Episode 23 of the Dedicated to DLP Podcast is now available. You can listen here online

We welcome back Joe as we talk about lots of Disneyland Paris 20th Anniversary news and rumours. The new parade music Magic Everywhere has one person excited and another complaining – can you guess whose reaction belongs to whom? We speculate about new Disneyland Paris merchandise and answer listener questions about Panoramagique and an adult birthday in the resort. All this and much more, and be sure to listen right to the very end for a hilarious out-take.

Videos

Magic Everywhere

Photos

Disneyland Paris 20th Anniversary Pin

Main ST Station turns yellow

Main ST Station turns gold

Links
Disneyland Paris 20th Anniversary Website
Win a Trip to Disneyland Paris
Send in your photos of Duffy the Disney Bear
20 Questions with a Disneyland Paris Fan
Brit Guide Disneyland Paris Book
Disneyland Paris From Sketch to Reality Book
Disneyland Paris 20th Anniversary Special Launch Offer – Save 40%
St Patrick’s Day 2010 in Disneyland Paris Photos

First of all, it’s nice to see all the characters in their wiazrading outfits after only seeing concept artwork for the past few months. Mickey looks great but it’s Chip and Dale that I think look especially cute in their new outfits.

Now, onto the actual song, and I did read a few people saying they weren’t sure if they liked it, but on my very first listen, which was just moments ago, I really liked it. When Just Like We Dreamed It took over from Dancin’ (A Catchy Rhythm) in 2007 I wasn’t very impressed, not because Just Like We Dreamed It wasn’t good, but because I loved Dancin’ (A Catchy Rhythm) so very much. Maybe that’s why I like Magic Everywhere straight off the bat, because it’s not replacing a song that is my favourite piece of music to ever come out of Disneyland Paris.

Disneyland Paris Disney Magic on Parade float concept art

If I like the song played on a YouTube video with pretty bad sound quality and out of focus visuals, I can only imagine that hearing it whilst watching the brand new parade coming down Main ST USA will be absolutely amazing. In fact, I’d go as far as to say it will sound like there is Magic Everywhere

I fully expected for it take some time before I warmed to the Magic Everywhere but it hasn’t – I love it! What do you think – do you like it? Will you miss Just Like We Dreamed It? Check back at this article if you want to see the lyrics and sing along.

While we’re on the topic of the Disneyland Paris 20th Anniversary, you have to watch this video that they released yesterday showing all the history of Disneyland Paris in over 1000 images. It’s called Generation Disneyland: 1992 – 2012 and is one of the greatest Disneyland Paris videos I have ever seen:

Celebrate ! Celebrate the magic !
Yeah yeah yeah
Celebrate the magic
Yeah yeah yeah
Celebrate the magic
Magic! Magic!
Magic everywhere !

Come step inside this storybook
You’ll be amazed each time you look
And marvel at the magic all around you

As pixie dust falls from a star
It touches you and here you are
One wish away from all you’ve dreamed

This world of wonders
A place like no other on earth

CHORUS

Magic Everywhere !
All that you imagine
Celebrate the pageant
Before your eyes !

In a world of light
We all come together
Neverland’s for ever
For all our lives

Celebrating 20 years of joy and laughter
Memories you’ll keep long after
Sharing all the magic everywhere
Friends come from
Every corner of the world
To feel the magic
That is real
CHORUS

Celebrating 20 years of joy and laughter
memories you’ll keep long after
Disneylands’s the place where
Joy lights up each face there
Wheter the young and young at heart
Share dreams of a lifetime
Finding right from the start
Magic Everywhere (Celebrate ! celebrate ! celebrate !)

It’s very hard to tell what this is like until you hear it accompanied by the music. I can’t fault the last 2 parade songs of Dancing (It’s A Catchy Rhythm) and Just Like We Dreamed It, so I have great faith in their ability to produce something special. So, what are your first impressions of the sneak peak at the new parade song?

You can see more great Disneyland Paris videos on our video page.

The food looks great, much better than I was expecting. Anyone else want one of those double decker chocolate square treats? The whole event is a lot grander than I had imagined and having a special show is great. My eyes grew to the size of saucers at 3 minutes and 7 seconds when The Duel of the Fates music from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace started playing. No Star Wars character appeared, but instead we saw Captain Hook, who in the world of Disney animation is probably as close to a Sith as anyone.

There looked to be some serious collectors there with their collections of pins and if I were there I’d take mine just to show them off and not to trade. I buy pins specifically to keep and only ever trade starter pins that are on sale in the shops. I’d buy the limited edition pins that are revealed exclusively on the night though.

So there we have it, we now know that a pin trading night consists of a really nice buffet, a great show, and the opportunity to buy exclusive pins and trade and meet with other pin collectors. Seems like pretty good value for 20€.

1. When did you first visit Disneyland Paris?
9 & 10 May 1998 when I was 8 years old!

2. How many times have you been in total?
14 times (07/02/2012)

3. What’s your first memory of Disneyland Paris?
Standing in line for Autopia when I was 8 years old! My first Disney ride ever!

