Anyone know what the movement update insideDLParis mention could be? We really missed this attraction on our Dec visit as it was closed, looking forward to taking our 3yo there next time :)
//https://twitter.com/InsideDLParis#/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2FlULFunlC
I've heard the changes have been great. Does anyone have a more detailed explanation of what's changed? :D
Here's a video that was uploaded to YouTube 3 days ago. I don't know if this is the "new" Dragon, but it might be:
[youtube:3a4s21g6]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5fg0wK-1kM[/youtube:3a4s21g6]
The head does seem to move quite a bit. I know in years gone by I've waited for what seemed like ages for it to move, and when it did it was a little look up, swing to the side and down again. If this is a video of the old Dragon then I've obviously just been unlucky!
I think the animation is about four minutes long, so yeah, it may have just been luck. XD
Also, he seemed to breath a lot more smoke than usual in that video, Alan. :D
that looks like more movement, better lighting and smoke effect than before to me. Looks great :)
That is amazing! He (she?) is moving very fast now, something I can not remember from my last visit.
Quote from: "JelleP"That is amazing! He (she?) is moving very fast now, something I can not remember from my last visit.
Yes, that's how it looks to me, very snappy and yet much more precise and subtle with the movements of the head and jaw. Fantastic lighting too!
Ah see, so I did find the correct video. Props to myself for finding the Internet's first video of Dragon 2.0 in action :-)
Wow, she looks great in this video.
Can't wait to see the dragon in the park again. I missed it, when we visited Disneyland in November.
Quote from: "Meph"I've heard the changes have been great. Does anyone have a more detailed explanation of what's changed? :D
Yep, looks much better =D> Just shows you what can be achieved with a little imagination ;)
The dragon looks more dangerous now. Quick movements and more smoke. :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:
How amazing would it be if they could somehow work the fire effect back into her sequence! She looks brilliant with the return of decent amounts of smoke, and the return to a more active effect! Last time I visited, it was just a tail twitch and a claw tap!
I admit, the dragon does look like it's moving faster.
To me it sounded like there was a lot more growling too! Def an improvement, nothing like what we saw in March 2011. Bravo!
The room looks a bit brighter.
I love the dragon.
For some reason it epitomises to me everything Disney is and should be.
I'm really glad she's all fixed now :thumbs:
Quote from: "kate&phoo"I love the dragon.
For some reason it epitomises to me everything Disney is and should be.
I'm really glad she's all fixed now :thumbs:
Isn't she meant to be the biggest animatronic in Disneyland Paris?
Do we actually know that "she" is female?
Quote from: "captain rocket"Do we actually know that "she" is female?
Well, the castle is sometimes called Sleeping Beauty's castle. And the dragon in the Disney film is named Maleficent. But that's what I think. I'm not really sure.
Quote from: "captain rocket"Do we actually know that "she" is female?
In the movie the evil sorceress Malefitz turns into the dragon to fight the prince at the end of the film.
So, I guess it's a "she". ;)
Yes, that's true. You'll find many signs around the cave with her distinct horns design. ;)
Well, thats good enough for me, a lady she is!!
And here's the sign outside featuring those horns
(//http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx319/PeteHawke/A1.jpg)
I wonder how much the animatronic cost to make.
Glad she's back, was disappointed not to be able to visit when I went in November.
Actually (yeah, I'm once again going to spoil the party with a random bit of trivia)...... it's not supposed to be Maleficent. According to the official backstory, it's a dragon that Merlin found in an egg one morning and decided to keep right under his magic shop where it is to this day.
Thats a strange backstory considering the obvious references to Maleficant's distinctive horns.
Maybe... but it's official and was even retold in various publications back in 1992.
It is Sleeping Beauty Castle, so those design references may well just be a nod to that story's own dragon. Let's not forget that Malificent died at the end of the movie...
Quote from: "DGRavenswood"Actually (yeah, I'm once again going to spoil the party with a random bit of trivia)...... it's not supposed to be Maleficent. According to the official backstory, it's a dragon that Merlin found in an egg one morning and decided to keep right under his magic shop where it is to this day.
I've heard that story before...
