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Hi all,
We have been busy as always here at Character Central, but here's this weeks roundup of all the latest character news.
There has been lots of PIXAR news this week.
We start with the news that the West Coast Cruises this Fall will feature a lot of favourite PIXAR Pals. There will be special meet and greets and events on board.
The picture posted by the Parks Blog shows fairly standard characters, and I doubt very much any real neat ones will show up.
What do you all think of this? Have you already booked a DCL Cruise for these dates? Would you have liked to have known it was going to be PIXAR centric?
Staying with PIXAR, some new PIXAR stamps were launched in the US this week, and the PIXAR pals were at the brand new Art of Animation Resort in WDW for a special launch event.
That leads me to talk about the new Art of Animation Resort... It opened this week with a character filled ceremony and a speech by the fan love her/hate her head of Parks and Resorts, Meg Crofton. Characters in attendance included Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, Timon, Ariel, Eric, and Chip 'n' Dale - and the Fab 5 friends were the talking head versions! Also there were puppeteers commanding Sebastian and Flounder alongside Ariel and Eric.
Continuing the PIXAR theme, and Downtown Disney in WDW has been hosting the Car Masters Weekend, and of course Disney took the opportunity to have some very famous stars there... Mater, McQueen and Finn McMissile! Although Mater and McQueen already meet in the Parks, Finn is a cool addition for those visiting this weekend.
Over in California, the PXAR Play Parade made it's return in "soft opening" mode, and will return officially on June 15th - DCA's official re-launch date.
The only float we can see that is missing currently is the Remy and Emile one, and that's probably due to the rats bouncing wires being too tall for the new overhead lines along Buena Vista Street.
Staying with DCA, and the Disney Parks Blog announced a few new cool things there. I thought I had mentioned these previously, but obviously completely forgot! So these are a bit late, I apologise lol.
When the new Buena Vista Street opens, some of the Fab 5 friends will get some fantastic new outfits to meet fans in the new land. We just LOVE Chip and Dale's outfits!
Also, as expected, but now confirmed, Mater and McQueen will be meeting Guests in Cars Land daily.
On top of all that, and I think maybe inspired by DLP's daily fountain shows that utilise the new Dreams technology, Goofy will be making appearances in his tux throughout the day at Paradise Bay, conducting the World Of Color fountains to music!
Finally for DCA (!), the Parks Blog also said that a character dance party will take place daily though the summer in Hollywood Land, and "you never know who might show up!"... We'll see whether that ends up being regular pals, or some more random ones (we of course hope the latter!).
We look forward to seeing all these new things this year!
Two last things, which aren't PIXAR related!
Rapunzel and Flynn have apparently been added to the day Parade in the Magic Kingdom, on the finale Castle float, which makes for a nice addition. As we all know, they are immensely popular, and so adding them makes sense - especially in the MK's ailing parade.
Finally, it has been announced (and confirmed by various sources) that place-making will begin at the Walt Disney Studios in Paris, alongside the new Ratatouille ride (scheduled to open 2014), and will continue through 2018!
I know this isn't character related, but it is a much welcomed announcement, and we can only hope that it will be along similar lines to the new DCA, and in turn will mean new character shows, greetings and entertainment!
Ok, that's all for now! Let us know your thoughts by hitting the Discuss button below and commenting on the forum!
Dan. |
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 | Philippe and Mickey | |
| DisneyDan
Sunday, June 3, 2012 3:33:36 AM |
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I thought I would share this picture I uploaded today from our April trip to DLP for their 20th Anniversary launch.
It shows Mickey and Philippe Gas on Main Street USA, casually enjoying a moment, right before the Cast Member Flash Mob and all massive celebrations begin.
I thought it was cute :)
Dan. |
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 | Happy 1st Anniversary Soundsational! | |
| DisneyDan
Sunday, May 27, 2012 2:31:18 AM |
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Hi all,
Today marks the 1st anniversary of the day that a brand new - and long anticipated - parade hit the streets of Disneyland Park at the Disneyland Resort in California.
