Hiatus For DF'82

It's summer holiday time here at the Royal Family - this princess is finally going off to Tokyo and will get to experience Tokyo Disneyland! Due to the volcano issues here in the UK, my trip has been changed a bit, but it is all organised now.

Due to this and the impending holiday, there will be no posts here at DF'82 for the next two weeks. I hope that you can all understand - I would much rather there be no posts here than some half hearted posts! And when I return we will visit more restaurants in Disneyland Paris, more hidden treasures and a detailed tour of the beautiful Tokyo Disneyland Resort.

Don't forget to visit the many fantastic Disney blogs on the right hand side of this page - these will keep you more than busy while I am on hiatus! Thank you again for visiting and being part of the DF'82 family.

A Manor Tomb

While we are still up at Boot Hill at the Phantom Manor, Disneyland Paris, there is a special tomb here. The tomb doesn't have a name, so we can conclude that it is the tomb of an unknown soldier, or perhaps a cowboy, seeing as we are in Frontierland. Of course, it could also be a tomb of someone or something that was to be kept hidden.
Be sure to pay close attention to the tomb as you approach - you may just hear the rumblings of someone still alive down there.... Surely not - maybe it's just our mind playing tricks on us...right?

For Life And Death

If you are in Frontierland and happen to need something for your house to hold your personal belongings, such as a cabinet or wardrobe, you can pop along to J. Nutterville Cabinet Maker.
As you can see from the sign, however, Nutterville is also an undertaker! So perhaps while you're there choosing something for your living space, you can also pick out something for the future. That's multi-tasking!

Stained Glass Windows of Beauty

It has been a long time since we stepped inside le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant in Disneyland Paris, so I thought it would be nice to take some time to appreciate the beauty of the Sleeping Beauty stained glass windows.
For those who haven't seen this before, inside the Castle at Parc Disneyland there is a second floor which details the story of Sleeping Beauty through stained glass windows, objects and tapestries. So to celebrate Hump Day let's enjoy the windows again.

The Door

One of the best known secrets in Disneyland California is the illustrious Club 33. Situated in New Orleans Square next to the Blue Bayou restaurant, this private club has been open since June 15th 1967. The name Club 33 comes from the address, 33 Royal Street. It was built alongwith the apartment above Pirates of the Caribbean (now the Dream Suite) for Walt Disney, but he died before he could see the completion.
It is very difficult to obtain a membership for Club 33 - nowadays it can still take up to a decade for membership. According to The Disneyland Encyclopedia (p111) in 2007 the joining fee was $10,000 per individual, and at least $3,000 in annual membership fees. Of course, for those of us who are unable to afford that privilege you can get a glimpse inside the entrance for the Club as part of the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour at the Disneyland park.

Be sure to visit DF'82 in the future for an exclusive review of the Club 33 experience.

Back to the Boot

Let's revist Boot Hill Cemetery at Phantom Manor, Frontierland in Disneyland Paris. This area is a fantastic hidden treasure, which I have spoken about before, and really love to visit. It is located behind Phantom Manor and gives great views of Big Thunder Mountain, and the surrounding Phanom Manor area. You can also get some lovely views of the Riverboat as it passes by the geysers.

Today we have a look at another gravestone which has clearly been on Boot Hill for several decades, judging by the state of the graves. They are as follows:

Jasper Jones

Loyal Manservant
Died 1866
"Kept the Master Happy"

Anna Jones
Faithful Chamber Maid
Died 1867
"Kept the Master Happier"

What great tongue-in-cheek humour in this g-rated Parc!

Taking a Time Out

Winter may have just finished, and spring is starting for most of us, but I thought it would be nice to have a look at the winter Times Guide and Guide Map from Disneyland Hong Kong.

Windows to Kodak

If you follow this blog regularly, you will see that I love to take photos. I would call myself an amateur photographer, focusing on all things and theming Disney especially! I love to take photos in the parks - of the surroundings, of the people I'm with, and of the attractions and shows that I'm experiencing. And when you visit a Disney park you need to be sure that you have everything with you to be ready for a day of shooting.However, at every Disney Park there will be somewhere where you can stock up on your photography supplies if you happen to forget something. And in Disneyland Paris the George Eastman Photographic Studio on Main Street USA is where you can get all your needs. Or as the shop advises, Photographic Marvels for a New Century.

George Eastman, of course, founded the Eastman Kodak company, and actually invented the roll film. Of course, Kodak are the official suppliers of the Walt Disney Theme Parks, hence the Kodak shop being here at Disneyland Paris.

And it wouldn't be a Disney store without some fantastic windows. So let's have a look at these Disney Details that add to the theming of the Photography store!

