We’ve got THREE Stitch Walt Disney Studios Invasion pins, a whole series of “restrospective” pins, lots of character pins, the villain pins of the 15th Anniversary Pin Event, the Summer season pin, a Mother’s Day pin and much, much more.

Ready? Here we go!

Saturday June 2nd 2007

Pin Mother’s Day 2007
Limited Edition 900 ex.
Reference number 209401007065
Price 10.50 Euros

Saturday June 9th 2007

Tinkerbell pin
Reference number 209401007111
Price 6.00 Euros

Stitch pin
Reference number 209401007112
Price 6.00 Euros

Mickey pin
Reference number 209401007109
Price 6.00 Euros

Minnie pin
Reference number 209401007110
Price 6.00 Euros

Crush’s Coaster Opening Pin
Reference number 209401007107
Price 6.00 Euros

Cars : Quatre Roue Rallye Opening Pin
Reference number 209401007108
Price 6.00 Euros

Saturday June 16th 2007

Jack Sparrow Pin on pin
Reference number 209401007104
Price 8.50 Euros

Thursday June 21st 2007

Summer Season Pin Mickey Minnie 2007 LE
Limited Edition 900 ex.
Reference number 209401007041
Price 10.50 Euros

We are pleased to announce that the next pin trading night will take place at Disney’s Sequoia Lodge on Friday June 22nd 2007.

Saturday June 23st 2007

PIN EVENT

Disney Villains celebrate our 15th Anniversary
Times Square Ballroom
Disney’s Hotel New York®
From 9.00am

Come and celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Disneyland® Park. Do not miss the primary sales during the event (Stitch invasion Pins, Retrospective pin and new Parade Pin).

Just few places are still avalaible!

Information : (+ 33) 825.30.60.30.

On sale during the event :

Maleficent event Pin

Queen of Hearts Event Pin

Wicked Queen Event Pin

Pin sales premieres during the event :

Stitch Invasion WDS 7 LE Pin
(See Below)

Stitch Invasion WDS 8 LE Pin
(See Below)

Stitch Invasion WDS 9 LE Pin
(See Below)

Retrospective 1993 LE Pin
(See Below)

Retrospective 1994 LE Pin
(See Below)

Retrospective 1995 LE Pin
(See Below)

15th Anniversary Medal Pin
(See Below)

2007 Medal Pin
(See Below)

Starter Kit Mickey Minnie 07
Reference number 209411007004
Price 19.90 Euros

Sunday June 24th 2007

Stitch Invasion WDS 7 LE Pin
Reference number 209401007031
Limited Edition 900 ex.
Price 10.50 Euros
Depending left stock quantities after the event

Stitch Invasion WDS 8 LE Pin
Reference number 209401007032
Limited Edition 900 ex.
Price 10.50 Euros
Depending left stock quantities after the event

Stitch Invasion WDS 9 LE Pin
Reference number 209401007033
Limited Edition 900 ex.
Price 10.50 Euros
Depending left stock quantities after the event

Retrospective 1993 LE Pin
Reference number 209401007008
Limited Edition 900 ex.
Price 10.90 Euros
Depending left stock quantities after the event

Retrospective 1994 LE Pin
Reference number 209401007009
Limited Edition 900 ex.
Price 10.90 Euros
Depending left stock quantities after the event

Retrospective 1995 LE Pin
Reference number 209401007035
Limited Edition 900 ex.
Price 10.90 Euros
Depending left stock quantities after the event

15th Anniversary Medal Pin
Reference number 209401007117
Price 6.00 Euros
Depending left stock quantities after the event

2007 Medal Pin
Reference number 209401007116
Price 6.00 Euros
Depending left stock quantities after the event

Phew… somebody had better remortgage Sleeping Beauty Castle!

Launched on 20th February with the official Disneyland15.com, the official anniversary blog has come from modest beginnings to present a series of unique videos and articles delving into the backstage talent of the 15th Anniversary Celebration. Our host, Tristane, has introduced us to the scent creator, costume designer and director of Disney’s Once Upon a Dream Parade, and now attention has switched dramatically to Toon Studio, particularly Crush’s Coaster.

