I thought it would be cool to have a topic full of videos and pictures of things that no longer exist at DLP. Hopefully it will let the newbies learn about DLP's past and provide some nice memories for the veterans.
I'll start with a couple of videos I found of an AMAZING band from Discoveryland in 1992:
[youtube:28t4yd3t]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x65_KEiMFU8&feature=channel[/youtube:28t4yd3t]
[youtube:28t4yd3t]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAHQfdEDdrQ&feature=channel[/youtube:28t4yd3t]
Please feel free to post more interesting finds!
Now it's not at DLP, but I really miss things like this at DLP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQl0fcFP ... L&index=96 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQl0fcFP0cA&feature=PlayList&p=68B2432B81630E8B&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=96)
And this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8WN6C4kWmY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8WN6C4kWmY)
I really miss the Dapper Dans being a part of DLP :-( It's these things that really make the Disney difference!
I really miss the Moody Brothers. These guys used to play at Billy Bob's 5 nights a week and they were awesome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq839EHKvCs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq839EHKvCs)
I'm definitely favouriting the second Dapper Dan's video! Of all the entertainment I'd like to return to DLP, Dapper Dan's are top of my list.
The Moody Brothers look awesome too. Is that the Chapparall Theatre before it was covered?
Sadly most of the great stuff disappeared before it became so cheap and easy to record footage:
Piano player at Casey's Corner
The Dapper Dans
The Keystone Kops Brass band
Chewbacca, C3PO and the ewoks
The can can show
the shoot outs in Frontierland
The dixieland band and magician on the Mark Twain
The sword fights in adventureland
The jugglers in Fantasyland
The canoes
the Native American and Middle Eastern craftsman.
Oh well, at lease we still have the glass blower, the TamTams, the Cowboy Cookout Band, and in peak season, the marching band.
And these guys were fun the other year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yB5PAKD ... 65&index=1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yB5PAKD2GU&feature=PlayList&p=D3F03B3DDF77DC65&index=1)
And here is a great example of the type of info that used to be on in the Lucky Nugget instead of a rubber head character buffet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0hZIszmdhs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0hZIszmdhs)
Quote from: "RnRCj"I'm definitely favouriting the second Dapper Dan's video! Of all the entertainment I'd like to return to DLP, Dapper Dan's are top of my list.
The Moody Brothers look awesome too. Is that the Chapparall Theatre before it was covered?
That is. But the Moody Bros were part of the team that worked on the music development for Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show as well as performing in Billy Bob's. Man, I really miss them.
I used to really enjoy these fireworks (even if smaller than the opening years):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2vv3FqADvI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2vv3FqADvI)
A little Festival Disney - check out the lazer show (ran not just for the opening, but we saw later that summer too).
At 8 minutes you can see the old Barber Shop quartet!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXY4z6ASEPU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXY4z6ASEPU)
Check this out from 7 minutes, it will show you the DLP I fell in love with that rivalled DL in Cal. Bands, Barbershop quartets, classic cars for sale and canoes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5XwKU6C ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5XwKU6C01w&feature=related)
30 seconds into this one shows some of the old frontierland entertainers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPLnXtZV ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPLnXtZV6bA&feature=related)
At 9:00 is the start of Frontierland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBhANtW_ ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBhANtW_Bns&feature=related)
I remember rope drop being a lot like this in the early years. The show in the theatre and the fights were staged for a few years.
OMG, Davewasbaloo, it's like someone has opened the floodgates !!!
:wink: Could this possibly be the outlet you've been looking for ??
It ok, get it all out of your system :P
7:33 shows how great and diverse the costumes were:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMp9qUrs ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMp9qUrsCts&feature=related)
As well as how great the dragon used to operate!
WOW Dave!! Thanks for posting all of these fantastic videos! We need DLP to see these and realise how bad the entertainment is now. I'm taking note of all this, and if I happened to get surveyed next time I go (I was twice last time) I'll be telling them all about the great entertainment DLP used to have.
Now we have some good video footage, hopefully some of the newer fans will realise how bad things like Mickey's Magical Party are.
