There we go for a new Disneyland Paris update thanks to Max Fan, D&M contributor and DLRP Welcome web master who come back with the latest pics of the Ratatouille ride works. But before going to the Walt Disney Studios some short news about DLP Magic Kingdom.
According to Max, when he was at the park a few days ago the Frontierland Depot train station was closed with a sign saying that all departures of the DLP Railroad were done from the Main Street Station.
The most surprising is that the trains were doing all the stops, i.e that you could go down at Frontierland Depot but not get in the train as apparently there was no cast members in the station. please, don't tell me that it's to save money... specially considering that we are mid-August in the middle of the summer vacation season...
But, wait, there is worst. The same day Big Thunder Mountain and Space Mountain were closed from park opening at 10 a.m until 1 p.m. Of course, the guests rushed when the two rides re-opened but there was a 90 min wait at BTM and 1 h 40 min at Space Mountain. And Max also mention that WDS Rock and Roller Coaster had to be evacuated at 10.20 a.m the same morning for a ride breakdown.
At noon on the same day Space Mountain, Big Thunder and Indiana Jones Temple of Peril were closed for breakdown - i.e the three roller coasters of the park! - and, by checking the DLP mobile App, Max realized that Pirates of Caribbean has been also closed for several hours. It seems that breakdowns are happening a bit too often recently and although it's possible to have a day where everything goes wrong i think DLP must really do something to prevent this kind of problem to happen. Having four major rides, including the three coasters attraction in breakdown in the middle of the vacation season is just ridiculous, isn't it?
By the way, some DLP fans who are really upset by the situation created a petition with an open letter that they intend to send to Bob Iger once the 5000 signatures will be reached. They almost have the number of needed signatures but still need a few hundred more and you can read the letter and sign electronically the petition by going HERE. Not sure that the petition will change a lot of things but it's worth to try.
In the "maintenance and refurbishing section" some cobblestones are on the way to be changed in Main Street U.S.A...
...and the new Armaggedon sign at the WDS is now in place.
One last stop with a look at the refurb on the Disney Village entrance. If you remind my previous update the column at the entrance were in really bad condition. They look now brand new, or almost. Below a picture showing how they looked before...
...and how it looks now. Still some works to do on some of them, apparently.
That's all for this DLP update and I remind you that the Disneyland Paris book - in which you have the whole park in 320 pages with 750 photos including 250 WDI renderings - is still available but that unfortunately there is now less than TEN copies of the Disneyland Paris From Sketch to Reality book available in its ENGLISH collector's edition - the FRENCH edition is also available - so if you don't own the book yet, it's really now or never!
Okay, it's more than time to have a look at the works on the Ratatouille ride, so here are the latest pics. Thanks God, this year the summer in france is a real one, meaning that it's hot, which is always good when you have some painting works as of course the painting dry quickly. For the workers, though, the heat is of course less agreeable but in three months the winter temperatures will be back so i suppose it's a bit a rush to end the facades theming before the winter arrive.
After shooting pictures from the top of the TSP Parachute Drop ride Max shot others pics "from the ground" from what will be the entrance to the Ratatouille area for the guests coming from Toy Story Playland. What you see in the foreground is what will be the merchandise shop of the new Parisian area, under the red canvas.The metallic structures on the ground will be used to support the fake facades.
One last stop with a look at the refurb on the Disney Village entrance. If you remind my previous update the column at the entrance were in really bad condition. They look now brand new, or almost. Below a picture showing how they looked before...
...and how it looks now. Still some works to do on some of them, apparently.
That's all for this DLP update and I remind you that the Disneyland Paris book - in which you have the whole park in 320 pages with 750 photos including 250 WDI renderings - is still available but that unfortunately there is now less than TEN copies of the Disneyland Paris From Sketch to Reality book available in its ENGLISH collector's edition - the FRENCH edition is also available - so if you don't own the book yet, it's really now or never!
And there is a special price right now with a $45 / 40€ discount on the normal price, so order your collector copy while there is still copies available as it's really the last english collector copies. You'll find below a one click Paypal button as well as a video showing the whole book. Also, you can have more infos about this gorgeous 320 pages book HERE.
Click on the image below to jump to the book presentation.
Picture: copyright Max Fan - DLRP Welcome
9 comments:
I've just signed the petition and I agree with everything that is written in it, and I would even add that not a single new relevant attraction was built on Disneyland Park Paris since the opening of Space Mountain in 1995!
It's unbelievable that Disney is putting so much effort into building new Parks, Resorts, Cruise ships... but is neglecting their most beautiful Magic Kingdom in an extremely important continent!
wow.. that first bit of news is almost.. disturbing.