The first surprise on the French version of the blog today was the following photo, showing a painter at work on murals inside the key “dark ride” scenes of this unique new spinning roller coaster:

We’ve seen glimpses into the dark ride scenes before, but this more recent image shows some of the final, vibrant colours of the scenes and the talent at work. The scenes are much smaller, the route much thinner, than a usual dark ride, which might seem strange considering the theme of “the big blue”, but the paintwork completed here shows how the Imagineers have designed tricks of the eye to give the effect of real undersea depth. With blurred, faded background coral behind vibrant, crisp detail, a flat wall suddenly becomes a window into the depths of the Great Barrier Reef, with 3D sculpted coral in front adding another depth.

A good news day for Crush’s Coaster, then. But they weren’t done yet – a little later, and suddenly a brand new video has been uploaded to the blog, presenting even more backstage previews. Presented as a simple slide show with just a few seconds of actual footage, the video serves to present a series of never-before-seen images: concept models, detailed, sculpted coral and more…

A look at each and every shot of the video:

(1) Front elevation of Studio 5, shows some interior detail of the boarding area, such as steps over the track to its platform and a studio-style lighting rail above the action.

(2) A fantastic scale model of the entire attraction. The entrance path is chopped in half in the foreground – notice the warnings and wait times sign recently added in reality. The full 3D marquee featuring Crush is seen as a piece white card on guests’ left, a little further into the queue and yet to be modelled here.

(3) A close-up of the model, showing the outside drop and its jagged, diagonal rockwork surround. Notice the steel fences recently added, which here are shown to cut through a large chunk of blue rock, home to Nemo and Squirt amongst a small crop of green plants.

(4) The camera pans right to left, showing the route of the outside drop, its track almost entirely concealed by the rocks and shown to be filled with several plants.

(5) The lowest point of the drop and a close-up of Nemo and Squirt. These figures will be similar to those at the old Finding Nemo photo location, now lost to the Hollywood Boulevard project.

(6) We move onwards to the first scene of the dark ride, seen as if you were above the building looking toward Cars and Art of Disney Animation. The entrance from the outside drop is top-left, the two state-of-the-art digital projection screens lower-right and top-right. The coral is filled with a rainbow of colours.

(7) The next scene, this model shows only the Angler Fish attack, with the previous scene depicted as a flat floorplan. The colour and light has disappeared for a much more uncertain tone.

(8) A zoom-in on this corner of the track. One angler fish faces toward oncoming turtle shells on the corner, whilst another hides around the bend pointing toward shells as they continue past. Like the digital projections before, these are two identical effects doubled-up to ensure guests in both sides of the back-to-back ride vehicles see the same experience.

(9) Another close look at these impressive Audio-Animatronics, also due to be found at Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (California).

(10) An impressive example of coral sculpted for the attraction. Though no commentary is provided with these images, the coral appears to be in a tent backstage at Walt Disney Studios Park. Interesting, since it would be assumed the coral would be sculpted on-site at its final location. Several reference photos and concepts are pinned to a board above the décor.

(11) The lower portion of the coral shows even more variety in the undersea life, matching that seen full-coloured in the concept models above.

(12) A close-up of the coral. Impressive detail, and certainly like nothing else at Walt Disney Studios Park.

(13) Another close-up shows even more variety, all referenced from real coral and reproduced to be entirely accurate to undersea life.

(14) Finally, a noticeboard with the concept model of the attraction next to two real-life reference photos used to design its jagged rockwork façade, similar in design – if not unnatural blue colour – to that over in Adventureland.

After all this work, it might actually seem like 154 years for some of the Imagineers involved!

Video, photo and all video caps Copyright Disney.

The idea Walt Disney Imagineering calls “Area Development” has gone to play in every corner of Toon Studio. Whilst Disneyland Park has been the king of area development for over 15 years – everywhere from Boot Hill to Discovery Lagoon – Walt Disney Studios Park is finally beginning to join in with its three Toon Studio filmsets and the wacky studio entrance gate at the back of the land. Today, it’s all about signs – and they’re all pointing to the Toons.

