Weekend Update: Anaheim Cruise, Disneyland Paris, and Universal Studios Double Whammy
First up this week, PhotoMatt takes us on a cruise around a small world, then CaptPhoebus finally gets us through the ticket booth at Disneyland Paris. We have a Walt Disney World update from Denise nbodyhome Preskitt followed by a super duper, double whammy Universal Studios report. sir clinksalot shows us the Hollywood version and TDLFAN takes us to the Osaka, Japan version of Universal Studios. Finally this week we visit Six Flags Magic Mountain with MiceChatter brand42.
Be sure to come back next week. We're going to announce a photo contest with some cool prizes.
This week our trip starts out on the West Coast:
Disneyland Resort
Anaheim, California
You may have been on this cruise around the world before, but I'll bet you haven't seen it like this. PhotoMatt shares these unusual images of the It's A Small World makeover.
Last week CaptPhoebus took us right up to the entry of Disneyland Paris, then left us to stew for a week waiting for the rest of his visit. So without any adieu, or further commercial interruptions, entrer . . .
Disneyland Paris
Paris, France
The artistry of the admission booth.
Through the arches which announce, "Main Street, U.S.A."
The money shot.
Wait, this guy looks familiar!
A couple of shots of a much more comprehensive "America" set.
And from here, you can see . . .
. . . Paris?
And, who is that coming around the bend? DLRP_bopazot and DOOM BGI?
Well, it really is a small world, after all!
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt takes us on a trip around the Disney world. Looks like there is lots of stuff going on in Florida!
Walt Disney World
Orlando, Florida
The Disney Studios "ESPN The Weekend" was held this past week. I will have 200 photos on my own site (mousesteps.com), but here are just a few:
I went Sunday, which started out looking threatening (the morning brought a cold front with it):
Even Dennis Eckersley looked cold:
Jim Palmer:
Scottie Pippen during a star conversation:
Shane Victorino is interviewed live:
A few days later, some photos from Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It!
One photo from the Celebrate a Dream Come True parade:
The Disneyland Marching Band reflected:
Stitch's Supersonic Celebration:
The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is nearly 2 weeks away, but there is much to see now!
Butterfly tent:
This scene is behind some potted plants, but not hidden too well:
Canada:
Lady and the Tramp in Italy:
There is a Fantasia theme in the Innoventions hub area:
sir clinksalot recently took a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood and thanks to the miracle of modern digital photography we get to take a trip there too!
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal City, California
The statue at the front of the park is quite interesting. Can you notice what's different in each shot?
[
It took me a long time to figure this one out! - Rick]
This area needs a show. How about a Wild West Stunt Show?
The backlot reconstruction is coming along nicely.
Some new effects have been added to the Collapsing Bridge to make it more exciting. Gone are the "Oh no we aren't supposed to cross the bridge" lines.
The cars are still dancing.
They also do a little stunt show on Denver street now. It's not a replacement for King Kong, but it's a nice to have.
Skull Island
Norman Bates is still looming around the Psycho house.
Now that we've seen what's going on at Universal in Hollywood, let's take a trip across the ocean and visit Universal Japan, courtesy of TDLFAN.
Universal Studios Japan
Osaka, Japan
USJ has unveiled its newest live entertainment extravaganza to celebrate the park's 8th anniversary, the new nightime "Magical Starlight Parade". TDLFAN however did not attend on the parade's debut date of March 5th, but will offer more parade related decor, special parade menus and merchandise next week inn the second part of this photo report.
Arriving at Universal Studios Japan's CityWalk.
"Magical Starlight Parade" ad, announcing the parade's debut performance on March 5th, 2009.
Universal Studios Japan's CityWalk.
The logo at the top of the entrance's archway.
Each Universal Studios park has one of these revolving globes.. USJ is no exception.
Popeye meets guests at USJ's Hollywood Blvd.
Even Bert hangs out around Hollywood Blvd.
Guests soar above Hollywood on the "Hollywood Dream: The Ride" coaster.