When I was there in the weekend of the 27th of july everything was running quite well.. all stations were taking passengers. Space mountain was down twice during the weekend and big thunder once. Both times for about 1,5 hour. Not perfect but other then that things ran smooth.
But I did miss the shows and night time parade.. normally I could easily fill 3 days with the two parks but now we were really looking around for things to do on day three...
Strangely enough I even remeber those first years of Disneyland Paris when just the one park was even enough to keep us occupied for three days, with all the shows and parades going on.. (and no fast pass)
I really hope the WDW will step in here and take over. It's not just a need for something new in the Disneyland park, it really is about a quality injection they need.
On the plus I must say that in my experience the cast members where doing a better job, friendly and smiling!
What I missed the most ;
The Tarzan show
The main street electrical parade
and..
though I LOVE the new Dreams show.. I miss Tink flying up to the castle.. one of the best moments ever! (untill I went to Disneyland Anaheim and saw the flight pattern of Tink there.. WOW)
I am still curious on the article you were going to do on the news that the WDW company told DLRP that no new investments will be made after Ratatouille opens.
I too can complain about the state of DLRP, however, let's not forget that a lot has been done recently:
The pirate ship was replaced.
The castle was re-painted.
The dragon was refurbished.
BTM was re-painted.
Pavements outside finally repaired.
Hotels being refurbished.
New Ratatouille ride/area is being built (remember, it's an E-ticket).
Pirates had many repairs done.
Much of Main Street was repainted.
That ugly disused outdoor amphitheatre (next to the castle) was removed.
New paving throughout the park.
The Nautilus (outside bit) was refurbished.
Swiss treehouse was refurbished.
The new laser/fountain show in front of the castle was installed (practically an E-ticket!).
The Villages Nature water park thing is being built.
So a lot of stuff has been done, and next year we're getting a new E-ticket. Imagine how bad things would be if these recent things hadn't occurred!
I see things positively. The debt problem may be heading towards being solved thanks to the Americans stepping in. Plus, Disney has bought some great IP recently (Marvel, Lucasfilm), for which it will want a return. I have faith that the WDC will do something brilliant with DLRP, even if it takes 10 years.
And remember, despite everything, DLRP remains the #1 most visited theme park in Europe (5th in the world)! That's no small achievement. And I know we Disney fans often criticise the WDS park, but look at the numbers. Since 2008 the visitor numbers to that park have almost doubled (2.6 million to 4.8 million). That's incredible, who would have seen that coming?
What is more, WDC is making changes to the management of EuroDisney -- something BADLY needed.
There are many things to appreciate, and there are many ways DLRP can be a success! I'm positive about the future!
Alfred
So the Big Thunder ghosts have taken over the Thunder Mesa Train Station I'm reading here.
Is OLC really thinking of investing in Paris Disneyland? That would be great by the way they run their Tokyo Disneyland resort.
Thanks for the DLP update, Really sad with the present condition of such a beautiful park, but was so dishearten by our last visit last year that I wouldn't be visiting until TWDC do some major work. In the 3 years since we were at WDW there have been many new and improved things - compared to just dreams at DLP (dreams is great but thats all there is) The difference between how WDW and DLP treat there fans amazes me, look at the details for the Dwarfs Mine Ride that has been released officially compared to just the leaks from DLP for Ratatoulille....
Thanks for the update, wonder how long it will be before we get to know if TWDC has got a masterplan?
Alain
I think it is easy to focus on the negative at DLP but I there has been a lot to celebrate over recent years but we fans always want more understandably.
One thought on the DLR. I wonder is this is actually a way to improve capacity and guest satisfaction. It is difficult to control capacity and give a view on wait times when guest can board at any station. If guests only board at Main Street they can assume they can load a full train at Main Street. They have been operating like this up to 12pm for some time. So this could be just a way to expand capacity especially when you consider the additional time taken by time taken to operate the new doors on the train. So I don't view it as a way to cut costs but a way to improve guest satisfaction. For existing fans it is a visible change from a mode of transportation to a ride.
I recently visited Disneyland Paris,
The actual Disneyland Park was in a really beautiful condition: The overall standard and presentation was really beautiful.
The main issues that I found were in the Studios Park and the Disney Village.
Firstly the Studios does need a major overhaul.
The loose theme of backlot/sets and fantasy worlds really could come together better.
The Studio 1 entrance really needs to be replaced with the Sunset Boulevard entrance in Hollywood Studios; It just lacks that Main Street feel.
This could easily be done by extending the street all the way up to the Studio Tram Tour.
The Tower of Terror could then be made to look as if it is off the boulevard (similarly to Chateau Marmont in Hollywood) with more planting and a ramshackle, abandoned garden.
The whole area could then become a 1940's Hollywoodland.
