Last week, in my previous DLP update, i let you know about the upcoming Peter Pan show in Adventureland as well as the new Princess meet and greet in Fantasyland. Well, in addition to these, Disneyland Paris will launch in June a new kind of party, the "Mickey’s Princesses & Pirates Party".

These Mickey’s Princesses & Pirates Party will happen on June 1, 10, 17 and 24th between 8pm and 11pm. Just like the big Halloween party these new Princesses & Pirates Party will be special evenings (if i can say, considering that sunset in June is not before 10.30pm) and will begin after the park closed for normal guests who don't have special tickets for the party. Ticket price will be 25€ per guest, free for children under 3.



The title - Mickey’s Princesses & Pirates Party - is a tribute to WDW “Disney’s Pirates & Princesses Party” event, although it won't be comparable. In an answer to guests requests DLP has decided to create an event more adapted to young children who will be able to meet their favorite Disney characters as well as Jack Sparrow in an intimate and family evening. The party program has been thought for young kids with no attractions which have a height limit to make sure all children will have a magical evening.

In Adventureland, children will have fun with Captain Hook, Monsieur Mouche, Peter Pan, Wendy and the pirates during 20 minutes sessions and will also meet Jack Sparrow near Pirates of Caribbean. In Fantasyland, the "Royal Academy" will teach them all that a young children needs to know to behave in a royal manner, and kids will receive a "royal diploma". The evening will end with a surprise private parade with five floats of the afternoon parade and all the beloved characters.

All along the evening Disney characters will also meet the guests in Aventureland and Fantasyland, and this include: Minnie (Princesse Costume), Dingo (Pirate), Donald (Costume Pirate Costume), Aurora & Prince Philip, Ariel & Prince Eric, Belle, Pocahontas & John Smith, Tiana & Prince Naveen, Raiponce & Flynnd, Snow White and her Prince, Alice & the White Rabitt, Mary Poppins & Bert, Mulan, and Tinkerbell. Each children will also receive a special book that he will have to fill with special stickers and characters autographs all along the evening.



Here are the ride which will stay open during these party, until 11pm: Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan’s Flight, It’s a Small World, Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups, Dumbo the flying elephant, Les Voyages de Pinocchio, Snow White, Le Carrousel de Lancelot.
If you're planning to visit the park in June with young children these new Mickey’s Princesses & Pirates Party might be fun for them!

Pictures: copyright Disney

adventureland billets disneyland paris fantasyland Mickey’s Princesses and Pirates Party

1:47:00 PM

Last week, in my previous DLP update, i let you know about the upcoming Peter Pan show in Adventureland as well as the new Princess meet and greet in Fantasyland. Well, in addition to these, Disneyland Paris will launch in June a new kind of party, the "Mickey’s Princesses & Pirates Party".

These Mickey’s Princesses & Pirates Party will happen on June 1, 10, 17 and 24th between 8pm and 11pm. Just like the big Halloween party these new Princesses & Pirates Party will be special evenings (if i can say, considering that sunset in June is not before 10.30pm) and will begin after the park closed for normal guests who don't have special tickets for the party. Ticket price will be 25€ per guest, free for children under 3.



The title - Mickey’s Princesses & Pirates Party - is a tribute to WDW “Disney’s Pirates & Princesses Party” event, although it won't be comparable. In an answer to guests requests DLP has decided to create an event more adapted to young children who will be able to meet their favorite Disney characters as well as Jack Sparrow in an intimate and family evening. The party program has been thought for young kids with no attractions which have a height limit to make sure all children will have a magical evening.

In Adventureland, children will have fun with Captain Hook, Monsieur Mouche, Peter Pan, Wendy and the pirates during 20 minutes sessions and will also meet Jack Sparrow near Pirates of Caribbean. In Fantasyland, the "Royal Academy" will teach them all that a young children needs to know to behave in a royal manner, and kids will receive a "royal diploma". The evening will end with a surprise private parade with five floats of the afternoon parade and all the beloved characters.

