DLRP Today

So much, in fact, that we’re dividing this edition up into a few extra sub-topics and focusing just on the parks and resort discussion. Let’s go!

The future has arrived? Discoveryland’s new-look Autopia
By Disneytheque.com, posted by Maarten

Disneyland Resort Paris

All the general resort discussions…

Let’s begin with a little recap about this place we all know and dream of. The parks, the hotels, the entertainments and more. In fact, it’s all handily summarised in a brilliant new video on the Eurodisney.com corporate website. Riebi and the other magicforum members think it’s far better than their “public” adverts… what do you think?

Now we’ve whet your appetite for another Disneyland fix, we’ll whet it again with a topic by Barnsey313 called “What’s your favourite Disney food?“. Cowboy Cookout Barbeque and chocolate waffles fare very well on the forum, whilst some of our more discerning tasters have even picked out swordfish and a meal at The Steahouse!

Back to the resort today, and there’s been some news rumbling along under the DLRP Today radar that is beginning to pick up pace. So much so, as benjicool posts, groups are now mobilising to stop it coming to fruition. What are we talking about? The Formula 1 racing track plan. Would you like to see an F1 circuit in the view from your Newport Bay Club room? It’s time to wade into the debate…

In the same area of the resort, naf536 posts an email from the operators of the NEX Arcade (located underneath the IMAX in the Gaumont extension buildign), confirming their intentions to re-open the arcade next year after its sudden recent closure. And, whilst we assumed it closed due to poor footfall, being in such a currently undeveloped area of the resort, it seems a flood of some kind was the real cause… Very strange…

And moving swiftly around to Hurricanes nightclub, member Alpop is looking for your opinions and experiences from this topical nightclub, the only venue of its kind at the resort. If you’ve enjoyed it — or not — then why not post a quick message.

Just a few days ago, the burnt-out carriages of the Euro Tunnel train which was subjected to a disastrous lorry fire 7 miles into the Channel Tunnel were dramatically pulled out, allowing the real work to begin on repairing the South Running Tunnel. You can follow all the discussion and breaking news on our topic here. Eurostar direct trains to Disneyland are now unaffected, although some other services are still limited.

Disneyland Park

We’re having to split this mélange into a few extra flavours…

Halloween is now just hours away, and as Kristof posts a colourful new poster for the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Parties, discussion in the official season topic is in full swing. From the arrival of Jack Skellington and Sally to the unfortunate spate of Pink Witch-heads-being-replaced-by-pumpkins which lends the already-cheap decorations an even cheaper feel for fans who know their history, it’s all in here.

The busy changeover weeks into Halloween haven’t stopped other backstage teams at the resort being hard at work to bring us new things to discuss, admire — or condemn. Take — for example — the changes made at old favourite Autopia. As Ford seek to press their company image a little more firmly into its rusty, 50s-meets-Verne bodywork, are the results what we want for the future of Discoveryland? You’ll find opionions from every side here. The new Discoveryland Information Board, on the other hand, wins a rather more universal approval.

So, now we know that fans can — and should — critique the magic as well as adore it, it’s a perfect time to introduce you to a new idea on magicforum: The Effects of Disneyland Park Topic. This is basically a giant compilation of all those special little effects that make the Paris park so wonderful — but sometimes, if ever, work properly. From the Big Thunder Mountain watersplash to the fire torches in Adventureland, we’re on a mission to chart the status of them all.

Walt Disney Studios Park

And from our second gate…

Yes, read that above very carefully — “at the moment”. Those rumours of several additions in the near future are still floating around. Check the latest on the Toy Story Land rumours, or the Ratatouille rumours in their respective topics, and for something brand new with a little less wait, see the new key visuals and more in the Disney Stars ‘n’ Cars topic.

Though you won’t have heard about it through the official brochure or website, there’s a THIRD after-hours Halloween party planned for the resort this month — and it doesn’t take place in Disneyland Park. Alpop stumbled upon the news, here. Though the ‘Terrorific Night‘ is actually organised by French entertainment chainstore FNAC (they’ve effectively rented out the park for a night), it does appear to have free reign to transform the Studios into a more Univeral Studios-esque Halloween party atmosphere. And if it’s popular, it could return with full Disney backing…

Without meaning to break the magic, let’s confess one backstage Disney secret we all know — Walt Disney Studios Park isn’t a real film studio. Since opening in 2002, very, very few things have actually been filmed there. But, as andyman asks, can we name those few things which have used the park as a location for TV shows or film productions?

Finally, there’s something at Crush’s Coaster that we can claim was almost as short-lived as the Fastpass trials — that spinning, spiralling figurine of a turtle shell vehicle, previously located on a seaside pier stump outside the attraction. It was meant to show guests that the ride wasn’t the pleasant dark ride many imagine it to be, but a “turbulent, roller-coaster-type ride” that has probably — in its one year of operation — caused more tears than any Disney Villain in the history of Disneyland. Either it broke, was deemed too ugly (as Riebi suggested!) or… a magicforum member stole it.  Surely not!

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Before we go, there’s a great new website just launched that DLRP Today and the rest of the dlrpmagic.com websites are proudly adding as a new official partner.

It’s called Hidden DLRP and it’s a “blog-site” (think of that like a website in a blog format, but with posts that won’t go out of fashion in a few days) covering all the hidden details and little known facts about Disneyland Resort Paris. Subscribe to their RSS Feed, and as well as getting the latest news and columns on your reader or homepage (that’d be from us), you’ll get some little hidden gems from DLRP too.

Take a look >>

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Well, that’s all we’ve got time for this week! It’s a slightly shorter magicforum mélange than usual, with fewer forum topics covered, but that’ll give us a lot to cover when we return in just one week.

Yes, this may well finally become the weekly column we originally intended it to be. It’s quite fun to summarise the latest musings from our magicforum members but, unfortunately, it can often feel like you’re that unwitting tourist trying to fit the whole of Disneyland Resort Paris into a single day’s visit. There’s just not enough time.

Now if you’ll forgive us, that spinning turtle shell in the corner of our room needs a little push…

Hop over to magicforum >>