The long-awaited ‘Cars’ neon was installed a couple of weeks ago atop the Ramone’s House of Body Art-inspired queue entrance. With a shiny red finish and a sleek metallic surround, it looks like a perfect slice of Route 66 Americana. Elsewhere, the neons and studio lighting glow throughout the day, ready to draw people in, whilst more trees have been added just in front of the Cadillac Range backdrop. Because – unlike the rest of the Studios and its loud billboards – this area likes to keep things a bit more hidden, give guests something to discover as they turn each corner…

Turning the corner towards Cars Quatre Roues Rallye, they will be confronted with a billboard – but smaller, more colourful and a key part of the area development. The ‘Welcome to Radiator Springs’ sign looks like it was copied and pasted right out of Pixar’s computers. In the distance, you can see the entrance sign for the attraction has also been installed, reading ‘Cars Quatre Roues Rallye’ in customised, bright blue neons.

As for the electricity pylons, theyve now been littered with studio lighting also pointing towards a Toon – the giant undersea backdrop of Crush’s filmset, so perhaps those electricity wires are almost real?

Sticking with Cars, and the photo below – from Disneytheque.com – again shows another new sign, but maybe not what we expected. With its dark, rotting wooden facade, the middle storefront always seemed to be a sure location for Lizzie’s Radiator Springs Curios. As the lopsided sign shows, though, Tow Mater has taken this spot! The photo also shows the large collection of new conifer trees in the area behind the land, as well as a brand new gate between Route 66 and the Studio Tram Tour route.

Crush’s Coaster has been receiving a last minute touch-up to its paintwork this week, helping the dark blue rockwork blend better with the brighter side wall thanks to an air-blown gradient.

Here too there are new signs pointing to the Toons. The all-important entrance sign was installed last week, with a small logo and wait time indicator at the top then two pairs of warnings signs below, one in French, the other in English. The information board clearly uses the same style as those at Epcot’s ‘The Seas with Nemo & Friends’.

It’s a small sign for the towering Studio 5 behind, but sources including La Rouquine on Disney Central Plaza forum have confirmed that the much larger marquee featuring Crush himself will still appear, positioned along the queue line just before guests step under the canopy at the side of the studio.

The previously pale yellow building of Animagique doesn’t have any new signage but it does have a blinding new blue colour scheme to point guests toward itself – now with an extra touch of purple to replace the dull red bricks around the top of its waiting area roof. Later photos on Disneytheque.com show the pillars either side of the entrance (here being painted with a white primer) have actually been repainted in the very same blue as before, where a more contrasting colour might have been expected.

Also strange to note – the Fantasia hippos previously positioned in the flower beds on the right of the building, toward the Monsters Inc photo location, have now been moved to the lawn behind Art of Disney Animation, along the Studio Tram Tour: Behind the Magic route. The move doesn’t look temporary, so it remains to be seen if they will be returned to Animation Courtyard once the flooring has been completed, let alone what remains of their former flower beds…

But whilst the hippos are gone, something else returns. The look-out tower next to Flying Carpets Over Agrabah – which was recently repainted purple from dark blue – has now regained its fabric canopy and walls.

Finally, we end with the biggest pointer to the Toons of them all – the land’s brand new Sorcerer Mickey statue. We first saw a glimpse of the statue being sculpted in February, and now that the latest issue of Tales from the Laughing Place has shipped, we can get a closer look at the Studios’ fourth Mickey statue.

The Imagineer at work is Valerie Edwards, and the statue should finally appear in its full, golden form later this month, along with a spark of magic flying across the parade route and the host of other golden Disney characters on the Sorcerer’s Hat. So if it looks like everything’s pointing to the Toons right now, just wait ’till June!

Photos 5 & 6 by Disneytheque.com; Photos 7 & 8 by Kyoto, Disney Magic Interactive; Photo 12 taken from Tales from the Laughing Place; All other photos by Photos Magiques.