Yesmen

Last week we had a look at a couple of Main Street buildings in the home of the Disney Parks, Disneyland. Today I thought it would be nice to focus on one of the windows from these buildings - a little change from the windows of Disneyland Paris.

Let's look in more detail at the window:

Yesmen Engineering Associates

No Challenge Too Big For Our Yes Men!
We Know No "No"
Don Edgren
Chief Engineer

Don Edgren is a Disney Legend who was inducted in 2006, and was an Imagineer with the Walt Disney Company. Edgren was a professional engineer who worked on the structural design and detail of the Disneyland Park. He later became head of the field engineering efforts in Florida for Walt Disney World in 1969. Don also worked in the creation of Tokyo Disneyland in Japan.

You can read more about Don Edgren at his Disney Legends page.

A Quick Bite At the Nugget

Another restaurant that is more of an experience than a 'quick bite' is the Lucky Nugget Salon. Situated in Frontierland, this dining experience is set in a Western Saloon-style bar area and features some of your favourite Disney characters!

If you would like to eat with the Disney characters, you need to visit this restaurant between noon and 3pm for a Tex-Mex buffet, and during the high season this is also from 6pm until 10pm. Food served is the usual American-style fare, including nachos, fajitas, wings, spare ribs, pasta, pizza and many deserts. There is also a live can-can show in the Saloon, when there is no character dining.

During the low season the restaurant will be closed Thursday and Friday, and there are no 'closed' days during the high season. The character lunch and dinner can be very popular - and a little pricey (around €30) - but there is also a character tea time between 3pm and 4.30pm, which allows you cakes, pastries and deserts plus a hot and cold drink (€13 per person). The venue of the tea time can vary, so please check when you make your reservation.

Tips for the Rail Road

One of my favourite attractions in Disneyland Parc, Paris, is the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It's probably one of the most popular attractions in the park too - the queues can get quite long at times throughout the day, so I thought I would share a couple of tips from the Royal Family!

If you get to the park for opening, and rope drop, head to the hub and the entrance for Frontierland, as it is the quickest way to get to Thunder Mountain. Once the park opens officially for park guests, head straight to Big Thunder and jump on the ride. The wait shouldn't be too long at this point, as a lot of people will head to Space Mountain first or Peter Pan's Flight.

Another tip is to try and ride the Mountain at least two or three times - there is so much happening during the attraction that it's easy to miss things on the first, or second, go. Especially as Big Thunder mostly takes place on the island, it's not easy to see what's happening without experiencing the ride.

So, to make sure to ride it again, you can either grab a Fastpass as soon as you finish riding the first time, which may make your return within a couple of hours. Or, you can come back later for another Fastpass which may have a later return time. As Big Thunder is a rollercoaster, the track warms up throughout the day and can get really fast in the evening!

Let's Experience Hong Kong

It's almost the start of another week, so let's take a quick trip over to Hong Kong Disneyland and see what they can offer us for a very oriental experience!

A Wizard on Main Street

One of the most interesting books in my collection is the Little-Known Facts about Well-Known Places: Disneyland by David Hoffman. And today I thought we would take a small trip to Disneyland to have a look at one of these facts.

When the park opened in 1955, one of the original stores in Main Street U.S.A was situated between the Silhouette Shop and the China Closet - both of which exist to this day. The shop was Hollywood Maxwell Corset Shop, who was also known as the Wizard of Bras! It was changed in 1956 and now stands as a Crystal Shop.

During the same time frame, the Penny Arcade on Main Street had a shooting gallery that consisted of real-life guns with ammunition!

Enjoying A Moment...In A Bug's Land

Today we are heading over to Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, to enjoy a moment or two in the fantastic A Bug's Land. We have enjoyed a moment here before, but I thought it was about time to return, especially with all the changes coming to the park over the next few years.

A Quick Bite At Auberge

Today's quick bite is a little more upmarket than usual - and probably should be more than just a quick bite. It is the beautiful Auberge de Cendrillon situated near the Castle in Fantasyland. It is a gourmet dining experience with a French menu, in a beautiful cosy and elegant setting.

Translated as Cinderella's Country Inn, the restaurant serves elegant French country-style cuisine, making the guest feel like they are dining the in 18th century. In a way, it feels like one has stepped into the world of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Dishes include risotto, steaks, duck pate and salmon, as well as some more 'regular' dishes. There is a set menu for adults and children, and one of the best wine lists of all the Disney restaurants (Parc Disneyland is a licensed park, unlike the other Magic Kingdoms, due to the French and European culture).
The restaurant can be very busy, so it is usually a better idea to book in advance. It is opened every day during the high season, and mostly closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the quieter months. Lunch regularly stops about 4pm and dinner is served from 5.30pm.

