Disney's Abroad (Disneyland Paris' Third Gate)

[DisneyForever]

Disney's Abroad
The Sure-to-be Worst Disney Park on the Planet

Before we begin, what I'm basically doing is taking a park that I will make the worst out of and describe it, then take it through the years and try to fix it up. I think this'll be a fun, June-August project that will be out-of-the-box. Okay, here we go!!

"We always envision the best for a Disney Park. We envision everything to be crystal clear, and to make something that every guest will enjoy. While we admit Walt Disney Studios was a let-down not just for us, the company, but for you, the people.

That is why we built this park, Disney's Abroad, a park where we can explore almost anything we imagine. We can travel underwater, we can travel up to the sky, we can travel to the deepest, darkest parts of our imagination, we can venture into the human body, and we can do so much more.

We took this park and made it swirl with, what we think, fantastic attractions to suit everyone's needs, ideas that will fill the guests with wonder. It's no thought that our park here will be a bust.

Thank you."

- Michael Eisner, March 12, 2005

Disney's Abroad opened on March 12, 2005, just a mere 3 years after Walt Disney Studios Paris opened.

The concept art above was to be the entrance and "main street" of the park, but was scrapped for a more bouncy, Toontown, feel.

A few things were kept, such as the trolley, but a lot was changed. The entry land, known as Dream Drive, would open with nothing but a few shops and a restaurant. The area, however, did have a few fountains, which were considered beautiful.

In the next post, we'll summarize the park's lands, and then it's time to start the transition!!​

 

[invadersam]

Can I join

 

[DisneyFan18]

Sounds great! Can't wait to hear (or in this case read ) more about it!

 

[Suchomimus]

Disney's Abroad
The Sure-to-be Worst Disney Park on the Planet

Before we begin, what I'm basically doing is taking a park that I will make the worst out of and describe it, then take it through the years and try to fix it up. I think this'll be a fun, June-August project that will be out-of-the-box. Okay, here we go!!

"We always envision the best for a Disney Park. We envision everything to be crystal clear, and to make something that every guest will enjoy. While we admit Walt Disney Studios was a let-down not just for us, the company, but for you, the people.

That is why we built this park, Disney's Abroad, a park where we can explore almost anything we imagine. We can travel underwater, we can travel up to the sky, we can travel to the deepest, darkest parts of our imagination, we can venture into the human body, and we can do so much more.

We took this park and made it swirl with, what we think, fantastic attractions to suit everyone's needs, ideas that will fill the guests with wonder. It's no thought that our park here will be a bust.

Thank you."

- Michael Eisner, March 12, 2005

Disney's Abroad opened on March 12, 2005, just a mere 3 years after Walt Disney Studios Paris opened.

The concept art above was to be the entrance and "main street" of the park, but was scrapped for a more bouncy, Toontown, feel.

A few things were kept, such as the trolley, but a lot was changed. The entry land, known as Dream Drive, would open with nothing but a few shops and a restaurant. The area, however, did have a few fountains, which were considered beautiful.

In the next post, we'll summarize the park's lands, and then it's time to start the transition!!​

 

[DisneyForever]

Disney's Abroad Land Summaries

The land, in 2005, had 6 themed areas: Dream Drive, Beach Palm Meadows, Warfare Boulevard, Arcadeland, Oakey Oaks (to promote the company's upcoming Chicken Little movie), and Streets of Las Royal.​

After walking to get your tickets and entering the gates, you'll be entered into Dream Drive, a Toontown-ish city filled with trolleys with faces, wonky building techniques, and a lot of unfinished, cheap work. This land was the last to be finished, it had been through name changes, concept changes, and conflicting ideas. You'll here be able to meet some of your favorite characters of the 'Toon world, and even dine with them at Morning of Characters. Then there are the shops, buy Mickey ears, buy some Roger Rabbit merchandise, or even buy Chicken Little character plushies!! This land has it all, and it was made just for you under a greatly small budget.

Delving deeper into the park and into the promenade area with the "Dancing Fountains", turn left to find our next land: Beach Palm Meadows. Beach Palm Meadows lets Parisians have a little bit of sun from Florida. In this land, you'll find Bug Mountain, a roller-coaster inside of a mountain that will have guests trying to flee from pests. There's also Muppets Save the Island, a dark ride based around the movie, Muppets: Treasure Island. The last ride, or should I say, show, is Beaches Bonfire. This 17-minute long show will involve a circular theater with a bonfire in the middle, and made-up stories about playing and surfing and having fun at the beach!! The shows are mixed, with every other show playing in English, and the others, French.

