 | 2012 - A Character Filled Year in Review |
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| DisneyDan
Saturday, January 12, 2013 5:25:29 AM |
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Hello everyone!
This is a little later than I had anticipated, but thought you would all appreciate it nonetheless.
Last year, 2012, was an incredible year for us. We set new records throughout the year for our trips, and we had some of our most magical adventures ever!
Let us start way back at the beginning, with the turn of the New Year, at Disneyland Paris.
Please be warned that this is a very picture heavy post, so before clicking to continue you should ensure you are in a position to load HUNDREDS of photos! [ Read More... ] |
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Hello everyone!
I know this is a little delayed, but of course since getting back, we have been ever busy!
Anyway, here we are at my Christmas 2012 Trip Report for Disneyland California!
We of course have visited DL a lot, and I have done reports before, so as not to repeat myself, this report is going to be solely about their Christmas offerings, as it was the first time I had been for to DLR for the holidays.
We were lucky enough to have a glorious 10 days in California this time around, and we certainly enjoyed every moment of it.
Since we were there for so long, we were also able to take a trip out to Universal Studios Hollywood, to experience their Christmas stuff, which you can read about in my recent report here.
Ok, so the easiest way to go about this is to just talk about each thing one by one.
First up, decorations, music and atmosphere! [ Read More... ] |
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Hi all,
Just two updates today.
Following my lengthy blog about Limited Time Magic the other day, we finally got to find out what WDW's latest offering would be today.
The Disney Parks Blog announced that from January 14th through 20th, EPCOT's Canada pavilion would host 'Winter Wonderland', where you would be able to meet your favourite Disney Characters. Their example shows a picture of Donald Duck in special clothes, and I imagine other will be there too.
Given this promotions massive anticlimax so far, this is a start, I guess!
As I was writing this, the Disney Parks Blog ALSO announced Disneyland's next offering (select dates through February 12th), which, again going back to my criticism of the Limited stuff so far this year in my last blog post, is a previous years' recycled event, that they are branding as "Limited Time Magic". Sigh.
Well, nonetheless, Disneyland will be celebrating Mardi Gras again this year with the characters from The Princess and the Frog, including a cute mini-show with Tiana, Naveen and Louis, and lots of live bands. Also, look out for Mickey and the gang in their cool Mardi Gras clothes!
Over at Disneyland Paris, the rumour mill has been turning...
DLRP Express posted on Facebook an interesting picture. The old Lion King set at the Videopolis Theatre is being disassembled this evening! Although the show has been gone for years, the set of the old Lion King show has always been there, not really doing anyone harm, but not being very useful either.
Disney being Disney, and with money being tight, I can only imagine that they have plans for the stage, rather than fruitlessly wasting time taking all the set down. I can dream, right?...
Ok, that's all for now.
Dan. |
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Hello!
It has sadly been a long time since I really had chance to update the blog properly with any real updates. Actually, there hasn't really been any good character news for a long time, either, so that coupled with Jon and I always being mega busy makes for more sporadic posting than I would like!
Anyway, here we are with the first proper update of 2013, and it's shaping up to be quite the year so far - which of course is good news for us character fans!
We'll start with the US Parks, and first up is California.
As you may recall, the old Fantasyland Theater in Disneyland has for the longest time been used for a Princess meet 'n' greet, which just about everybody agreed was a massive waste of time and space. Last year Disneyland closed it and finally started making preparations for a brand new show to debut there.
Since then we have all waited anxiously to find out what new show would appear at the theatre.
Well, our questions were answered this week, finally, when the Disney Parks Blog announced that 'Mickey and the Magical Map' would start in "summer 2013". I am hopeful that this will become a well loved show, as it looks quite neat, and that we get to see it when we visit in August (providing it has started by then!).
Since the show is taking over Fantasy Faire, you may also recall that Disneyland are relocating their Princess meet 'n' greet to what was the beloved Carnation Plaza Gardens area, next to Sleeping Beauty Castle. They are of course making some massive upgrades, and this week, again, the Parks Blog announced that we would see the opening of the new location in "spring 2013" - which could mean as early as say, the end of March (that's what I've heard, but who knows!).
Disney never like to give much away, but we are still anticipating - though it hasn't been re-confirmed properly for quite some time. They keep missing that detail out... - that the former stage area from Carnation Plaza Gardens will remain, and there will be some sort of mini show or live entertainment there, also.
Staying with Disneyland, and last weekend saw the return of their popular Day of the Three Kings event, which featured entertainment, and of course characters! Mickey and Minnie were out in special Mexican clothing, and Donald appeared with none other than Panchito and Jose! I believe though, that this was being billed as "special" for the new Limited Time Magic promotion, despite not really being new at all!
Which then brings me to Limited Time Magic itself. Loren informs me that he has been told by Cast Members in Disneyland that their Chinese New Year entertainment will also return this year, but will be advertised as one of the Limited Time Magic events, and also something similar to last years Character Fan Weekends will reappear as a Limited event, too.
I am of course very happy that these things are returning, but it makes me a little sad that they cannot think of something new and special, instead of re-branding something existing.
