I've got a new Disneyland Paris update for you this week-end, thanks to Max, D&M contributor and DLP Welcome webmaster. But first, as we are four days before August 31, i remind you that the great Summer Special Offe ron the awesome Disneyland Paris book is ending in four days and it's still time to order your own copy at 60€ only ( + 15€ shipping worldwide, except Belgium and Italy for which shipping is 25€. Payment can be done by Paypal, credit card or bank transfer, see more at the end of the article or send me an email at: neverlandeditions@gmail.com
And now, let's move to the parks! The weather in France is now extremely hot. There is a brightness so unusually strong, severals pictures were difficult to shoot. It is so hot and beautiful, i wonder how DLP Cast Members do to survive...
Main Street USA station still awaits the return of his « EDRR » medallions. And a nice Welcome Committee awaits us under the station by playing some Star Wars and Frozen themes.
Refurbishment of the facade of Ribbons & Bows Hat Shop until November.
DLP Castle under a totally clear blue sky with no clouds, this don't happen every day!
Let's go to Discoveryland… and by the way when you arrive at the entrance of the land, yes, there is no doubt!
Discovery Lagoon has been cleaned and refilled and the the roof of Space Mountain: Mission 2 will be soon cleaned and repainted.
The incredible low wait for Space Mountain Mission 2 (and Pirates of the Caribbean) shows the disastrous summer that is experiencing the destination. At noon, there was only a five minutes wait for each of the attractions, and this when large areas and attractions are still closed for rehabilitations. This sad score will not be without consequences for the Resort for the coming months with reduction in all departments budgets. For example, the rehabilitation of Studios Tram Tour was canceled and rescheduled as a simple refurbishment, when a new staging of the decors elements was expected. Restrictions that can even go into the programming of the 25th anniversary. Also some restaurants are now closed in view of the low number of visitors (ex: Pizza Planet). And about DLP Cast Members, if this crisis of visitors continues, the Park may reduce the staff while hiring new CM are currently stopped. We are in a classic management crisis.
Well, let’s continue!
The Pizza Planet Restaurant is closed and the sign has been removed.
On the area of « Star Tours: The Adventure Continues » scaffoldings are installed around the future meeting point of Star Wars characters
This week the Park was shooting its advertising for DLP 25th anniversary (starting april 2017) and the Season of the Force (from January to March 2017)
Let's move to the castle too see the mechanical crane allowing artists to perform the repainting of the castle.
At Adventureland, the Galleon is currently under scaffolding… but we secretly hope that the cracked mast and the sails which were dirty because of the climate will be replaced.
The renovation of Adventure Isle is not totally complete, as the part with the « boat wreck » located between Swiss Robinsons Treehouse and the Galleon hasn’t been touched during the renovation of the island. The reopening to the guests of this part of the island could be compromised.
12 000 ! This is the number of Pineapple Whip sold by Disney in just two months! It is a very good score for a new product launched without advertising, on a single point of sale with nothing special.
At Frontierland, the renovation of Big Thunder Mountain continues with the painters specialized in climbing, but also the return of rocks at the base of the isle, meaning the end of the renovations on this part of the site. Also, some plants are back on the mountain.
Let's move to Walt Disney Studios Park, would we ?
The big announcement this week for 2017 was undeniable the SEASON OF THE FORCE!
"Soon, in a future not so far away, Disneyland Paris will awaken the Force with an all-new and exclusive celebration of the Star Wars saga featuring live characters and stunning entertainment.
For a limited time only, in early 2017, Disneyland Paris will be gripped by the Season of the Force:
The Walt Disney Studios Park will present a giant night-time spectacular, which will transport guests into the heart of the Star Wars saga. This show, only available at Disneyland Paris, will combine live entertainment, breathtaking special effects and an epic sound and light show projected on the Park’s most iconic architecture.
Throughout the day, guests will also come face to face with heroes from the Star Wars universe. Encounter a patrol of Stormtroopers, face some of the most powerful members of the Dark Side or join the rebellion with the friendly Chewbacca.
This experience is guaranteed to dazzle everyone, from the youngest Padawan to the wisest Jedi. From 14 January to 26 March 2017, come to the Walt Disney Studios Park and let the force be with you with Star Wars, Season of the Force."
Here is a first TV Ad released by the park to promote their upcoming Season of the Force.
A bit more thanks to DLPToday:
Feel the full power of Star Wars with the Disneyland Paris Season of the Force From 14th January to 26th March 2017, Disneyland Paris awakens with the Season of the Force. Summon your inner Jedi and lead your young Padawans to Walt Disney Studios Park for an intergalactic extravaganza, where a spectacular nighttime show blasts you to the heart of the Star Wars saga. During the day, the light or dark side, you must choose. But be sure to pick wisely, as the fearful First Order march perilously close and stormtroopers patrol the streets. And if it’s more of the Force you’re after, fulfil your destiny at the Jedi Training Academy in Disneyland Park.
The light or dark side, you must choose
Let the Force guide you to Production Courtyard in Walt Disney Studios® Park for an extraordinary example of galactic might. Will you submit to the dark side? Or does your path lead to the light side?
Behold the power of the dark side
Blast off to Walt Disney Studios Park and witness the wicked wonder of Captain Phasma leading a battalion of stormtroopers on an iconic military march.
Projection show on Hollywood Tower Hotel:
Let the Force light up your night
Make your way to Walt Disney Studios Park for a sensational show in front of Hollywood Tower Hotel, as light projection, special effects and live characters turn darkness into spectacular scenes from the Star Wars saga.