Warfare Boulevard is by far the most scariest land of them all. This land feature 4 attractions. The first is Supply Drop, a traditional drop tower ride that shoots guests seated inside of a "crate" up and then back down. The next ride is a dark ride much like the Teacups, but is darker and called Under Attack! Under Attack! has guests inside of a tank, and they have to spin around debris along the track, taking out bombs and grenades, a scary one for sure. The next two attractions are dual coasters: Western War, Ho! and Terror Takeout. Both roller-coasters intertwine each other, yet still have different stories attached behind it.

Arcadeland is the second to last land built, and certainly costs the least. This land hosts a boasting two rides, one about Pac-Man, and the other about Star Wars. Pac-Man: Goodbye Ghosts is a dark/shooter ride where you're seated in a Pac-Man and you shoot the little dots and ghosts. You'll also find color transitions as you shoot ghosts for double the points!! Then there's Mission Darth Vader, a fast-paced 43-second roller-coaster hosted inside a building and in pitch black. Arcadeland also has some great shops, and a great restaurant called Galaga's.

Oakey Oaks, the small town where Chicken Little lives, has made its way to Disneyland Paris, and the movie hasn't even been released. This land is here to promote the next big movie, Chicken Little. Inside it, you'll find 3 attractions, none coasters. The first is a dark ride called Escape from the Aliens. In this ride, guests will be on a fast-paced position, rolling away from the huge UFO right behind them!! The next is a revolving theater show, called Chicken Little Step-by-Step. This attraction basically shows what went on to make the movie. The last attraction is another dark ride called Tour of Oakey Oaks. The name describes it all.

Streets of Las Royal is where you can meet all your favorite princesses and princes, while they're on vacation in beautiful Las Royal. Here, you can meet the princesses at Las Royal Princess Meeting. Then there's the dark ride that basically utilizes the same technology as the infamous Superstar Limo. With these two attractions, there's a show to go with it. Feeling Like Vacation. This show utilizes projections, live characters, and animatronics. This land also hosts an abundance of pop-up restaurants, such as Royal Hall of Food, and Munchy Minnie's Diner.

We'll go a little more in-depth about the lands later.​

 

[DisneyForever]

Dream Drive

Dream Drive went through a lot of changes throughout it's phase of planning. As posted in the first post, it was going to look a little more elegant, but for Michael Eisner, he wanted it to look more of an imagination. That's why there's the Toontown feel to it.

After entering through the Planet Earth Station, guests can visit the Trolley Station Gifts and buy everything red trolley. You can also get your free ticket to ride on the Trolleys With Faces, taking guests up and down Dream Drive, and somewhat toward Streets of Las Royal on the right. These trolleys have real guides that will tell you about the Drive. On busy days, there will be no live guides, but a sort of higher-speed trolley ride to the end and back (this rarely ever happens though ).

Strolling on down the road, you'll notice a few shops, especially the wonky and out-of-place Tazminka's, a strange, imaginary, out-of-the-box shop that has fun and strange children's toys and t-shirts. Right across from that is One World Cafe, a sit-down/buffet style restaurant that is set in the deep withins of Earth.

This land of the park was one one of the cheapest to build, as the company was trying to go for low-budget yet very fun. They did half of that... low-budget. Next we delve into Beach Palm Meadows, a land too beachy for its area.

Attractions:
Trolleys With Faces

Shops:
Trolley Station Gifts
Colliding World Goods
Imagine Merchants
Tazminka's

Restaurants:
One World Cafe
Planet Earth Station Quick Grab
Think It, Do It Diner​

 

[Evilgidgit]

Arcade Land actually sounds pretty cool.

 

[DisneyForever]

Beach Palm Meadows

Beach Palm Meadows is both a mix of the Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT and Adventureland. The name kind of fits, and you can tell by the attractions. Upon entering from the promenade "Dancing Fountains" area and to the right, you will notice many tiny tiki huts. These huts provide cooling and shops, such as Ms. Telele's and Bug Buddies. This land of wavy paths has 3 attractions (a roller-coaster, a dark ride, and a show).

The first attraction is a roller-coaster which is known as Bug Mountain. After walking through the muggy outdoor queue, you can choose from two tracks. The tracks are basically the same, except flipped. The coaster is a launch coaster, much like Walt Disney Studios Paris' Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, but also has a few slowdowns to see AA bugs that you're trying to escape from. The ride features one loop and goes at a speed of 50 mph.

