A Quick Bite...At The Gardens

On our last Royal Visit to Disneyland Paris, the Queen and I were lucky enough to dine at the Plaza Gardens restaurant. Situated just off Main Street U.S.A. in the hub, the restaurant has a similar style to the Crystal Palace in Walt Disney World.Today, let's have a quick bite at the restaurant. Although, the food is such a variety and so tasty that you may stay longer than a bite or two!

The decor of the Plaza Gardens is Victorian, continuing the outside beauty of Main Street U.S.A. indoors. There are two sides to the restaurant, and as the delivery of food is self-service, the food is also identical on both sides.Cuisine is that of an international style, with hot and cold dishes (including chicken, pies, chips/fries, pasta, hot dogs, vegetables), a great salad and cold meat selection, and some mouth-watering deserts. As the restaurant is an all-you-can eat buffet (with non-alcoholic drinks included in the price) it is a great place to grab a more substantial bite to eat without breaking the bank. Don't expect high-quality cuisine, but we thoroughly enjoyed the food here and felt that it was better than a counter-service and you could get exactly what you wanted.
I would recommend a reservation here, but you can usually get one on the day too. There is a character tea-time between 3pm and 4.30pm, and the Gardens are open from 11.30am until one hour prior to park closing.

Take A Trip

When exploring Adventureland in Disneyland Paris, keep an eye open for any interesting sights or shops. For example, at one point safaris were extremely popular in the 'Land.

La Girafe Curieus, or The Curious Giraffe, was a company that provided Safaris For All!
Nowadays, however, they appear to be part of the nearby shops and stores, selling bric-a-brac and other curios!

Enjoying A Moment...In Orleans

It's Sunday, so it must be time to have another moment in a Disney Park somewhere throughout the world...

Let's take a moment in New Orleans, Tokyo Disneyland style.

All Aboard the Carolwood!

Today's window in Main Street U.S.A. has a very special meaning. Located on the Market House Deli building, it is dedicated to a very special past-time of Walt Disney.

Carolwood Pacific
Business Office
The BIGGEST Little Railroad in the World

This is, of course, a tribute to Walt Disney's Carolwood Pacific Railroad, which was a live steam backyard railroad built by Walt in his home in the Holby Hills.

We Disney fans know how much Walt Disney loved railroads, and the Carolwood Pacific would later inspire the Railroad at Disneyland and the other Disney theme parks. The Carolwood Pacific Railroad was 797m of track, and included a 27.4m tunnel. The first journey was undertaken in May 1950, and the railroad was used to entertain Disney's family and friends that visited their home.

If you would like to know more about the Carolwood Pacific Railroad and Walt's Barn (which housed the railroad), please visit Carolwood Pacific Historical Society website.

Down to the Wash House

The great theming continues at Hotel Cheyenne, right down to the long-johns that the guests are wearing. No, not in that way! But in the way that you wash those long-johns.
Yes, the laundry area in the Resort is themed like a Wild West Wash House! Even the area to collect your ice and drinks is themed to perfection. Wash 'em, cowboys!

Further Tailoring Details

Continuing from yesterday's post of the Disney Details of Sir Mickey's Boutique in Fantasyland, there is even more to look at if you look deep enough.

For example, around the shop area there are windows to the beautiful Castle in various seasons of the year. Complete with tailoring accessories.

Details of Tailoring

We have visited Sir Mickey's Boutique previously here at DF'82. And today we will head back to Fantasyland to spend some more time in this shop.As we have seen the beanstalk outside the shop, we can see that it has really got out of control, taking over part of the shop inside!But the shop also has some links to the Brave Little Tailor, and to the nearby Cinderella restaurant, with little tailoring threads, needles and other tools scattered throughout.
And even carved into the decor.

Read All About It!

Don't forget to pick up your latest copy of the Cheyenne Daily Sun, especially the illustrated edition.At only 10 cents, it really is a great read.

Tilyou Appear At Main Street

In Disneyland Paris, on Main Street U.S.A., it is not just the windows that are dedicated to people who have been heavily involved in the birth, creation and development of the Disney Theme Parks. Some of the buildings also have some 'hidden' connections behind them. There are even some that are named after persons who have nothing to do directly with Disney.

For example, mid-way along Main Street we have the Tilyou Building, built in 1888.
This could be a reference to the little-known George Tilyou, a New Yorker who helped develop the concept of amusement parks (which Walt Disney would later use to make his own theme parks). With what started as a Ferris Wheel on Coney Island, Tilyou created the first enclosed amusement park in the ocean-front area, Steeplechase Park.
It is possible that Tilyou's concept helped influence Walt Disney indirectly, but either way this is a fantastic hidden treasure of a tribute!

Enjoying a Moment... Step Back In Time

Let's step into our TARDIS and head back in time. Only to May 2010, but we need to use our imagination for the rest.

