 | And we're off! (AGAIN!) |
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| DisneyDan
Thursday, April 5, 2012 12:11:23 PM |
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Hi all,
Once again we'll be off on our travels tomorrow to Disneyland Paris to celebrate their 20th anniversary.
We will be there until next Sunday, so just over a week.
While we're there we hope to keep you updated via our Twitter and Facebook pages as usual, so be sure to check those daily.
We will be attending some very special happenings for the 20th, so stay tuned for all of that!
One last thing before I go; earlier in the week we teased you with some information about a brand new competition we will be holding here at Character Central.
To be in with a chance of winning a fantastic 20th Anniversary prize package from Disneyland Paris, all you need to do is join our friendly Character Forums and make at least 10 posts in the next 3 weeks (by April 30th).
You can reply to any subject already in discussion, or maybe start you own!
It's free and easy to join, and you could win a prize!
Ok, that's all for now - you'll hear more from us once we arrive in Paris!
Dan. |
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Hi all,
This week has seen a few small bits of new character information emerge.
The Disney Parks Blog has been surprisingly forthcoming with information about some new character experiences at the US Parks.
First off, Princess Merida, from the new Disney-PIXAR movie 'Brave' will come to both the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland by the summer. She will be the first PIXAR character to be represented in the parks as a face character!
At the Magic Kingdom, she will host her own Highland Games (ok, maybe not quite!) at the Fairytale Garden. It will be an interactive experience, complete with archery, according to the Parks Blog! It will be interesting to see how that one works out!
Rapunzel, who currently occupies the spot will be moving to Adventureland, and will be rejoined by Flynn Rider! It is rumoured that they will take Ariel's place at the Veranda, and Ariel could move to near the Swiss Family Treehouse. Nothing is certain at this stage, but that's what I've heard.
At Disneyland Merida will appear at a new location near "it's a small world".
At both locations she is going to be joined by her three bear cub friends in puppet form (so we hear, also subject to change). It will be interesting to see how that works out!
We really look forward to meeting Princess Merida in the summer.
At Disney California Adventure it has been confirmed that there will be a new cast of characters to bring the new Buena Vista Street to life.
Much like how Disney's Hollywood Studios features the Citizens of Hollywood, the Citizens of Buena Vista Street should prove to be a lot of fun. If the Hollywood folk are anything to go by, then expect a lot of random fun and a lot of laughs at every turn!
Just a few other smaller updates. Megara was seen at EPCOT yesterday, and rumour has it that Miss Bunny and Thumper will be leaving Animal Kingdom in the near future (sadly).
Also after a brief absence from the new parade, Tinker Bell has reappeared on the last float in Disneyland Paris, much to the fans delight!
Now, for something special!
As you all are quite aware by now, it is Disneyland Paris's 20th birthday. We will of course be there from Friday this week, and covering all the 20th anniversary happenings as they unfold on the day (next Thursday).
For the FIRST TIME EVER, we will be holding a special competition here at Character Central to win a special DLP 20th anniversary prize pack!
I won't give too much away right now, as we are still working on it, but to be in with a better chance, I might suggest you create an account on our Forums here at Character Central and start getting involved in some of our discussions! Membership is of course free, and quick and easy to do.
That's the only clue I'll give right now!
Ok, that's all for now,
Dan. |
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 | Happy 69th Birthday Chip and Dale! | |
| DisneyDan
Monday, April 2, 2012 12:19:50 AM |
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Hi all,
Today is the 69th birthday of the most loveable, troublesome twosome, Chip and Dale!
First featuring in the animated short, Private Pluto on April 2nd 1943, they have continued to annoy poor Pluto and the perpetually harassed Donald Duck ever since!
With a long and varied career, they are among our most favourite characters, and we have had many fun experiences with them over the years.
So in true Character Central style, here is our photographic tribute! [ Read More... ] |
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| Disney Cruise Line Trip Report Part Four! | |
| DisneyDan
Sunday, April 1, 2012 3:13:37 AM |
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Hi all,
Welcome to the fourth part of my Disney Cruise Trip Report.
Day 5 was our first port of call, the Dutch owned St Maarten.
The ship docked early in the morning just before breakfast and we were allowed to debark any time after about 8am (if I remember correctly).
So, after breakfast we made our way down to the tender lobby on deck one.
