Resort can be super busy and super hot! If you think the summers in Florida are hot, you really haven't experienced Tokyo. Don't believe me? Well, their summer celebration this year is Summer Splash 2010!

So, now that summer is passing, I thought DF'82 should head on over and have a look at what has been going on at Tokyo Disney during this season! For example, Cowboy Mickey is welcoming us to Cool the Heat and Chip and Dale's Cool Service (at Tokyo DisneySea).And now we have the Today Schedules for Disneyland and DisneySea.And don't forget, when watching any of the shows marked 'Splash' you WILL get wet!

And the Tokyo Disney Resort Times - highlighting the fun Kids Summer Adventures, happening throughout July and August.

MS Transport

Let's head back over to Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland Paris, where we can hitch a ride on several forms of new-fangled transport. But surely there is a depot where these cars and trams are located overnight?
Ah, here it is! Situated in the middle of Town Square, this beautiful brickwork building welcomes all guests and reminds us that we can take a tram to the Castle, or a bus to the Emporium.

But look a little closer - there is some fantastic detailing on the building, showing the official mark of the Main Street Transportation Company. I wonder if they sell a Multi-Journey Travel Card?

A Bull In A China Shop

I love to wander down all the Main Streets of the Disney theme park world - and when I was meandering through the original Main Street U.S.A. in California, I took a moment to enjoy this building.
The China Closet opened in Spring 1964, even though there has always been a shop selling china goods of some kind since opening day. Prior to the China Closet, there was Ruggles China and Glass Shop (in the same location).

The Closet as it stands today, is a great location to pick up some Disney figurines, or snowglobes, as well as bronze statues, ornaments and decorations.Not only the inside of the store is interesting - as outside we can see a fantastic and interesting Main Street Window! Let's take a closer look:

The Disneyland News
Edward T. Meck
Editor in Chief

After our look at the Editor in Chief at the Main Street Gazette last week, this is another fun newspaper window. Edward Meck is a Disney Legend, inducted in 1995, was a Disney publicist and joined the company shortly before the opening of Disneyland in 1955.

Meck was hired by Walt Disney to publicise and promote his new theme park, Disneyland, and he was also influential in the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971.

A truly worthwhile window for a very important person in the early success of Disneyland.

News Around Disneyland Paris

For those of you interested in the current happenings at Disneyland Paris, there has been quite a lot of news recently on possible expansions of the resort.

Earlier this week, Euro Disney S.C.A., in which the Walt Disney Company owns a 40% stake, signed a new agreement with the French Government pushing back the deadline on expansion of the resort from 2017 to 2030. The original deal, signed in March 1987, was given on the condition that Disneyland Paris (then Euro Disney) would buy pockets of land in stages and develop this land by 2017. This new extension to the contract will give the resort a longer period to build a possible third park - and it will also give an increase to the property available to develop from 1,943 hectares to 2,230 hectares.

The article over at The Telegraph gives a little more detail to this agreement. It also mentions the rumour of a new project which could be built. Entitled Les Villages Nature de Val d'Europe, it would be the first foray into residential property for Euro Disney, with sustainable development and possible holiday homes.

Interesting, nonetheless. What do you think? Do you think it would be a good idea to introduce holiday homes, or should Disneyland Paris wait and create a third unique theme park?

On a side note, Princess Fee will be in Walt Disney World for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon! If you will be around please let me know (princessfee82[at]gmail[dot]com).

Getting Our Bearings

The Newport Bay Club hotel and resort at Disneyland Paris is furnished and decorated with a thoroughly nautical theme. The outside is just as beautiful as the decor inside.

Of course, we know we are at Disneyland Paris, but the Imagineers want us to forget this the minute we step into the Newport hotel. And so, to help us get our bearings, there is a beautifully detailed map just as we enter the Resort, reminding us where we are and allowing us to forget the oustide world.

Race to the Paper

It has been a bit of a newspaper-filled week here at DF'82, so I figure why stop now? Let's head over to the Cars attraction at Walt Disney Studios, and take some time out to look at the newspaper clippings they have in the queue.

Of course, these aren't just any clippings here at Cars Quatre Roues Rallye - they are clippings from Hudson Hornet's heyday!