Welcome to a new edition of the DLP Report! This week strikes hit the Resort once again. We also attended the “Marvel Art Atelier” opening and of course took a look at the latest projects.
On Strike
Monday was another day of strikes for part of the Cast Members who are still trying to get heard by Disney on their demands for better pay and working conditions.
This time around the demonstrations started at Walt Disney Studios Park before moving on to Disneyland Park. Disney continues to largely ignore the demands but has invited unions to a meeting on June 26 to discuss “the latest and the upcoming timetable for the negotiations” which are still set to start in august. Let’s wait and see if anything comes out of the meeting and if it will have an effect (positive or negative) on strike actions inside the parks.
Marvel Art Atelier
On Wednesday we attended the opening of the Marvel Art Atelier at Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, a new program for aspiring MARVEL artists with mentor Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Stormbreakers Peach Momoko & Natacha Bustos. It’s designed to further the hotel’s mission to showcase but also discover new Marvel artists.
The Art resulting from the workshops is on display at The Jack Kirby Legacy Gallery, from 5 artists:
- Jason Muhr
- Matteo Leoni
- Frederica Mancin
- Adam Farquharson
- Dani Parker
C.B. Cebulski, editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, even offered a contract to Frederica Mansin, following her participation in the program.
Disneyland Paris President Natacha Rafalski also made a surprise appearance to meet the artists.
The event was also the occasion to showcase new offerings at the hotel, like this Dr. Strange special effect prop that will showcase specialty cocktails as you order them starting this summer at the Bleecker Street Lounge.
And some new Dr. Strange cocktails also at Bleeker Street soon:
- The “Runes of Kof-Kol”, named after the spell used to erase people’s memories,
- The “Kamar-Taj”, after the home and training grounds to the Masters of the Mystic Arts in Kathmandu, Nepal.
While on the topic, we also tasted the new “Friend or Foe” Secret Invasion cocktail at Skyline Bar, inspired by the Skrull alien race. Optical illusion with a lychee hidden in purple layer & purple bubbles in the green (St Germain Liqueur, Gin, Lime, Aloe Vera, Basil, Egg White, Blackcurrant-Flavoured Beads, €16)
A Secret Invasion Magic Shot was also available at Avengers Campus, it appears only for 1 day on the release day.
Disneyland Paris gives up on Twitter
Disneyland Paris is giving up on Twitter Guest Services: from July 1 they will no longer reply to public or private messages on
@DisneyParis_EN @DisneylandParis or @DLPHelp. Disney states that help is available on the web, Insta & FB Messenger. It appears the new fees demanded by Twitter to keep running API’s and other customer service accounts are too high to justify keeping the service.
Their Twitter accounts will now become simple dumping grounds for the boring and often out of touch marketing posts.
Maintenance and Refurbishments
We start at the Walt Disney Studios Park expansion site where the first wooden structures have started to arrive. It’s for that cute little building.
The overall project is going great with the Frozen themed land gaining new walls and pillars by the day and the lake taking its final shape. Closer to Hollywood Blvd, supporting walls are popping up near the future Tangled spinner. Work on the landscaped avenue however is slower.
Staying in the area, the back road to Avengers Campus has reopened, once again providing a back entrance / exit into the land.
At PYM kitchen, guess what – the glass door is broken AGAIN.
And on Stark Plaza, the Asgard Pedestal is gone again while the Thor and Loki show is on scheduled hiatus. The show will return on July 14 but you can still meet the bros walking around Avengers Campus.
Over at Disneyland Park, walls have moved again Station Plaza for the big refurbishment project scheduled to last until the end of the year.
Still on Main Street, the new City Hall queue has been setup with another new set of flags. Whichever company is providing these must be making BANK.
All the LED meshes have been removed from Sleeping Beauty Castle except one on the central tower. They were having a lot of issues after a couple storms and I guess daily uses.
In Discoveryland the Cafe Hyperion menu board is finally back after 6 months of refurbishment with a beautiful stained glass sign.
The Lucky Nugget has also reopened from refurbishment this week after enhancement to theming, the entrance doors, safety and accessibility with a new elevator platform.
It also got something no one asked for: a more expensive menu (for the same basic food). Sad to see such underwhelming food in such a gorgeous setting.
At Casa de Coco, the mesh addition has been covered in concrete to form the walls of the new entrance arches. The refurbishment and retheme is – you guessed it – late.
In Adventureland the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost side facade is out from refurbishment with general clean up and repainting of the props.
And still in Adventureland, the Passage Enchante D’Aladdin permanent sign has returned from a long refurbishment – looking great!
Elemental
The Resort is celebrating the release of Pixar’s Elemental with free collectible card available at Walt Disney Studios Park – while stocks last.
Guests can also take a MagicShot with the characters in toon Studio until July 19.
And merchandise from the film has also arrived at a Legends of Hollywood with ears, plush, play sets and more.
This and That..
This week we got the first listen at the theme song for “TOGETHER: a Pixar Musical Adventure”!
Automatic access terminals are in service at Guest Parking. The left lane will remain staffed while all other lanes will use the new terminals (with option to be staffed), accepting bank cards and all free modes (Disney ID, Pass en Scène, Annual Pass, Magic Pass). Ohhhh Guest Parking..
And thanks to our friends at Parcs et Loisirs we got a first look at some of the items from the upcoming “Attractions” collections in this new photo. You’ll spot items for Tower of Terror, Big Thunder Mountain, “it’s a small world” and more.