To debark the ship you need your Key to the World card, and they also recommend ID, but all 3 days we were in ports we were never asked for additional ID. [ Read More... ] |
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 | Disney Dreams... they really did come true! | |
| DisneyDan
Sunday, April 1, 2012 2:34:35 AM |
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Hi all, Last night saw the premiere of the brand new nighttime spectacular, Disney Dreams, at Disneyland Paris. We weren't there (yet - 5 days for us!), but there was a live video feed of the premiere on YouTube, and I can safely say without any question of doubt, that it is the most beautiful, tear inducing, SPECTACULAR show ever to be produced by Disney. I absolutely cannot WAIT to see it Friday night. It is something really to behold on the screen, but in person I can only imagine I will be an emotional wreck! I don't often get emotional over shows and the like, but if there is any reason to ever travel to a Disney Park to bawl your eyes out in joy, it is for Disney Dreams in Paris this year! Here is one of the better videos I found of it - WARNING - this is the WHOLE show, DO NOT watch if you want it to remain a surprise! [Mac or Chrome users may have to refresh to see the video below] (If you want to watch it in HD, this website has the same video, but in better quality.) I can only imagine in the summer when they run FantIllusion, what a absolutely FANTASTIC nightly experience Guests will have. Nighttime parade into Dreams? Likely to be the best nighttime entertainment offering of any Disney Park world wide! Dan. |
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We have heard from a close, reliable inside source that Walt Disney World Entertainment and Imagineering departments are developing a brand new concept for meeting the characters! The pilot scheme will be rolled out in the Magic Kingdom early next year, and will complement the New Fantasyland. Being described at the moment as a "Character Playground" the idea will see most, if not all character meet 'n' greets and roaming characters removed from the regular park areas, to start to free up the already congested walkways. The new Playground will be a sprawling area where throughout the day there will be character dance parties, games and activities with your favourite pals, and areas that also include regular meet 'n' greet lines for pictures and autographs.
I have to say that this sound quite interesting, and look forward to seeing this develop further.
Dan. |
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| Happy 5th Anniversary Meet the Robinsons! | |
| DisneyDan
Friday, March 30, 2012 9:08:06 AM |
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Hi all,
Today is the 5th anniversary of the release of Disney's Meet the Robinsons.
With memorable characters such as Wilbur, Lewis and Bowler Hat Guy (Michael Yagoobian), it is a movie about self discovery and friendship.
We were lucky enough to meet the Robinsons ourselves last year in Disneyland Paris, so here's some of my favourite pictures to celebrate their special day!
Happy Birthday Lewis, Wilbur and Michael!
Remember, Keep Moving Forward!
Dan. |
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Hi all,
I know we haven't had any proper updates in a while, but it's all been a bit crazy here since getting back from the Cruise and WDW.
And of course at the end of next week we'll be in DLP for the 20th for a week... so as you can imagine we have a lot to do, and can't always keep things as up to date as we'd like.
That all said, we do have a few updates to share with you this evening.
Disneyland Paris has of course been having "soft opening" showings of it's new version of the Parade (Disney Magic On Parade) and the once again revamped character train, now the 20th Anniversary Celebration Train.
The Parade has seen some cool changes. The soundtrack is of course different, but here a list of other changes we have noticed so far.
Wendy, Pluto, Belle, Prince Adam, Aladdin and Jasmine have all been dropped. In their place we have gained the Blue Fairy, Merlin, the Fairy Godmother, Flora, Fauna, Merryweather, Geppetto, Rapunzel, Flynn Rider and Duffy. Tinker Bell is also due to soon re-join the parade, having been absent the last 2 days.
I don't think losing 6 characters for 11 new ones was a bad trade overall! Do you?
Peter Pan has lost his parade-specific outfit.
The Dreams of Imagination and Dreams of Romance 1 floats have been revamped and re-themed, and Mickey and friends have been switched form the front to the back of the parade, complete with brand new wizard costumes.
There are a bunch of new performer costumes.
Baloo and King Louie no longer have their grass skirts.
The floats have been re-ordered, and characters moved from the float to the ground (such as Jessie and Bert).
There are undoubtedly more than that, but I felt those were the more noteworthy ones for now.
The Celebration Train has now lost it's face, sadly. Which kind of takes away form it's overall appeal I think. He had a little personality before, now it's just a train.
The characters who currently appear for meets in Central Plaza when the train stops are Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, Goofy, Clarice, Chip and Dale. No Mickey yet, but we have heard he may appear in the future.
You can check out a video of the new parade here, and the new character train here.
Staying with Paris, and work continues on the new Mickey meet 'n' greet in Fantasyland, but while that is being completed, they have temporarily converted the Woody's Roundup area into a "Meet Mickey" experience, which features Mickey and Minnie in their regular outfits.
It is an interesting move, seeing as Minnie will be on the train all year (not saying she can't meet here also), and Mickey will be moving soon to Fantasyland... makes me wonder why go to all that trouble just for the time being?
Finally, jumping over to Florida, and Flik sadly went back to the ant hill this week, and has been replaced by Russell and Dug form UP.
I think that this was quite a nice change, and look forward to seeing them next time we'rein DAK!
Ok, that's all for now. Don't forget to catch up on my latest part of my Cruise Trip Report - there shall be another one coming in the next day or two, so stay tuned!
Dan. |
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To all our European fans, don't forget to put your clocks ahead one hour this evening, or tomorrow you may be just like the White Rabbit, and be late for a very important date!
Dan. |
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