Euro Disneyland 1994

[cap'njack.]

Last night I watched a video where my Mum's charity took thier disabled children to Euro Disney (as it was called then) in 1994.

It's not until you look back on it that you can really see the differences between 1994 and 2008.

Just a few things that I noticed that you don't see now:

* The Aladdin parade included live horses!
* 3 different parades in the park in one day
* The Old Mill ride actually working!
* No Space Mountain (well just a big building site where Space Mountain would appear)
* Live bands on Main Street
* Festival Disney
* Busses from DCR to the Park
* 12 yr old Cap'njack happily spending his parents money

I wish there was a way up uploading the video from VHS onto the internet to share with you all!

 

[mommy2ash]

i know that would be great to see the differences. i was actually in dlrp for one day with a school trip in 2000 and i cant remember a thing. the only ride i went to was pm and we ate in mcdonalds. since planning this trip ive been trying to figure out what i did for the whole day. so i wonder will it all come back to me once i get there

 

[ukstitch]

Last night I watched a video where my Mum's charity took thier disabled children to Euro Disney (as it was called then) in 1994.

It's not until you look back on it that you can really see the differences between 1994 and 2008.

Just a few things that I noticed that you don't see now:

* The Aladdin parade included live horses!
* 3 different parades in the park in one day
* The Old Mill ride actually working!
* No Space Mountain (well just a big building site where Space Mountain would appear)
* Live bands on Main Street
* Festival Disney
* Busses from DCR to the Park
* 12 yr old Cap'njack happily spending his parents money

I wish there was a way up uploading the video from VHS onto the internet to share with you all!

They kind of still do have live horses, but only at Christmas time when they're live Reindeer.

The buses from DCR would have been useful - I believe it was a bit more like a campsite then -> I thought they had caravan patches as well?

 

[tennisfan]

I went on my first trip in 94 with my school. I still have a leaflet/booklet with Festival Disney & the hotels on it somewhere.

The Old Mill was working in 1999 as my sister went on it with my dad & that was her first trip there.

It was on this trip that I was put off PM, as a CM was on the back of our canopy & jumped out on us when the ride started

 

[MinnieMouse73]

They also had live horses in the 'Halloween Cavalcade' in October 06:

And they make a brief appearance in Mickey's Winter Wonderland show:

I would love to have seen the park as far back as 1994 though - we didn't make it there until 2003! :shock

 

[cap'njack.]

Thanks MinnieMouse. Nice to see that they do actually still use the live horses. I certianly wouldn't have wanted to be the poor CM following with a shovel and bucket

 

[gemmybear83]

I went in Jan 1994, but there was no horses in the aladdin parade! But there were only about 10 people watching it, as the park was so quiet. I remember it was so cold and the park was covered in snow (real snow at that!)

 

[davewasbaloo]

I have been going since before opening day, and much has changed (and not necessarily for the better!).

On Main Street -

Ribbons and Bows used to sell mouse ears where they would embroider your name on the back.

There used to be a marching band, a keystone cops sax group, a barbershop quartet and ragtime piano player at Casey's Corner.

Every store was different, and Main Street Motors was a reproduction of a old time garage (with 4 real cars for sale if you were rich enough).

There was a sillouette artist that would create a sillouette of you while you wait.

And the Horse drawn street car, 3 horseless carriages and Omnibus would be in operation at the same time unless too crowded (add to that a train every 10 to 15 minutes).

 

[davewasbaloo]

Next onto Frontierland - where from 1994 on you could tour the teepees and speak to the Indians before going through the fort.

The Lucky Nugget was not a character meal, but in fact had a revue show open to all including singing, stunt fights and live cancan dancers.

There were Indian Canoes on the water where you could paddle through white water and near the geysers too (they used to work). And near the canoes were indian craftsmen making pots and weaving rugs, you could also buy native american indian trinkets.

Occassionally the cavelry would ride their horses or a gun fight would break out on the rooftops. Don't forget the live Dixieland on the Mark Twain!!!!

And in Cotton Wood Creek, wood carvers would make things to order, there was a blacksmith shop and real animals including Brahma Bull

 

[davewasbaloo]

Adventureland - this is the area I think has been ruined the most.

Besides the covered walkway that connected Main Street to PotC, going away, I miss the Bazaar.

