Here is a new Disneyland Paris update with pictures shot this month by my good friend Mouetto of Disney Central Plaza forum. We'll begin with pictures of the latest refurbishment all around the park. Above and below some pictures of Sleeping Beauty Castle still under repainting although it will be finished very soon. I still think that the new pink-blue-gold colors are a bit too strong and makes the castle look a bit like a "Barbie" castle but it's also true that Paris weather will tone down all the colors along the years, so...
Next, let's move to Adventureland where Captain Hook galleon is also in refurbishment and even more than that as they're not going to repair the galleon but literally replace it by a brand new one which will be put in place with the help of a crane in the next months. The previous one is in such amazing bad condition - as you will see on the pictures below - that in fact they didn't had the choice. Works were supposed to begin last April to end next September but apparently it took longer than expected.
From what i've been told, one of the reason of this delay might be that the company which is building the new galleon was waiting for the original blueprints...and it seems that they were lost (!) Whether this is true or not DLP guests should have soon a brand new galleon, build in stronger materials (let's hope that it won't be built in full fiber glass instead of wood) with more dramatic colors, a mix of red and black, with red color on the cannons instead of black, and front and rear of the boat will be painted in gold. All this to give to the galleon a look which will work both for a "Captain Hook" or a "Jack Sparrow" theming... Right now, the scaffolding that you can see on the pictures is there to prepare the old structure to be lifted properly.
Good news, in Discoveryland the Orbitron is back and this time the "planets" are moving again! On the picture below shot early July the Orbitron was still waiting for its planets...
...but on the videos below filmed July 12 and 13 everything was there. If you look at the videos you'll see that these planets are now turning as they were on opening day.
With this next video of the Orbitron, shot on a sunny day, you'll have a better view of the moving planets.
And what about DLP future, you ask? What about Star Tours 2 or the awaited Ratatouille ride at the WDS? Well, nothing. I mean, nothing new, no official announcement yet. The last rumors are saying that the ride is now green lit as the funding had finally been secured but i will believe it totally when it will be officially announced.
However, something interesting happened recently when John Lasseter came to the park. On the official picture below you'll see him in front of DLP castle and there is no doubt that John was there for the promotion of Cars 2 now opening in France, but John Lasseter was also spotted at the WDS on the new Ratatouille road, near Toy Story Playland, close to the future Ratatouille area...and he was not alone as Tom Fitzgerald, Executive Vice President and Senior Creative Executive, and Chrissie Allen, Senior Show Producer, joined him for this very private meeting - see photo HERE. There is no doubt that a meeting in this location is in relation with the Ratatouille ride, so may be it's a good sign. WDI Imagineers will need 18 months to build the ride and mini-land, so let's hope the works will begin soon if they want to be ready for a 2013 opening.
Let's end with a crazy story which happened last saturday at the Disneyland park where a man was arrested for "fake bomb alert". Basically, it was raining that day and the french guy was upset to have been waiting under the rain - and he didn't wanted to sit in the vehicles because they were wet... Then the 57 years old guy, becoming more upset, didn't found anything better than saying that he had a bomb with him! DLP security arrived, and soon the guy was arrested. The ride was stopped for one hour, they searched if he had really a bomb with him and of course no bomb was found as it was just a stupid joke. The only problem is that under the french law the guy can be punished for this fake bomb alert by two years in jail or a 30000 euros fine! Next time he'll be more patient, although a lot of french are totally unable to be patient... More about this bomb hoax HERE.
See you soon with a new update!
Pictures: copyright Mouetto or Disney
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