All along the evening Disney characters will also meet the guests in Aventureland and Fantasyland, and this include: Minnie (Princesse Costume), Dingo (Pirate), Donald (Costume Pirate Costume), Aurora & Prince Philip, Ariel & Prince Eric, Belle, Pocahontas & John Smith, Tiana & Prince Naveen, Raiponce & Flynnd, Snow White and her Prince, Alice & the White Rabitt, Mary Poppins & Bert, Mulan, and Tinkerbell. Each children will also receive a special book that he will have to fill with special stickers and characters autographs all along the evening.



Here are the ride which will stay open during these party, until 11pm: Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan’s Flight, It’s a Small World, Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups, Dumbo the flying elephant, Les Voyages de Pinocchio, Snow White, Le Carrousel de Lancelot.
If you're planning to visit the park in June with young children these new Mickey’s Princesses & Pirates Party might be fun for them!

Pictures: copyright Disney

adventureland billets disneyland paris fantasyland Mickey’s Princesses and Pirates Party

1:47:00 PM

In a previous life i was a photographer and i did dozen of special reports all around the world, mainly in "real Adventureland" locations. Whether it was inside the South-East Asia jungles or old temples or the tumbs of old Pharaohs in the Egyptian desert i've spent many years shooting pictures of amazing sites. And the good news is that i've decided to share these pictures with the rest of the world through great applications for the Apple iPhone, IPad or iPod Touch called "Asia Treasures", a journey through Asia's historical masterpieces. The first app to be released is all about a fantastic and not-so-known archeological place in Burma called Bagan.



Located 500km north of Rangoon and in the Mandalay division, Bagan is truly a magical place and a pure « Indiana Jones » dream: over 25 square miles, more than 2000 temples, pagodas and stupas of all sizes – some as high as cathedrals – standing in the plain and on the banks of the Irrawaddy river! If someday you'll make the trip to Bagan you won’t be disappointed. Above and below, some pictures to introduce this Asia Treasures - Bagan application (Please note that the pictures of the App - others than the Introduction pictures below - have no text written on them).



Created in 849 with the union of 19 villages, Bagan is, in fact, the old capital of the kingdom of Pagan, which was destroyed by Mongols in 1287. The site, as big as the one in Angkor, has been damaged by earthquakes many times, and some tourism developments prevented the site of Bagan to be part of Unesco’s World Heritage sites.



At the time of its splendor (1044-1287), half a million of inhabitants were living in the first Burmese Empire capital. Most of the buildings made fromwood are not there anymore, but Bagan, close to the Irrawaddy river, is a stunning archeological site and a witness to a strong Buddhist tradition. There are so many Buddha statues on Bagan’s site that it’s seemingly impossible to count them all! Bagan is definitely a not-to-be-missed site if someday you travel in south-East Asia.



Those of you who own an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch will find the app in the iTunes Appstore under the name "Asia Treasures Bagan". The link to the iPhone version of the app is HERE and the one for the iPad version of the app is HERE. One more thing: the app cost only $0.99 - or 0.79€ - which makes it affordable for everyone, a very reasonable price to discover a pure Adventureland dream.

This App is also perfect to prepare a trip in Asia, for art lovers, or for anyone who wants to discover places of amazing beauty through hundreds of HD pictures. And if you are a WDI Imagineer, this app is full of great pictorial infos which can be helpful for an "Adventureland" design!



Here is some technical infos about the app as well as the app iTunes icon:



Asia Treasures - Bagan include seven chapters:

- Bagan Temples
- New bagan Village
- Irrawaddy River
- Bagan People
- Bagan Hotel
- Thanatar Gate Hotel
- Old Maps



App Features:

- Hundreds of HD pictures and text in English or French

- Wikipedia links for each picture for more infos on each chapter

- Menu for instant access to each chapter

- Image gallery to select pictures of a chapter

- Maps of Burma and Bagan

- Selection of favorite pictures

- A special "How to go?" section with travel infos and a selection of best hotels

- Slide show mode

Asia Treasures - Bagan is available HERE and HERE on the U.S Apple Appstore and is also available in others Appstore of your own country under the name "Asia Treasures Bagan".