4. What’s your favourite attraction and why?
This is such a hard question! I love several rides but if I had to pick one to put in my backyard, I think I’d go for Tower of Terror. I love the thrill, the atmosphere, the story and the cast members! (If they do there job well!)

5. Where do you stay when you visit Disneyland Paris?
I have stayed at Novotel, Santa Fe, Cheyenne, New Port Bay and Adagio. I usually only go for a one day trip since it’s only a two hour and a half drive for me.

6. Where’s your favourite place to eat?
I always eat at Colonel Hathi’s Pizza Outpost! Love it there!

7. What you do first when you get to Disneyland Paris?
Take loads of pictures!

8. Pins, Vinylmations or neither?
Pins! I collect Tower of Terror pins, pins of my favourite characters and some of the sets!

9. Do you want to see the Captain Jack Sparrow brought to the Disneyland Paris Pirates of the Caribbean like they have in Walt Disney World and Disneyland?
Yes, as long as they don’t change the music!

10. Is there anything in Disneyland Paris you have never done that still would like to do?
I’ve never visited the park with the person I love the most in the world, once that I’ve found that person.

Sven with Archdeacon Claude Frollo

11. Before you do you plan yours days or just see what happens when you are there?
I plan a bit for the parades and shows. I plan the rides that I want to do when I had a look at the waiting times.

12. What piece of music or song do you most associate with Disneyland Paris and why?
Dancin’ (A Catchy Rhythm)! Because it makes me think of the parade when I was younger which I enjoyed so much!

13. If you had to make someone a fan of Disneyland Paris by showing them 5 attractions/buildings/shows – what would they be?
Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor and Tower of Terror!

14. If you could add one new attraction to Disneyland Paris what would it be and where would you put it?
Splash Mountain with a Princess and the Frog theme in Frontierland! Because there really has to be a water ride!

15. If you could spend one night anywhere in Disneyland Paris, except the hotels, where would it be?
In Frontierland and Adventureland! Those two are my favourite lands and I could spend hours there!

16. Are you planning to visit Disneyland Paris during the 20th Anniversary Celebrations, if so when?
Yes, I will be there on April 1st and 2nd to be one of the first to see Disney Dreams!

17. If you could be a Cast Member for a day in Disneyland Paris, where would you work?
Either Tower of Terror or Phantom Manor. I love the costumes and I would love play a mysterious character!

18. Is there anything you dislike about Disneyland Paris or would change?
Studio Tram Tour… Two possibilities: bye bye ride or a very big update!

19. What’s your single greatest memory of Disneyland Paris?
Stitch Live! during my 13th visit. He said I escaped from space prison and that I had an ugly face! Unfortunately I couldn’t ask for a new one to Santa since I had been bad!

20. In no more than 20 words I love Disneyland Paris because…
It’s one of the few places in the world where I have no worries and enjoy life the most!

Want to be featured in 20 Questions with a Disneyland Paris Fan? Just email the answers to the questions, which can be found here, to dlp@dedicatedtodlp.com and let everyone know what you love about Disneyland Paris and why it’s the happiest place on Earth.

Episode 22 of the Dedicated to DLP Podcast is now available. You can listen here online

In this episode we talk to lovely Disneyland Paris Cast Member Claire Doran, and we find out all about how she became a Cast Member, what she’s been doing in Disneyland Paris, some of the funnier moments, her Disney aspirations and lots more. We also catch up on what’s been going on in Disneyland Paris this week – from the freezing conditions to the new pin releases and what Disneyland Paris asked in their latest visitor survey.

Photos

Claire in her Pizzeria Bella Notte Outfit in Disneyland Pairs

Claire in her Au Chalet de la Marionnette Outfit in Disneyland Pairs

Claire with her favourite Prince Flynn Rider in Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris 20th Anniversary Ticket Pictures

Frozen fountain in Disneyland Paris

Links
Follow Claire in Disneyland Paris and then Walt Disney World on Twitter
Save 50% on your trip to Disneyland paris – offer ends Wednesday 8th Feb & places are limited!
Enter our competition to win a holiday in Disneyland Paris

Have Your Say

We’ll be back with episode 23 in a couple of weeks and we’d love to hear from you on anything we’ve said in this episode or any other topic you want to chat about, or even just to say hello. You can email us at podcast@dedicatedtodlp.com, tweet us at @DedicatedToDLP and you can find us on Facebook here. You can also see Dedicated to DLP TV on our YouTube Channel.

The second part of the survey was more interesting and asked If you were to revisit Disneyland® Paris and stay in one of the Disney hotels, how interested would you be in staying in a room themed to a Disney movie? Would you be… and gave options as to how interested I would be. I said very interested, not for myself so much, but for my little boy Lucas who would love a themed room. That was part of the reason we were planning to stay at the Santa Fe and not our beloved Cheyenne, because of the Cars theming. It then asked me to pick my 5 favourite Disney films – ok, so it actually said movies, but I say films! Anyway, knowing this was linked to the room themes I selected Lucas’s favourites which would be Cars, Peter Pan, Mickey & Friend and Toy Story. My 5th choice went to Tarzan because that is one film that would possibly have me interested in a themed room, if done well.