Imagine heading back to the heydays of Main Street U.S.A. and World Bazaar, and enjoy a moment in Tokyo Disneyland.

Carving in the Wall

The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs attraction at Disneyland Paris is situated in Fantasyland, similar to its sister-attractions throughout the other parks.

As Fantasyland in Paris has been themed like a fantastical medieval village, blending in with le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant, many of the attractions are situated in stone buildings. Such as Blanche Neige et les Sept Nains. Thus showing a beautiful stone carving into the wall, above the entrance.Continuing the Disney Details we see so much of in Paris, even the 'waiting time' sign has some beautiful carvings on the top.

Power Points

Buzz Lightyear understands that it takes a lot of electricity for his Space Ranger attraction in Discoveryland. So he makes sure the ride vehicles are always fully charged, by keeping a plug-point handy at the Fast Pass entrance.

Stick 'Em Up

The theming at Disney's Hotel Cheyenne in Disneyland Paris is superb. Such as the town's local bank, situated on a busy thoroughfare.Right down to the fantastic 'Wanted' sign posted next to the entrance:

WANTED
Dead or Alive for
Forgery & Fraudulent Representation of an Entire Town

Never Smile At Windvanes

The Peter Pan attraction in Disneyland Paris has some great 'always look up' moments, such as the beautiful windvanes of the Crocodile and Captain Hook's infamous ship.

The Details in the Wallpaper

DF'82 has spent a lot of time - and had a lot of fun - over at Disney's Hotel Cheyenne. And when you are lucky enough to stay in a Disney resort, no matter which "world" it may be in, the Disney Details can be overlooked. Especially when you head back to your hotel, anxious for a place to lie your head and to get ready for the next day.

So, details like the wallpaper are very easy to accidentally ignore. But not if you visit with DF'82! Let's have a look at some throughout the rooms and the resort.And the carpet isn't bad either.

Enjoying a Moment...With Cinderella

It's Sunday, so it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy a moment in Fantasyland, Tokyo. And enjoy looking at the beautiful Cinderella Fountain.

Experiencing A Little Phantom

Halloween may have past a few weeks ago, but I don't think we need an excuse to visit the Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris, and a chance to explore the grounds.

The entrance to the Manor welcomes us, but warns us that the scenes may frighten 'les plus jeunes', or young children!
The queue area winds around the grounds of the Phantom Manor, passing the gazebo and the pond area, which seems eerily empty.And once we reach the Manor itself, we can have a look at the beautiful Manor grounds.

A Quick Bite At...Cafe des Cascadeurs

It's been a while since we had a bite to eat at Disneyland Paris, so today we are going to head to the Walt Disney Studios and grab a quick bite at Cafe des Cascadeurs.
This restaurant is hidden away in the Backlot of the Studios. It is a mainly Tex-Mex and American style restaurant, set up like a fun American Diner, with booths and outside chairs and tables. The story behind the restaurant, is that it is situated in a backlot where stuntmen and women from the nearby 'Lights Moteurs' Stuntshow stop by for a bite to eat between takes.

Let's have a look at the menu:
Great burgers are on this informal menu, along with hot dogs and salads. Looks like there is something for (almost) everyone!
The Cafe can be closed seasonally, and is open for lunch and dinner. It is suitable for kids, but please double check if there are any vegetarian options.

Food for Thought

Have you wondered where the restaurants at Disneyland Paris get their vegetables from? Perhaps from a local greengrocer or farm.

Or perhaps they just ask Mickey for some fresh vegetables from his garden, near Sir Mickey's Boutique in Fantasyland.

Mail Drop

We spent a great week at Disney's Hotel Cheyenne last week, but there is still more to see if you can believe it! When staying on Disney property, there are plenty of services available to us. For example, we all like to send postcards home to our friends and family to make them jealous of our trip. And Disney cater to this, by having different post boxes scattered in the parks and in the resorts.

They even make these post boxes themed - like in the Hotel Cheyenne. Have a look at this fantastic place to post the mail.

Is The Doctor In?

Looking at the windows on Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland Paris, we find a fantastic window situated above the Main Street Delicatessen.

The window in more detail, reads:

Doctors Office
Robt Sherwood M.D.
General Medicine and Surgery

What a fun window! Robert Sherwood was the architect of the Snow White Cottages, where Walt Disney had his first studio (at the corner of Hyperion and Griffith Park Blvd). He was also the first person to commission Walt to draw his horse for 25 cents.

Great Disney Detail!

Being Goofy in Paris

The details in the shops throughout Disneyland Paris are fantastic. There are many times when it is cold outside, or the attractions are busy, that taking some time to go through the different shops and explore them is just as fun!

Take, for example, Sir Mickey's Boutique, situated behind le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant in Fantasyland.We'll explore this shop in more depth, in the future, but for now let's take some time to enjoy Goofy being a little, well, Goofy in the shop!