Friday, 25 February 2011

This Princess is Off!

DF'82 will take a short break, just for a week, as this Princess is off to join thousands of other Princesses (and Princes!) to run in the honorable Princess Half Marathon.
We will see you again next week!

Thursday, 24 February 2011

A Vision in Japan

We are heading over to Tokyo Disneyland to have a look at another fantastic window in the park. This one is situated near the entrance to World Bazaar:

You've Got the Vision
We've Got the Team

Visionary Management
Jim Cora
Proprietor

You Bring the Project
We'll Build Your Dream

Do you remember Dr Jim Cora, perhaps? Maybe this post will refresh your memory. We have met Jim Cora in Disneyland Paris, also!
Jim Cora helped create Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, and is perhaps one of the most famous Disney Legends amongst Disney Theme Park Fans.

Wednesday, 23 February 2011

Dining With Royalty

On my most recent trip to Disneyland Paris, I was lucky enough to experience lunch at Auberge de Cendrillon, situated in Fantasyland. Although it is quite an expensive menu (€59,20 for adults, €24,80 for children), it does include several courses, and as much bread and drink (alcohol, for adults) as you wish.
In the future, we will have a look at more detail at the restaurant itself, but I wanted to share with you all the delicious and different food that was available! When you enter the restaurant you are met by the beautiful Cinderella. You, and your party, get to spend some time with the Princess and have a photograph, before being shown to your table. The menu is as follows (click to enlarge):
As you sit to peruse the menu, you are greeted with the Prince's Cocktail (a delicious alcoholic cocktail with mixed fruit juices), an 'amuse bouche' and a basket of bread. Remember, this is France - the bread is beautiful!Once the cocktail has been devoured, and your main course order has been taken, we are given 'The Three Fairies' Delicacies', which feature fois gras, smoked salmon, and duck breast and green lentils.My choice for main course was the Medallion of veal with morel mushroom sauce. It also came with seasonal vegetables and Anna potatoes. The other choices included a salmon dish, rack of lamb and then - my personal favourite title - Once Upon a Time There Were Some Very Special Vegetables. Priceless!The dish of veal was delicious - I had requested it to be well-done (a general rule in France is that all meat is cooked medium-rare) with the sauce on the side. And that was exactly what I got! The potatoes were lovely cut, and the vegetables were a lovely mix, also.

Once we finished our main, our desert arrived - Cinderella's Delight! A picture tells a thousand words...
I then finished my Royal Meal with a nice spot of tea. Look at the chinaware closely.Throughout your dining experience at l'Auberge, several Princes and Princesses visit, and spend time with you and your fellow diners. We were lucky to meet Ariel, Beauty and her Prince, Aurora and Prince Philip, and Suzy and Perla. As the restaurant is set out in such a way that it is never too difficult to meet the characters, we did get to meet them all twice.Although I would say the meal is quite expensive, it was worth it, especially if you want to be able to meet the Princesses and Princes in a much quieter and intimate surrounding. I would suggest that if you are lucky enough to visit Disneyland Paris, take your time to visit this restaurant and appreciate the food and drink.

I would definitely go again, and make this my only main dining experience!

Tuesday, 22 February 2011

Tomorrow's Posters Today

We love us some posters, here at DF'82. And today, we'll have a look at a couple of Tomorrowland's current star attractions!

Monday, 21 February 2011

The Little Puppets' Room

We have looked at the fantastic toilet signage close to Au Chalet de la Marionette in Disneyland Paris before. But how do you find your way to these bathrooms?

Ah, there we are! Fantastic detailing, yet again.

Sunday, 20 February 2011

Enjoying a Moment...Tokyo Style

Let's enjoy a moment in Tokyo Disneyland, in front of Cinderella's Castle, watching the world pass us by...

Cinderella's Castle, Tokyo Style

Saturday, 19 February 2011

Enter The Cave of Wonder

It's always fun to revist attractions here at DF'82, and today we are going to head back over to Adventureland in Disneyland Paris to see one of our favourites.
That's right, it's Aladdin's Enchanted Passage! A chance to enter into the world of Aladdin and experience the story of his journey and the magic lamp. And the genie, of course!

There are some beautiful scenes throughout this walkthru attraction (all of which can be quite hard to photograph and really should be experience in person). Just don't forget to say the magic word (as per the Genie!).Due to the fact this is a walkthru attraction, there is never a wait or alot of people waiting to pass through. It is a great experience with some fantastic effects scattered throughout!We'll see you there, Genie!

