When Disneyland Paris invites a bunch of bloggers, vloggers and social influencers to Disney’s Hotel New York to share some news with them, they know how to handle this. During an evening full of surprises, there were a lot of announcements for the future of the resort. In this overview, we try to recap all of them!
Headliners
The evening started with snacks that will soon be available at Walt Disney Studios Park, such as cookies shaped in the form of Groot. When everyone was seated, the Q&A with Daniel Delcourt, Chief Operating Officer at Disneyland Paris, started. Earlier we brought you his biggest updates: Disneyland Paris is opening its own version of Mickey’s PhilharMagic (Mickey et son Orchestre PhilarMagique), the Disneyland Hotel will start with a big retheming in 2020 and the Mark Twain Riverboat is coming back to the Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing.
But, there is more! Of course, Delcourt was asked about the upcoming changes to WDS. He did not share anything we did not know, but confirmed that they start at the Marvel land this year. At this park, Ratatouille: The Adventure is having some troubles because of damaged floors. The ride will close from August to December to fix these.
Another big announcement was the celebration of Mickey’s 90th birthday in Disneyland Paris. From October 1, 2018, there will be 90 days of celebration for the famous Mouse. There will be special cupcakes per land in Disneyland Park.
This Halloween, the Halloween Cavalcade parade will return to Disneyland Park with a new float themed to the Phantom Manor attraction. Mickey will appear on this float in three different costumes, as a reminder of his birthday.
There was also a video featuring Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald who teased the upcoming changes to Phantom Manor, that is now in refurbishment. The classical ride is returning fully repainted, renovated and with a reworked storyline! You can watch the short video below.
Food and beverage
There were some rumours about a Starbucks that would appear on Main Street, U.S.A., but these were debunked. The infamous Pizza Planet Restaurant will also not open its doors again. Colonel Hathi’s Pizza Outpost in Adventureland will be reimagined.
With the Marvel Summer of Super Heroes coming to WDS this June, there will be more signature snacks in the park. One of them is the highly wanted Infinity Gauntlet cup that we have seen earlier in Disneyland Anaheim.
Also, Rendez-Vous Gourmand is returning in WDS. This small, French version of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will return with six more stalls than last year and will likely fill La Place de Rémy. It will last from July 27 till September 29, 2018.
Merchandise
You thought it would never come, but it is time for merchandise! There will be a new exclusive Disneyland Paris line with new merchandise. This will be a series made up of models from characters, but also from famous attractions such as the Tower of Terror.
The news a lot of fans were waiting for is the announcement of a book about the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. This book came out when the attraction re-opened in Paris and was sent to some blogs and influencers, but it was not for sale in the parks. This summer, it will be! Just as a comparable book about Phantom Manor. The Phantom Manor book will go on sale this autumn.
Other news
There are more characters coming to Disneyland Paris, including rare characters. This is because “they are the heart of the Disney-experience”, in the words of Delcourt. There will be a special PhotoPass Day on August 19, 2018. Furthermore, they are developing a new photo location outside Phantom Manor.
There is a plan for the refurbishments of Disney Village, that is finished 90%. The European nighttime district will be more in line with Disney Springs from Walt Disney World in Florida in the future. Concept art is coming!
Last winter, some turrets fell off the castle because of heavy winds and after that all the turrets were removed. They did not return, but Delcourt said that the castle will be complete again by summer. Disney is also fixing broken effects in Big Thunder Mountain, which seems to be some delicate work.
This winter, the Mickey’s Christmas Big Band show will return to Paris. This time there is a surprising scene in the end, at Production Courtyard in WDS. There will be a new LED-screen in WDS, premiering at the Guardians of the Galaxy dance off this summer, that facilitates a live connection to the theater where Mickey’s Big Band is performing.
About digitalization, it was said that Disneyland Paris is behind the other Disney resorts, but that they are working on a new, digital form of the now paper tickets. This new form will not be MagicBands as we know them from Walt Disney World; the service Paris is also behind on other resorts, concluded Delcourt after a visit to Anaheim. Cast Members are now following some programs to enhance their service and with it the experience of the guest.
Between all this news, there was a nice dinner with good-looking food. The acapella choir Tale of Voices ended the evening with some famous songs we know from the movies. We are very excited to report all this new stuff. What are you looking forward to?
It would be nice to see them bring back the Disney Touch to the European parks, that was missing completely. With lots of broken and badly maintained animatronics and buildings. And don’t get me started on the cast members, a lot of them where just plain rude and didn’t want to give anyone a good time. I have not visited the parks since my last visit 4 years ago, before that I would go there at least once a year. But it wasn’t a real Disney experience anymore.