The next question was Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Newport Bay Club® at Disneyland® Paris?. I answered no, as is the case, In all honestly we are very much sleep and shower in the room people so we would never get the most out of a more expensive hotel room. It then asked Amongst the following Disney Characters, which one(s) do you or your children know? and gave four options: Phineas & Ferb, Handy Manny, Jake & The Neverland Pirates or None of these. Lucas knows of Handy Manny, Jake & The Neverland Pirates so I ticked those. Could it be that while they are thinking of theming more hotels they already have a short list for the Newport Bay Club? Or could that be just me reading too much into it and that’s just how they presented the questions? Jake would fit in at the Newport Bay with the water theme, but not so much Handy Manny and I have no idea about Phineas & Ferb. Maybe the Newport Bay Club suffers from the greatest levels of under-occupancy?

Jake & The Neverland Pirates in Disneyland Paris?

Rather than associating these shows with the Newport Bay Club themed rooms I’m thinking they may just be seeing how popular these characters are and whether they need to be represented in Disneyland Paris. Maybe they are planning a makeover of the Playhouse Disney show to make it more like the Disney Junior TV channel that it has now become? In Walt Disney World it has indeed changed its name to Disney Junior – Live on Stage and does feature Jake & The Neverland Pirates

Next I was asked How important would it be for you or your children to meet the following Disney Characters during a visit to Disneyland® Paris? which for Lucas is not important at all as he is still a bit scared of them. The next questions were whether we had The Disney Channel and whether Lucas watches it regularly – yes and yes, though not as regularly as he’d like – what rotten parents we are!

It would seem a lot of thought is going into what the children would want as the advertising and marketing of the last few years would very much support. I’m all for some more themed rooms, as long as not every hotel is themed, but I can imagine some would be very opposed to what they call the toonification of Disneyland Paris. Would more themed hotels be something you’d like to see and which films would you like to see the themes based on?

Disneyland Paris 20th Anniversary Ticket Pictures

It’s nice that there’s a good variation of tickets with only the Mickey Mouse image being present in all three sets of tickets. If I’m being really picky I would have put the Peter Pan and maybe even the Buzz Lightyear into one of the other two sets as green on a green background means they don’t stand out as well as they could. That’s me being very pedantic though and personal preference plays a big part in that.

If I had to to make a guess I’d say the Ariel from Little Mermaid ticket will become the most sought after as it’s on the special event tickets so will be given out far less than standard tickets and also because Ariel hasn’t been featured so much over the years in Disneyland Paris and is very popular, possibly even the most popular of all the princesses.

Overall I think the tickets look absolutely fantastic and I’d go so far as to say they could be the best looking tickets Disneyland Paris have ever produced. Take a look at some of the previous Disneyland Paris tickets over at Euro Souvenirland and see if you agree.

Disneyland Paris Pins for February 2012

The Sally and Jack pin is quite sweet and it’s nice to get a valentine’s Day pin that doesn’t feature the usual Mickey and Minnie or Donald and Daisy. The other one, Agent P, I had to Google, as I have no idea who he/she is. Apparently it’s a character from Phineas and Ferb, which I have never seen, not even just once. Uncanny as just the other week I was having a discussion on Magic Forum about the possibility of a Phineas and Ferb attraction in Disneyland Paris and I questioned it’s popularity. I was soon told it was pretty popular, especially in places such as The Netherlands, and it seems Disneyland Paris agree to some extent, with this pin release.

The rest of this month’s poster is taken up with some text telling us that Pin Trading started in October 1999 and that there is another pin trading event coming to Disney’s Hotel New York. Now, you may know from this website and the podcast that I’ve been trying to find out what goes on at these pin trading nights and what you get for your money, usually around 20€. Thanks to Glen from Glstitch Productions who sent me the following information:

Pin Trading Event: Food (9 out of 10 times it’s a buffet ), a little show with characters and meet and greets with themed characters (like Chef Goofy) and you get a voucher and with that voucher you can buy 2 pieces of all the Limited Edition pins that come out on that night.

At last I know, and it does seem that you get your money’s worth, especially with the inclusion of 2 limited edition pins in the price.

So, that’s 3 new pins in 2 months. I’m hoping this just a quiet period and that we will be getting a decent selection each month from April when the 20th Anniversary at Disneyland Paris begins. Could it be that pin sales are on the decline? Maybe the recession is hitting people hard or maybe people are choosing vinylmation over pins? I have around 150 Disneyland Paris pins and just 3 vinylmation, of which none are from Disneyland Paris, so it’s obvious which camp I am in. Anyone defected from pins to vinylmation, or just not bothering collecting pins any more?