Soundsational was a much welcomed, brand new parade, following 2 years of the anti-parade, Celebrate! A Street Party, which had run for 2 years since the departure of the much loved Parade of Dreams.
So, let's celebrate now with some of our favourite shots from our trips to Disneyland last year.
Happy 1st Anniversary Soundsational!
Dan. |
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Hi all,
Sorry it has been a while again, but we have been ever busy, and to be honest, there hasn't been too much character news out there!
But, nonetheless I thought I'd just mention a few things that have happened in recent days.
At Disneyland Paris, the new Meet Mickey opened in Fantasyland at the former Fantasy Festival Stage location.
We don't have any of our own pictures to share right now, but from what I have seen of the inside, it is really neat! I think that they did a much better job of it than Town Square Theatre in the Magic Kingdom, that's for sure!
Disneyland Paris also released the new Winter brochure for this year, and it provides some small (very small) details about what to expect this Halloween and Christmas seasons.
Characters in themed outfits seem to be returning to both celebrations, and at Halloween the Villains too.
As we already knew, but now confirmed, the MNSSHPs are not returning (sadly), but the Soiree will.
At Christmas, Mickey's Winter Wonderland will return, and the description uses a plural - shows - so we expect that the Tree Lighting will return, and a new, reworked Castle Lighting (seeing that Central Plaza Stage has now gone).
Find a out a few more details, including dates, on our forum here (Christmas) and here (Halloween).
Over in Walt Disney World, Star Wars weekend began last week, and have, as always, been featuring all the best loved characters from the movies. I haven't heard of anything exceptional this year, or anyone new, but if I do I'll of course post it here.
Staying with the US Parks, both WDW and Disneyland launched Princess Merida from PIXAR's Brave last week.
Merida now meets at the Fairytale Garden in the Magic Kingdom, and near "it's a small world" in Disneyland.
Finally, last week I had posted a Happy Birthday Goofy post... I had done this because, according to numerous sources - including the Disney Parks Blog itself! - that it was indeed Goofy's Birthday. Now, according to Disney, it is Goofy's Birthday today!
I have double checked against various different sources, and most places seem to agree it is today, but some places still record it as the 12th of May!
Well, anyway, what ever the actual date (and my suspicion it is indeed today), we'll wish Goofy Happy Birthday again! Check out last week's post for a photo filled tribute to our favourite goof in action at the Parks and Resorts!
Ok, that's all for now,
Dan. |
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 | Happy Birthday Carl, Russel and Dug! | |
| DisneyDan
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 12:05:20 PM |
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Today is the 3rd anniversary of the world premiere of Disney/PIXAR's feature, UP!
So, in true Character Central style, let's celebrate with a photo filled tribute of the characters - Carl, Russell and Dug - at the parks!
Happy Birthday Carl, Russell and Dug!
Dan. |
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 | Happy Belated Birthday Fantasmic! | |
| DisneyDan
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 12:00:17 PM |
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Hi all,
I have been a little behind this week, but May 15th was the 20th Anniversary of Fantasmic! at the Disneyland Resort.
A special event was held for selected AP holders. They had an exclusive showing, which featured some really neat characters on the Mark Twain t the finale - including Roger Rabbit! yes, Roger Rabbit!!
The characters then went to the Train Station on Main Street to wave goodnight to fans as they exited.
So, here's our photo filled tribute to the awesome character filled show that is Fantasmic!
Happy 20th birthday Fantasmic!
Dan. |
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 | Happy Belated Birthday Goofy! | |
| DisneyDan
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 11:41:21 AM |
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Hi all! I have been very busy this last week, and so have missed some key dates, including Goofy's Birthday!
Goofy first made his starring debut in the Mickey Mouse short, Mickey's Revue on the 12th May 1932.
So here is a belated photo tribute to that loveable but clumsy dog!
Happy Belated birthday Goofy!