USJ's Confectionary Store is the biggest one in Japan, even bigger than TDL's.
Schwab's Pharmacy houses the Pink Panther's Pink Cafe.
Yes, everything is pink inside the Pink Cafe, even the desserts.
Orlando FL's Mel's Drive-In? Don't be fooled..as this version of Mel's in Osaka is 4 times bigger inside than Orlando's version of the same restaurant.
An USJ exclusive area.. Snoppy Studios, featuring a huge indoor soundstage complete with small coaster (think Gadget Go Coaster) and many other interactive adventures, plus gift shop, and restaurant and water slide coaster ride nearby.
Another USJ exclusive area.. Land of Oz!
Land of Oz features "Magical Oz-go Round" carrousel and a special version of the Broadway hit "Wicked" in the theater seen behind ths carousel. Land of Oz also has one restaurant, gift shop, and "Toto's Animal Friends" show featuring many talented pets.
Newly opened Sweet Waffle Factory shop in the San Francisco area of USJ.
Yum! Yum!
Universal Studios Japan has the only "Back to the Future: The Ride" still in operation.
TDLFAN managed to catch this behind the scenes shot of the Fairy Godmother float from the new "Magical Starlight Parade", getting some finishing touches from the technical staff...just 48 hours before it's scheduled premiere performance.
The New York Sets at Universal Studios Japan are "grand". (Ok ok... it's a trick photography set up station, where guests can create their own cimenatic shot and pose in the photo as well..)
There will be 20 more photos from Universal Studios Japan in the next edition of the Micechat Weekend Update, so be sure to come back and check the Update again next weekend.
TDLFAN has posted a detailed review of Universal Studios Japan's Magical Starlight Parade including several videos. Read it HERE.
MiceChatter brand42 took a trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain recently and shares these great images of the park that you either love or hate.
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia, California
Quote:
Despite a forecast of rain showers, I took a brief trip out to Six Flags Magic Mountain with the primary objectives of picking up my AP coupon booklet, taking some Terminator construction pics and doing my part to keep SFMM afloat.
brand42
Check out the entire trip report HERE.
There's a great vintage Magic Mountain brochure posted on the Vintage Disneyland Tickets blog:
See the entire brochure at Vintage Disneyland Tickets.
Looking for up-to-date reports from Disneyland
including photos, gossip, park schedules and more?
including photos, gossip, park schedules and more?
Visit these MiceChat columns each week:
Andy Castro's Dateline Disneyland
David DarkBeer Michael's In the Parks
Al has another great update this week, you'll want to read it now:
Ian Parkinson will return to the Weekend Update next week.
And that brings us to the end of another week. Our photographers have just enough time to reload their cameras before we see you all again next weekend. Thank you to all of our wonderful readers, and as always, a huge thank you to our amazing team of global photographers, spies, and gossips:
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom
TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt
SummerInFl
PhotoMatt
Fishbulb
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
A very special thank you to our wonderful guest photographer CaptPhoebus and brand42 for sharing their vision with us.
Your Editor - Rixter
Where have YOU been recently? We invite you to share your photos of theme parks or any other destination that may be of interest to our readers. Please feel free to contact me via MiceChat Private Message (screen name Rixter)
or send me an email: oceansiderick@gmail.com.
or send me an email: oceansiderick@gmail.com.
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Total Comments 30
Comments
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Weekend Update: Anaheim Cruise, Disneyland Paris, and Universal Studios Double Whammy
amazing weekend update!
Land of Oz feels very Mary Blairish to me for some reason.
I also think that Disneyland Paris' Small World is the most detailed and lavish of them all, not just their America scene.
I also heard Paris' Pirates is interesting too with going up the lift first etc. etc.
Thanks for all the park updates!Posted 03-07-2009 at 04:54 AM by Kritter
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Doom BGI is everywhere! My favorite part of DLP is probably the castle, which is amazing. Unfortunately, I always want to do other things in Paris (and France) when I'm there, but I try to take a day for DLP. Posted 03-07-2009 at 05:50 AM by nbodyhome -
I love the Statue guy at USH. The costume is so convincing, most people just walk right past without ever knowing!
