Hello everyone,
Last week Jon and I were in Disneyland Paris again for three days. As always, we had an awesome, action packed time!
I wanted to share with you some photos from our trip.
Let's start on Main Street USA with the brand new "New Century Notions - Flora's Unique Boutique" that has replaced the former Town Square Photography. It should be noted that PhotoPass pictures can still be viewed and purchased here.
The year on the floor is the year that Flora and Elias Disney (Walt's parents) were married.
Staying in Town Square, and the Ribbons and Bows Hat Shop that has been the main baby store for years now, finally went back to being a hat store recently!
La Fanfare, Disneyland Paris' resident band, were on Main Street during the weekend.
We watched the new Main Street Welcomes Summertime show several times. It's little entertainment offerings like this that I really love. They really bring the parks to life. We met several of the Victorians afterwards, too. Horace, Doris, Wilbur and Mary Jane.
We met Winnie the Pooh in Central Plaza, near the Plaza Inn, and Minnie Mouse at the Boarding House in Town Square.
In Frontierland we watched the Dixieland Band play in front of the Rivers of the Far West. They couldn't have had a more stunning backdrop.
In Adventureland we met Chip, Dale, Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook, Mr Smee and Baloo. King Louie was leaving when we got to the line, but I got a picture of him. We also watched the Hakuna Matamtam drummers play.
I saw this unique new t-shirt at the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost.
In Fantasyland we saw the Alice characters out, but the line was very long, so we didn't meet them this time.
We barely managed to venture into Discoveryland this trip, as there was so much else to do, so I don't have any pictures from there this time!
We watched Disney Magic on Parade! twice during our trip, which included seeing Mickey and Friends in their new outfits for the first time (they were only changed a couple of weeks ago).
We had good intentions to watch Disney Dreams! while we were there, but on the first night we were too tired, and then the next evening it poured with rain, so we skipped it. We also didn't get to see the Castle Fountain Show for the same reasons (the smaller musical fountain number that happens up to seven times per day).
At the Disneyland Hotel we attended the Sunday Brunch at Inventions. This week's theme was "Magic". The characters appeared in their 20th anniversary outfits, including Max, who never appeared publicly in this costume during the actual 20th anniversary! Very cool to see!
During the mornings at the Disneyland Hotel we met some of the Main Street Lounge characters, and we also attended the Magical Moment at the lobby stairs, too. I didn't actually take pictures of the stairs characters on the day of the Brunch, as the characters were basically the same as the Brunch, however I did take pictures at the stairs on another day.
I was also shocked to see a resident silhouette artist now at the Disneyland Hotel. The silhouette studios are something that can be found at all four of the other Disney Resorts around the world, but Disneyland Paris only ever had right at the beginning of its life, and hasn't been seen in many, many years.
At Disney Village we watched the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show Cavalcade which they do every summer to promote the show while the weather is good. Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley, Auguste Durand-Ruel and Chief Sitting Bull all come out, along with some rough riders and their horses and parade down the street through Disney Village.
We of course took a bunch of pictures around Lake Disney, too, while the weather was nice and all the marina activities were in operation.
We also took a Segway tour around Lake Disney and the Disney Hotels for the first time. They are run by an outside company (so no discounts), and are located at the Rockefeller Plaza area in front of Disney's Hotel New York. I don't have any pictures from the tour, as basically all that happened was we rode around the lake and visited several of the hotels. I wouldn't say it was so much a "tour" as it was just a fairly cheap and fun opportunity to ride a Segway for half an hour! There was little information given to us by the guide, but it was definitely fun to whizz around the shores of Lake Disney on a Segway! The tour cost 15 Euros per adult. Tours currently operate from 3pm daily and you can basically walk right up, pay, and get on a Segway and go with a guide! Jon and I were literally the only ones there, and it was quite fun!
We spent a lot of time over at the Walt Disney Studios this trip, too, and for good reason! As with Disneyland Park, there were a ton of new things we had to see that had been added since our last visit just a few months before, which of course is great.
