Welcome to a new edition of the DLP Report! This week we saw a few exciting milestones for ongoing projects, some new initiatives, and it was also the Sounds of Magic event. Let’s take a look!
Doritos
Seemingly out of nowhere, official partner Lay’s has taken over the recently created Frontierland food both Overland Trail Cafe, with a selection of “loaded Doritos” recipe.
3 options are in offer between 9-10 euros, and the churros are still available but the Turkey Leg isn’t.
WDI Paris has done their homework and created a light story for the snack to integrate nicely into the location, with some new props as well.
Custom created poster tell and enhance the story while you wait for your food.
Overall not a bad idea, and on the better side of recent partnership integration (we don’t really want Kiri cheese – anywhere).
The next partnership integration will be for Mars with their M&M’s brand at Boardwalk Candy Palace.
Sounds of Magic
Friday was a new Disneyland Pass event – Sounds of Magic, celebrating .. music.
On the entertainment side, the highlight was a one night only stage adaptation of The Jungle Book Jive – oh the memories. The show actually worked pretty well on stage!
Bands were also sprinkled throughout the land, giving a festive atmosphere despite the pouring rain.
Other offerings ok Main Street were less successful with confusing shows, some sounding a bit too much like your local karaoke bar.
We also learned this float still exists!
On the character meet side, this is the first time ALL meet and greets were organized in the “traditional way”, no selfie spots, no roaming. And what a joy it was! Overall our team has a great time, was able to actually meet many rare characters, and most of the queues were reasonable and well managed. Some of the most popular queues may have closed too early or often, but in these types of event it’s unrealistic to want to do all the entertainment AND also all the popular meets – something’s gotta give. So from that angle the character meets really fulfilled their purpose for character fans. The selection was also good with some rare characters not seen since 2018 or 2019. So well done team.
Overall and despite the weather, some rather positive reviews for this Sound of Magic Event!
Disney Village
We’re starting with the LEGO Store transformation where the new photo location is being installed.
It’ll look like this. The new and improved LEGO Store will officially open on April 19.
Nearby, walls are down by Earl of Sandwich, revealing the new cobblestone pavement. It looks like it’ll be a terrace (or mock terrace) separated by a planter.
This new building was also added by the lake area.
There’s also been quite a bit of progress at the new Mc Donald’s location which is now coming out of the ground pretty fast. Proof that things can happen fast sometimes.
Down the road and with the construction on Sports Bar and the closure of the temporary LEGO store, walls have moved and one of the exits of the Disney Store is blocked off.
The Disney Store, or what’s left of it, is next on that side of the street to be re-imagined into “Disney Wonders”, a shop that will be organized by franchises.
Construction and Refurbishments
As often we start with a look at World Of Frozen where the North Mountain is looking well (and snowy), just waiting for the Ice Palace.
Closer to the front, Adventure Way continues its incessant activity, including on the English Gardens gazebo and the new Tou Story Playland entrance.
Ahhhhh, the future.
This week we also got a first look at some of the painted theming on the “Regal View Restaurant and Lounge” facade. Looks promising !
On the Walt Disney Studios Park side, it’s the end of an era for Studio 1 as the Walt Disney Studios lettering has been fully erased on the Front Lot side. The main entrance sign remains. For now.
Facade renovation has also started on the park side of the building.
The shops and restaurants inside the venue are now marked by a Disney as open from April 26, suggesting this will be the official opening date of World Premiere.
Down the road theming continues to arrive around Animation Celebration. It’s all looking clean and coherent, if only that.
And at Animagique Theater, progress has been made on this lovely new wall theming in the queue.
New track, who dis? Over we Disneyland Park we’ve got some fresh new sections of tracks at Big Thunder Mountain, by Vekoma.
Tarps have been removed at the Wishing Well, revealing a nice refurbishment work.
And at Videopolis, the set for the “Disney Music Hits Concert” featuring Chip and Dale, one of the offerings of the Disney Music Festival Season starting April 19.
At Guest Parking, this sparkle design was added to the recently repaved area. Why not!
Snow White
Like it or not, the Snow White live action was released this week, and Guests could grab these free collectible cards from Cast Members.
Marchandise linked to the franchise and movie was highlighted in shops.
The Fleur de Lys bar at the Disneyland Hotel is offering specialty themed cocktails and mocktails.
And this Snow White cookie is/was available at The Old Mill. Snow White is now playing in cinemas worldwide.
This and That..
Well what do you know it’s almost April 12. Make sure to join us that day on the 33rd Anniversary of Disneyland Paris for a presentation of current and upcoming projects by Resort President Natacha Rafalski and Michel den Dulk (VP and Portfolio Executive Creative Director at WDI Paris), a tour of an immersive showroom, and more surprises.
And at the Disneyland Hotel, the pianist has returned. The current run is 6pm to 11pm until April 6.
