MAGICal DLP News, Rumours & Thoughts

[Toni25]

Oz to Up is a massive downgrade. 2nd only to replacing the squid AA with a screen.

Honestly, the could have relocated Hansel and Gretel and kept Peter and the Wolf and just added Elsa's ice palace to the mountain range.

The Emerald Castle I'm seriously so surprised they ripped out an icon from an evergreen fairytale to replace it with...a cottage lifted by balloons from a Pixar film. It was one of my favorite scenes. The disrespect is insane.

 

[Gusey]

 

[mrflo]

New interview with Natacha Rafalski:

blooloop: "Natacha Rafalski: Disneyland Paris’ immersive €2bn transformation"

 

[mrflo]

I really appreciate that DLP has finally addressed the renovation of Storybook Land in Disneyland Paris. Let's hope they will not let it decay that much again next time. The new attraction poster is a beautiful addition, and I generally welcome new film scenes being introduced, bringing some fresh life to the attraction. Whether UP was the best choice is something we already discussed.

What bothers me a bit is this official PR video from Walt Disney Imagineering. The video heavily features numerous executives and managers in hard hats discussing & praising the updates. Ultimately, what was added are just a few models, which are nice but not extraordinary. Those kind of little updates can be seen in regional parks like Europa-Park each year without making a major announcement about it.

I’ve many books on Imagineering and am a huge fan of The Imagineering Story documentary series on Disney+. In contrast, this video makes WDI Paris look so overly like big corporate culture, leading me to question how many decision-makers are involved behind the scenes. It’s no wonder the costs for new attractions in DLP are so high when there seems to be such a large overhead of executives and managers, very often at the expense of true creativity with some current questionable outcomes (e.g. Nautilus, new WDS name, etc.).

I know we can't bring back the days where creative masterminds like Tony Baxter, Eddie Sotto & others were in charge. But the contrast to nowadays seems staggering to me. Hopefully the appointment of Michel den Dulk means some return to those more creative-led days.

 

[Gusey]

What bothers me a bit is this official PR video from Walt Disney Imagineering. The video heavily features numerous executives and managers in hard hats discussing & praising the updates. Ultimately, what was added are just a few models, which are nice but not extraordinary. Those kind of little updates can be seen in regional parks like Europa-Park each year without making a major announcement about it.

I’ve many books on Imagineering and am a huge fan of The Imagineering Story documentary series on Disney+. In contrast, this video makes WDI Paris look so overly like big corporate culture, leading me to question how many decision-makers are involved behind the scenes. It’s no wonder the costs for new attractions in DLP are so high when there seems to be such a large overhead of executives and managers, very often at the expense of true creativity with some current questionable outcomes (e.g. Nautilus, new WDS name, etc.).

I know we can't bring back the days where creative masterminds like Tony Baxter, Eddie Sotto & others were in charge. But the contrast to nowadays seems staggering to me. Hopefully the appointment of Michel den Dulk means some return to those more creative-led days.

I think part of the reason is that this is the BIG new addition to Disneyland Paris this year, so they're trying to highlight it. When you have nothing else opening this year, you've got to really promote it

 

[marni1971]

I really appreciate that DLP has finally addressed the renovation of Storybook Land in Disneyland Paris. Let's hope they will not let it decay that much again next time. The new attraction poster is a beautiful addition, and I generally welcome new film scenes being introduced, bringing some fresh life to the attraction. Whether UP was the best choice is something we already discussed.

What bothers me a bit is this official PR video from Walt Disney Imagineering. The video heavily features numerous executives and managers in hard hats discussing & praising the updates. Ultimately, what was added are just a few models, which are nice but not extraordinary. Those kind of little updates can be seen in regional parks like Europa-Park each year without making a major announcement about it.

I’ve many books on Imagineering and am a huge fan of The Imagineering Story documentary series on Disney+. In contrast, this video makes WDI Paris look so overly like big corporate culture, leading me to question how many decision-makers are involved behind the scenes. It’s no wonder the costs for new attractions in DLP are so high when there seems to be such a large overhead of executives and managers, very often at the expense of true creativity with some current questionable outcomes (e.g. Nautilus, new WDS name, etc.).

I know we can't bring back the days where creative masterminds like Tony Baxter, Eddie Sotto & others were in charge. But the contrast to nowadays seems staggering to me. Hopefully the appointment of Michel den Dulk means some return to those more creative-led days.

It’s the way modern TWDC operates, now they fully own DLP.

 

[cjkeating]

I really appreciate that DLP has finally addressed the renovation of Storybook Land in Disneyland Paris. Let's hope they will not let it decay that much again next time. The new attraction poster is a beautiful addition, and I generally welcome new film scenes being introduced, bringing some fresh life to the attraction. Whether UP was the best choice is something we already discussed.