In the Bazaar there were merchants that made wooden boxes, brass plates and woven persian rugs, all for sale. Hakuna Matata was known by another name, and would serve African cuisine, and where one can now buy Pizza's, it used to be a table service restaurants with a cast of different characters and parrots that would interact with the guests in The Explorer's Club (also sold chinese for a short time before it became Col. Hathi's).

The TAMTAM drummers and asian gamalan players would frequently appear throughout, along with pirates sword fighting. and the lighthouse near PotC was live flame at night!!!!

I also miss the reflecting pool that used to exist at the entrance of Adventureland.

 

[davewasbaloo]

Fantasyland is the one land that in the main has changed for the better, but there are a few things I miss here too.

You could buy unbirthday cakes and decorate them near the Tea Cups. Also you could buy different hats and have them embroidered in that area too.

Merlin would conduct the sword in the stone ceremony, and Cinderella, the mice and Fairy godmother would put in an apperance at Auberge for no further charge ( with a choice of at least five things for each course on the menu and the slipper could be had by anyone).

And I miss the fountains working on It's a Small World.

Other entertainment would include medieval jugglers and the odd band (I forgot a pirate band would occassionally float between Peter Pan and Adventure Isle).

 

[davewasbaloo]

Discoveryland - Shows have come and gone such as Rock Shock, Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, the 10th Anniversary Show, and soon the Lion King will be leaving.

I am saddened by the loss of Le Visionarium as I always felt this best encapsulated the ideals of the land.

we had a Nasa Space exhibit for a time in the area that is now Pizza Planet. And I greatly morn the loss of Space Mountain au la terre de la lune.

And I really miss the fire that would burn on top of the water at the entrance to Discoveryland.

And we used to have mini parades - Aladdin, Lion King, Mulan, et al, the Halloween Parade (3 versions), Imagination (with the Big Balloons), Christmas parade (2 versions), the Main Street Electrical Parade (which I preferred to Fanti), and BIG Fireworks more frequently.

 

[davewasbaloo]

DLP was the near perfect park even though it had less attractions than the other MKs when it opened. There have been some returns to greatness (the burning torches in Adventureland returning), but to me the shopping, dining and entertainment (stage shows aside - they have improved) have been going backwards.

Although we have gained since opening:

Pocahontas Playground
Aladdin Walk Through
Indy
Pirate Playground
The Old Mill (closed again)
Casey Jr
Storybookland Canal Boats
Space Mountain
Buzz
Pizza Planet
Hista replacing Capt Eo

I think we are missing a lot of the original magic. And therefore I am sorry I am an oldtimer, but I hope at the same time things will improve to form.

 

[cap'njack.]

Davewasbaloo - Thanks for that, some of them I remember, some not so much. Really wish that I was older at the time so that I really could appreciate how much has changed. It would be nice if we could get back to the original DLRP however I think that from a financial point of view that will never happen.

The newer visitors only seem interested in meeting characters. I'm sure that in the early years it was rare to see any characters out and about, the parade was therefore unmissable due to the fact that you got to see the characters. Nowadays it seems that you can't go anywhere without bumping into them. I've even seen three or four of the same character in different lands at the same time!

It's a shame that I can't seem to find that many photos of the place pre 2000 but I guess thats becuase in those days it was expensive to have films developed where as nowadays you can just store pitcures on your PC.

Let's hope that the streetmousephere that seems to be returning is a step in the right direction!

 

[davewasbaloo]

Festival Disney

Well besides the missing star lights, fake palm trees, and big american figures, there have been other changes too:

- The Cinema and Planet Hollywood have not always been there.
- There used to be 6 classic cars parked in front of Annette's
- The Deli used to be a real deli - with hot food and things like bagels, reubens, french dip, and chilli dogs - you could even get root beer.
- Hollywood Pictures sold real Hollywood Memoriabilia
- King Ludwigs replaced Rock and Roll America - a live music venue specialising in rock, rhythm and blues (food was terrible, but I miss the choice of free live entertainment)
- Team Mickey sold Disney sport gear including Disney themed golf equipment!!!
- Crescend'O (opened late 90's) offered a Cirque du Soliel aquatic circus experience, I used to love it.
- McDonald's was not there opening day
- Hurricane's used to make more sense - on the ground floor was Key West Seafood restaurant and upstairs was the night club and Live music outdoor stage.
- Cafe Mickey was LA Bar and Grill - now more characterised.
- Then there was the central stage, neverland club for kids and the arcade.

Festival Disney was a trip through America West coast to East - also no real (funfare) tack in there either.

