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Hi all,
Sorry that it has been a while since we had a proper blog update, but we have been super busy! We were of course on our long trip to Florida, which I'm sure you all followed on Facebook, and then I moved house! So yes, it has all been a bit crazy!
First up, speaking of our trip to Florida, you can check out my trip report/review of our 2 day side-trip to Universal Orlando Resort. If any of you have ever considered going over there, or have been but not for many years, you may find it useful to find out what is going on over there, and what we thought of everything - including all the awesome characters they have!
While we're on the subject of our Florida trip, Tinker Bell's "long lost sister" (yes, I know...) started making appearances last week while we were there. Of course she now has her own dedicated page on this site (albeit with not many pics yet, but in time!), so check it out!
Staying with Florida, while we were there they were also doing previews for the brand new Enchanted Tales with Belle situated in the New Fantasyland! The official opening date for a lot of the new stuff is December 6th, with previews expected shortly beforehand for those lucky ones! The fact that we got in to it in mid-September, and it doesn't open until December is quite amazing, I think!
Overall it was great to preview something so far in advance, but we were left feeling a bit disappointed that as amazing as the new area looks, and all the effort and money they have put into it, the actual Enchanted Tales experience is, well, disappointing - and we weren't the only ones who thought this. The line is likely to be really long once it opens (and as of present there is no AC nor fans under the cramped canopy outside that traps that intense Florida heat...), and when you get inside it is just a 10 minute re-telling of Belle's story, that members of the audience can participate in. There really is nothing special about it, sadly. The worst part is that you don't even get to meet Belle! This is something that could well change by Dec 6th, as I think there will be a lot of complaints from parents of young girls who thought they were waiting for an hour to meet Belle!
Like I said though, the area looks really neat, and also the animatronic Lumiere and Mme Wardrobe are pretty cool. I look forward to seeing the Be Our Guest Restaurant and all the other things that will open later this year!
We have added an Enchanted Tales with Belle page on the site already, so click on it to see all our pictures from this not-yet-open area!
We also attended the first Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party of the year while we were there, and you can check out the new, updated list of where to find all the characters this year, here.
There aren't too many changes this year. Phineas and Ferb are now in Town Square; Duffy has moved to the Boat Dock in Liberty Square; but anyway, do check out the list so that you can plan your evening! It should be note that I have since heard that when it rains, the Villains who meet in Central Plaza appear inside the Tomorrowland Terrace.
The Disney Parks Blog this week announced that the Wreck-It-Ralph characters, Ralph and Vanellope, would make their debut starting in November (no actual date given yet). In WDW they will appear where all new characters usually appear - in the Magic of Animation building in Hollywood Studios. At Disneyland they will make appearances inside the Starcade in Tomorrowland.
We'll be in DL in December and hope they are still there!
At the end of this month on the 28th, 29th and 30th September, there is a special Frankenweenie event in Downtown Disney in Florida, where they will be special screenings of other Tim Burton Disney movies, and - wait for it!- the first EVER appearances by Jack Skellington and Sally Stitches at the Walt Disney World Resort!
It is odd how they have never appeared before, especially since they already appear in DL, DLP and HKDL at Halloween.
It is expected that Jack and Sally will appear between 6 and 11pm each evening, near the Harley-Davidson store.
Along the Halloween lines, Disneyland has started it's Halloween Season, and there aren't too many changes this year, except they have decided (I guess after the success of other events there) to move the bulk of the special characters and characters in Halloween costumes over to the Big Thunder Ranch area of Frontierland. Other than that, expect Disneyland's usual fun Halloween line-up!
Finally, at Disneyland Paris, as we know they have undergone a lot of changes in recent months, and their debt was restructured again just this week.
This does mean that money is sometimes tight for the Resort, and so this year, sadly, Fantillusion and Mickey's Winter Wonderland will not be returning. However, although not really an amazing replacement for a full parade and full show, they will be running a brand new Christmas Cavalcade. A smaller production than the two that were cut, for sure, but a nice change nonetheless, and something to add to the magic of the Holiday Season.
it is expected that the popular Tree Lighting Ceremony will return, as will Santa Goofy, Santa himself and all the Holiday decorations and other goodness that comes with it!!