Friday, 18 February 2011

He-llooooo Wha-aaale

If you are in the Walt Disney Studios in Paris, and fancy a stop of Whale Watching (Dory style), don't forget to drop by Crush's Coaster.
As you can see, you can get several different types of cruises for Whale Watching, group rates and perhaps a special charter!

Thursday, 17 February 2011

Stop Traffic

Whilst you wait for some Hertz transportation to take you from Town Square on Main Street U.S.A. to le Chateau, you can have a seat on a lovely bench.
As you can see, this advert is for the fantastic Hertz 'DRIVEURSELF SYSTEM' of motor vehicle transportation. Which is now available through their 'Automobile Rental'.
And be sure to recognise where the waiting stop is, look out for the bench and the sign which highlights the One-Way Transportation to Central Plaza.

Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Details From the West

Even walking through the corridors and the stairwells of Disney's Hotel Cheyenne in Disneyland Paris, you can see the depths of the details placed by the Imagineers. It's more Wild West than the West itself!

Tuesday, 15 February 2011

Fastpass Your Way

If you have visited any of the Disney theme parks before, you will be aware of the Fastpass system that is in place. It basically allows you, through use of your park ticket, to ensure that you will be able to ride or experience an attraction at a later time, with less of a wait than if you waited in line right now.

It can be a great timesaver, especially if you are with a large group of people or have small children. Fastpasses are available at all the Disney Parks worldwide, but the system in Paris is a little different. Can you notice it?Yes, you only have a half-hour amount of time to come back to your attraction compared to the hour at other theme parks. This doesn't make too much difference, but in my opinion it does mean you can be waiting a little longer in the Fastpass line than you would like.
My tip for any first-timers visiting Disneyland Paris - make sure to properly read your Fastpass time. And another unofficial tip, if you are slightly after your allocated time, they will usually allow you to ride the attraction anyway. Just be polite and apologetic.

Monday, 14 February 2011

Welcome to the Family

Another of DF'82's obsessions is dedication plaques in the Disney parks. I love to see this little piece of history in all the parks, whether it is a main plaque or a window!Once you pass through World Bazaar in Tokyo Disneyland, you are greeted with the beautiful and spacious hub area, where Cinderella's Castle is situated. You will also meet the dedication plaque to the park, and the infamous Partners statue.

The dedication plaque reads as follows:
To All Who Come To This Happy Place WELCOME
Here you will discover enchanted lands of Fantasy and Adventure, Yesterday and Tomorrow. May Tokyo Disneyland be an eternal source of Joy, Laughter, Inspiration and Imagination to the people of the world.
And may this magical kingdom be an enduring symbol of the spirit of cooperation and friendship between the great nations of Japan and the United States of America.
April 15 1983
E. Cardon Walker
Chairman of the Board,
Walt Disney Productions

Alongside the plaque is the same dedication in Japanese.
We can then look at the Partners' statue's dedication:
"Partners"
Walt Disney & Mickey Mouse
in Celebration of 15 Years of Sharing Happiness, Wonder and Inspiration, the cast of
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
presents this gift to
TOKYO DISNEYLAND
in Friendship and Appreciation
April 15, 1998

I love these pieces of history, highlighting the friendship between the Disney Parks and Company in the USA with it's 'sister' in Japan. It really highlights the Disney Family on so many levels!

Arigato Gozimaste!

Sunday, 13 February 2011

Enjoying a Moment...

Today's Moment is courtesy, again, of the Teacups in Fantasyland. One of my favourite places!

Panoramic Teacups

You'll all be happy to know that business will officially resume here at DF'82. It's been a bit sporadic, but thank you for staying loyal!

Thursday, 10 February 2011

Music to Our (Mouse) Ears

A recent visit to the Windows of Main Street U.S.A. introduced us to the All-American Sporting Goods' Store, and the story behind the Doubleday Building.Looking back to another post from January last year, we can see yet again how the Doubleday Building is definitely named after the famous Abner Doubleday and his "invention" of the sport of baseball. I wanted to re-visit this here at DF'82, to highlight the relationship between the Music Hall and the Doubleday Building.
Take Me Out To The Ballgame for sure!

Tuesday, 1 February 2011

Time to Visit Tokyo

Today, let's take a look at some of the last year's Tokyo Disney Times magazines!

For example, from when this princess was lucky enough to visit, the Easter edition of the magazine. Doesn't it look crazy?And the most recent magazine, the Disney Christmas edition of the Tokyo Disney Times. Sugoi!
Due to a small trip to Disneyland Paris - in the name of research, of course - DF'82 is going to take a small break for a week or so. We will be back with you on the 10th February, fresh as a daisy and ready to roll into the rest of 2011 with Disneyland Paris, Tokyo and the rest of the Disney Worlds' Hidden Treasures!