Now some things have improved where they are additions, but once again, it is not what it once was.

As for the hotels, well I remember a string quartet in the DLH, live Jazz Club at the HNY (2nd best restaurant on property, and Parkside was a great place to eat too), live pianist at the NBC, SL had storytellers and the Hunters grill served all you can eat meat brought to your table on skewers.

The lake had a laser show at night.

Cheyenne had a blacksmith and ponies, with a magicician and country band in the bar.

Santa Fe had Mariachi bands.

And Davy Crockett had a pack of wolves and buffalo living on property, and a free bus to the rest of the resort.

The Gold Course has improved though!

 

[tennisfan]

Davewasbaloo - Thanks for that, some of them I remember, some not so much. Really wish that I was older at the time so that I really could appreciate how much has changed. It would be nice if we could get back to the original DLRP however I think that from a financial point of view that will never happen.

The newer visitors only seem interested in meeting characters. I'm sure that in the early years it was rare to see any characters out and about, the parade was therefore unmissable due to the fact that you got to see the characters. Nowadays it seems that you can't go anywhere without bumping into them. I've even seen three or four of the same character in different lands at the same time!

It's a shame that I can't seem to find that many photos of the place pre 2000 but I guess thats becuase in those days it was expensive to have films developed where as nowadays you can just store pitcures on your PC.

Let's hope that the streetmousephere that seems to be returning is a step in the right direction!

When we went in 1994 we saw several characters in & around the park. I will try & did out some of my old photos, which I will need to scan as it was pre digital.

 

[Tillybud]

Our first trip was in 1996 so I may have to see if I can scan some old pics. Have to agree though, I miss some of the things especially the silhouette artists ... they were so talented But I won't go on about these again as I mentioned them on another post. Think I may even have some photos we took whilst riding the old mill.

 

[Tillybud]

I also meant to say, davewasabaloo what a great memory you have

When we went in 96 there were quite a few characters in the park, my little fella was very happy with his very full autograph book which didn't take too long to complete

 

[cap'njack.]

When we went in 1994 we saw several characters in & around the park. I will try & did out some of my old photos, which I will need to scan as it was pre digital.

They were definatly there, I have video's of me with Chip n Dale and with Mickey Mouse (in a Frontierland outfit too) in 1994 however last time I went there were 10-15 out in the morning which I do not remember there being back in 1994 (although I was only 12 so my recollection is not the best)

 

[davewasbaloo]

Davewasbaloo - Thanks for that, some of them I remember, some not so much. Really wish that I was older at the time so that I really could appreciate how much has changed. It would be nice if we could get back to the original DLRP however I think that from a financial point of view that will never happen.

The newer visitors only seem interested in meeting characters. I'm sure that in the early years it was rare to see any characters out and about, the parade was therefore unmissable due to the fact that you got to see the characters. Nowadays it seems that you can't go anywhere without bumping into them. I've even seen three or four of the same character in different lands at the same time!

It's a shame that I can't seem to find that many photos of the place pre 2000 but I guess thats becuase in those days it was expensive to have films developed where as nowadays you can just store pitcures on your PC.

Let's hope that the streetmousephere that seems to be returning is a step in the right direction!

Characters existed then. In fact I forgot to mention that in Discoveryland there were even walk around Jawa, Ewoks, Chewbacca, and droids. As well as a space junkyard band and walk arounds from capt. Eo. - and the fab 5 in space gear.

There were characters and non characters, and it was awesome.

The Mad Hatter and Alice would often hold tea parties around the big table.

No autograph books, just people playing. Sadly the pushy cultures and language barriers however made them formalise the lines. It's a real shame.

It used to have it all. But sadly the economy was aweful when DLP opened (my parents lost their house not long after). The resort has suffered ever since. I really hope it will return to form.

I don't mean to be grumpy. I love DLP. But it used to be even more awesome. Sadly most fans in cyberspace never got to experience it, but I try to spread the knowledge so that if ever DLP management read boards, they will be reminded of what was there before they came into post.

Growing up in DL in California, the characters were always secondary, as were the thrills. Sadly guests are being conditioned to see them as the main reasons for going. It then becomes a vicious circle of deprivation. But it is not just in DLP this is happening, but also WDW (where most DLP execs start out), Tokyo and Hong Kong. Thankfully the diehards of DL won't let this happen, and I am hoping DLP also continue in the right direction.