I think that's everything for now!
We have lots of discussions going on over on the Character Central Forums, so be sure to check those out and join the fun!
Dan. |
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Hi all,
I was going through some old emails and I noticed one I had sent to myself before the California trip regarding some news... But of course I had forgot to report it! LOL!
Anyway, there is some new news this evening, so I thought I would report this old news and new news altogether :)
The Disney Parks Blog finally announced when the New Fantasyland would fully open (minus the Fairytale Hall and Mine Coaster - they are both coming a lot later) on December 6th this year! This means that the new character features should be open by then too, including the new Enchanted Tales with Belle (replacement for Storytime with Belle), Pete's Silly Side Show (which I reported on earlier this week, and includes some cool new outfits for the VIPs!), Ariel's Grotto (which will see the return of Ariel in her true Mermaid form!) and also some new character appearances! We have heard that Gaston and Beast will start greeting guests in the New Fantasyland, as of course it will be heavily themed towards their home village.
We have also heard "someone" will move from EPCOT to Magic Kingdom. My theory is that this is Beast. He is a difficult character to cast, and thus having him two places would be awkward. So, although I could be wrong, the EPCOT character that is moving, in my opinion, will probably be Beast.
On top of that, because of the fact Donald and Goofy will now appear in the new Circus area in new outfits, they will no longer both meet in Frontierland. I have heard that Chip and Dale will be leaving Tomorrowland and will appear in Frontierland instead. This will leave Stitch and Buzz in Tomorrowland.
Overall this means we are gaining Gaston to the regualr character line-up at the Magic Kingdom.
For Mickey's Not So Scary in the Magic Kingdom, Panchito on our forum reported that Phineas and Ferb may appear in Town Square. Their addition could mean the loss of Rafiki and Timon in Adventureland.
At Disney's Hollywood Studios, Agent P is now strongly rumoured to start appearing in the Fall. If we hear more we'll report it!
Over at Disneyland Paris, you may recall that I had mentioned a while ago that Duffy had been sidelined in favour of more popular characters during quieter hours. Well, now it appears that he has been taken off the times guides altogether. The new one for this week completes omits his location on Main Street. We still hear he will be around for Halloween Season though in a special costume.
Also at DLP, a while ago I had heard that the Cowboy Cookout was returning to a regular restaurant from the start of November. User Frollo on our Forum now reports that he has heard this will be from the start of October. So, say goodbye to the the most peculiar tea party in the Wild West! (For those of you who aren't aware, Cowboy Cookout was an amazing counter service restaurant at DLP in Frontierland. About 3 years ago they stopped the regualr operation of the venue and added a "Tea Party with Disney Characters". A tea party with Woody, Jessie and the VIPs in their Western gear, in Frontierland. It was a n odd concept, but one which was very well received, reasonably priced, and offered good food).
I actually look forward to it returning as a counter service restaurant, despite being a huge character fan. It is more fitting that such a grand restaurant fulfil it's true potential.
That isn't all this week's news - check my post from two days ago, too, for some other relevant things!
Ok, I think that's all for now. Please remember that everything is rumour or speculation until confirmed by Disney. We try to be as accurate as possible, but s with everything, things can change!
Dan. |
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Hi all, Just some updates regarding news I already brought you earlier in the week. The new Redwood Creek area in DCA has opened, with Russell and Dug are now meeting there. There is a mini-show for the kids as well as the meet 'n' greet. This post on MiceChat has all the details (and I'm sure Loren will post something to the forum after the weekend!) Over in Florida, I had mentioned that some new villains may appear in WDW this year. Our Facebook friends seem to think that Hades might return, but as a face character, which would be interesting. There has been suggestion that Shan Yu might appear too, but as always, these things are not confirmed as yet (though we DO know three new villains will appear - it's just the who!) Finally, I also saw from a friend that he heard Gaston may appear in the New Fanatasyland once it opens with the new Beauty and the Beast area. Gaston appears for meets fairly often in DLP, but has not been seen anywhere else in many, many years. I think that's all for now. I'm sure I'll remember something later and wish I had posted it! Dan. |
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