Look at Discoveryland, a cohesive theme with a fully functioning Orbitron, Roc Shoc in Videopolis (no toons), Le Visionarium. It was so awesome, with the Nautilus and Space Mountain to come shortly afterwards, and the prospect of a fully themed visionary table service restaurant:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvD5q_iv ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvD5q_iv8IA&feature=related)
And then an amazing future at the resort to look forward too.
Check out the costume variety at the beginning of this in 1992:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2ItFqKO ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2ItFqKO1Ws&feature=related)
And check out the sparkles in the trees behind Mathew Kelly.
And although Fantillusion is fun, I far prefer the Main Street Electrical Parade at 10:15
And then MSEP is on the beginning of this one too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coppe2PP ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coppe2PPjAA&feature=related)
OMG _ Timekeeper at 2:20 (one of my very favorite characters in the whole resort)
I miss this not so tooned park so much. And you know what, Disneyland in California is over 50 years old and still looks brand new, as well as having the variety of entertainment. I wish my kids could grow up having a similar experience here in Paris.
And although I used to watch Rod in California growing up, this sort of entertainment used to be available in Paris at Casey's Corner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bFwDkh3sW0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bFwDkh3sW0)
And although this is in Disneyland, both Discoveryland in Paris and at WDSP had these kind of groups too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuGU9OQG1nk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuGU9OQG1nk)
And if they must go character, something like Jedi Academy is far preferable:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6Cjv8fsqe0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6Cjv8fsqe0)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEMVlI82 ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEMVlI82_6k&feature=related)
I must put the footage up of my son fighing Darth Maul and Darth Vader. Not all Disney entertainment has to be feminine.
And of course the Cirque Crescend'o in the Village in 1999 was awesome too, not quite La Nouba, but pretty cool:
http://www.crescendo-fan.org/ (http://www.crescendo-fan.org/)
Quote from: "Pete's Dragon"OMG, Davewasbaloo, it's like someone has opened the floodgates !!!
:wink: Could this possibly be the outlet you've been looking for ??
It ok, get it all out of your system :P
Guilty as charged, heck, I even shed a tear when I saw a lot of this.
Was watching part 10 of the opening ceremony (on YouTube)
Do the planets on Orbitron still move like that? DO they move at all ? For the life of me I don't think I've ever noticed.
Plus I couldn't believe just how vibrantly pink the Disney Hotel was. Either the film was really oversaturated, or someone needs to get the paintbrushes out.
The funniest thing I noticed that no longer exists is Pat Sharp's Mullet. Man, that would have put any Hillbillie Redneck's effort to shame.
Quote from: "Pete's Dragon"Was watching part 10 of the opening ceremony (on YouTube)
Do the planets on Orbitron still move like that? DO they move at all ? For the life of me I don't think I've ever noticed.
Plus I couldn't believe just how vibrantly pink the Disney Hotel was. Either the film was really oversaturated, or someone needs to get the paintbrushes out.
They used to, but now only one arm spins.
And yes, it used to be that pink, in fact the colour was specifically chosen to show up well in the grey European skies.
Also in the Labrynth footage, note there was no paint on the maze floor, it looked much better then IMHO (just like Pat's very cool hair)
This is one to start me off - Le Visionarium entrance.
(//http://image16.webshots.com/17/1/99/87/190719987SsdKDZ_fs.jpg)
Also on the ceremony there is a part in it which focuses on Frontierland and you can see the canoes!!
Woops sorry about the size. I copied the link straight off the net.
Sorry
just post the link then without the [img] tags
le visionarium
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur ... N%26um%3D1 (http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://image16.webshots.com/17/1/99/87/190719987SsdKDZ_fs.jpg&imgrefurl=http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1190719987032190626SsdKDZ&usg=__TN6HWyp1PoNdS1MxbRiqohdknxI=&h=1200&w=1600&sz=230&hl=en&start=9&um=1&tbnid=ix77Vw2z_aeBTM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dle%2Bvisionarium%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1C1CHMI_enGB318GB318%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1)
I've just watched the whole opening ceremony for the first time. It really makes you realise how bad things are now. The toons were there, but they weren't so in-your-face. They weren't around every corner. Every show didn't have to include them. But they were there. I think that's what people don't understand when they hear us moaning. We don't want toons to disappear altogether, we just want them to be cut back so they're not the only form of entertainment on offer at the Disney parks. They'd still be there for people to enjoy.
