Enjoying a Moment...In The Land of Stories

After our previous look at Le Pays des Contes de Fees, I thought today we would enjoy a slightly colourful moment at the loading area for these beautiful storybook boats!

Happy Sunday to all!

Remembering DCA

With all the changes to Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, the park will look like a completely different park by this time next year.

So let's take a trip in the time machine and visit the park pre-construction, to have a look at the plaque situated in front of the Sunshine Plaza (and you know how DF'82 loves plaques in the different Disney Parks!).

To all who believe in the power of dreams...welcome!

Disney's California Adventure opens its golden gates to you.

Here we pay tribute to the dreamers of the past...the native people, explorers, immigrants, aviators, entrepreneurs and entertainers who built the Golden State.

And we salute a new generation of dreamers who are creating the wonders of tomorrow...from the silver screen to the computer screen... from the fertile farmlands to the far reaches of space. Disney's California Adventure celebrates the richness and diversity of California... its land, it's people, its spirit and, above all, the dreams that it continues to inspire.

Michael D. Eisner

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

The Walt Disney Company

February 8, 2001

Then And Now...in the Studios

It's always interesting to take a look at what used to be in the Disney Parks, and today DF'82 will have a brief look at a Then and Now involving one of the more hidden quick-service restaurants in Walt Disney Studios.

The Backlot Express Restaurant, situated near the Rock N' Rollercoaster, used to be described as a 'props dump', full of every piece of prop that the Studios needed to keep in storage for possible future use.

This is as it used to look.

Now, it is largely themed around Pirates of the Caribbean (in one end of the restaurant) and High School Musical (and the Wildcats) in the main part of the restaurant.

While I like the new theming, the old theming was much more interesting for a Disney Geek like myself, and is sorely missed. But what about you - do you think the new theming is better for all guests, or is it solely aimed at the 'youth' guest?

The Goofiest House in Tokyo

Tokyo Disneyland is one of the most impressive Disney theme parks this Princess has ever had the luck to visit. And when you visit Toontown, you will be created with Mickey and Friends' Tokyo places of residence.

Be sure to pop by Goofy's House, to see just how Goofy this dog can be!

And did you notice some very interesting details in the fence surrounding the house?

Now that's impressive! Gawrsh!

Chugging Along Choo-Choo

Last week we had a brief look at the beautiful boat ride through storybook land, and today we look at the neighbour to Le Pays, Casey Jr 'Le petit train du cirque'. Well, we look at the sign to Casey Jr's Circus Train.

Look at the Disney Details of this sign, how the train-signals are welcoming us to experience this fun attraction!

Greetings from the Springs

To celebrate the release of Cars 2 in the UK on Friday, we're going to head over to our very own mini-Radiator Springs in Walt Disney Studios in Paris.

We have reached the Gateway to the Ornament Valley.

And even Ramone is getting in on the welcoming, with one of his customised bonnets (or 'hoods', as they are known in Radiator Springs).

And finally, don't forget to pick up some curios to remind you of your time in this fantastic piece of Route 66.

Beware The Dead End

One of the worst things about journeying through unknown territory is the possibility of reaching a point of no return, or a dead end. Of course, the Big Thunder Mining Company must have many dead ends, due to the wide reach of their mining opportunities.

But be careful when you experience Big Thunder Mountain, just in case you do happen to take a wrong turn and reach a dead end.

This one might give you a wet landing into the Rivers of America!

Enjoying a Moment...Pointing

In honour of our and our readers' loves of Point Photos, today we will enjoy a moment at my most favourite Point Photo of them all!

Journey Through Fairytales

There is a small area of Fantasyland in Disneyland Paris, which is hidden almost at the back of the land and the Parc. It is a beautiful area which holds two fantastic family attractions: Casey Jr - le Petit Train du Cirque (Casey Jr's Circus Train) and le Pays des Contes de Fées.

The latter is a beautiful boat ride through Storybookland. We had a look at the ride itself briefly here at DF'82 before, but I wanted to head back over to have a look at the beauty of the actual loading/docking area.

As with all Disney Details, even the area we board the boats have colourful, fairytale-like colours and designs.

With the boats looking like they just came out of a storybook as well!

And the sign for the attraction, itself a book, placed high on children's building blocks.

As we always say here in DF'82, take time to look all around you if you can when you visit a Disney Park. It's all there as a feast for the eyes!
We will visit le Pays in future posts, as I think the entire ride is something to really enjoy.

Pointing It Out

It's been a while since we saw any Point Photos from the Disneyland Paris park - so today, DF'82 is going to point out to you another one...

Can you guess where this Point Photo is pointing the way to? It's pointing towards Frontierland and all the wonders the old West holds for us!

Hide and Seek in Tokyo

One of the many highlights of Tokyo Disneyland is the relatively new Monsters Inc. attraction, Ride and Go Seek. situated in Tomorrowland.

The concept of the attraction is to journey through the Monsters Inc. factory and play some "Flashlight tag" with the various monsters of Monstropolis!

And if you look carefully, you can see that the logo of "We Scare Because We Care" has been changed to "It's Laughter We're After"!

It is a great dark ride, and on my last visit to Tokyo it had recently been re-opened after a small refurbishment. Which is why, the wait for the Fastpass looked like this:

Yes, folks, that would be the wait for the Fastpass machines only! Not the attraction itself, which - as you can see - was 210 minutes at 8.30am (the park opened at 8am).

