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 | Time to Spring Forward! | |
| DisneyDan
Saturday, March 29, 2014 1:54:47 PM |
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To all our friends and fans across Europe, tonight it's time to Spring Forward!
Here to remind you are the perpetually late White Rabbit and the master of timekeeping, Cogsworth!
Dan. |
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No trip to a Disney Park would be complete without meeting everybody's favourite star, and the world's most famous mouse, Mickey! I've compiled a list of our top places to meet him at each of the 11 Disney Parks around the world. Some of them are not as obvious as you would initially anticipate, as I have tried to offer suggestions of places where you find him wearing different outfits, or where lines are shorter.
So, let's take a look! I've organised the locations purely by destination, and not in any kind of rank order.
1. Disneyland Park at the Disneyland Resort in California
Disneyland is the gateway to the whimsical world of Toontown, and where better to meet Mickey than in his house there? Depending on your time of visiting, Mickey could be wearing a variety of outfits which include his classic suit, his bandleader outfit, Steamboat Willie outfit or Sorcerer's Apprentice hat and gown. You never know which one he'll be wearing, and while you wait you get to explore the magical home of the world's most beloved mouse!
2. Disney California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort in California
When Mickey visits DCA, he greets is fans on the historical Buena Vista Street, wearing his 1920's Los Angeles clothes. It's a cute outfit and a fitting location indeed.
3. Magic Kingdom Park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida
Mickey's home at the Magic Kingdom is in Town Square Theater on Main Street USA. Here Mickey feels most comfortable, and actually talks to guests whilst wearing his special magicians costume! What sort of conversation will you have with him?
Sadly we haven't yet visited Mickey at Town Square Theater since he started talking to guests. The photo above is from a previous visit. The picture below is one taken by our good friend Lori, who has been lucky enough to meet him since he started talking!
4. EPCOT at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida
While visiting EPCOT, Mickey greets guests at the Character Spot. Although he doesn't wear a special outfit here, it is the only place you can meet him regularly in the park.
Note that the backdrop has changed since we last saw Mickey here, but remains largely similar.
5. Disney Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida
At Disney's Hollywood Studios, Mickey wears his Sorcerer's Apprentice inside the Magic of Disney Animation building. Which spells will you help him conjure up?
6. Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida
Join Mickey before he sets off on his next expedition, at the Adventurers Outpost on Discovery Island! Minnie is nearly always there too, also wearing her explorers costume.
7. Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris
This one is a bit more obscure (you might have expected I had chose 'Meet Mickey Mouse' in Fantasyland), but I have chosen Discoveryland because when Mickey visits the retro-future he dons his special space suit. Although he doesn't come out daily in Discoveryland, unlike the rest of the locations listed above, it is fairly regular, and it is the only place in the world you will find Mickey wearing a space suit!
8. Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris
When he's filming on location at the Studios, Mickey greets fans wearing his classic outfit at Toon Plaza, in Toon Studios. The backdrop is nearly always that of his house back in Toontown.
9. Tokyo Disneyland at Tokyo Disney Resort
Again, you might have expected me to chose Mickey's permanent location in Toontown, but that can often get lines of 4 hours or more, and so I have picked somewhere a bit more "relaxed". Although he doesn't come out daily in Westernland, when he does, Mickey wears his special Western outfit. The Japanese call this a "free" character set, meaning he will walk around greeting guests, instead of having a multi-hour wait! Be warned though, when he appears, there will nearly always be hoards of Japanese fans screaming for the attention of their idol! The experience of watching them do that is alone worth meeting Mickey here over any structured location!
10. Tokyo DisneySea at Tokyo Disney Resort
Deep in the heart of the Lost River Delta, Mickey is on an excavation trip. When he's taking a break from digging up ancient ruins, he greets his fans in his tent, wearing his cute archaeologist outfit. This is one of the few places at Tokyo Disney Resort where a structured meet 'n' greet location has relatively "short" lines, too, making it a great place to visit Mickey and friends!
11. Hong Kong Disneyland at the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
Bears and gold are the main attraction in the little town of Grizzly Gulch. It's also where Mickey likes to hang out when visiting Hong Kong Disneyland, and he does it in style, wearing his excellent gold rush costume! Minnie nearly always appears alongside him, too.