There are so many things I want to return now... the barbershop quartet, the pianist, the shootouts, the horses, the gamblers, the jugglers, the Keystone cops... pretty much everything in those videos, haha. Just getting a handful of these things back would be fantastic. [-o<
for those who haven't seen le visionarium a user called the timekeeper on dailymotion posted the show.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1v4a6 ... shortfilms (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1v4a6_le-visionarium_shortfilms)
Quote from: "CentralPlazaPerson"le visionarium
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur ... N%26um%3D1 (http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://image16.webshots.com/17/1/99/87/190719987SsdKDZ_fs.jpg&imgrefurl=http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1190719987032190626SsdKDZ&usg=__TN6HWyp1PoNdS1MxbRiqohdknxI=&h=1200&w=1600&sz=230&hl=en&start=9&um=1&tbnid=ix77Vw2z_aeBTM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dle%2Bvisionarium%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1C1CHMI_enGB318GB318%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1)
Thank you, thank you, tahnk you!!!! :lol: =D> =D> :D/ :D/ That was so awesome to watch again, I had to wipe my eyes. This is the inspirational Disney I know, love and miss very much!! I miss you Timekeeper and Nine Eye.
Not quite as good as the Golden Horseshoe Revue, this is Billy Hill and the Hillbilies at Disneyland, they are great. I wish we had more of this sort of stuff at DLP. This is the real Disney difference IMHO.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... id=5705479 (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=5705479)
This is the Disneyland experience I remember, and there was a version of this show when DLP first opened. I used to enjoy Betty and Billy performing this live when I was a kid. I was tickeled pink when I was able to experience a version in Paris. I miss it very much, Vaudeville is a big segway between the west and the turn of the 20th century, part of why the Lucky Nugget is where it is now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=634SzojF0Q4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=634SzojF0Q4)
Thanks RnRCj. Maybe if people take the time to look at these and watch them, they will better understand why a meet and greet with a character does little for me. They are a part of the experience, but now they seem to be most of the experience.
I have just seen the whole grand opening - AMAZING! Funny and a great way to see the park as it was from the beginning - at my first visit in '94 I was only 4 and I cannot remember that much.
However, two things saddens me when watching the videos:
1. All the great street entertainment which is gone by now (Barbershop Quartet, gunsmen etc.)
2. The fact that they advertised with the opening of The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast attractions within a few years and the grand opening of MGM Studios Europe in 1995. It is sad that such beautiful attractions and great plans didn't become reality. (Hopefully we could still get The Little Mermaid in the future).
Otherwise great videos Dave - they just made my evening magical! :D
Quote from: "davewasbaloo"Thank you, thank you, tahnk you!!!! :lol: =D> =D> :D/ :D/ That was so awesome to watch again, I had to wipe my eyes. This is the inspirational Disney I know, love and miss very much!! I miss you Timekeeper and Nine Eye.
I've got to admit... one of the few things to do the same to me. It's been a while since I watched it through, but the moment where Jules Verne ends up on the front of the TGV is still pure magic... the music, the action, the scenery. Gives me goosebumps. And then he walks out into the middle of the Champs Elysées. It's hilarious, too.
Same for when he's taken away by airport security... "Changement de décors!" ... and then to
that music you fly around Mont st Michel and all the other places. It's too much to bear. :oops:
Lucky we still have CinéMagique for this kind of clever, emotional entertainment to ground one of the parks. As for Discoveryland, it really, desperately needs Soarin'. It could the spiritual sequel to Le Visionarium: have Timekeeper as a pre-show explaining his amazing
flying time machine.
As the first space mountain ain't around no more I suppose it could be a ride "that no longer exists." :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKa5tgTj ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKa5tgTjRL4&feature=related)
This is a newsround report on the opening of space mountain. Just look at that for an opening ceremony! Pure magic!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3EEe1GzZTo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3EEe1GzZTo)
I always loved this advert. It was on my Disney classics VHS. Did Queen of Hearts really chase you around the maze? I also spot Critter Coral.
Man, I am actually quite down now. You see, to me, Discoveryland used to be the most perfect land in any Disney Park in the world, with the inspiring Le Visionarium, an amazing Space Mountain From the Earth to the Moon, and the Nautilus open all the time with working effects.
