Monday, March 26, 2018

Disneyland Paris Update : Phantom Manor Renovation, Pirates and Princesses, Cafe Mickey, and more...



Here we go for a new Disneyland Paris update, thanks to Max, D&M contributor and DLP Welcome webmaster. Make sure to read this article till the end as D&M needs your urgent support for reasons explained HERE. Thanks!

The first news this week is the departure of DLP President Catherine Powell as the Walt Disney Company is in full reorganization to prepare the integration of 20th Century Fox, and we learn that Catherine Powell, who was president of Euro Disney since spring 2016, is leaving her DLP position  to take the lead of the « Western Region » division of the new unified « Parks, experiences and consumer Products » ( merging « Parks & Resorts » and « merchandising « divisions ) led by Bob Chapek. Catherine Powell will be able to manage the development policy of the California DLR, Florida WDW, and Disneyland Paris parks, and all the merchandising division for the United States and Europe. Many thanks to her for working on the Resort with the implementation of the multi-year investment plan from 2020 to 2026.


In the meantime, waiting for 2020 and the opening of the Marvel Land at the Walt Disney Studios Park, let’s have a look at today’s news at Disneyland Park.




By the way, talking about Marvel land, i've heard that the closure of the Rock and Roller Coaster for its transformation in an Iron Man coaster - which was rumored to happen this fall - with an opening of the new ride in Summer 2019 have been delayed. RNRC would close fall 2019 and the Iron Man ride would open mid 2020. I know it's frustrating but,  first, i'm going to double check that, and two, if true, the delay is probably due to technical issues which request more time to be resolved. As i've said in a recent update I can't give you more details for now about the Iron Man ride but those of you who think that it will be just a quick lifting are in for a big, BIG surprise. I'll go as far as to say that the Iron Man ride will be hugely popular from day one, probably as much as Space Mountain was when it opened twenty-three years ago!




Back now to DLP Magic Kingdom where the « Festival Pirates & Princesses » will start soon. No surprise, the decorations of the Spring seasons from 2015 to 2017 are back on Main Street USA. It should be noted that the locations of the Bambi, the Aristocats and the giant heart topiaries are very well chosen.






Casey's Corner facade is also currently in renovation.


Let's have a closer look to the topiaries!







On Central Plaza we find the most important change. The plaza is divided into 2 zones, the ones of Frontierland and Discoveryland. The one with the princesses have flower beds in pink and yellow and for the Pirates on the Discoveryland side we find aquatic symbols. Similarly, streetlights help to delimit areas. As for the stages, they are very well thought out and integrated.











At Adventureland, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Indiana Jones coaster are running well. The suspended bridge and a part of Adventure Isle will reopen soon after months of closure for renovation.












As you'll see in the video below, Chaparral Stage, the Theatre of « Frozen Sing-Along » and the « Forest of Enchantment: a Disney Musical adventure » is now completely destroyed before being rebuilt entirely. Apparently the new one will be totally closed, meaning that there won't be open space like on the previous one, which will allow to have the show playing whatever will be the weather and temperatures outside. But the destruction of the theatre may hide another reason and i'll try to learn more about this.








Here is Max video.



Phantom Manor is always in its long total renovation - outside and inside - and on March 22nd we could see the new roof frame on the right side of the building. In addition, the green spaces all around the manor will be totally redone, the ground is now destroyed and the pipes replaced. Objective, all to be refreshed.


























On March 23 a themed canvas saw finally put over the scaffoldings - it was about time - and probably will stay until Phantom Manor reopening mid-October ( pictures below and on top from ED92 ).










Let's have a fun tour in Autopia at Discoveryland!















To end the day, direction Disney Village where the Mickey Cafe Restaurant welcomes new visitors with the Disney characters. So, for an Italian-inspired menu at €65 (75$ with tax), you will have the pleasure of eating in the company of the characters. A joy moment to share with the family!