Of course, these locations aren't the only places at the parks where you can meet the Big Cheese, but are the ones that I felt were different or unique in some way.
Dan. |
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Yesterday various Disney travel agency websites started reporting that from today (Wednesday 26th March) Disney would be accepting bookings for Star Wars themed character dining opportunities at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. This morning guests have started calling the reservation line, and indeed Disney are now accepting reservations for these meals! Some people are reporting having to wait for an hour on hold, so if you want to stand a chance of experiencing them, then it's best to call as soon as possible!
Of course, in order to help you make your decision though, I have details of both meals, right here!
Both meals are being offered from 4th May through to 15th June inclusive, including weekdays, according to those who have already booked this morning. The meals are of course to coincide with the immensely popular Star Wars Weekends at the park, held Friday to Sunday from 16th May through 15th June inclusive this year.
Star Wars Galactic Dine-In Breakfast at the Sci-Fi Dine-In.
Held from 8am to 12 noon inclusive, you will get the opportunity to have breakfast with Stormtroopers, a Jawa, Greedo, Boba Fett and Darth Vader! Darth Vader will reportedly be at a set location when you enter. Included in the price is a digital download photo of your party meeting Darth Vader.
The restaurant's big screen will be playing Star Wars clips and trailers, and Star Wars music will fill the air.
Prices are $47.99 for adults, and $29.99 for children aged 3-9. Prices are not inclusive of taxes or tips.
Jedi Mickey's Star Wars Dine at Hollywood & Vine
Jedi Mickey, Princess Leia Minnie, Ewoks Chip and Dale, Stormtrooper Donald and Darth Goofy will be serving up dinner from 4.15pm until park closing (times vary depending on the day) every night at a special meal at the Hollywood & Dine Restaurant!
Chip and Dale will be at a photo-location at the start of the meal, and the photo will be available as a digital download for free (included in the price of the meal).
There is a Fantasmic! Package, which includes Fantasmic! priority seating: Prices are $59.99 for adults, and $36.99 for children aged 3-9. Prices are not inclusive of taxes or tips.
Regular package (no priority seating): Prices are $55.99 for adults, and $33.99 for children aged 3-9. Prices are not inclusive of taxes or tips.
As far as we are aware, the regular Play & Dine meals with the Disney Junior characters will still feature during breakfast and lunch at this restaurant.
Although these meals are a little expensive, they do have their benefits. The best thing about them is that you get to bypass the ridiculously long lines in the hot, Florida sun. The lines to meet Jedi Mickey, Ewok Chip and Dale, and Darth Vader can easily reach several hours (we've been there and done it!). Having them come to you, at your table, at an indoor, air conditioned location is definitely the best thing about these meals. $60 to meet 5 or 6 characters, have all your food and PhotoPass picture included without waiting for 3 hours in the sun is a huge selling point, and I can see that many people will want to do this.
Please be aware that all prices, availability and what is on offer at each meal can be changed or cancelled by Disney without prior notice, and is outside of our control.
Dan.
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| Hello everyone,
Today various French Disney fan sites are reporting rather conclusively that the long rumoured Spider-Man will finally start greeting fans at the Walt Disney Studios Park (at DLP) from Saturday 19th April! He will be located next to the Blockbuster Cafe in the Backlot.
Quite by chance, Jon and I will be there that day, and are really excited at the prospect of being among the first to meet him! We have no doubt that we will be at the park gates bright and early, and will go directly to his greeting location at park open!
Of course, we have previously met Spider-Man at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, FL, even since the Disney purchase of Marvel. We could argue that in that respect, we have met him, as he was technically Disney when we met him... But of course it's exciting nonetheless to be finally be able to meet him at a Disney Park!
This is, as always, subject to change, and who knows, perhaps he'll show up even before the 19th. Whichever way it works, we'll be there at the earliest opportunity to meet him!
Have a great weekend everyone,
Dan.
Below are some pictures of when we met Spider-Man at Universal's Islands of Adventure.
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 | Happy International Day of Happiness! | |
| DisneyDan
Thursday, March 20, 2014 1:07:01 PM |
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Today is International Day of Happiness, and so I thought I would share some photos of Disney's happiest parade, Happiness is Here from Tokyo Disneyland!
Happy International Day of Happiness everyone!
