The Last Disneyland Paris Pix From Huck
Today I'm wrapping up the last of the photos from Huck's 2016 visit to Disneyland Paris. They were fun while they lasted!
Many of these are Casey Jr.-related, and that's OK with me. Folks are boarding one of the circus trains - the "Poneys" car looks much more roomy than Disneyland's old "Wild Animals" versions. And I need plenty of room to flail my arms around.
Here's an intimate, not ready for prime time look at Casey's firebox. He runs on churros and popcorn. That sticker is no bueno.
Ooooh! The Beast's Castle is pretty impressive, and on this gray rainy day (I'll bet France has a lot of those) it looks especially glowering and uninviting. For some reason I find myself looking for a tiny pumpkin coach on that ramp (probably stairs), even though it makes no sense at all.
Well, at least in this section you can't accuse DLP of not being pretty! All that rain has lead to very lush green landscapes. In the upper left there appears to be a hedge maze, is that part of Storybook Land? Or is it part of an "Alice in Wonderland" scene?
I appreciate that they went to the trouble of making that wall that flanks the tracks wavy instead of dead flat, which would undoubtedly have been a lot cheaper. We can see the unusual "Return to Oz" scene. That movie is so strange! That's why I like it. Notice the "ticket booth" depot that appears to be a fraternal twin to the one in Disneyland.
Here's another nice general view. I don't really see a track beneath the water, I wonder how the boats are guided? Those guys in the pinkish-orangish boat are craning their necks to see... something. What could it be? It's funny how the Dwarf's cabin (upper right) is such a familiar shape that it is instantly recognizable even when it's 1/4" tall.
Now we've left the park proper and are outside the "Hotel Santa Fe", which I was completely unaware of. The official Disney website describes it like so: Discover this oasis of comfort on Route 66, where a Santa Fe-themed Hotel delivers classic Disney value and hospitality. It's just a 20 minute walk away... I could do without the billboard featuring Lightning McQueen and Sally, but that's just me.
I'd like to thank our friend Huck for generously sharing so many wonderful photos over the years, including these photos from France - a place I will likely never see with my own eyes. Thanks Huck!
18 comments:
When it opened The Hotel Santa Fe’s reception billboard featured a mural of Clint Eastwood in spaghetti western movie attire ( the billboard was suppose to imply a drive-in movie screen) the hotel also once’s featured a crashed UFO and real rusted out American automobiles such as you might find in the desert abandoned along Route 66.
In both photos showing the Oz scene, we can see something on the "mountain" above it, which wasn't visible in Huck's previous DLP Storybook Land pics. I wonder if that is supposed to be the castle of the Wicked Witch of the West? The Wicked Witch of the East? Mombi?
Major, yes....Disneyland Paris does have an Alice In Wonderland walk-thru/hedge maze attraction. And I believe you are seeing the backside of it (just above the train trestle) in that fourth photo.
I always forget to thank the proper people, initially.
Thank you, Huck and Major!
I like how the Casey Jr. and DLRR tracks run almost next to each other, and that's an amazing Fantasyland station in picture #4.
The canal boat vehicles are puzzling to me. They more resemble the Small World boats, and they almost look like they could be used for a log flume. You're completely right about missing the track, Major. This is a "tow boat ride" where the boats are moved by a continuous, underwater cable. You can see two of the pulleys that allow the cable to turn in the second and third-to-last shots. They even designed the miniature rockwork around them.
I enjoyed this series. Thanks, Huck.
Thanks, Major and Huck! I've also really enjoyed this series.
You know, DLP really looks nice. Hpwever, stacking their attractions against the American counterparts, I can say American wins every time. I'm not even a huge fan of Phantom Manor, which seems way too "cartoony" in my opinion. While I'd like to see for myself someday, I'm certainly not going to make a special (expensive) trip!
Thanks Huck. Enjoyed your pics, bet you had a good time.
Digging that snappy outfit the cast member has on in the first pic. Very European. You're right Major, that sticker in the firebox pic certainly lacks in Disney style.
Big thanks Huck. I'll never get there but your pics let me enjoy the park on a more ground level.
Thank you Major.
Perhaps I’ll put together a set of Alice’s Curious Labyrinth photos and send them to MP in case he thinks anyone might be interested.
I just thought I’d mention that as Casey Jr., le Petit Train du Cirque (so fancy!) does not utilize an RO to drive the coaster, Dunkirk’s script supervisor and I rode in the “engine” which is why I took that shot through the front openings from our seated position.
The Hotel Santa Fe was only a 15 minute walk from the DLP entrance and other than the hilarious attempts to replicate American Southwestern cuisine, it was absolutely fine.
~Huck
Handsome CM in his dashing blue costume.
Mike Cozart, I thought that the billboard looked a bit like a drive-in movie screen, but… why would that be atop a hotel? Maybe it’s supposed to be in the distance. I like the idea of the crashed UFO and rusted autos, I wonder why they removed those? Perhaps they thought it looked too “junky”.
