This weekend, Disneyland Paris welcomed guests for the 30th Anniversary launch, premiering new products and experiences such as the “Dream…and Shine Brighter!” daytime show, the “Disney D-Light” nighttime sequence featuring drones, and the new “Gardens of Wonder” where art meets nature. Europe’s number one tourist destination – with more than 375 million visits* since opening on April 12, 1992 – also announced the upcoming reopening of iconic Walt’s – An American Restaurant and new collaborations with well-known brands such as Bodum, Pandora and Bic.
Guests can experience the all-new Dream…and Shine Brighter! show, performed several times a day at Disneyland Park on Central Plaza in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, an icon than is more beautiful than ever following a 12-month refurbishment (More information here).
Dream…and ShineBrighter! tells a story around three key themes – “Smile and Laugh Louder,” “Open Your Heart” and “Believe in Your Dreams” – with more than 30 dancers and Disney Characters, new colorful floats, two new songs and a fun mash-up of 20 Disney songs.The new floats appear in a contemporary style with abstract forms, iridescent and transparent materials which are illuminated by the sunlight and elevate the performance even further.
At nightfall and for a limited time, the Disney D-Light sequence will be offered in addition to the Guest-favorite Disney Illuminations show, combining video projections, illuminated water jets, lighting effects, mist, lasers, and nodes to famous Disney songs for an unforgettable moment ending with a drone display above the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle.
This illuminated drone* display – designed with the help of European expert Dronisos, an Official Technology provider based in Bordeaux – will bring a memorable close to an eventful day. The synchronized drones will form a sparkling figure “30” in the sky above Sleeping Beauty Castle, as the new 30th Anniversary theme song, – “Un monde qui s’illumine” plays in the background. This new anthem was recorded with a symphony orchestra of 60 musicians at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London.
This marks the first time that a Disney resort uses drone technology as part of a daily outdoor show above the Castle, a next step in the development of experiences that are increasingly immersive and engaging for Guests through innovative technologies.
Gardens of Wonder
To mark the 30th Anniversary, Disneyland Park will be decked out with brand-new décor such as the Gardens of Wonder with 10 enchanting themed installations of 30 kinetic Disney and Pixar sculptures that “come to life” in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. The art pieces celebrate nature, embody the diversity of popular Disney and Pixar Characters, and offer a pleasant promenade for Guests. Each piece takes inspiration from a unique source – whether it be windmills or the world of Salvador Dali – combining materials, colors, and luminescent effects to create an immersive atmosphere in the middle of Central Plaza. These creations were imagined thanks to the expertise of the resort’s Landscaping and Entertainment teams and produced by two local craft businesses – After and Plastic Studios – with expertise in décor production, whose unique skills have contributed to the Guest experience for many years. This installation required the talents of many specialists such as engineers, technicians, painters, 3D modelers, and more who worked for months in collaboration with Disneyland Paris teams to create the poetic Gardens of Wonder.
The Disneyland Paris Landscaping team also worked with Parisian start-up, Aglaé Design, to design an innovative process of luminescence for the surrounding plants to glow in the dark thanks to a biodegradable and 100% natural nutrient serum. This technique reveals an entirely new beauty for the natural environment around Sleeping Beauty Castle.
As always, be sure to follow ThrillGeek on Twitter for the latest news updates from Disneyland Paris.
Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter @iamcg83