Hope you'll enjoy the app! Thanks for your support!

All pictures: copyright Park Lane Editions

adventureland asia treasures bagan bagan indiana jones Indiana Jones 5

1:24:00 PM

In a previous life i was a photographer and i did dozen of special reports all around the world, mainly in "real Adventureland" locations. Whether it was inside the South-East Asia jungles or old temples or the tumbs of old Pharaohs in the Egyptian desert i've spent many years shooting pictures of amazing sites. And the good news is that i've decided to share these pictures with the rest of the world through great applications for the Apple iPhone, IPad or iPod Touch called "Asia Treasures", a journey through Asia's historical masterpieces. The first app to be released is all about a fantastic and not-so-known archeological place in Burma called Bagan.



Located 500km north of Rangoon and in the Mandalay division, Bagan is truly a magical place and a pure « Indiana Jones » dream: over 25 square miles, more than 2000 temples, pagodas and stupas of all sizes – some as high as cathedrals – standing in the plain and on the banks of the Irrawaddy river! If someday you'll make the trip to Bagan you won’t be disappointed. Above and below, some pictures to introduce this Asia Treasures - Bagan application (Please note that the pictures of the App - others than the Introduction pictures below - have no text written on them).



Created in 849 with the union of 19 villages, Bagan is, in fact, the old capital of the kingdom of Pagan, which was destroyed by Mongols in 1287. The site, as big as the one in Angkor, has been damaged by earthquakes many times, and some tourism developments prevented the site of Bagan to be part of Unesco’s World Heritage sites.



At the time of its splendor (1044-1287), half a million of inhabitants were living in the first Burmese Empire capital. Most of the buildings made fromwood are not there anymore, but Bagan, close to the Irrawaddy river, is a stunning archeological site and a witness to a strong Buddhist tradition. There are so many Buddha statues on Bagan’s site that it’s seemingly impossible to count them all! Bagan is definitely a not-to-be-missed site if someday you travel in south-East Asia.



Those of you who own an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch will find the app in the iTunes Appstore under the name "Asia Treasures Bagan". The link to the iPhone version of the app is HERE and the one for the iPad version of the app is HERE. One more thing: the app cost only $0.99 - or 0.79€ - which makes it affordable for everyone, a very reasonable price to discover a pure Adventureland dream.

This App is also perfect to prepare a trip in Asia, for art lovers, or for anyone who wants to discover places of amazing beauty through hundreds of HD pictures. And if you are a WDI Imagineer, this app is full of great pictorial infos which can be helpful for an "Adventureland" design!



Here is some technical infos about the app as well as the app iTunes icon:



Asia Treasures - Bagan include seven chapters:

- Bagan Temples
- New bagan Village
- Irrawaddy River
- Bagan People
- Bagan Hotel
- Thanatar Gate Hotel
- Old Maps



App Features:

- Hundreds of HD pictures and text in English or French

- Wikipedia links for each picture for more infos on each chapter

- Menu for instant access to each chapter

- Image gallery to select pictures of a chapter

- Maps of Burma and Bagan

- Selection of favorite pictures

- A special "How to go?" section with travel infos and a selection of best hotels

- Slide show mode

Asia Treasures - Bagan is available HERE and HERE on the U.S Apple Appstore and is also available in others Appstore of your own country under the name "Asia Treasures Bagan".



Hope you'll enjoy the app! Thanks for your support!

All pictures: copyright Park Lane Editions

adventureland asia treasures bagan bagan indiana jones Indiana Jones 5

1:24:00 PM

This is THE attraction that everybody is waiting for at DLP Magic Kingdom: Indiana Jones Adventure and the temple of the Forbidden Eye. Any DLP fans knows that the land to built the attraction is kept in Adventureland but they are waiting for the attraction since so many years that the hope to see it built some day is vanishing...