Dating from as far back as 1999 and 2000, the old booking system was a simple yet not particularly user-friendly interface. Consisting of simple drop-down menus and selection boxes, it never gave a particularly dazzling first impression for people on their way to Disneyland. Not only that, but it stubbornly refused to work in several browsers such as Mozilla Firefox – not good for a resort which welcomes over 12 million visitors each year.

And so, finally, another piece of the circa-2000 website fades away. Visitors clicking the “Book Packages” option on the homepage of the official website are now redirected first to the resort’s new Hotels pages, where they can find the perfect hotel to suit their needs. Then all it takes is a click of “Book Now!” and they’re off to the brand new booking system…

The system appears in a similar design to the main website but removes all menus and Flash, giving a more friendly way to book your package. The first pages requires you to choose an arrival date and length of stay, with various options along the sidebar informing you of deals such as Half Board Meal Plans.

Once you’ve selected the number of people going with you to the magic, the screen clears and connects you to the resort’s booking system, with Tinkerbell floating around the screen and a message highlighting the special events for the 15th Anniversary.

System searched, the page next moves to the next step of the booking process and displays your ideal package offer along with two alternatives – a new feature for this sytem. The page displays all the features of each package in a good layout, allowing you to compare each offer or search again for a better deal. From this page you can also add options such as Half Board or change your room type with a single click – the options box opens within the same window and prices are updated automatically so you can continue to compare the packages.

The most major update with this new system, one which visitors from the UK in particular will be glad to see, is the option to finally book transport with your hotel, online. So far the system allows you to find flights with Air France (the resort’s airline partner) from a large number of airports and Eurostar from London, though at the time of writing the system was having trouble connecting to Eurostar’s booking option.

The pricing details here could be a little clearer, but the options now available give the system a major advantage over its predecessor and hopefully much more incentive for guests to book quickly and book everything together, a major plus for the resort’s all-important sales.

And if at any time during the process you need to check what you’ve selected so far, it’s just a click away. “Review my selection” brings up a useful window on the same page you’re looking at, displaying the details of your package so far without you having to reach the end of the booking process or hit “back” and check your selections. Another clever new feature is the ability to save “travel wishes”, so you can come back later to complete the booking.

Then, once you do reach the end, everything is displayed again in a modern and easy-to-read layout. Here you can even add requests to your booking, select insurance and see useful tips for your hotel and transport. The total cost is displayed clearly in bold at the top – as with most other websites and sales these days, they hope the clearer and simpler they make it, the more likely they are to get a booking.

Ready to book? Well, here we are – time to get entering all your details. With the new transport options, you’ll also need to select the ID you’ll use to pick up boarding cards and a number from the ID chosen. Finally, the price is once again displayed large and clear next to the credit card form – which comes with the resort’s partner “Visa” selected as standard, of course. A box provides a reminder that the website is SSL secured, and the entire process certainly does feel much more modern, substantial and secure than the basic former system.

The ticket purchasing system has yet to be updated, running on a separate website to the packages system, but this major step forward for the online sales of Disneyland Resort Paris is a sign that they’re still continuing to build their online presence, one of the key points Karl Holz announced when he became CEO exactly two years ago, back in May 2005.

Want to see the new system for real? Follow the link, choose your dream and select “Book Now!”. But maybe best to keep your credit card at arms length – you know how impulsive that Disney magic can make its fans.

Thanks to Jakub for the news!

…And this time, it really is being rolled out to us. Not only will the press come in smaller numbers (700 compared to 1700 for 31st March) and one week after the opening (16th June), but the organisers of the resort’s Shareholders Club and Annual Passport Dream privileges have finally mailed invites and organised events to celebrate the 15th.

First, the Shareholders Club. Announced via email, on the official website and now through a mailed invite (below), shareholders of Euro Disney SCA have the exclusive opportunity to ride Crush’s Coaster and Cars Race Rally as many times as they wish between 12pm and 3pm on 2nd June 2007.