Of course, Disneyland are also getting their Horseshoe Revue Back for a very limited run, which I know has proven to be a very popular move.
That brings me to Florida, and their Limited Time Magic.
So far, as far as I am aware, they have had a Tomorrowland dance party, and limited edition ear hats as their first two "special" events. The problem with both of these is that they are, well, not new! Anyone who has been to Florida in the last two years will have seen Stitch and the gang rock it out in Tomorrowland almost constantly! The only real difference is that Stitch is wearing his Elvis outfit.
Incidentally, before we move on, it was Elvis's birthday yesterday, and the little blue guy we all love wanted to just pay a small tribute...
Going back to Limited Time Magic, and although we don't know much else right now, we do know that for Valentine's the parks are planning some special things (though I don't think we can expect too much), and in September in Florida a Villains dance party for Friday the 13th.
You can check out the official Limited Time Magic website here, but be warned, you might die of boredom before anything exciting is put on there! (It's a pretty dire page!)
Over at Disneyland Paris, although I am not yet allowed to reveal any details, I would say that if you were thinking about planning a trip over any time soon, especially around Valentine's Day, then you most certainly should... I have heard there will be something really extra special and magical this year! (That will be additional to their regular Valentine's offerings, which usually consist of a character brunch, special character meets and a special Magical Moment at the Disneyland Hotel).
When I am allowed to say more, trust me, I will let you all know!
Speaking of brunches, a friend informs us that there is a Chinese New Year brunch at Inventions (with characters of course) on Sunday 10th February. I thought I would point that out, as that is pretty unique. As well as Mulan and Mushu, I wonder if Li Shang will appear?...
Also, I have heard that DLP's long running Tarzan show will once again return this summer to Frontierland.
I just want to take the opportunity to direct you to my recent New Year post, which has a special message from us here at Character Central.
You might also want to check out my now (finally!) completed Hong Kong Trip Report here, my Tokyo Trip Report here, and my latest report which is from our day trip to Universal Studios Hollywood at Christmas, here.
Ok, I think that is everything for now.
Happy New Year everyone!
Dan. |
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 | Happy Topsy Turvy Day! | |
| DisneyDan
Sunday, January 6, 2013 8:07:06 AM |
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Today (6th January) is Topsy Turvy Day, otherwise known as the Feast of Fools!
So, Clopin, Esmeralda and Quasimodo are all here to celebrate!
Dan. |
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Hello everyone, and Happy New Year!
I hope you all had a fun and restful break, and are all looking forward to the fun and challenges that 2013 is sure to bring.
This coming year will be yet another incredible year for us, as we start the year with grand plans for visiting Disney Parks across the world as often as possible, as we have done in recent years.
We actually saw the New Year in over at the Disneyland Resort in California, and next month will be visiting our "home", Disneyland Paris, particularly for their Valentine's offerings.
More importantly right now for us though, Happy 3rd Birthday Character Central!
It was 3 years ago yesterday that, after designing and creating the site, we went live for the first time! (We were travelling all day yesterday, so I didn't get chance to post).
Since that day three years ago, our lives have got more incredible with every passing month. Our experiences have surpassed anything I could have imagined, and it is all because of the support and love we get for this site.
Character Central started out as being a website solely dedicated to the Disney Characters at the Disney Parks and Resorts.
We have both always loved Disney Characters, and have always enjoyed seeing them and meeting them at the Parks.
Character Central was born from that enthusiasm.
We had this vision that we wanted to be able to provide pictures and information about every Disney Character that has ever existed at the Parks, and bring them to life through our love of photography, and our love of Disney.
Over time, the site has grown, and we have grown with it. We have had some extraordinary experiences, and met some wonderful people.
The website has now exploded into this vast database of information about, and photos of, the Parks and Resorts - and of course characters.
We literally have somewhere around 100,000 pictures (at least), on the website.
We photograph everything from the stores, restaurants, food, attractions... You name it, we have seen it, done it and photographed it!
We have not abandoned our original idea, and we still focus heavily on characters, but now we also provide information and guides to everything Disney. We have a blog, and a forum with a growing number of very friendly Disney fans. We use Twitter and Facebook frequently too, and everyday more people are liking our page or following us.
We are constantly updating every page on the site, and some day soon hope to have a complete guide book of every Disney Park, down to the last detail. I can assure you, it's been hard work, but it's getting there, and even now we currently have a more-or-less complete guide to ALL of Disneyland Paris, and a complete guide to ALL of Hong Kong Disneyland.
The Asian parks are our particular project right now. There is so little information out there about them, that we are aiming to have the single largest and most comprehensive guide to those parks on the Internet - and I think I can safely say we are nearly there!
We hope that people will find the website useful when planning to visit these destinations, and hope that we are an invaluable resource to Disney fans across the world.
We thank you all for your continued support for the work we do, and we promise that there are some really neat things coming in the new year!
We have some very grand plans for the website, and we look forward to sharing our work with everyone.
Dan and Jon
Character Central |
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 | MERRY CHRISTMAS! | |
| disneydan
Tuesday, December 25, 2012 8:37:02 AM |
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Merry Christmas Everyone!
Have a truly wonderful day!
From Dan and Jon
Character Central
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