Ride Type: Steel/Enclosed/Launch
Ride Duration: 1 min 54 sec
Number of Trains: 5
Guests per Train: 24
AA's Used: 12

Another attraction in the land is Muppets Save the Island. This dark ride takes you through the movie, Muppets: Treasure Island. You'll be able to meet Captain Abraham Smollett, Squire Trelawney, and more of the characters both on the attraction as AA's, and as a meet-and-greet right outside of the ride, called Meet the Muppets.

Ride Type: Rail-Suspended Dark Ride
Ride Duration: 3 min 21 sec
Number of "Boats": 17
Guests per "Boat": 2-4
AA's used: 27

The last attraction is a show, called Beaches Bonfire. This show gives you a taste at the beach, even though you're not at the beach!! You'll be sat around a big bonfire while the hosts tell about 3 or 4 stories that are about the beach. All the stories involve one or more of you're favorite Disney pals, as we have to keep the Disney magic here, right? At the end of the show, look around and you'll be able to see fire-dancers from Hawaii and sparklers coming from the walls around you. This show switches between English and French every other show!!

Ride Type: Show
Show Duration: 17 min, 14 on crowded days
Number of Seats: 327
Number of Hosts/Fire-Dancers: 20

This land is something, and it's actually the most beloved, probably because it was the highest budgeted.

Attractions:
Bug Mountain (Coaster)
Muppets Save the Island (Dark Ride)
Beaches Bonfire (Show)

Shops:
Ms. Telele's
Bug Buddies
Tiki Trends
Muppets: The Store
Bonfire Beloveds

Restaurants:
Muppets Mountain Diner
Fly-By Cafe and Buffet​

 

[DisneyForever]

Warfare Boulevard

Even though this land is considered the scariest, it is the largest in area. This land features an amazing 4 attractions, including one that is much alike the Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop.

The first attraction found here is Supply Drop. This classic drop tower ride will have you seated in a "crate" as you go up and down, bopping like crazy. This ride is much alike the Parachute Drop in Toy Story Land. After riding the ride, go ahead and stop by the ride's gift shop, Ten-Hut Gifts, where you can buy all things camouflage.

Ride Type: Drop Tower
Ride Duration: 76-80 sec
Number of "Crates": 9
Guests per "Crate": 2-4
AA's Used: Zero

The next attraction is a Teacups style attraction. Under Attack! has you right in the middle of the battlefield. The "tanks" you ride in take you around debris and fire, and every spin and turn is random, so you never know what debris you'll find lying around. The attraction is inside, and the exterior building is decorated with Mary Blair style paintings of none other but a battlefield.

Ride Type: Turntable Spinner
Ride Duration: 57-82 sec
Number of "Tanks": 12
Guests per "Tank": 6
AA's Used: None

The next two attractions are together, but have different stories. West War, Ho! is a roller-coaster that really makes use of its natural surroundings. It weaves through forests, and, at times, meets with the other roller-coaster, Terror Takeout. Both are about the same, but they have different stories.

West War, Ho! is all about a war that is taking place. Terror Takeout is more about taking out the bad guys, like in various action movies. Both provide that extra thrill and action roller-coaster lovers need.

Ride Type: Terrain Roller-Coaster
Ride Duration: 2 min 04 sec
Number of Trains: 4
Guests per Train: 16
AA's Used: 8

This land is known to be the scariest of them all, simply due to the fact that it revolves around war and battling, things that aren't meant for children. That hasn't stopped the Disney Company though.

Attractions:
Supply Drop
Under Attack!
West War, Ho!
Terror Takeout

Shops:
Ten-Hut Gifts
Hardy Helmet Merchandise
Tanks Galoria

Restaurants:
Chow Down Mess Hall
Sweet Treats from the Docks​

 

[DisneyForever]

Arcadeland

Music to help you while you read!!

Arcadeland is the cheapest-to-be-built land that almost wasn't going to open on opening day. This land, being slated to open on September 16, 2005, was put on rush to open as an extra land for the park.

Upon entering, you'll notice the huge statue, the Arcadia Friends Statue. This statue features famous 1980s arcade characters, like Pac-Man and Super Mario. To the left of the entrance is Galaga Trading Post. Here you can trade pins that feature famous arcade game characters, along with a few plushies of these characters. To the right is Mappy's Place of Merchandise. This land is more of a courtyard, as to the back is Pac-Man's Prime Time Cafe, where you can get food themed to all different kinds of arcade games, even Star Wars food!!