Dan. |
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 | Welcome to Spring! | |
| DisneyDan
Thursday, March 20, 2014 12:38:09 PM |
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Today, 20th March, is the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. Also known as the Spring Equinox, it's the day when the hours of daylight and nighttime are equal, with the days getting longer from here on.
Here to celebrate are some of our furry pals that just love the spring!
Welcome to spring everyone!
Dan. |
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Today, 12th March 2014, is the 12th anniversary of the grand opening of Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris.
A lot has changed over the last 12 years, and the park has continued to grow into its own identity; a park filled with great shows, thrilling attractions and of course our favourite Disney character friends.
The park is not without its flaws though, and while many often claim that is lacks the attraction count of the other parks it does have 14 permanent attractions, 2 long running "permanent" shows, a parade, character greetings, and of course shops and restaurants. Of those 14 attractions and 2 shows, 5 are completely unique to Walt Disney Studios, and many of the others have a definite Parisian twist or alterations to them to make them "distinctly Disneyland Paris".
Later this year the park will be opening a brand new attraction, again that will be completely unique, which will utilise new technologies. "Ratatouille: L'Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy" will whisk guests into the world of Remy and Emile from Disney-PIXAR's Ratatouille, shrinking them down to size in a magnificent Parisian adventure! As well as the attraction, the park will gain a brand new restaurant and a new store, too.
We very much look forward to the next 12 years as the Walt Disney Studios continues to grow. It'll bring more depth and more storytelling to its lands, binding together the magical worlds of Disney and the wonders of movie world.
For this photo tribute, I have deliberately left out many character photos, as we nearly always post characters shots to the blog anyway. I thought the park deserved some attention for its 12th birthday, and so nearly everything you see below are non-character photos, but of course, I have thrown a few character ones in for good measure!
Happy 12th Anniversary Walt Disney Studios Park!
Here's to the future!
Dan.
If you're considering a trip to Disneyland Paris, you can check prices and availability on the official Disneyland Paris website. They have some great offers right now, including up to 30% off hotel and and park tickets, and half board meal plan!
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Hello everyone,
Today we finally have official confirmation from Tokyo Disney Resort that Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, who had been rumoured to start appearing for some time, will appear from the 2nd April at Tokyo DisneySea's Cape Cod area! This will be the first time ever that Walt Disney's original cartoon star will appear at a Disney Park, and hopefully paves the way for him to make future appearances around the world!
It is not known if he will remain after their spring festivities end, as at the moment he is only listed under the spring pages of the Japanese language website. We can only hope he will remain!
Other offerings this spring at Tokyo Disney Resort include a brand new Easter parade at Tokyo Disneyland, Mickey and Duffy's Spring Voyage at DisneySea which features three separate shows around the park's ports, and greetings with Duffy who will be wearing a special outfit.
Over in WDW, the Disney Parks Blog today announced that Anna and Elsa would be leaving Norway at EPCOT and moving to the Princess Fairytale Hall at the Magic Kingdom from 20th April. FastPass+ is expected to be available. Cinderella and Rapunzel should still be available in one room, but Anna and Elsa will be replacing Aurora and Snow White in the other. The Parks Blog have said that Anna and Elsa would only be greeting during the day, and in the evening other princesses shall visit, meaning that hopefully Snow White and Aurora will still be greeting at some point during any given day.
Finally, Disneyland Paris last week celebrated their annual Welsh St. David's Day festival, and this coming Monday (17th) will be celebrating the Irish St. Patrick's Day. The schedule of events will include character greetings with Mickey and Minnie in special Irish costumes, lucky (and rather mischievous!) Leprechauns roaming around Frontierland, a small dance show featuring Chip 'n' Dale in their Irish finest, and a pre-parade featuring the Disney characters in their special Irish clothes. The day will be topped off with special St. Patrick's Day fireworks over Disneyland Park.
Have a great weekend everyone,
Dan. |
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| Time to Spring Forward! | |
| DisneyDan
Saturday, March 8, 2014 4:36:14 PM |
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To all our friends and fans in many parts of the world, tonight it's time to Spring Forward! Countries affected this evening include the USA, Canada, Mexico, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Haiti, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Bermuda, Greenland and Cuba!
Here to remind you are the perpetually late White Rabbit and the master of timekeeping, Cogsworth!
Dan. |
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