Places at the event are strictly limited to a first-come first-served basis, and you must apply online no later than 25th May 2007. Your Shareholders Club card must also have been valid at 1st May 2007.

Shareholders will be able to receive up to 2 free Passe-Partout park hopper tickets for the day and up to 4 wristbands to gain access to the attractions – meaning up to 3 friends or family can join you for the rush to Crush! In addition to Salon Mickey, the mezzanine of Restaurant En Coulisse will offer a similar service of complimentary refreshments from 9:30am to 11:30am.

More details can be seen in the flyer above, and don’t forget to register now if you’d like to attend!

Not a shareholder? Well, grab your Passeport Annuel Dream and you too can join the rush – a few hours earlier than those Shareholders, infact! By simply showing up at Walt Disney Studios Park and presenting your Annual Passport Dream, you can get exclusive access to the two new attractions at the following times:

Saturday 2nd June 2007 – 9am to 12pm
Sunday 3rd June 2007 – 4pm to 7pm
Wednesday 6th June 2007 – 10am to 12pm

Dream passholders can also invite one friend (with a valid park passport) to join them in the rush. As with the Shareholders event, the attractions can be closed at any time during these final test runs, to troubleshoot or tweak at the Imagineers’ discretion.

It’s important to note that, whilst all of these events are being labelled as “Avant-Première” previews, guests will by no means be the “first” to ride the two new attractions. Like all new Disney attractions, they will be opened to the public for select periods in the fortnight before their official opening to test the systems, train the Cast Members and respond to the guest reaction. These events simply help loyal guests get an extended preview before the “rush” truly begins.

The “Soft Openings” themselves are scheduled to run most days from the end of May to the 9th June grand opening, so Shareholder, Dream passholder or regular guest – the avant-premières will continue for some time, and the “red carpet” finally available for all.

Finally, impressive proof that the Red Carpet has returned after his success in early April. Making a dazzling comeback last night on French TV network M6 (think E4 if you’re in the UK), he flew through the sky once again before diving down into the depths of the ocean and spiralling around to help launch the first piece of advertising directly aimed at Crush’s Coaster and a competition to win your own avant-première visit.

You can download the brief TV spot (around 18 seconds) here, uploaded by Mouetto on Disney Central Plaza forum.

Yes, the ego has landed! Coming in the form of a life-size replica similar to the models seen at Disney’s California Adventure park and Disney-MGM Studios Florida last year, the sleek and shiny red racing hero (known as Flash McQueen in France) has every detail perfected – from “Lightyear” tires to his “Rusteze Bumper Ointment” stickers.

In a great example of being in the right place at the right time, one of our readers was kind enough to send in a couple of photos taken from Studio Tram Tour. After five years of Jeremy Irons and Dinotopia, the tour easily provided one of its most exciting moments for passing guests. As their tram passed by the main route from backstage to the Toon Studio construction site, Lightning McQueen was resting on a fork-lift truck waiting to be carried across and dropped off at Cars Race Rally!

The replica joins Mater (known as Martin in France), who arrived a few days earlier, to greet guests at the entrance of the attraction in the park’s new Radiator Springs settlement (as seen in the concept art below) and “cheer visitors on” as they compete in the race rally spin-out in the dusty “canyon” below.

In the US resorts, the vehicles appear as drive-around models who enter and exit the park several times a day to meet guests. For Paris, they will likely be presented simply as stationary figures, allowing guests to pose for photos and meet their heros all throughout the day at Walt Disney Studios Park.

These two characters bring the total number currently confirmed for the attraction to three, since we have already seen that Luigi will also be featured in life-size form — recreated for the very first time especially for Paris — in front of his famous Casa Della Tires storefront, complete with Leaning Tower of Tires.

Lightning McQueen photos with thanks to Kevin Hollingworth.

The results come as an incredibly positive step forward for the debt-laden group, showing an improvement and growth toward financial health right across the board – without any effects of the 15th Anniversary, since the results report only up until late March. Total revenues increased 9.7% from €467.4m during the same period in 2006 to €512.6m in 2007 – a positive figure indeed, but still only enough to reduce total losses for the period by €20m, due to other increased spend on marketing and operations in preparation for the anniversary year.