As you will see on the document below, WDI imagineers not only envisioned to build IJA at DLP, but they also did blueprints. Although this blueprint was probably done many years ago, when the park will finally decide to built the attraction - translate: when they will have the money to build it - you can be sure that WDI imagineers will be happy to bring this beloved attraction at DLP.

To tell the truth, all the WDI Imagineers that i've met agree on the fact that bringing Indiana Jones Adventure at DLP will be not only one of the best choice that DLP management could make, but also that it will be an instant hit among DLP visitors.
Yes, but...there is two problems: the first one is the price: Indiana Jones Adventure is a VERY expensive attraction to build, and the second problem is the maintenance cost of the attraction which is very high, too. And, as maintenance costs at DLP are already very high DLP execs are of course trying to avoid to increase them.

How much is the cost of Indiana Jones Adventure, you ask? Frankly, i don't know the real numbers, but not less than 150 millions of dollars, and probably more now. As i think that DLP is paying at WDI the new attractions in dollars, and although the change rate between the dollar and the euro changed the last two years, it's still a pretty good deal for the park's management to order at WDI an Indiana Jones Adventure. Of course, even with the favorable change IJA is still a very expensive ride but it would be so popular...

Anyway, let's come back to the document below where you will see that the facility envisioned for Indiana Jones Adventure at DLP's Adventureland will take a big part of the land still available, with its back wall close to the Pirates of Caribbean building. It seems, too, that the entrance will be through another small temple located in front of the "Temple du péril".



To give you a better idea, here is a satellite view of the park with the blueprint upon it. It's more easy to locate exactly where will be what, if some day the park build Indiana Jones Adventure.



Let's talk a bit now about the maintenance problem and, as you will see, it might give us an idea of when the attraction could be build. One the main maintenance problem have always been the IJA vehicles. Whether it's at Disneyland or at Disney Sea (where, i think, the cars are electric) they always had problems with them. I mean, real problems almost every day. Which means lot of (expensive) maintenance.

So, where is the solution? Well, you see, when Cars Land will open next year at DCA not only Radiator Springs Racer will be a major E-Ticket ride but the ride vehicle system invented by WDI will be a brand new one. AND, from what i've been told, IF this new ride system proves to be more reliable - and with less maintenance than IJA vehicles - THEN it will be envisioned again to bring Indiana Jones Adventure to DLP - and even to HKDL.

Knowing that Cars Land will open in 2012 and that they will need more or less one year to be sure that the new ride system is more reliable it would mean that no decision to "import" IJA at DLP will happen before 2013. Considering that WDI Imagineers needs two years to build Indiana Jones Adventure you'll understand that you better don't expect an Indiana Jones Adventure opening at DLP before 2015 - and this if DLP management takes his decision in 2013, which is not guaranteed.

I agree that there is a lot of "IF" in all this, but i wanted to explain to you in detail where is the problem - and where is the hope - so you won't waste your time waiting at DLP for this beautiful attraction before 2015 at the earliest.

Photos and document : copyright Disney

adventureland disneyland paris indiana jones Indiana Jones adventure walt disney imagineering

2:34:00 PM

This is THE attraction that everybody is waiting for at DLP Magic Kingdom: Indiana Jones Adventure and the temple of the Forbidden Eye. Any DLP fans knows that the land to built the attraction is kept in Adventureland but they are waiting for the attraction since so many years that the hope to see it built some day is vanishing...

As you will see on the document below, WDI imagineers not only envisioned to build IJA at DLP, but they also did blueprints. Although this blueprint was probably done many years ago, when the park will finally decide to built the attraction - translate: when they will have the money to build it - you can be sure that WDI imagineers will be happy to bring this beloved attraction at DLP.

To tell the truth, all the WDI Imagineers that i've met agree on the fact that bringing Indiana Jones Adventure at DLP will be not only one of the best choice that DLP management could make, but also that it will be an instant hit among DLP visitors.
Yes, but...there is two problems: the first one is the price: Indiana Jones Adventure is a VERY expensive attraction to build, and the second problem is the maintenance cost of the attraction which is very high, too. And, as maintenance costs at DLP are already very high DLP execs are of course trying to avoid to increase them.

