Disneyland Paris: July 2015
Friday, 17th July 2015
A quick trip to Disneyland Paris, which was in the midst of celebrating "Frozen Summer Fun". However my first stop was the Walt Disney Studios Park and a couple of rides on Ratatouille. I managed several rides with minimum wait times during my trip thanks to the Single Rider queue.
I always take a photo of the current release being advertised on Studio 1. Of course there are still banners up for films like National Treasure elsewhere in the park...
Over to Disneyland Park in time for "Frozen: A Royal Welcome". This is precisely what you see in the photo below - Anna and Elsa in a carriage. The photo also gives some indication of how popular this was; the crowd on Main Street seemed every bit as large as for the regular parade.
The Frozen Sing-along takes place several times during the day, alternating French and English performances. The show differs slightly from the Orlando version - lots of dancers and more props. Unfortunately for me, said props were giant beach balls being thrown around the audience, one of which hit me on the side of the head hard enough to damage my glasses. Yes, a beach ball!
After the show I decided to head to the hotel to sort my luggage out before getting something to eat and returning to the Park for Disney Dreams. By chance, I was walking through Disney Village in time to see the procession of the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.
I'd decided to stay at the Newport Bay Club. I fell in love with the exterior of the building on my first trip to Disneyland Paris back in 1996. A few years later, my sister and I were booked to stay there but we ended up being upgraded to the Disneyland Hotel as the Newport Bay was overbooked. I still remember actually being disappointed when my sister called to tell me this! Anyway, we finally got to stay in the hotel on our visit in 2010. The hotel is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment so the outside looks like this. However, I had a lovely bright room (on the Admiral's Floor) and would have had quite a view across Disney Village to the Park were it not for the scaffolding!
Dinner at the Steakhouse in Disney Village. I hadn't eaten there in years (funnily enough, the last time I went was with my vegetarian sister) - it's a lovely building, designed like a brick warehouse which has been turned into a jazz club.
Whilst I'd planned on watching Dreams, I had no intention of camping out in advance and taking photographs. However, as I wandered towards the Castle, I saw it was relatively quiet by one of the fenced areas in the hub area. I could sit down, put my mini tripod on the fence and have a nice, unobstructed view of the show. Well, that was the theory. However, this is Disneyland Paris where a fenced off area means one thing to guests - climb over that fence and sit in it! With children climbing back and forth I was more worried for the safety of my camera than the view but it turned out alright in the end.
Ending the day at the Fisherman's Wharf bar in the Newport Bay Club.
Saturday, 18th July 2015
Extra magic hours means one thing - trying to get decent photos on Peter Pan's Flight! Which I pretty much failed at, yet again, although I am pleased with this shot of Tiger Lily! I had two rides, both walk-ons, before heading off to my other EMH regular attractions, Dumbo and Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast. Then it was time to visit possibly my favourite attraction in the Park - the dragon! I've probably mentioned in every single Disneyland Paris trip report that I'll never get tired of photographing the dragon but just in case, I'll mention it again! Plus it's the only thing I don't object to seeing smoking inside the Park...
Time for a couple of dark rides, Pirates of the Caribbean and Phantom Manor. For once, those playful spooks actually brought the ride to a halt at the ballroom scene so I was able to grab a few decent shots.
The Cafe Hyperion/Videopolis Theater is now home to the Jedi Training Academy. I didn't catch the show while I was there but I did enjoy a Jedi Burger and Yoda Cupcake whilst watching Star Wars Rebels for the first time!
Back to the Studios, I have no idea whether this poster placement near the Tower of Terror was deliberate but I love the result!
Back to the hotel for a rest before heading back to Disneyland Park for Disney Magic on Parade.
It's no good - I just can't resist a visit to Cafe Mickey!
Sunday, 19th July 2015
I'd seen Mickey & Minnie out together when I arrived at the Park on Saturday but had decided to head for the Fantasyland rides and hope they were both out again the next day. I hadn't planned on queuing for many character photos but I can't resist the chance to get more than one character together!
I headed over to the Studios for opening. There was a huge line for Ratatouille but nothing for Single Riders so I had one last spin! And then I ended up going on a ride which I haven't been on in, well, forever! Armageddon. One day, CineMagique, I'll make it back to you.
Indiana Jones & the Temple of Peril - another ride I haven't been on for ages, but I always head over to photograph it!
Heading back through Adventureland (much of which was hidden behind green construction screens), I was surprised to come across not one, not two, but three Aladdin characters posing by the Magic Lamp!
Alice in Wonderland characters were out in force by the Labyrinth and Tea Cups.
One of those little Disney details in the fireplace at La Confiserie des Trois Fees.
After some deliberation (I never feel like I eat enough to warrant the cost of buffets) I had decided to make a reservation for the Inventions Character Brunch at the Disneyland Hotel. You can view more photos here. Whilst it is expensive, I'd certainly rate it over the character lunch at Auberge de Cendrillon where you pay even more for considerably smaller portions! I'll confess I was a little disappointed when the first characters to appear were regular 100 Hundred Wood characters but Donald, Goofy, Mickey and Minnie subsequently appeared in different outfits and that was good enough for me. Mind you, I did have to refill my dessert plate a couple of times waiting for Mickey to make his way to my table!
My traditional farewell stop - one last drink at Cafe Fantasia!