I've been deceived by a sign. XD I'll be going there tomorrow morning. The flight'll be at 8am, so I should be able to see him/her by noon. I can't wait. XD
It's funny, I always assumed it was an Arthurian thing, the old story of the dragon kept asleep under the castle by Merlin, with his chambers conveniently above. It actually never even occurred to me that it may be to do with sleeping beauty
I have never considered the dragon as being Maleficent at all - just a secret dragon living under the Castle. Maleficent does die at the end of Sleeping Beauty after all, as said earlier.
I am going tomorrow morning as well, so must pop into the cave for a look at her.
Either my memory fails me, or didn't she used to breathe out smoke and rumble before waking? One of my sons was terrified of it. Very realistic.
I read that when it was built it was the most expensive animatronix that Disney had produced.
Quote from: FiggygirlI read that when it was built it was the most expensive animatronix that Disney had produced.[/quote
Odd that they spent so much money on it yet it is such a low key attraction that the majority of visitors miss! Perhaps they should include it in more of the publicity.
Whether it's supposed to be Maleficent or not, I have to admit for no reason whatsoever I've always thought of the dragon as a she.
One of my favourite attractions at the Park - can't wait to see the restored version.
On DLRP Magic, it quotes;
"This isn't just any Dragon, either — it's Maleficent wrapped in chains! The Imagineers completely redesigned her monstrous alter ego from the 1959 film taking inspiration from medieval art and folklore from across Europe to create a much more believable, living, breathing, three-dimensional creature."
(Just felt like posting this)
(credit goes to DLRP Magic)
I'd be curious to know Anthony's source for that.
I believe one of the published sources for the Merlin version of the story is this: //http://www.eurosouvenirland.com/memorabilia/1992-official-travel-guide/ (No, you won't be able to read it on that page... if you happen to have the book in English, a quote on here would be welcome). But I've also read it elsewhere.
In the end, as there's no on-stage explication, I suppose it's up to everyone's own interpretation... much like the Phantom Manor story.
I have this book- if nobody comes in with the text before I get home from work I will do so this evening.
Found it! it says...
"Deep in the underground passages, which can be reached by four different paths, you will find a dank torch-lit dungeon. You will also see the sleeping dragon who was picked up by Merlin the Magician while still a hatchling. He lives here, and his task is to guard the dungeon and protect the occupants of the castle. When he wakes up, his mouth spits fire and smoke snorts from his nostils! So keep your distance..."
so according to this, the dragon certainly isn't Malificent (though i seem to remember that it isn't the most accurate guide in the world)
Thanks! Yeah, I never read the English version but I recall that the German version had a number of translation errors... then there were many photos from the other parks as it was written before DLP was completed. Apart from those I believe it was mostly accurate for 1992. I'm purely relying on memory here, though. My copy is a few hundred km away.
he he, now DLRPToday is quoting you DGR
//http://www.dlrptoday.com/
Looking good sexy dragon!
Does anyone watch the show Merlin on BBC? Funny enough he also captures a dragon egg.
I saw the dragon a couple of days ago. It definitely looks better. :D
One thing spoiled it, though. Someone left a bright, white maintenance light on inside it, so I could see that it was hollow. :( I never knew there was a massive gap between the neck and body.
Awesome! Now this is really great news!
Quote from: "Meph"I saw the dragon a couple of days ago. It definitely looks better. :D
One thing spoiled it, though. Someone left a bright, white maintenance light on inside it, so I could see that it was hollow. :( I never knew there was a massive gap between the neck and body.
Have you got a picture of the gap?
Yep. I hadn't uploaded our photos to the computer at the time I posted that.
(//http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii54/Mephiles602/holidays/2012%20dlp/P1030399.jpg)
Thats certainly very curious. I wonder if there was something wrong that day, because almost all of the photos of the Dragon on PhotoMagiques show the neck much closer, if not attached, to the body.
http://www.photosmagiques.com/gallery/d ... du-dragon/ (http://www.photosmagiques.com/gallery/disneyland-park/fantasyland/la-taniere-du-dragon/%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
Quote from: "Meph"Yep. I hadn't uploaded our photos to the computer at the time I posted that.
(//http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii54/Mephiles602/holidays/2012%20dlp/P1030399.jpg)
Thank you :thumbs:
My word, that is a big gap.
i cant say i noticed the gap when i saw her in december, just noticed her more prominent nature!
I didn't see it a couple of days later. I guess someone just forgot to switch the light off during the evening. XD