The Details of The Sea

Let's take a trip back to Tokyo and specifically Tokyo DisneySea theme park. The Society of Explorers and Adventurers are excited that we have decided to visit again! And in the Fortress Explorations centre, we have been given this information to help us enjoy our trip to the fullest.

Setting the Groundwork

If it is your first trip to a Disney Theme Park or Resort, or even if it is your hundredth trip, it is useful to do the groundwork beforehand. To get a feel for the parks and to take a note of the things that are a 'must see' for you and your companions. Part of the reason I started this blog was to allow people who are visiting Disneyland Paris, especially those from overseas, get an idea of what they want to see and do while they are there.

As we are approaching the main holiday season, I thought I would let you know some of the books that I have found very useful in preparing for various Disneyland Paris trips. There are not many books out there, so hopefully you can find this blog just as useful!

The first book I recommend is The Brit's Guide to Disneyland Resort Paris - I have the 2006-07 edition, but the most recent edition is 2010-11. This book is fantastic, with handy tip boxes aimed at the British population but really useful for all nationalities. There are fantastic pictures throughout too! My only negative is that the dining references are mixed in with the attractions - but this may have been changed in future editions. There is also information regarding visits to Paris itself.
Another book is in a handy pocket size, and is the AA Essential Disneyland Resort Paris guide. This is one of the more basic travel books, but is handy to keep in your pocket or bag when visiting the parks. There is a great chapter on excursions to Paris, and the dining in the parks is in a separate section, along with the shopping highlights.

A book that is to be released later in the year is the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris. This one I am looking forward to, and will be reviewed once it has been released!

Leather Windows

We are back on Main Street U.S.A at Parc Disneyland, Paris, and staying near the Dapper Dan's Barber Shop, let's have a look at one of the businesses that shares a building with the barbers!
This place may come in very handy, if we buy too many souvenirs for our suitcases at Disneyland Paris. Let's look at the windows closer:

Chas. Packett and Company
Steamer Trunks - Carpet Bags - Satchels

Using the finest leathers and uplholsteries
Durable - Practical

We should be able to get a couple of extra bags to fill with our belongings to take back home!

Getting Your Bearings

It's important before you visit any Disney Resort that you investigate whereabouts everything is. Not only where things are within the Parks themselves, but where places are in relation to the Parks and the hotels that you might choose to stay in.

When you check in to a Disney hotel in Disneyland Paris, you will be given a welcome pack, which will include your room keys, your park tickets and any other vouchers you might require for dining or shows that you have booked. And on the back of your welcome envelope there will be a map showing you where some of the amenities are around the Resort, and just outside the resort too.

Enjoying a Moment...And a Hidden Treasure

Never one to miss an opportunity to show you the Hidden Treasures of our very own Disneyland Paris, today I wanted to take you to the restaurant le Auberge du Cendrillon. Just outside in the garden area is a very special spot - although I think you have to be a Princess to get a parking space like this!

It is the beautiful Cinderella's coach, where you can come and have a really good look at how Princesses travel. Of course, I already know that, so this was nothing new for me. But it is a great spot to take your own little Princes or Princesses for a photo opportunity.

Hidden In Plain Sight

Heading over to the original Disney theme park, Disneyland, let's have a look at another Hidden Treasure which is right in front of our eyes. Well, right in front of the Castle to be precise. It is a special Disneyland Time Capsule - or Castle - which was buried on July 17th 1995.


You know how this Princess loves her plaques and commemorative items! This plaque reads as follows:

Placed beneath this marker on July 17, 1995:
The Disneyland 40th Anniversary Time Castle
A "Time Castle" containing Disneyland memories, messages and milestones, lies beneath this spot. The Disneyland Time Castle is dedicated to the children of the 21st century, who may unlock its contents on the 80th Anniversary of Disneyland: July 17 2035.

Make sure you have a look for this piece of living history the next time you visit Disneyland in Anaheim. And if you would like a full list of what will be unearthed in 25 years time, please visit here.

A Quick Bite at la Marionnette

I have spoken in detail about Au Chalet de la Marionnette before, and its Pinocchio's favourite restaurant, but today let's just have a quick bite here! Situated in both Fantasyland and Adventureland, this is a fantastic counter-service restaurant, although it can get very busy during the lunch rush-hour.The restaurant serves the usual fare, such as cheeseburgers, chicken, chips (fries), salads and some German-themed desserts, such as apple strudel! It usually opens around 11:30am and will close one hour before it closes. It is scheduled to be open all year round, with no real 'low season'. There are vegetarian dishes, children's meals and the usual set-menus.
A handy tip if it is busy is to head towards the sitting area which exits onto Adventureland, as it can usually be a little quieter. If it is busy when you visit, try and pop back again at a quieter time to explore the rest of the location.