Archive for September, 2010

With rather extraordinary fanfare, Disney Parks made its latest announcement an hour ago.  I spent a puzzling half-hour on facebook with 10,000 other viewers, watching the live feed.  I have to assume many more were logged in through the Disney Parks Blog site since that was completely unavailable.

It was fascinating to read the comments coming in as the presentation made its ponderous way forward.  Obviously a group of true believers, even the most diehard members of the audience became discouraged as the show rolled on.   By the end of the broadcast, the comments were almost 100% negative; surprised, dismayed, and negative.  It wasn’t so much the content; it was the failure to deliver on the heels of so much hoopla.

Supporting the research which indicates the importance of vacation memories, the new “Let the Memories Begin” campaign will give guests the chance to share their own photos and videos and see them projected on the façade of Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort, or It’s a Small World at Disneyland Resort.  There was a rehash of old news about the World of Color, new Disney Cruise Line ships, park expansions, Aulani.  Very nice; very anticlimactic; very disappointing to the vast majority who very clearly were expecting something a great deal more dramatic.

Despite the public’s love affair with the notion of sharing the mundane details of daily life with the world, there is obviously a different set of standards when it comes to corporate pronouncements.  Still an evolving concept, social media outlets are being embraced by business with mixed results, and this appears to have been a misstep.  While it may be acceptable for Disney to publish tidbits and trivia on its blog and fan page, it seems that using them to whip people into a frenzy of anticipation about a “big” announcement which turns out to be small after all, is not.  There was a lot of speculation regarding this “exciting news;” pretty much all of it far exceeding the somewhat ho-hum rollout of the new marketing campaign.  Can’t help but feel that there’s a lesson here for us all – go big or go home.

This is a question asked frequently by our clients and showing up often in searches.  As with so many choices, this one is not completely straightforward, but dependent upon several factors. There are three performances of the Candlelight Processional each evening:  5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m.  For guests who are NOT reserving the Candlelight Processional Dining Package, the first performance of the evening is nearly always the least-crowded, offering the best chance of a seat.  You must still be prepared to get in line at least an hour before showtime; much earlier if it’s a weekend or during the peak Thanksgiving and Christmas periods.  We suggest checking the length of the standby queue a couple of hours before your chosen performance.  Cast members are keeping track of the number of guests already waiting and you can ask about your chances of a seat if the line looks daunting.

The downside of the first performance is that it isn’t truly dark yet; so much of the impact of the candle-lit processing is lost.  On the other hand, you won’t be standing in line listening to the same show that you’ll be watching later that evening!

If you ARE reserving the Candlelight Processional Dining Package, then your dining reservation time will determine which performance you will attend.  Those paying out-of-pocket rather than using credits from the Disney Dining Plan may wish to maximize their dollar and book lunch (and the 5:00 p.m. performance) at the Tier 1 Biergarten (the Garden Grill is not open for lunch). For guests using two of their Table Service credits for the package, it makes more sense to choose the Tier 3 restaurants and enjoy the more-expensive dinner.

Since the Dining Package also includes access to a reserved viewing area for Illuminations:  Reflections of Earth, some might opt for the second performance at 6:45 p.m. which will give them plenty of time to make their way to the front of the World Showcase and claim a good spot.

Even with the Dining Package, you should be in line at least 30 minutes before the show.  The number of guests already lined up will seem enormous, but once allowed entrance, the crowds move quickly into the theatre.  Fifteen minutes before the performance begins, guests in the standby line are permitted to enter and fill the remaining seats.

Don’t forget that the music is audible even if you’re not sitting in the America Gardens Theatre.  If you’re too late to get a seat, or don’t have the patience for a long wait in line, grab a drink and a chair in the outdoor dining area of Liberty Inn, located right across from the theatre.

Announcements today from Euro Disney S.C.A., which owns Disneyland Paris in partnership with the Walt Disney Company, indicate permission has been granted by the French government for a planned expansion and the construction of a new theme park.  This third park would join Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park, enlarging the area by as much as 700 acres.

Of course, there is much speculation about plans for the future expansion including the possibility of a superhero-themed park, a housing development, and a “vacation village” which would feature thousands of new hotel rooms as well as a forest and a lake.

Despite a history of financial struggles, Disneyland Paris has become the top tourist attraction in all of Europe, bringing the magic to millions of visitors since first opening in 1992. Originally called Euro Disneyland, it was renamed Disneyland Paris in 1994.  Today, the resort, known as Parc Disneyland in France, comprises two theme parks, hotels, restaurants, retail shops, convention facilities, and a golf course.

With dazzling colors and dizzying performances, Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba is a standout for visitors of all ages.  Difficult to describe yet impossible to forget, this extraordinary show combines music, dance, acting, and acrobatics with brilliant costuming, for a production that is breathtaking and unique.

If you don’t already have tickets for your upcoming visit, you’ll be paying higher prices for all regular season seats beginning September 28, 2010.  Costs will range from $75.62 to $132.06 for adults, and $60.71 to $105.44 for children ages 3 to 9.  The two higher categories, Front and Center, and Category 1, reflect an increase of $5.00 for adult tickets and $2.00 for children.  The price will be raised $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children on seats in Category 2 and Category 3.  No changes have been planned for holiday pricing which runs from December 21, 2010 to January 1, 2011.

In February of this year, La Nouba added the amazing juggling routines of Anthony Gatto, and a new rope-skipping segment became part of the show in July.

Photo by Vanessa Guzan

Grab a seat for some of the most interesting quick-service fare to be found in EPCOT’s World Showcase.  Offering a more authentic “taste” of the country than many of the other pavilions, Morocco’s Tangierine Café serves up some traditional dishes at reasonable prices.

Couscous, lentil salad, falafel, hummus, and tabouleh are all found on the menu, along with various meats, wraps, and, of course, bahklava.

There is limited seating indoor seating as well as some lovely covered tables outside, where diners can sit and enjoy their shawarma with a side of atmosphere!

While it may not be exactly the change that many were hoping for, Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain has gone “Starry-O-Phonic” with the addition of a new audio feature.  All flights will now be enhanced by a specially-composed musical score and sound effects, playing from 60 speakers installed throughout the ride.

Because the system does not broadcast from onboard speakers, it doesn’t deliver the synchronized, immersive experience of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, but riders report that it does add to the atmosphere and fun of this great attraction.