The Incredibles now "Hit the Road" every day on their hover/scooter things (I have no idea what they actually are!). We stood to watch them once, but they just literally ride around the Backlot and Production Courtyard, stopping for awkward pictures with children who are not allowed to go right up to them for safety reasons. It's a cute idea, but ultimately people just want to meet characters, not see them randomly riding around.
We also stood and watched the Stars 'n' Cars greeting characters come in and out, and although I really hate to make note of these kinds of things here on the Character Central Blog, I have to say, the new setup is pretty bad. Previously the characters all came out and spread out around the courtyard area, lines were formed, and you could line up to meet the character you wanted to see. Now DLP have decided to put up a rope around the central stage and have the characters circle the inner part of the rope, separated from the guests who are all huddled against it, signing autographs. Getting photos is next to impossible because of the crowding at the ropes, and it's difficult getting the character you want anyway as they all move rather rapidly around the circle only really stopping to sign a few books at each point. Nonetheless, we tried, and ultimately if you persevered you could meet some fun characters. It was good to see Scrooge and Piglet back after quite a prolonged absence from DLP.
At Toon Plaza we met Mickey, Buzz and Woody. There are some new backdrops over there. Although it's nice to see new backdrops, I think the whole area needs a big overhaul, but, nonetheless we enjoy meeting the characters so it serves a purpose.
As always, we took a lot more photos of things around the park, too!
Now we come to the part you've all been waiting for!... Ratatouille!
Let's start with the brand new Ratatouille attraction, Ratatouille L'Adventure Totalement Toquee de Remy.
From the outside you are presented with what appears to be a Parisian theatre, with a ticket office and a light up sign. As you proceed inside you find yourself among the rooftops of Paris, where, in the line you see Chef Gusteau above you. Occasionally he magically comes to life to give his thoughts, then goes back to being a sign again. Before you enter the loading area you must pick up some 3D glasses. Once you are at the loading area you board a little rat friend who will take you on a tour of the restaurant below. Throughout the tour there are many surprises and laughs which are guaranteed to make you smile from ear to ear. I have to say that Ratatouille L'Adventure Totalement Toquee de Remy is masterfully done, beautifully crafted and an absolute joy to ride. It is light hearted, good humoured fun that just makes you feel happy inside. The 3D projections are exceptionally clear and concise, too, which makes a massive difference. The human characters really look like they are towering giants - it's incredible!
Below are some photos of around the Ratatouille area in the day time, including the attraction and restaurant. There are no pictures from inside the attraction as it's near impossible to photograph anyway, due to the 3D effects. Read on afterwards for my short review of the restaurant, which includes many inside shots - including the food!
During the daytime you'll find The Ratatouille Band playing some decidedly French music, near the attraction.
For some reason, Disney have not yet opened the new store that is to accompany the attraction and restaurant. Instead, for now, you'll find a small cart of the same name (as the store) in the courtyard periodically throughout the day.
The new restaurant, Bistrot Chez Remy ties directly in with the film and the new attraction. At the end of the movie Remy opens his own rat sized venue, and at the end of the attraction you find yourself in his restaurant, too. The guest restaurant here allows you to be shrunk down to Remy's size and dine in amongst this very special setting.
The lobby area welcomes you with some awards and pictures from Remy's new career - and that of Gusteau's too. Once you enter the main restaurant you'll find yourself immersed in a fantastic dining room filled with over sized items such as plates, cutlery, corks, bottles, books and more. It truly is wonderful, whimsical, fun and exceptionally well done.
Jon and I both had the vegetable casserole, as we are vegetarian, and I have to admit, it was one of the best meals I've ever had at DLP. Add in to that the salad starter, the French bread on the table, and of course the mind-blowing dessert, the whole experience from start to finish was excellent.
I don't currently have my photos of the salad, bread or dessert edited, but I do plan to make a full dining review blog about our experience at Chez Remy next week (look out for that here on the blog), so for now, I have just the main dish to show you, plus some additional restaurant shots.
If you have a late reservation at the restaurant, you will find yourself being escorted to the park exit after the park has closed, which gives you a great opportunity to take some photos of the park at night, with nobody there! I'll leave you with some of my pictures from a deserted Studios.
Dan.
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