Hello and welcome to a new edition of the DLP Report! This week was the controversial opening of Lounge Lightspeed, and we also check in on ongoing projects and changes. Let’s go!
Lounge Lightspeed
Hailed at an exciting unique concept, Lounge Lightspeed promised exciting cocktails, encounters with the BDX Droid and more.
Then it was time for the reality check.
The Lounge Lightspeed menu was the first outrage, showing €15 coke with dry cookies. That can’t be good for the brand who is sponsoring the initiative. Mocktails aren’t much more attractive with basic juice mixes for €22.
Guests know what kind of offering is being served at Galaxy’s Edge so this is really puzzling (of course this isn’t Galaxy’s Edge but couldn’t they take a little bit of inspiration? What about serving the exclusive Blue Milk for a couple months in Paris?)
Once the place opened, it proved to be even worse, with these sad little cookies wrapped in plastic. The “souvenir boarding pass” feels like a greyscale afterthought.
Look- €22 or even more for a drink and snack combo isn’t unheard of at a Disney Park but give us fun cocktails in souvenir glasses and creative home made desserts served on a plate? The issue is not so much the price but the value for money.
Of course there’s the appeal of the BDX Droids, but when we visited, they were scheduled to come out for another hour and a half, so you’re not even guaranteed to see them! We didn’t wait. Maybe if an interaction with the droids was guaranteed for the price (a timed ticket?) it would be easier to forgive the rest.
Theming elements aren’t shocking but there’s nothing to write home about.
If you need a cup, they have these reusable branded cups which are also not very impressive. What about importing a few crates of the cool Coca Cola bottles from Galaxy’s Edge? No. Can’t see how Coca Cola marketing can be happy with this.
Of course no one forces anyone to visit, and unless you’re dead set on waiting to meet the BDX Droids, don’t.
Lounge Lightspeed – idea: good, execution: bad.
Space Mountain 30
Can’t you believe it’s been 30 years since Space Mountain opened. A unique story, a bold rich theming, a groundbreaking Attraction. I know I was obsessed back then. 30 years later it’s falling apart but not all is lost as the Attraction is currently ongoing a refurbishment of the outside show building.
As part of this refurbishment Disneyland Paris has announced that a unique light show will be triggered with each launch. Pretty cool? The refurbishment isn’t complete and will soon include some material changes to the top, so there’s still quite a bit of time until we see this light show. With rails cracking left and right, nothing has been announced yet about work on the actual coaster.
Anniversary merchandise has been teased but is not yet available. More details later in June!
Construction and Refurbishments
Animatronic wildlife has returned to Big Thunder Mountain with some nice shiny fur!
In various part of the Attraction, woodwork has been redone, one of the key elements of this round of refurbishment. The Attraction is set to reopen June 21, with more rounds of refurbishment to be announced at a later time.
Work continues at Castle Stage, with the in depth upgrade still not close to completion. It’s unclear when a show will return to the venue but it looks at this point that it won’t be 2025. That little themed window which has a modern window inside is so funny – to me. Of course it’s not meant to be open but interesting to know it’s there.
The Disneyland Railroad had switched to summer hours – no more rides in the morning.
Over at Walt Disney Studios Park, the Rendez Vous Gourmand food festival is returning.
Here’s a look at the menus. It’ll be interesting to see what happens to this once all the Disney Adventure World food kiosks open next year.
Near Adventure Way, work continues on transforming the former Fastpass Kiosk into a shop with one of their favorite thing: slicing the top part.
At Disney Village it’s all hands on deck to finish the Sports Bar remodel.
And the stage / screen near Earl of Sandwich has been themed. It’ll host summer events like the ones in the next section.
This and That..
“Fiesta Latina” will return to Disney Village on June 13-15 with live music, DJ Sets and street entertainment. This year, the event is part of the official programme of the “Brazil-France 2025 Season”.
And we’ve got a couple menu updates – pretty positive for a change: the return of desserts included in menus (of course for more €€€), at Casa de Coco, and a new alcoholic drink, Sangria, at Cowboy Cookout BBQ.