TokyoMagic!, I didn’t notice that smaller castle, but see it; I don’t remember “Return to Oz” well enough to know what that structure is supposed to be. Thanks for the ID on the Alice walk-thru maze; a maze doesn’t sound like much fun, but maybe they’ve dressed it up a lot.
TokyoMagic!, in lieu of thanks, I will take checks or bitcoin.
Andrew, I agree with you, the canal boats look weirdly toylike. Sort of as if the Small World boats and the Storybook Land boats got married and had a baby. That’s how it works, right? Thank you for the tow-boat info, that sounds very low-tech and old school!
Pegleg Pete, I’m glad you liked these!
Stu25973, I kind of agree, though I would go to DLP in a heartbeat if I had the time, money, and no risk of disease. I also agree about Phantom Manor, I appreciate that it is different from the two U.S. versions, but there are elements of it that I am not crazy about. I do like that it looks more like a haunted house from the outside - again, just as a contrast to the Anaheim and Orlando versions.
DrGoat, that CM is from neighboring Germany, his name is Horst. He speaks like McBain in The Simpsons. I guess when you are going to put a safety sticker on something where people could speak any number of languages, you have to make it idiot-proof. Still, it is ugly.
Huck, sure, send those pix! So the Petit Train doesn’t use a ride operator… that seems to be a theme at the Paris park. Why pay humans when you can automate! It doesn’t look like the “engine” affords the best views, but maybe you can see out the side just fine. You did get all those photos, after all. “…the hilarious attempts to replicate American Southwestern cuisiine”, ha ha. Years ago, in Paris, I went to a restaurant (I want to say it was called “Cactus Jack's”) and had one of the worst burgers I’ve ever had. (We were homesick after a few weeks and were craving something that would remind us of the food we ate at home).
I watched a few videos on Youtube with the Paris versions of Casey Jr and the Canal Boats. The Paris Casey looks like it's on roller coaster tracks. I guess that would stop a derailment. And the canal boats don't have a storyteller, that's half the fun.
Huck, please do share more of your photos, and I also want to hear more about the replicated American Southwestern cuisine!
Thanks, Huck and Major, for another fun trip to Paris! It sure beats working, today.
Sue
Thank you Huck for these pictures. Casey Jr and the miniature Storybook Land are among my favorite Disneyland attractions, it is fun to see the DLP versions.
The giant book is a little weird, but I guess I could get used to it. It makes sense that the Castle would be that of the Beast, since I always thought that Cinderella was German. But what do I know... Fun to see that ticket booth looking so familiar.
Andrew, thanks for the info on the cable drive. Does the Disneyland version run on a rail or a cable too? Seems like it must since I can't recall the guides being too concerned about steering.
Major, maybe the ugly sticker is a government-mandate graphic? Thanks for this fun post.
JG
The version of Cinderella most people in the West are familiar with was written by a Frenchman named Charles Perrault in the 17th century. But the Grimms did publish a popular German version in the 1800s.
Melissa, I guess there’s something about a uniform!
MRaymond, I agree, listening to a pre-recorded spiel is not much fun. Or maybe there’s no spiel at all, since visitors could come from any one of a half-dozen countries (or more)? I would miss that for sure. I meant to do this last time, but I need to watch a YouTube video to get a better feel for what the Paris Casey Jr. ride is all about.
Lou and Sue, maybe there were enchiladas with truffles and tarragon.
JG, I like the giant book, but think it sends a weird message. Are we large? Because all of the scenery is miniature from our perspective. Or all we small? Because that book is darn big. Is Cinderalla German?! Maybe because of those Brothers Grimm. Now that you mention it, I also wonder if Disneyland’s “Storybook” runs on a cable. If I had to guess, I’d say “no”, but really have no idea. And I’m sure you’re right, that sticker had to be there. It looks like something you’d find on a plastic toy.
Melissa, Perrault! I was trying to think of that name! But now I know that the Grimm boys did do their own version, with more explosions and Draculas.
No spiel on either Casey or, heck, let’s just call it Storybook Land, shall we?
Casey’s train, itself, is actually a pretty noisy coaster for some strange reason and the only things one can hear (above the track/vehicle noise) is the re-recording of “Casey Junior,” the ’41 version (I think) of “Dumbo’s Triumph” and “Get off our train now!” in both French and English as riders return to the station.
Storybook Land only has music from the various films playing during each scene. I seem to recall an “M” on that adjacent Oz structure so perhaps it’s supposed to be Mombi’s head-collecting pad.
Disneyland Paris… hmmm, what’s a synonym for charmless?
~Huck
@Melissa, I was basing my "German Cinderella" assumption just on the Disney movie version since the King and his First Minister seem (to me at least) to be wearing "Prussian" uniforms.
Major, in the Disney live-action remake, Vin Diesel will play the Prince, Bellatrix LeStrange will play Cinderella, and Johnny Depp will be the Major Domo.
JG
That safety warning label is standard in the Orlando parks' ride vehicles, though in English and Spanish instead of French and English.
I always interpret the graphic as "no jazz hands"
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