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As we all know, Disney never throws anything away. This could not be more true in the case of the Casey Jr Circus Train at Disneyland Paris.
The train started it's life in the Wonderful World of Disney Parade in the 1990's.
In 2007 Disneyland Paris celebrated it's 15th anniversary, and the cute little engine became the Disney Character Express. The Character Express was a fantastic way of meeting some quite random characters, from Peter Pan, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Eeyore and many more.
After the 15th ended its (2 year) run, the train underwent it's second transformation to become its third incarnation - Minnie's Party Train.
A similar idea to the Character Express, but somewhat more limited in characters - and virtually always including Minnie Mouse the Party Train stayed for a year, then became the Disney All Stars Express.
Once again, a way of meeting an increasingly less random number of characters - and usually PIXAR or Fab 5.
Last year for Mickey's Magical Celebration, the poor train suffered another make over, but this time around lost the meet 'n' greet part, and presented a small interactive show called the Disney Dance Express.
Probably the most popular version of the train since the Character Express, the show sadly ended just recently... and guess what?
You got it! The Casey Jr will be returning once again for the 20th anniversary in its SIXTH incarnation, but this time as the 20th Anniversary Celebration Train (name subject to change).
From the concept art we have seen, this looks to probably be our personal favourite since the Character Express way back in 2007.
With new colours, and fantastic new 20th anniversary costumes for the characters, we look forward to singing Choo Choo Papa, Choo Choo Papa for at least another year!
Dan. |
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.jpg) | Penguin Awareness Day | |
| DisneyDan
Friday, January 20, 2012 9:08:37 AM |
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Today (20th January) is Penguin Awareness Day. It is a day where people should recognise the significance of these beautiful creatures - one of the very few native inhabitants of Antarctica.
In celebration of these wonderful animals, here are some of our favourite Disney Penguins having fun at the Parks!
Dan. |
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Hi all,
This week the Disney Parks Blog announced that there would again be Chinese Lunar New Year Celebrations at Disneyland in California. Moving this year from the Festival Arena though, to near "it's a small world", the event will run from the 20th through to the 29th of January. It will feature Mulan, Mushu and other Disney Characters. We hope that it means there will be some neat costumes for the Characters. Loren will be there, and we look forward to his updates as usual! You can discuss this topic on our topic about it here on our forum.
Staying with Disneyland, the Parks Blog also announced a special "meet-up" event at California Adventure involving Jake and his pirate band from the hit show, Jake and the Neverland Pirates. RSVPs are opening next week apparently, so keep checking their blog for more information. Loren hopes he can attend - we hope he can too! Discuss this event on our forum topic about it here!
Be sure to check out Loren's weekly Character updates from Disneyland - the latest instalment is here.
Finally for California, I thought this was a cool picture from the Disney Parks Blog - the Tick Tock Croc in a tea cup! Now if only he would come out of hiding to meet his fans once again...
Jumping over to Paris now, and DLRP Today posted some more detailed concept art from the new version of the parade. I have to say it looks really neat, and we really look forward to seeing all the cool changes to it in April. From new characters (Fairies and Merlin to name some!), some brand new mini-floats (carriages for the Princesses), new costumes, new music and newly redesigned old floats (that look simply stunning!), the new version of the parade really looks set to be the fantastic boost that the day parade needed (despite our LOVE of Once Upon a Dream Parade!).
Finally, we have heard confirmation from numerous sources across the Internet that the Tarzan show will be returning for another season this year at Parc Disneyland.
Ok, that's all for now!
Dan. |
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Hi all,
A couple of small things today.
After quite some time of ambiguity over it's fate - and being pushed back some months - the Disney Parks Blog finally confirmed that the "Minnie's Fly Girls Charter Airlines" show starring Minnie Mouse will finally be coming to Disney California Adventure from February 17th.
Although not really Character related, Disneyland Paris released the following video for the upcoming 20th Anniversary. I am posting this here because even with the absence of Characters, this new night time show looks set to be nothing short of eye-poppingly spectacular! (Yes, I know I just invented a word!)
Jon and I will be there in April for the opening of the 20th Anniversary and cannot wait to see everything. Between Mickey's new meet 'n' greet location, the new version of the parade with it's newly redesigned floats, new music, new characters and new costumes, and this awesome new Dreams show, the 20th Anniversary will undoubtedly be the best year yet!