The first attraction in this land is Pac-Man: Goodbye Ghosts. In this dark ride/shooter, you must shoot the targets, which are the ghosts and little dots, before time runs out. If someone in your "Pac-Man" hits a big dot, shoot the ghosts for double the points!! This ride has the same layout as any Buzz Lightyear shooter, so nothing really changes.

Ride Type: Shooting/Dark Ride
Ride Duration: 4 min 54 sec
Number of "Pac-Men": 20
Guests per "Pac-Man": 2
Cutouts Used: 56

The second and final attraction in Arcadeland is Mission Darth Vader. This roller-coaster takes you through plenty of loops and inversions trying to fight Darth Vader. This coaster utilizes projections and cardboard cutouts, much like Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. A very simple roller-coaster to be made, yet it still does the trick. After riding, don't forget to visit Death Star Goods, or eat at Gravity Hall.

Ride Type: Steel Coaster
Ride Duration: 67 sec
Number of Trains: 5
Guests per Train: 24

From the 80s to Star Wars, Arcadeland seems fun. This land has mixed reviews, people loving it and hating it. It was the cheapest built, too.

Attractions:
Pac-Man: Goodbye Ghosts
Mission Darth Vader

Shops:
Galaga Trading Post
Mappy's Place of Merchandise
Space Station Mickey
Pong Bungalow
Death Star Goods

Restaurants:
Pac-Man's Prime Time Cafe
Gravity Hall​

 

[DisneyForever]

Oakey Oaks

​

To promote the company's upcoming movie, Chicken Little, Oakey Oaks opened with the park. The land holds three attractions, none of which are coasters. This land only features the mere park and square surrounding it. Take a stop in at Town Hall Toys, where you can find all kinds of Disney toys and other merchandise. Connecting to it is Town Treats Bakery to get all of your favorite sweet treats.

The first attraction is Escape from the Aliens, which is a simple dark ride that takes place during the part in the movie when...


Ride Type: Dark Ride
Ride Duration: 3 min 12 sec
Number of Carts: 17
Guests per Cart: 2-4
AA's Used: 28

Another attraction in this land is Chicken Little Step-by-Step, an enclosed carousel show that shows how the movie was created, from the thought process to the animating. At the end, you can also meet the characters from Chicken Little at Park of a Mile Meeting Spot.

Ride Type: Carousel Theater Show
Ride Duration: 18 min
Scene Duration: 4 min
Number of Seats: 105
AA's Used: 14

The last attraction is an outdoor attraction, much like the PeopleMover. Tour of Oakey Oaks takes you through the streets of the town, kind of. Most of the attraction is above ground, so you can look over the city, watching as people go by and as mini-scenes from the movie take place in the streets.

Ride Type: Elevated Skyway
Ride Duration: 12 min 8 sec
Number of Carts: 33
Guests per Cart: 3-6
Speed of Carts: 7 m.p.h.

Many of the unused buildings are simply cardboard cutouts, perfect for saving money. Others are also scaffolds, which are very noticeable, especially if you eat at the dinner-only Dawn of the Aliens.

Attractions:
Escape from the Aliens
Chicken Little Step-by-Step
Tour of Oakey Oaks

Shops:
Town Hall Toys
Fire Brigade #9
Park Square Marketplace

Restaurants:
Town Treats Bakery
Dawn of the Aliens (Dinner Only)​

 

[Twilight_Roxas]

So is this going to have Soarin Around the World like in the other parks around the world?

 

[DisneyForever]

So is this going to have Soarin Around the World like in the other parks around the world?

...Maybe

 

[DisneyForever]

Streets of Las Royal

Excuse the Pixar themes above, this is exactly what I imagine for this land.​

Streets of Las Royal is where all your favorite fairy-tale princes and princesses go on vacation. The land has visions both from Las Vegas and a boardwalk/pier.

Upon entering, you'll notice in bright neon colors, The Carthay Buffet and Bar, a restaurant where you can both eat and drink, and meet your favorite princesses who might even sit and chat with you!! The restaurant is supposed to remind us of the Carthay Theater in California, but it doesn't do so. After eating, take a look at the merchandise, found in stores like Banquet Boutique, Princes' Palace, and Hall of Stories and Merchandise.

Our first attraction here is Princesses in Paradise, a dark ride that utilizes puppets (Superstar Limo) instead of AA's. Visit the beach while the girls get some sun, and even ride along the sidewalks of the pier, coming across cameos of different Disney characters. In the end, come along for an exciting finale, setting up for a drive-in movie!!