But it was all worth it! Even the Fastpass machines are a sight to behold - as is everything else in Tokyo.

The attraction is great fun, although it does require guest participation. And it introduces us to a new character called Rocky!

What About My Horse?

If you are a weary cowboy, or girl, and travelled very far on horseback to visit Disney's Hotel Cheyenne, you may need to find somewhere to let your horse have a good night's rest. And a drink of water, or two, to get back on form for the eventual journey home.

Don't worry, Disney have thought of everything! And here, in the Hotel Cheyenne's courtyard, they have an area you can leave your horses to rest.

Yahoo!

Fancy A Spot of Tea?

Maybe it's the British in me, but there is always time for a cup of tea!

So you can imagine my joy when, on my last visit to Disneyland Paris, this beautiful topiary has been 'growing' at the exit to Alice's Curious Labrynth.

Marvellous! Hopefully by our next visit, it will be fully grown and ready for tea all round.

Not Just For Ambulances

Radiator Springs has just the ticket if you need to visit a hospital, or a doctor. Their Medical Centre is ready and waiting for all your oil, engine and gas needs! Do you notice some great Disney Details on their medical symbol?

Enjoying A Moment...All Mine Mine Mine

It's a Sunday, and it's time to relax, and imagine we are all visiting Epcot in Walt Disney World. We are just about to enter The Seas with Nemo & Friends, but we hear some seagulls overhead.

Wait a minute, they're not overhead - they are right in front of us!

I also wanted to point out to all the loyal DF'82 readers of this fantastic article by Ryan over at the Main Street Gazette. You all probably visit his blog daily, but this is a great window-related article from the Magic Kingdom. Thanks, Ryan!

Slink Away

We looked at the entrance to Slinky Dog's ZigZag Spin earlier in the week, and today we head back to have a look at the outside of the attraction.

As we are all the size of toys in Toy Story Playland, Walt Disney Studios, when we visit the ZigZag spin, we are entering a Collector's Edition of the Slinky Dog!

Collector's Edition Slinky Dog

by James Industries

See him Zigzag

See him Spin

Round n' Round

Don't Be Late!

If you are exploring Fantasyland in Parc Disneyland, Paris, be sure to look out for a White Rabbit.

And whatever you do, be sure to get out of his way. I have a feeling he might be late!

Vinylmation in Asia

Let's head over to Japan and have a look at one of the newest trading features to hit the shores there: Vinylmation!

Whilst Pin Trading was stopped due to the over-excitement of guests in the parks, Vinylmation has been introduced in Tokyo Disneyland and throughout the Disney Stores in Japan. I am not sure if there is the same trading aspect (I somehow doubt it), this leaflet introduces us to the small figures which are increasing in popularity in the US theme parks.

Logs in Playland

One of the most exciting places to explore in Walt Disney Studios, Paris, is Toy Story Playland. The detail that has gone into the area is fantastic for a Disney Geek like myself. And it is also a place that all guests can appreciate and enjoy without needing to notice every detail!

One detail,  however, that may be overlooked by a lot of guests is the entrance to Slinky Dog ZigZag Spin:

As you can see, the imagineers managed to gather some Lincoln Logs to welcome us to Slinky Dog's attraction! Great detailing, although unfortunately Lincoln Logs are not widely known, or available, in Europe.

Blast From The Past

If you are an avid reader of DF'82, I hope you will remember that one of our mottos here is to Always Look Up. And if you have visited Disney's California Adventure in the past few years, you may have noticed this sign on the way to the Hollywood Tower Hotel:

This sign will be recognisable to all Disney aficionados as the sign from the original Disney Studios, Hyperion Studios (as you can see below).

A great piece of imagineering, and it will be interesting to see if it is still there after the refurbishment of Disney's California Adventure over the next few years.

Photos All Round

We've had a nice summer break here at DF'82, and so we start up again by visiting Tokyo Disneyland and their fantastic Westernland area.

I don't know about you, but I definitely enjoy getting my photo taken professionally. And when you are in Westernland, I know the very place to drop by!

Above the Trading Post we can visit the Westernland Photographer:

Fine Quality

Fine Likeness

Excellent!

And if you look carefully, you can also see that the Trading Post itself is the place to go for all your photo needs during your visit to Tokyo Disneyland.

Enjoying a Moment...

With the summer holidays officially starting in Scotland, and tomorrow being the 4th of July, this is going to be the last post on DF'82 until Monday 11th July. Even the Royal Family needs some more time off!

To commence this small break, let's enjoy a moment as we enter the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World. Happy 4th of July to those who celebrate it!

I'm A Lady

Although there are probably plenty of Disney blogs that have looked at the windows of Walt Disney World, and Disneyland, DF'82 still enjoys visiting these windows of their Main Street U.S.A.. Every now and then we will pop over to our American neighbours and have a look at what their windows have to offer!

For example, today we are visiting the original Main Street U.S.A. and happen to need some lady fashions...

Look no further than:

Milady Fashions Renie

Dressmaking

Hemstitching

& Picoting

Beautiful!

Chamber of Car-merce

Over in Radiator Springs, Walt Disney Studios, we can see the Radiator Springs Chamber of Commerce wall of fame, of sorts.

Founded in 1909, these are just a couple of the 'Springs most famous citizens.