How much is the cost of Indiana Jones Adventure, you ask? Frankly, i don't know the real numbers, but not less than 150 millions of dollars, and probably more now. As i think that DLP is paying at WDI the new attractions in dollars, and although the change rate between the dollar and the euro changed the last two years, it's still a pretty good deal for the park's management to order at WDI an Indiana Jones Adventure. Of course, even with the favorable change IJA is still a very expensive ride but it would be so popular...

Anyway, let's come back to the document below where you will see that the facility envisioned for Indiana Jones Adventure at DLP's Adventureland will take a big part of the land still available, with its back wall close to the Pirates of Caribbean building. It seems, too, that the entrance will be through another small temple located in front of the "Temple du péril".



To give you a better idea, here is a satellite view of the park with the blueprint upon it. It's more easy to locate exactly where will be what, if some day the park build Indiana Jones Adventure.



Let's talk a bit now about the maintenance problem and, as you will see, it might give us an idea of when the attraction could be build. One the main maintenance problem have always been the IJA vehicles. Whether it's at Disneyland or at Disney Sea (where, i think, the cars are electric) they always had problems with them. I mean, real problems almost every day. Which means lot of (expensive) maintenance.

So, where is the solution? Well, you see, when Cars Land will open next year at DCA not only Radiator Springs Racer will be a major E-Ticket ride but the ride vehicle system invented by WDI will be a brand new one. AND, from what i've been told, IF this new ride system proves to be more reliable - and with less maintenance than IJA vehicles - THEN it will be envisioned again to bring Indiana Jones Adventure to DLP - and even to HKDL.

Knowing that Cars Land will open in 2012 and that they will need more or less one year to be sure that the new ride system is more reliable it would mean that no decision to "import" IJA at DLP will happen before 2013. Considering that WDI Imagineers needs two years to build Indiana Jones Adventure you'll understand that you better don't expect an Indiana Jones Adventure opening at DLP before 2015 - and this if DLP management takes his decision in 2013, which is not guaranteed.

I agree that there is a lot of "IF" in all this, but i wanted to explain to you in detail where is the problem - and where is the hope - so you won't waste your time waiting at DLP for this beautiful attraction before 2015 at the earliest.

Photos and document : copyright Disney

adventureland disneyland paris indiana jones Indiana Jones adventure walt disney imagineering

2:34:00 PM

When Disneyland open in 1955, the Jungle Cruise attraction was there. Probably the oldest beloved "E" ticket in the park, it deserves a real tribute and, that's what we will do today!

Above, an attraction poster for Adventureland and the Jungle Cruise.
Below, Walt show the model of the Jungle Cruise boat.



Five different artwork for the attraction.







Two pictures of the WDI Jungle Cruise model.




Walt discussing with Harper Goff, show designer of the attraction on a Jungle Cruise boat.



Walt with the Jungle Cruise audio-animatronics animals during the construction, and the hippos, below.




An overview shot of the Jungle Cruise in 1955



All aboard !



Different scenes of the attraction from old picture and postcards , circa 1955, and one picture of Walt firing at the hippos!









Walt Disney and Nehru, at that time India's prime minister: all aboard for the Jungle Cruise!



A recent picture of the Jungle Cruise boat, after the boats were re-designed.



Probably the two best Jungle Cruise merchandise items: The great miniaturist Robert Olszewski did a fantastic miniature of the Jungle Cruise attraction, still available at the park.




And let's not forget the great Jungle Cruise boat replica done by Kevin Kidney and Jody Dailey for Disney shopping, out of stock now, but often available on e bay.



But before you go, don't miss this old video with Walt himself presenting the attraction to you and former India's legendary prime minister Nehru.




All my thanks to freedogshampoo for this Youtube video

All photos and artwork: copyright Disney

Video: copyright Disney

adventureland disneyland harper goff jungle cruise

2:02:00 PM