At Disney Village and the Disney Hotels, more good news and more growth. Over recent years hotel occupancy has fallen considerably, but this first half it has finally risen by over 5 percentage points to a satisfying 83.1%, whilst overall revenues for Hotels and Disney Village has risen by – you guessed it – over 10%.

For the fans, there’s one area looked to each and every time financial results are released – the attendance. This ‘First Half’, we’re in for a major surprise. Whilst it might have been expected attendance would slow in the build-up to the anniversary, with guests perhaps holding back trips, the results show absolutely nothing of the sort. From 5.5 million visitors in the first half of 2006, attendance at the two Disney Parks has increased a staggaring 10.9% to 6.1 million visitors from November 2006 to March 2007.

Add the huge marketing push and countless new attractions of the 15th Anniversary to this positive first half, and what can be expect for the next two quarters? If attendance continued at 10.9% above 2006 levels for the entire financial year, attendance would hit as high as 14 million visitors, the highest ever amount for Disneyland Resort Paris. More realistically, perhaps, the resort should aim for its current record – 13.1 million visitors in 2002, when Walt Disney Studios Park opened. Rememering that 2006 brought 12.8 million guests with only minimal advertising of Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast though, and that 14 million suddenly doesn’t seem quite so far away…

Commenting on the results, Karl L. Holz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Euro Disney S.A.S., said:

“We are encouraged by the improved results of the first half of the fiscal year and we are pleased with the positive response of our guests to the 15th anniversary celebration. We are looking forward to continuing the celebration with the opening of two new Walt Disney Studios® Park attractions inspired by our popular Disney/Pixar animated films, Finding Nemo and Cars.

“We continue to focus on improving our business performance and the overall resort experience. The continued enthusiasm and dedication displayed by our cast members is instrumental in maintaining and improving this experience.”

Update on upcoming events

On April 1, 2007, the Group launched the celebration of the 15th anniversary of Disneyland® Resort Paris which will last until March 31, 2008.
The Disneyland® Park’s Sleeping Beauty Castle has been decorated with sculptures of Disney Characters and 15 birthday candles. Each night, the candles are lit during Candleabration, a birthday show featuring favorite Disney Characters.

In the Disneyland Park, Disney Characters star in the all-new Disney’s Once Upon a Dream parade. Two new attractions are scheduled to open at the Walt Disney Studios® Park during the celebration. Crush’s Coaster and Cars Race Rally, inspired by the Disney/Pixar’s hit animated films Finding Nemo and Cars, respectively. These attractions are designed to add to the appeal and capacity of Disneyland Resort Paris, further enhancing the core guest experience to drive both attendance and occupancy growth as well as increase guest spending.

On June 10, 2007, the new high speed train (“TGV Est Européen”) line to the East of France, Germany and Switzerland will be launched. With the opening of this line, the Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station will become the largest high speed rail interchange in Europe. This line will allow more guests living east of our Resort quicker access to Disneyland Resort Paris. Once the line is running at full capacity, the French Rail Authority expects that more than six million passengers should transit through this station every year.

You can read the report in full here (PDF opens in new window).

Official partners and attraction sponsors have been a part of the Disneyland machine since the opening day of Disneyland California in 1955. Whilst Walt had already signed up an impressive list of partners and backers for his ambitious project, it was when attention was drawn to Tomorrowland that the story really began. Unable to finance a full land for opening day, the area became an exhibition area for the park’s partners until the 1959 expansion brought some of its most famous attractions.

For Disneyland Resort Paris, the story is even more complicated. Following the 1955 model, a huge collection of partners from various product areas jumped at the chance to sponsor Euro Disney… though only a handful remain today. Coca-Cola, Esso, France Télécom, Hasbro, Hertz, Kellogg’s, Kodak, McDonald’s, Nestlé, Opel and Visa were the partners up until late March 2007, when the contracts were due for another shake-up after fifteen years in Paris…

The first change in-park came at the Disneyland Railroad, which has now lost McDonald’s as its sponsor. As Bob Iger and Jay Rasulo continue to spread a healthier feel through the menus of Disney Parks around the world, Disneyland Resort Paris have wasted no time in losing McDonald’s as an official partner, and the position they’ve held at Disneyland Railroad since 1999.