Dan. |
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 | Happy Birthday J. M. Barrie! | |
| DisneyDan
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 11:26:39 AM |
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Hi all,
Today would have been James Barrie's 152nd Birthday. JM Barrie is best known for creating Never Never Land, and it's most famous inhabitant, the Boy Who Never Grew Up, Peter Pan!
It was nearly a hundred years after Barrie's birth that it was made into a motion picture by Walt Disney, but it was worth the wait.
Walt Disney's masterpiece, Peter Pan, is one of Disney's most treasured films and has given the world of Disney much to play with over the years, from attractions, shows, characters and more.
Of course, this is a character website, so let's take a look at some of the characters that have featured in the Parks, inspired by the original plays written over a hundred years ago by J. M. Barrie.
Happy 152nd Birthday James Barrie!
Dan. |
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Hi all,
On our recent trip to Disneyland Paris we had the opportunity to eat at Auberge de Cendrillon at Parc Disneyland (DLP).
Auberge is the most expensive restaurant in the park, and probably the Resort, after Inventions at the Disneyland Hotel.
Auberge is located in Fantasyland, in the Courtyard, and offers fine dining, French style.
Named for Cinderella, the meal is "hosted" by Cinderella's mice friends, Suzy and Perla.
The restaurant reminds me of a mix of the Akershus at EPCOT, and Cinderella's Royal Table at the Magic Kingdom.
The main restaurant has murals on the walls depicting the story of Cinderella, and high ceilings. There is also a smaller additional room that features booths separated by engraved glass (pumpkins, of course!).
Overall the restaurant itself is nice, but given DLP's extravagant theming of everything else, for the top end dining in the park, it could be a bit more immersive.
Now we come to the food...
I have never been a fan if French food much anyway, and if anything confirmed that, it was the food here!
The starter choice was extremely French, with options such as liver pate and grilled vegetables - served cold - and they weren't even "normal" vegetables!
The main course was better. I had the veal, and it was ok. It came with some bizarre mushroom stuffing and something I think was mash potato.
The dessert was by far the best part of the meal, and was a set item, which consisted of three different items.
Served with your meal you get a selection of bread, and a non-alcoholic cocktail.
Overall the food was not my sort of thing at all. The dessert was by far the best part of the meal.
Of course this wouldn't be a character site if I didn't mention the characters we had that day!
Of course Suzy and Perla are always present, and Cinderella too.
I know for a fact that other princesses and princes frequent the restaurant. I know for example that Snow White and Aurora are nearly always there, sometimes with their princes, sometimes not.
Our visit was a bit different.
Prince Charming joined Cinderella, as well as the Fairy Godmother!
The Fairy Godmother doesn't normally make appearances in Paris, so this was a rare treat!
Tiana was also in attendance that day.
Overall we had a pleasant experience at Auberge, but I do warn you that for the price, the food isn't the best, and the characters are readily available elsewhere. It isn't somewhere I'm going to go back to any time soon.
I know this hasn't been the most comprehensive review of our experience, but I hadn't reviewed it before and felt that being it's a character dining venue, it needed a mention.
I don't have any pictures from our experience there up yet on the site, which is why there was none in this review (the three I posted were all outside, and from previous trips), but you can check back on our Auberge page at a later date to see our most recent updates (probably won't be for a little while) - or click onto the page anyway to see past pictures.
Before I sign off, just a note to say that we have been working hard to add lots more content to the site! The keen eyed among you may have noticed some new locations, a new character, new character descriptions, some new autographs on character pages, a new Disney Cruise Line Forum, and many hundreds of new photos across the site.
Plus we have added an extra 15 new Blog banners too - so be sure to refresh this page to see them all (we have 26 in total now I think)! ;)
Dan. |
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 | May the 4th be with you! | |
| DisneyDan
Friday, May 4, 2012 11:29:16 AM |
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May the Forth be with you!!
Happy 4th of May! ;)
Dan. |
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