On our way toward the Café let's have a look at the Disney Village facades which probably will be changed entirely, as they need it,  when they'll start the placemaking in one year or so.

















nAll-right, Max will be back soon with a new update but in the meantime Disney and more need your - urgent - support, and it's no joking'!


Disney and more started 11 years ago and since April 2007, at the exception of the ads or special offers for my Disneyland Paris book, the site never had any publicity - voluntarily as just like everyone i don’t like sites with Ads everywhere - not even a “Paypal donation” button at the end of the articles, except for a very short period, years ago. Sounds cool but it also mean that the site - and so, myself - don’t live on Advertising revenues, or anything else others than the sales of the book. Unfortunately, something happened recently which put my situation in true jeopardy. So, for the first time in 11 years, i have to ask for your support.

What is happening has in fact a name and it’s called “Murphy’s law”. Murphy’s law, basically, means that “everything that can go wrong will go wrong”. We’ve all been through moments like this, when not only nothing works as it should, but every project is stopped no matter what you do or is delayed infinitely, and at the end it’s your own life which is in danger. In this case, and although I always enjoy a lot posting daily articles on Disney and more and find for you the most interesting links for this Facebook page, i learned this week that some money that i was expecting soon won’t come in before months and, as the projects i'm working on won’t also bring revenue before months, i know now that i won’t make it.

So, i find myself in an emergency situation, so truly urgent that i have to ask for your support, and God knows that i really hate to have to do this. The best way to bring your support to D&M is through a donation by directly sending directly the amount you wish to my Paypal account at: nme4@wanadoo.fr It can be any amount whether it is 10, 20 or 50 $ or €, or any amount you wish in any currency, and each donation will be rewarded by a very cool gift.

Editing: Just saw on Paypal that those of you who don't have a Paypal account can send their donation by going to: https://www.paypal.me/LITTAYE

I sincerely thank you by advance for your generosity and your comprehension.


Another way to bring your support to Disney and more is, if you don't own it yet, to order one of the last copies of the great Disneyland Paris book. The French collector edition is totally out of stock - except three copies that you can order to me, see below how to do - the ENGLISH edition will also be soon out of stock forever as 40 copies only are still available. As said before, once out of stock the book will NOT be reprinted, so i urge anyone who don't own the book and don't want to miss this fantastic book to place your order as soon as possible!

Lecteurs Français: Etant donné que l'édition française est épuisée, un fichier du texte complet original en Français sera envoyé aux acheteurs Français de l'édition anglaise ne comprenant pas l'anglais. Il me reste également trois exemplaires de l'édition collector française, état neufs et dédicacés, 300€ pièce, si intéressé me contacter à l'adresse email: amplittaye@gmail.com

To place your order for the DLP book, please send me an email at: amplittaye@gmail.com with your shipping address. The price currently is 75€ ( instead of 100€ ) and shipping worldwide is 22€ ( except Belgium and Italy for which it is 29€ ). Just like for the French edition the price will go up when we will reach the very last copies of the English edition, so order it now to enjoy the discount price.

You can pay with Paypal, credit card or bank transfer. For Paypal payments please send directly the full amount  including shipping ( 97€ worldwide, except for Belgium and Italy for which it is 104€ ) at: nme4@wanadoo.fr  If you wish to pay by credit card and bank transfer, let me know in your email and i'll tell you how to do.

Also, each order will receive two surprise gifts - actually there is more than two - and these are GREAT gifts that each DLP fan love!



Here is all you need to know about the "Disneyland Paris From Sketch to Reality" book for those who have never seen the book. First, it's a gorgeous 320 pages coffee table book with 750 pictures of the park including 250 WDI artworks, all DLP attraction posters, and dozens more of gorgeous artworks! The text by Disney historian Didier Ghez tell the story of the creation of the park from dozens of interviews of WDI Imagineers who built the park. It's also probably the best gift you can find for a Disney Parks fan - and it is true!








If you've never seen the book before, don't miss the video below showing the full 320 pages of the book!




Pictures : copyright  DLP Welcome

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