Finally, we have been working to add some more new content to the site over the last few days, as well as update some older pages that were a bit out of date. New content includes Stitch's Hawaiian Brunch at Inventions (DLP), Christmas at the Disneyland Hotel (DLP) which includes three events, Princess Aurora's Christmas Wish (DLP) and the Disney On Ice show, Dare to Dream, which includes several new characters to the site. So be sure to check them out! Some of the pages are still being worked on and so might not have many pictures yet, but rest assured they will be added to over time!
Ok, that's all for now,
Dan. |
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Hi all,
A few small pieces of information for this week, but nothing major.
Christmas Season ended at the Parks and Resorts, and at Disneyland Paris, unusually, Mickey's Winter Wonderland - which previously was a winter show running through February - ended also.
This now makes Winter Wonderland more a Christmas show than a Winter one, which is a little sad since it added some nice seasonal entertainment through the boring months of January and February!
Along with that, Central Plaza Stage has begun being decommissioned, hence ending the Mickey's Magical Celebration show. Disney Dance Express also had it's last performance.
The Once Upon a Dream Parade lost the Imagination unit so it can be converted to the new Fairies unit, and the Romance 2 unit is soon to follow.
All these changes are in preparation for the 20th Anniversary celebration, which will begin on 1st April.
We can't wait to see everything they have planned once it is all up and running!
Staying with Paris, and of course with the end of Christmas Season the Characters revert back to regular outfits. Duffy had made his début in Paris during the Christmas period, and so now makes his official regular début on Main Street in his regular sailor outfit on a permanent basis, alongside Mickey Mouse. Incidentally, the new Mickey meet 'n' greet is taking shape apparently, with some fresh new colours being painted onto the former Fantasy Festival Stage building. Again, we look forward to seeing it completed!
Over in Florida, much to my sadness, Dug and Russell from UP have stopped meeting guests just a month after they were added at Animal Kingdom.
This week saw the half marathon and the full marathon in WDW, and there were some truly amazing characters there. We really want to do a marathon some year (when we eventually get time!), and if any year has spurred us on to want to do it, it was this year. We have so far seen pictures of Darkwing Duck, Ludwig Von Drake, the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf, amongst others. There were many more of course, but they are the most amazing ones I have seen posted online so far. Oh what we wouldn't do to meet Darkwing and Ludwig!!
In California, Disneyland held their Three Kings Day celebration, and of course Loren was there to get all the best pictures for us! Check out his picture filled Forum post here.
Finally, I posted some photo filled entries that I thought I would just highlight, as they are worth a look.
You can check out Part One and Part Two of my Disneyland Paris Christmas and New Year Photo Trips Reports here and here respectively.
I also posted a great over view of all the fantastic Character related things we have done this year, in my Year in Review post which can be seen here.
Ok, that's all for now,
Dan. |
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 | 2011, A Character Filled Year in Review | |
| DisneyDan
Sunday, January 8, 2012 10:56:38 AM |
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| Hi all, With 2011 done and dusted now, I wanted to take a look back at all the awesome (character related) things Jon, Loren and I got to experience last year. We were very fortunate to be able to attend some mind-bogglingly incredible events, and we are grateful for every opportunity we had. So, without further delay, let's start at the beginning of the year with Disney On Ice: Toy Story 3. [ Read More... ] |
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 | Happy Birthday Elvis! | |
| DisneyDan
Sunday, January 8, 2012 3:26:48 AM |
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You're probably wondering why I am celebrating Elvis Presley's Birthday here on the blog. Well, those of you who know me, will know I adore Stitch.
Of course, one of Stitch's and (his mentor and best friend) Lilo's biggest influence in life is Elvis Presley. Elvis's songs feature prominently through the movie series, and Stitch has been known to take on the Elvis persona himself on occasion!...
So to celebrate The King's birthday, here are some shots - and a video - of Elvis and Elvis Stitch performing together at Disneyland Paris last year.
Dan.
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Hi all,
Welcome to part two of my photo trip report from our two trips to Disneyland Paris for Christmas and New Year.
Let us take a look now at the other really neat things that we did this Holiday Season! [ Read More... ] |
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Today, in Mexico they are celebrating what is known in English as Three Kings Day.
It is on this day that apparently the Three Kings arrived in Bethlehem, and gave gifts to the baby Jesus.
This evening Mexican children will leave their shoes on their doorsteps, and when they awake tomorrow, they will also have received gifts.
Here are some pictures of the Three Kings at the Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT, during the Holidays Around the World.
So, Feliz Dia De Los Tres Reyes!
If you're in Disneyland this weekend, they are celebrating it there with some special happenings, so be sure to check it out!
Dan. |
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