Ride Type: Dark Ride
Ride Duration: 4 min
Number of "Cars": 23
Guests per "Car": 2
Puppets Used: 34

After settling from the dark ride, go ahead and meet your favorite royals in Las Royal Princess Meeting, or go ahead and walk to the show, Feeling Like Vacation. This show will take you anywhere using nothing but actors and set pieces. Go into the clouds, rocket to the moon, delve into the deeps of Earth, and even venture into the human body. This show has it all, all enclosed in nothing but an awning to provide shade.

Ride Type: Show
Ride Duration: 24 min 36 sec
Number of Seats: 439
Number of Set Pieces: 42
Number of Live Actors: 14

Streets of Las Royal sure do show the other side of royal folks. They truly vacation like the normal people do. This land is certainly not the cheapest, but also no the best-budgeted.

Attractions:
Princesses in Paradise
Feeling Like Vacation

Shops:
Banquet Boutique
Princes' Palace
Hall of Stories and Merchandise

Restaurants:
The Carthay Buffet and Grill
Sushi and Some More Station​

 

[DisneyForever]

15 Attractions, 23 Shops, and 13 Restaurants
Another Bad Blow For The Disney Company and Disneyland Paris

Cost to Build: $620 million
Guest Capacity: 36,000
# of Guests on Opening Day: 14,750

Now, it is time to get started with the renovations, going from each year, and explaining in-depth about what is going on from 2006 all the way to now and beyond.​

 

[DisneyForever]

2006

Back in October of 2005, new CEO Bob Iger realized that his Disneyland Paris park, Disney's Abroad, was going terribly wrong. Though he didn't announce any radical changes, he announced closures and refurbishments and such.

On January 1, Iger announced that Oakey Oaks would remain permanent, due to the shocking success of Chicken Little. With that, he announced a fourth ride for the land, Chicken Little Adventures. This attraction would open on November 17. The day was also a day of closures. Beaches Bonfire, despite being a somewhat-loved attraction, hosted its last show. The day after, barriers were put up around it, and rumors quickly started stirring.

Past the month of January, February came with a surprise two openings. On February 7, Disney's Sprinkle of Magic Parade opened, its route going all over the park. On February 18, Beach Palm Meadows welcomed a new third attraction, Breath of the Wild, an inside 3-D show featuring areas from all over the world. The attraction quickly gained attention, and as a cheap show, was silently closed on April 22, but only for a refurbishment.

Only one minor thing happened in March. Arcadia Friends Statue was renamed to Friends of the Gaming World Statue to not conflict with a Greek area.

In June of 2006, Bob Iger announced plans for a summer-long festival, Disney's Best Summer Ever Festival, to start on June 23. This festival would bring an abundance of upgrades to the park, as well as a temporary overlay of Dream Drive. This overlay was known as Sunshine Avenue, with each store being renamed to something summer related. Special festival pins were given out at every store in the park.

He also announced 2 new festivals, each revolving around Halloween and Christmas. Disney's Christmastime Bash and Disney's Spooky, Scary Celebration. Each would have their own array of events during the time.

Lastly, in November, it was announced that a 1,200 seat theater would be built just north of Arcadeland, but no specifics on shows were given. Construction started for it on December 1 of the same year.

Spoiler: Disney's Sprinkle of Magic Parade

As it starts out in Dream Drive, guests can view the first float, the Mickey float. As orchestral music plays of famous Disney songs, the floats continue to come out into their true form.

Floats:
Mickey
The Little Mermaid
Beauty and the Beast
Fantasmic
Finding Nemo
Chicken Little
Princesses

Music:
When You Wish Upon A Star
Kiss the Girl
Belle
Somewhere Beyond the Sea
A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes
Mickey Mouse March]

 

[Pi on my Cake]

I am loving this so far!

 

[DisneyForever]

2007

2007 was ultimately the most hectic year for Disney's Abroad.

It started off on January 7, when Bob Iger announced New Arcadeland, which would aim for a 2009 opening. He claimed that it would come with all new attractions, which would be released at a later date. He also announced The Incredibles: Rocket Monorail, a launch coaster and boomerang coaster that would open on October 27.

During February, the park quietly closed, in waves, Streets of Las Royal. Wave I included the closure of Las Royal Princess Meeting and Sushi and Some More Station. Wave II saw the closure of every shop and the last restaurant. The final wave, Wave III, saw the closing of Princesses in Paradise, and Feeling Like Vacation.

