Welcome to a new edition, fresh off our trip to the Disneyland Resort for D23! This week we will focus on Disneyland Paris announcements at D23, Princess Week, plus our usual tour of the parks. Let’s go!
Disneyland Paris at D23
As with every two years the “ultimate fan event” has returned to the Anaheim Convention Center, the Honda Center and the Disneyland Resort as a whole. As Disneyland Paris fans to is rarely the place for huge announcements, as each international resort typically likes to keep some news for themselves the rest of the year (with the exception of the Lion King Land announcement in 2024) but we still got some exciting tidbits.
At the Walt Disney Imagineering Pavilion, we got to take a oser look at models for Rafiki’s Tree, the attraction ride vehicle and the Hakuna Matata scene. Nothing really new here, most have already appeared in videos, but cool to see this pieces in person. That was it for the Pavilion, pretty much “more info” about what has been announced in 2024.
On Saturday night we headed to the Honda Center and kept our eyes and ears open for Disneyland Paris announcements. They actually came pretty quick. While most resort announced plans for new lands and attractions, we’re actually bringing back old ones – but we’re not gonna complain as for years the fan community has been asking the resort to..
..BRING BACK THE MOON!
Indeed after a lazy Mission 2 redo, and a nonsensical “Hyperspace Mountain” overlay they overstayed its welcome, the next big refurbishment of the attraction in 2028 will bring back a story inspired by Jules Vernes, and the steampunk look and feel of the original attraction.
As part of the project, the inside queue will once again let guests see the trains zip around in the dark (and hopefully this will allow operations to USE that queue as adequate ventilation will return). We’re also not EXACTLY going back to the original story: the look and feel will be back, but the story will focus on an “idealized version of the first voyages to the moon”, whatever that may mean.
The next day, it was also announced that the cannon will receive modern versions of most of the original effects, so we’re expected the recoil, the smoke, the sound and the lights.
But don’t book a trip for it just yet, Hyperspace Mountain is expected to close “late 2027” with the refurbishment likely taking several months. Welcome back Mr. Vernes.
On Saturday night we also got a new overall concept art for The Lion Kind Land for your perusal.
And a concept art of the “confrontation with Scar”, confirming the villain will be part of the attraction, likely as an animatronic, in a major way.
With entertainment largely snubbed across the board at the Experiences Showcase, each resort was left to their own demise to publish any entertainment offerings coming up. For Disneyland Paris, we’re excepted to be getting a brand new day parade with dual back-to-back floats, in 2028. Yes – 2028 meaning we’re not getting a new parade for Disneyland Paris 35.
As the Resort’s accounting dept is still expecting to ride the Disney Adventure World opening wave to fill up the bookings calendar, I guess the “parade lever” didn’t need to be pulled, Kronk.
And that’s Disneyland Paris at D23 this year! A big thank you to all the friends we saw in Anaheim, and the wonderful cast of the Disneyland Resort for their legendary hospitality.
We’ve also got a lot more coverage of the Entertainment Showcase and the US and Intl Parks across all our socials, so make sure to scroll up if you haven’t already. See ya in 2028, D23!
Princess Week
In the middle of D23, obviously Disneyland Paris has to launch Princess Week! Minnie has been greeting guests on Main Street Station each morning..
And throughout the lands, Guests could participate in special happenings involving the Disney Princesses.
Over on Castle Stage, a new show “Disney Princess Musical Memories” debuted, and it looks like it may stay for a bit after Princess Week. You can see the full show on our socials.
Of course it wouldn’t be a limited time celebration without a cake to share, and this heat it celebrates Tiana!
Guests could also collect a set of 2 collectible cards.
As often, Disneyland Paris has mastered the recipe of these limited time celebrations and Princess Week is probably one of the earliest blueprint. Well done Cast and Crew!
Disney Dream
On Friday we were invited to the Port of Southampton, England, to tour the Disney Dream cruise ship with the Disney Destinations Intl, Disney cruise Line and Insidears teams.
The Dream is a fantastic ship, part of the “second generation” of ships with the Disney Fantasy. It particularly shines with its adult offerings (you’ll find a lot more bars and clubs than on the newer ships), and its recently remodeled Oceaneers Club for younger Guests which features fantastic Star Wars, Marvel, Disney Animation and more offerings.
While the Disney Dream has been cruising Europe all summer, the visit was also a chance to discuss the next big thing: the exciting Disney Wish is coming to Europe next summer starting July 17 – a great occasion to experience this newer ship without having to fly to the US!
Construction and Refurbishments
The Fantasia Gardens fountains got their routine clean this week.
On Central Plaza, we welcomed the second new generation topiary: Tick Tock the Crocodile from Peter Pan! He looks GREAT and yes, the clock actually works.
In Fantasyland, Dumbo is closed for routine refurbishment until the end of the month.
Maybe the Fantasia Gardens cleaning crew can do “it’s a small world” next.
Over at Disney Adventure World we’re tracking progress on the Up Sky Swings attraction, with a lot of the facade evening starting to be applied.
This and That..
New straws that feel like plastic have been deployed across the Resort, replacing the unpopular paper ones. We’re told they may be made of a rice base and are biodegradable.
And bookings for the next edition of the Disneyland Pass Pop Up Surprises at Animation Celebration will open on August 25 at 11am for experiences between August 28 and September 20. They’re on their way!