Are you the rebel they’re looking for? Keep a cool head in Walt Disney Studios® Park because some stormtroopers are patrolling Production Courtyard and they’re on the hunt for rebel spies.
The Place of the Stars will be a great place to watch this Star Wars night show on the Tower of Terror (most probably inspired by the fireworks at WDW Disney Hollywood Studios). That said, the trees could significantly hide the view during the show if nothing is done.
We'll give you more news about this Season of the Force when we have more, and Max will be back soon for a new DLP update on D&M and in the meantime i remind you that the Grand Summer Special Offer has started for the Disneyland Paris, From Sketch to Reality book in English updated or French collector's edition at 60€ only ( + 15€ shipping ), so don't miss it while it last as it is the last copies of the book which will not be reprinted!
The offer ends on August 31 but please note that all orders shipping will be done now early September for holiday reasons. As we're approaching the last copies please don't wait until September to place your order if you want to be sure to get a copy of this fantastic book! And there is always the great surprise gift coming with each order!
The book is the perfect gift for Disney parks fan! Click on the link below to have a look inside the book and to order your copy or use the Paypal button below! Make sure to send me an email then at: neverlandeditions@gmail.com to tell me if you order an English or French edition.
Special note to buyers with a shipping address in ITALY or BELGIUM : For shipments to Belgium or Italy, the shipping cost is 25 €.
Do not miss this Summer special offer, and to place your order please send an email to: neverlandeditions@gmail.com - Please let me know in your email if you want the english or french edition!
You can pay by Paypal, credit card or bank transfer. Paypal payment must be sent to the same email address: neverlandeditions@gmail.com or you can also use the Paypal button below or on the right column, make sure to choose how many copies you want.
The Paypal button works for both french or english edition but confirm me by email or in your Paypal payment which edition you want ( english or french ).
Also note that the Paypal button includes an additional discount for those who want to order 2 or 3 copies instead of one.
If you do NOT have a Paypal account you can pay by credit card, or bank transfer, just send me an email about it at: neverlandeditions@gmail.com
The Paypal button works for both french or english edition but confirm me by email or in your Paypal payment which edition you want ( english or french ).
Also note that the Paypal button includes an additional discount for those who want to order 2 or 3 copies instead of one.
If you do NOT have a Paypal account you can pay by credit card, or bank transfer, just send me an email about it at: neverlandeditions@gmail.com
Those of you who have never seen the book will find below a video presentation of the full book which will show you each of the 320 pages of the book AND you can see more pictures on the book website HERE.
Although you've probably heard about this beautiful book, many of you may have never seen a copy of it. So we've done a video presentation of the full book which will show you each of the 320 pages of the book! The book includes 750 pictures of the park, including 250 gorgeous renderings of Walt Disney Imagineering and stunning pictures of the park seen from above. The book is so big that it took us seven and a half minutes to show you the full book, and that's without stopping turning each pages! So, if you want to have a closer look at a page don't hesitate to stop the video!
Videos: copyright Alain Littaye, DLPWelcome
Hi Alain. Many thanks for sharing this update with us. I wanted to bring something to this update: Disney IS hiring, converting numerous seasonal Cast Members into permanent CM. There will be a massive hiring session later this year (november?) like what was done last year. It is correct to state that restaurant opening/closures policy is financial, as a trigger used for several years now so nothing new. Crowds are lighter, this is correct, the threats and recent attacks discouraging visitors to make it to France. But this is not a surprise for Pirates of the Caribbean as, roughly, it is used to this wait time. And yes, it is a surprise for Space Mountain. The Tram Tour exceptional "reboot" with the internally announced addition of 3 SFX scenes is mainly due of a future development issue (whereas it is clever or not to fund this extensive investment if, on a later date, Tram Tour disappears to make way for an easier development as Tram Tour imposes to be relocated each time there's a new construction...). But I agree that "sparing money" is another reason too, but not the main. There are not so many things closed as you know. "Just" Riverboat, BTM and Star Tours for the "rides". I'm just talking about the facts as figures, not the fame of them. On the "fame" side, yes, DLP is lacking majors and classic rides which may be disappointing. Adventure Isle, that wonderful jewel of the park, is mainly an area development with a walkthrough attraction (Treehouse), litteraly not a "ride" but I totally agree this is a great addition to rest, venture in and get lost for the joy of being young at heart again. So I just wanted to draw a not so catastrophic situation. It is a serious one but not "the end of the world" where everyone is freaking out as we may understand whilst reading the update.
ReplyDeleteA faithful reader
Reasons for disastrous attendance:
ReplyDelete- The abnormal summer weather we got: rain, cold, clouds and flooding until pretty much early August, now unbearable heat.
- Huge amount of refurbishments all around, leaving the park with very little E-tickets to experience.
- The threat of terrorism and the incompetence of the French government to deal with it.
- The absolutely ridiculous closing of the RER A line in ALL OF PARIS leading to Disneyland. The only stations open during TWO MONTHS were La Defense and Nation. Getting to either of them with the metro easily added one hour to the commute.
Sigh. After having lived in France for 9 months, I pity Mickey so much for having had to deal with French bureaucracy and ridiculous closures/strikes for 25 years. Euro Disney would have fare better in the UK, not the grimey, borderline third-world France (I am not British, actually saying this from a North American perspective).