And I wanna visit the Snoopy Studios. Why can't USH have that?
Nice to see all the progress on Terminator at SFMM, as well.Posted 03-07-2009 at 08:42 AM by JesterMn -
Awesome update..thanks
Posted 03-07-2009 at 08:59 AM by cositaluvsmickey -
Wow, amazing. What other site can you quite literally take a trip around the world in 5 minutes.Posted 03-07-2009 at 09:02 AM by sir clinksalot -
Great update! LOTS AND LOTS OF PICS!! Way to go everyone!Posted 03-07-2009 at 09:03 AM by Petchaurus -
So much fun!!!
I'm curious about Universal Japan's new Magical Starlight Parade. It looks like a modern Electrical Parade. And the promo art looks like it was done by Hello Kitty.
Posted 03-07-2009 at 10:26 AM by Dustysage -
Man, this weekend update has royally spoiled me! I love all the awesome pictures from all over. Thanks to all who contributed to such a cool treat. :0)Posted 03-07-2009 at 11:44 AM by Disney Liz -
Well that was fun!
Thanks to all who contributed!Posted 03-07-2009 at 12:42 PM by MickeyMaxx -
I love travelling the world every Saturday.Posted 03-07-2009 at 01:20 PM by pratt55 -
This is my favorite weekend update yet!
DLP looks beautiful, I hope to go soon.Posted 03-07-2009 at 02:56 PM by MarkTwain 
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The way everything is set up here reminds me so much of the Hollywood Backlot at DCA where Monster's Inc. is. The layout looks very similar (from this angle), it's very cool!
Great update! I'm glad to see the USH backlot's construction is going well.Posted 03-07-2009 at 03:12 PM by MonstersGoBoo! - This is my favorite weekend update yet!
DLP looks beautiful, I hope to go soon.Posted 03-07-2009 at 03:25 PM by MarkTwain -
Universal Studios in Japan is very intriguing. I'll have to add that park to my "someday" list!Posted 03-07-2009 at 03:35 PM by twobluestripes -
Thanks for the update!Posted 03-07-2009 at 06:35 PM by llama5492 -
Nice update as always.
The USJ parade seems to be channeling Disney more than I would expect.Posted 03-07-2009 at 07:32 PM by BC_DisneyGeek - DL Paris is so beautiful - after it lost money, Eisner vowed that he would never overbuild a park again, but he overbuilt the wrong thing - the hotels! I heard the park was always a success, it's just they built too many hotel rooms, and that's why it flopped. Then he blamed the Imagineers and went on to cheap out on DCA - I always thought they spent money where it was not appreciated - France, and didn't spend the money where it would have been appreciated - at DCA, very very sad...Posted 03-07-2009 at 08:36 PM by Disneykin Kid
Updated 03-07-2009 at 08:53 PM by Disneykin Kid -
Wow great update around the world!Posted 03-07-2009 at 10:09 PM by WheresMickey -
Pirates at DLP IS amazing, i've only read and seen walkthroughs of the others, but general opinion seems to suggest it's the best. and space mountain rules too, if only DLP had Splash mountain and TSMM it would be the best park :-)Posted 03-08-2009 at 03:55 AM by Sgt. Tibs -
The hotels at DLP are always very full, in fact they added even more hotel rooms only a few years ago via a number of non Disney hotels. It is true that in the first year or so hotel occupancy was not the highest, but it was very soon at the levels they expected. The real problem was that just as the resort was completed and opened Europe was in a recession and people did not want to spend money. They just visited the park for a day and did not stay at a hotel only ate fast food and did not buy gifts. The resort has a lot of rooms that were not booked, full service restaurants that were empty and expensive unique gifs unsold. The result was that they closed a couple of hotels during the first winter months, converted full service to fast food and really dropped the quality and variety of the gifts.Posted 03-08-2009 at 05:09 AM by Ian P