The street could then breakaway into a Route 66/Americana themed area to the left (incorporating Rock 'n' Rollercoaster and a re-themed stunt show. Which could leave possible room for Cars Land style attractions.
Whereas on the right the Toon Studio idea could be enhanced to look less thrown together.
The Flying Carpets could move into a more central location and the Crush's Coaster building could have a much better overlay.
The Toy Story/ Ratatouille area could then be a more heavily themed Pixar Place to tie the areas into one whole.
The park is also in need of an icon. Maybe the Carthay Circle theatre could grace the end of the new Sunset Boulevard similarly to Buena Vista street in California Adventure.
You can just imagine the Hollywood searchlights in the sky.
We do need to remember though that DIsney did intend to build a much larger studios park. It was just due to lack of funds that the park was downsized.
So hopefully now they may be thinking of bringing back some of the original ideas.
The park has some brilliance, don't have me wrong (the Tower of Terror's attention to detail is superb) it just all needs that all-encompassing Disney magic to be applied to it.
The Disney Village could also do with a complete demolition.
The Gehry designed powerhouse theme is completely lost now and all the buildings just have an overly 80's/90's look to them.
It completely lacks the nostalgia and Disney style.
The new World of Disney store has this, but is lost in the sea of rather tired buildings that surround it.
It needs an energy. During the daytime it feels more like a tunnel between the parks and Lake Disney hotels rather than a vibrant quarter full of eateries and stores.
This could be to do with the sheer facades of the buildings. As a visitor you almost feel crammed between the aluminium clad building on the left and the tall windowless facades on the right.
The buildings lack the intimacy of Main Street. They just feel cold and austere.
Something like the new Disney Springs planned for Orlando may help this area in the future.
Lower friendlier looking buildings.
The resort definitely has the potential to be brilliant, and if Disney could save California Adventure in just 3 years then I am sure that Disneyland Paris is well within their skilfulness.
California Adventure proved that even the very best can make mistakes, but it is what we take from those mistakes that enables us to do better.
Adam.
I recently visited Disneyland Paris,
The actual Disneyland Park was in a really beautiful condition: The overall standard and presentation was really beautiful.
The main issues that I found were in the Studios Park and the Disney Village.
Firstly the Studios does need a major overhaul.
The loose theme of backlot/sets and fantasy worlds really could come together better.
The Studio 1 entrance really needs to be replaced with the Sunset Boulevard entrance in Hollywood Studios; It just lacks that Main Street feel.
This could easily be done by extending the street all the way up to the Studio Tram Tour.
The Tower of Terror could then be made to look as if it is off the boulevard (similarly to Chateau Marmont in Hollywood) with more planting and a ramshackle, abandoned garden.
The whole area could then become a 1940's Hollywoodland.
The street could then breakaway into a Route 66/Americana themed area to the left (incorporating Rock 'n' Rollercoaster and a re-themed stunt show. Which could leave possible room for Cars Land style attractions.
Whereas on the right the Toon Studio idea could be enhanced to look less thrown together.
The Flying Carpets could move into a more central location and the Crush's Coaster building could have a much better overlay.
The Toy Story/ Ratatouille area could then be a more heavily themed Pixar Place to tie the areas into one whole.
The park is also in need of an icon. Maybe the Carthay Circle theatre could grace the end of the new Sunset Boulevard similarly to Buena Vista street in California Adventure.
You can just imagine the Hollywood searchlights in the sky.
We do need to remember though that DIsney did intend to build a much larger studios park. It was just due to lack of funds that the park was downsized.
So hopefully now they may be thinking of bringing back some of the original ideas.
The park has some brilliance, don't have me wrong (the Tower of Terror's attention to detail is superb) it just all needs that all-encompassing Disney magic to be applied to it.
The Disney Village could also do with a complete demolition.
The Gehry designed powerhouse theme is completely lost now and all the buildings just have an overly 80's/90's look to them.
It completely lacks the nostalgia and Disney style.
The new World of Disney store has this, but is lost in the sea of rather tired buildings that surround it.
It needs an energy. During the daytime it feels more like a tunnel between the parks and Lake Disney hotels rather than a vibrant quarter full of eateries and stores.
This could be to do with the sheer facades of the buildings. As a visitor you almost feel crammed between the aluminium clad building on the left and the tall windowless facades on the right.
The buildings lack the intimacy of Main Street. They just feel cold and austere.
Something like the new Disney Springs planned for Orlando may help this area in the future.
Lower friendlier looking buildings.
The resort definitely has the potential to be brilliant, and if Disney could save California Adventure in just 3 years then I am sure that Disneyland Paris is well within their skilfulness.
California Adventure proved that even the very best can make mistakes, but it is what we take from those mistakes that enables us to do better.
Adam.
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