Now, it really is a shadow of it's former self, having lost it's heart, soul and amazing music everywhere. It epitomises the notion of toons and pop culture ripping out the artitstic magnificance of what WDI can produce. And the mantra of many fans "If the kids like it...." :roll:
Ignorance is bliss. Since I never visited until 2004, the park hasn't really lost anything for me. In fact, it has gained stuff, like Tower of Terror. But having watched most of the videos that have been posted you can really see how much the budget has been cut for 'non-essentials'. i.e. street performers, bands etc.
I think Beth Orton sung it best, when she said "If I never saw the sunshine, I wouldn't mind the rain"
But then its very easy for the management to justify these cuts. Wages and Salaries are one of the biggest expenses businesses have to pay out. And back when Eurodisney was losing money hand over fist, it's no wonder these poor people were the first to go.
I mean, would you rather the money went to A) A safety engineer or B) Someone doing Magic Tricks on the riverboat ?????
Quote from: "davewasbaloo"Look at Discoveryland, a cohesive theme with a fully functioning Orbitron, Roc Shoc in Videopolis (no toons), Le Visionarium. It was so awesome, with the Nautilus and Space Mountain to come shortly afterwards, and the prospect of a fully themed visionary table service restaurant:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvD5q_iv ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvD5q_iv8IA&feature=related)
And then an amazing future at the resort to look forward too.
at 40 - 50 seconds in its Discoveryland without Space Mountain
Quote from: "CentralPlazaPerson"for those who haven't seen le visionarium a user called the timekeeper on dailymotion posted the show.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1v4a6 ... shortfilms (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1v4a6_le-visionarium_shortfilms)
Wow! Thanks! Having never visited Le Vis, that was really interesting to watch. I agree with Anthony - Discoveryland really needs Soarin'. After watching that video I can completely see how it would work. I would rather see this return though, and move Buzz to WDS or something.
even more interesting to hear it saying the studio's due to open in 1995
I am glad you guys are enjoying this, and maybe you understand me a little better. I have been experiencing this Disney quality since the early 70's, to me the entertainment is a HUGE part of the Disney difference. And my strongest memories with my family is enjoying this entertainment together.
They still do it in DL, to a lesser degree WDW, HKDL and TDL. It's hard enough knowing that we have the worst fireworks andvery limited (another big part of Disney growing up). Sadly most of what is great at DLP is the original stuff from 1992. Ok, I will concede that Moteurs Action, Rock N Roller Coaster, Cinemagique and Tower of Terror are amazing too. And I also think that Stitch Live, Playhouse Disney Live and Cars are nice minor additions. And the OUADP is probably Disney's finest parade on the planet (other than the MSEP of course).
But I would rather they spend the money on this type of entertainment than on Toystory Playland, or redoing the Backlot Express (where I swear it was the menu choices and cold food that caused the problems there).
To me, DLP is a pretend Disney park. Beautifully designed, but lacking the soul of a real Disney park. Rides and rubberheads are only a small part of the equation. It is the cut back on entertainment, dining options and the staggered ride hours, and maintenance (which has thankfully been getting better and better over the last 4 years) that let the place down so much.
You guys do not know how much it kills me inside. It is silly, I know. But my love of Disney really drove me through the first 25 years of my life, to learn, to be better, to expect people to plus things, and it has made me the professional of who I am today. But to see Disney die a little more year on year (e.g. more commercial rather than edutainment and experiencial), and more of the real world creeping in, it hurts so bad. It rocks me to my core. And that is why I hate George K and Jay Rasulo so much. They have defiled much of what made Disney what it is, and it scares me.
If it had been just all rides and characters in the beginning, I doubt we will have ever seen a DLP. It will lose share value. Already in Europe, there are more over 65's than under 18's. They need to aim at a wide demographic and not just kids.
This is why folks I get so cranky, especially at newbies. And sometimes I wish I never had the wealth of international experience in 4 decades of Disney.
In tough times, Disney used to subsidise the parks because they were the greatest form of advertising they had (yet it was not overly commercial). No longer. I kid you not, Disney went through some very tough times in the early 80's and nearly went bankrupt. Then Micheal Eisner and Frank Wells came on board and they grew even more. Sadly, since Bob Iger has come on board, the park is feeling more and more like a commercial. It is a shadow of it's former self. Really sad.