The restaurant at Disney Village will remain, but all signage and announcements at the railroad have been fully updated to remove the golden arches. One example, Frontierland Depot, now has a new entrance sign with larger text to fill the space left. And, of course, “your friends at McDonald’s” no longer welcome you aboard…

Railroad fans need not despair however, the grand circle tour will still be cared for in the same way. Whilst audio problems continue on almost every train, Frontierland Depot has also recently received a full “restoration” of its detailed interior.

A second loss can be felt in both parks. Opel, partner since the 2002 opening of Walt Disney Studios Park, when it replaced former partner Renault to help develop and sponsor Moteurs… Action! Stunt Show Spectacular, has now left the resort. After five years, the Opel contract expired and wasn’t renewed, as simple as that. In Disneyland Park, the various hidden details of the brand around Main Street USA have already been removed or hidden…

…Whilst over at Walt Disney Studios Park, the Opel badges have been removed from every car at Moteurs… Action! and the giant entrance marquee updated to reflect the loss.

The loss of a motoring sponsor is a fairly major change for the resort, so who could follow on from Renault and Opel/Vauxhall? As already confirmed at Autopia, none other than Ford Motor Company, one of the most recognisable brands in the world, has signed on to partner with Disneyland Resort Paris.

The iconic blue oval has already appeared on the entrance marquee and “Astrocoupé” billboard of Autopia, now officially sponsored by Ford. It’s interesting to note, though, that Ford here replaces not Opel but another oval logo… that of Esso. The petrol giant still sponsors Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril, but there is apparently some doubt now over how much longer this will continue – the sponsorship is no longer listed on the latest park map, for example.

Finally, the biggest change in sponsorship perhaps since the park first opened. When you think of brands featured at Disneyland, Nestlé inevitably springs to mind. From water to baby food, ice tea to Nescafé, ice cream to chocolate, the food giant was a major presence at the resort. From April 2007, however, their contract is over.

To replace a motor company is one thing, but how to replace a brand like Nestlé will all of its sub-companies and neverending products? Well, it looks like Disneyland Resort Paris have found the perfect candidate – Unilever. The name might not immediately ring a bell, but a quick look at some of the brands and companies in their portfolio shows they’re a more than worthy successor to Nestlé…

So now it seems we can expect Lipton Ice Tea rather than Nestea, Bertolli Italian foods rather than Buitoni and Miko (Walls in the UK) ice creams rather than Nestlé’s own – bringing Cornettos, Magnums, Calippos and Twisters to Disneyland for the first time!

The Nestlé name hasn’t been totally removed, however. The resort still uses the company’s chocolate products, Nescafé and baby food. Only time will tell if other new partners will replace these, or if Nestlé will remain on as simply a provider rather than a partner. The current park maps – valid until July and May respectively – also still feature Nestlé advertising.

One of the most popular changes already comes at Main Street’s Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor. Whilst The Ice Cream Company takes the more family-orientated Miko brand, the trendy Gibson Girl now takes the Ben & Jerry’s name – and serves a range of their most popular flavours for the first time.

The more “exclusive” Carte d’Or brand has also arrived, adding a golden touch to Fantasia Gelati in Fantasyland. With these positive changes to the products Disneyland Resort Paris can now offer at its restaurants and boutiques, the effect on sales will be interesting to watch.

Other possibilities are also opened up with the portfolio of companies – healthier Knorr foods at counter service restaurants? Dove soap and Lux shower gel at Disney Hotels? Or maybe – just maybe – Slim Fast at the Walt Disney Studios restaurants, for that true Hollywood experience.

More photos of the sponsorship changeovers can be seen at Photos Magiques.