On March 12, the park finally unveiled the Colosseum Theatre, located in a new "mini-land", Roman Getaway. The mini-land was a surprise, but the theater was expected. It opened with the show, Olympian Stunt Spectacular. This mini-land also included The Gardens of Rome Carousel, and Chair-Swings Around Rome. Though not many thought it would be a success, the mini-land was a massive hit! It's simple yet intricate detailing really proved that Disney could bring back a park that's been swept under the carpet. On June 22, the mini-land was officially proclaimed a land, earning it's own sign and place on the map.

On June 1, Disney's Best Summer Ever Festival returned with a fresh, sleek look.

Sunshine Avenue didn't return, but instead, Dream Drive hosted Mickey's Summer Bash, a dance party to dance with Mickey and the Pals. As mentioned in the ad above, there's also special pins, and the Tees: Presented by Hanes make-your-own t-shirt stall, located in Beach Palm Meadows. The festival also brought a partial overlay of Warfare Boulevard. The overlay became known as Mickey Mouse Avenue, which opened up Mickey's House, Minnie's House, Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage, and Steamboat Splash Park. It also managed to open 5 new shops:

Gadzooks' Shirts and More
Clarabelle's Cattlelog
Steamboat Willie's Free-For-All
Summer Cottage Storage
Up and Beyond Merchandise

Each shop was more of a stall, but the land managed to get it done. The other half, renamed Base Camp, opened with the original rides, but its flaw was that it had no shops or restaurants!

2007 could be crowned the year of change. Many things opened, closed, and changed. Continuing on, on October 17, Bob Iger announced a massive refurbishment of Disney's Abroad, alongside California Adventure in California. This refurbishment would cost a little less than DCA's, coming in at around $950 million.


Disney's Spooky, Scary Celebration did not return for the 2007 season, and was replaced with Mickey's Halloween Treat Parade, which was a re-skin of Sprinkle of Magic.

Disney's Christmastime Bash did return, and basically took over the park!!

Each land had snow falling, both fake and real. Mickey and Minnie Take Back Christmas was a live show that premiered with the festival, and would show in the old Feeling Like Vacation theater. It was, luckily, located just in front of the land that was now closed, so guests didn't have to go through whatever was stirring behind the walls.

The show was a 23-minute musical, and stayed around for two weeks after the festival had ended, on January 12 of the next year. ​

 

[DisneyForever]

2008

2008 started out slow, with nothing being announced and nothing opening.

Then in April, things picked up speed, most importantly the work for the multi-million dollar refurbishment. Arcadeland closed to make way for New Arcadeland, and Playhouse Disney! - Live on Stage closed to move to Walt Disney Studios Paris. The show-building remained empty until June 1, when Disney Channel Bam! opened for the third anniversary of Disney's Best Summer Ever Festival. The show was a theater show with pre-recorded scenes from the channel's shows, as well as a sneak peak of the upcoming Original Movie (DCOM), Camp Rock.

2008's Best Summer Ever Festival was a bit different, as it promoted Disney Channel's next hit Original Movie, Camp Rock. That's why, in 2008, it was renamed to Camp Rock's Summer of Fun and Sun Festival.

For the park, the festival was a complete bust. Hardly anyone cared about Camp Rock let alone the Disney Channel itself. This part of the festival lasted only until July 1, and Disney's Best Summer Ever Festival took over from then on.

Mid 2008 was great for the park, it reached a milestone number of guests, and even one day the park was 2/3 of the way to full capacity. The downfall came in September when the festival ended. Because of the refurbishment that was happening, Dream Drive became a street filled with scaffolding and blue walls. Beach Palm Meadows was partially blocked off, even Bug Mountain closed.

Of course, things were coming soon, but not soon enough. Disney brought back Mickey's Halloween Treat Parade, but it only showed around the Dancing Fountains, which were also not functioning anymore, and were just jets spewing into the air. On November 30, Base Camp closed along with all its rides, to make way for something better.

Disney's Christmastime Bash returned on November 30, which made up for the closure. There was nothing amazing for the festival, but the Tees: Presented by Hane's stall reopened as a full shop in Beach Palm Meadows, and another was announced across the way in the future New Arcadeland.

Apart from that, 2008 was quite sad, and much of the construction was focused on DCA. At the end of the year, Iger said that 2009 would be the year. The year of what... no one had a clue. ​