Ironically, when it comes to heart, the best park in Europe that delivers much of what made DL unique in America is Tivoli Gardens - perfectly manicured environment, live entertainment at every turn, and great dining choices. It is the park that most inspired Walt when he came on his European tour when creating DL. And yet, DLP has turned their back on the ethos.
Next year I think I will save my money and go to Copenhagen instead. Anyone want a villa in DLP going cheap? :lol:
Quote from: "davewasbaloo"Next year I think I will save my money and go to Copenhagen instead. Anyone want a villa in DLP going cheap? :lol:
How cheap are we talking here? Would you accept a firm handshank and a 'Thank You Very Much' as payment ???
Fraid we still owe about €9000 on it :cry:
Does anybody else not think Discoveryland has lost its "Jules Verne" and "Da Vinci" image?
Things used to be fantastic at Discoveryland post Le Visionarium and now since it has left Buzz Lightyear and Dance time with stitch have ruined its image slighty. I am a huge fan of BLLB but as RNRCJ said could we not move it to studios or something?
Yep, Discoveryland used to be awesome, but now, it is just a shell of it's former self (sadly like most of the lands in DLP now). I enjoy Buzz,as do my kids, but it is hardly theme appropriate.
It will be interesting to see what happens after Toy Story Playland and Ratatouille at WDS. Because when all these things open, WDS will have 11 toon based attractions and only 7 non-toon based attractions. So it's pretty obvious that the park needs more original stories, as well as some serious placemaking projects.
I must admit, whilst I do prefer WDW to DLP overall, there was definitely more streetmousphere in WDW when I went. Not loads, but definitely more than DLP. Cut back on the Stitch show, the Goofy show in Frontierland, and surely DLP can afford to get at least a couple of these things back? :?:
Dave, I think you've mentioned it before, but did DLP used to have live bands at the hotels in DLP?
Quote from: "RnRCj"Dave, I think you've mentioned it before, but did DLP used to have live bands at the hotels in DLP?
Indeed they did. I personally recall a string quartet at the DLH, a live Jazz Band at the Jazz club in the HNY, a pianist and folk group (sea shanties) at the NBC, a country guitarist at the Sequoia Lodge, a little can can/country group at the Cheyenne and a mariachi band (and horrid Kareoke) at the Santa Fe.
Quote from: "davewasbaloo"Quote from: "RnRCj"Dave, I think you've mentioned it before, but did DLP used to have live bands at the hotels in DLP?
Indeed they did. I personally recall a string quartet at the DLH, a live Jazz Band at the Jazz club in the HNY, a pianist and folk group (sea shanties) at the NBC, a country guitarist at the Sequoia Lodge, a little can can/country group at the Cheyenne and a mariachi band (and horrid Kareoke) at the Santa Fe.
Do they still have the pianist in the Fantasia Bar. He was there when we stayed and it was brilliant (plus the fact you could smoke indoors i.e. the good old days :cry: )
I had so many Mojoitos that night, they could have chopped me up and passed me off as mint flavoured chewing gum
Thankfully the pianist is still at the DLH, just as there is often one performing evenings at the Steakhouse too.
Back in the day DV used to have much more of a diverse range of eateries.. I really miss the Key West Seafood place (man it had the BEST clam chowder :D ) But then they got rid of it and replaced it with Rainforest. Now i love maccie d's, starbucks, rainforest etc but i really loved DV when it was a little less commercial...
At least we still have the steakhouse though!! :D
Quote from: "davewasbaloo"there is often one performing evenings at the Steakhouse too.
He's performing during brunch as well, at least the times I attended brunch there. :)
One thing that has gone ,along with all the live entertainment etc is the enthusiasm and great customer service of the cast members when the park first opened.All the staff had just finished training and were excited to be working at Eurodisney (DLP) , not that everyone is dreadful now but that initial energy and joy seems to have faded a bit now !!!
I agree about Discoveryland losing its dynamic themeing,much as I enjoy Buzz it is not a patch on what it replaced !! Visionarium was a unique and original attraction that fitted perfectly with the land,as you say the toons are moving in !!