What bothers me a bit is this official PR video from Walt Disney Imagineering. The video heavily features numerous executives and managers in hard hats discussing & praising the updates. Ultimately, what was added are just a few models, which are nice but not extraordinary. Those kind of little updates can be seen in regional parks like Europa-Park each year without making a major announcement about it.

I’ve many books on Imagineering and am a huge fan of The Imagineering Story documentary series on Disney+. In contrast, this video makes WDI Paris look so overly like big corporate culture, leading me to question how many decision-makers are involved behind the scenes. It’s no wonder the costs for new attractions in DLP are so high when there seems to be such a large overhead of executives and managers, very often at the expense of true creativity with some current questionable outcomes (e.g. Nautilus, new WDS name, etc.).

I know we can't bring back the days where creative masterminds like Tony Baxter, Eddie Sotto & others were in charge. But the contrast to nowadays seems staggering to me. Hopefully the appointment of Michel den Dulk means some return to those more creative-led days.

Whilst I agree with you in general I just rewatched the video and I didn't get the same impression as you did regarding the people included in the video?

Three people are interviewed, one is the new Art Director for DLP who oversees the entirety of the resort, the second two people a Show Producer and Art Finisher I think are both necessary roles and will move from project to project?

As a side note I'm not quite convinced the recently departed and long standing Art Director at DLP would have been okay with the UP scene going in, I wonder if it was a late addition that was signed off after she had left.

If anything I have heard for many years now WDI Paris was under resourced (due to the general lack of projects at the park in the past) and is one of the reasons why projects take a long time to happen and has led to some delays in the overall WDSP project. It has also seen an increase in third parties picking up the slack in areas that you would think are Imagineering core area (such as the recent updated attraction posters) or getting WDI in Glendale more actively involved in smaller projects [Nautilus if I remember correctly] as WDIP doesn't have the capacity. Another example is the Aladdin spinner... I believe there was a consideration to retheme it but there wasn't the resource available to do so and at such a low priority the easier option was just to perform its required mechanical tear down and thematic refurbishment and revisit at a later date.

 

[Indy_UK]

Has it been said what's going to happen to the Planet Hollywood building? Looks like the globe part is staying.

 

[wdrive]

Has it been said what's going to happen to the Planet Hollywood building? Looks like the globe part is staying.

Globes going and it’s going to be an Italian restaurant.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Illuminations!

 

[Kevin_W]

Illuminations!

Dang, that made me really miss Illuminations.

 

[BasiltheBatLord]

Made it to Shanghai this month, so DLP is officially my last remaining Disney resort.

Looking at the WDS overhaul, it seems like 2026 is probably the earliest I should consider visiting? Any thoughts?

 

[cjkeating]

Made it to Shanghai this month, so DLP is officially my last remaining Disney resort.

Looking at the WDS overhaul, it seems like 2026 is probably the earliest I should consider visiting? Any thoughts?

If it's a once in a lifetime trip as it sounds like it would be then yes certainly worth waiting until either 2026 for the WDSP lake area to open or 2027 for the 35th as DLP always do 12-18 month celebrations which is heavy on special entertainment.

 

[DCBaker]

Here's a look at the replacement for Planet Hollywood:

 

[nickys]

That looks quite nice.

I wish they’d kept the globe but I guess it’s just too much connected to Planet Hollywood. Might also be trademarked to them too.

 

[Gusey]

Here's a look at the replacement for Planet Hollywood:

Opening 2026

Disneyland Paris and Bertrand Hospitality Announce Unique, New Italian Restaurant at the entrance to Disney Village for 2026

With seating for over 500 guests across two floors, Casa Giulia will soon be offering an Italian restaurant concept for the whole family, adding even more culinary choices for guests visiting Disney Village. Preparatory work has already begun on this 2,500 m² restaurant, which is due to open in...

disneylandparis-news.com

 

[Sir_Cliff]

It more or less looks like everything else in this new Disney Village refurbishment in that it's generic contemporary outdoor mall design. Not objectionable, but also not notable in any way. Can't help but feel the whole Disney Village refurbishment is another missed opportunity alongside all the money they're spending on WDS.

 

[nickys]

It more or less looks like everything else in this new Disney Village refurbishment in that it's generic contemporary outdoor mall design. Not objectionable, but also not notable in any way. Can't help but feel the whole Disney Village refurbishment is another missed opportunity alongside all the money they're spending on WDS.

It makes me wonder if they’ll replace the World of Disney store. I hope not but the Art Deco style vs the new design is going to look a bit odd.

 

[Rush]

Imagineers are hard at work transforming Disney Village into a contender for best college campus in the year of 2026.

 

[wtyy21]