Interview with a Disney Friend - Jay

Hello everyone and welcome to the second edition of Interview with a Disney Friend. Joining me today is my very good Disney Friend Jay!

Jay and his girlfriend Bekkie outside Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Hey Jay! Thank you for joining me today. I'm sure we should be in for a very fun and enlightening discussion today. Why don't we start from the very beginning? What is the very first Disney memory you can remember?

Hi Michael! Thank you for asking me to be a part of your blog! Love the work you are doing so it's a pleasure to be a part of it! To answer your first question, the first Disney memory I can remember would probably be the night time firework display in the Magic Kingdom in Florida, aged 7! I remember being amazed by the show and that memory has stuck with me to this day. 

That is a nice memory. The firework displays at the Disney parks in Florida certainly are very memorable to say the least! Let's move onto the subject of Disney films. What is your favourite animated Disney film?

My favourite animated film is Peter Pan. That's been the same since I was tiny and I don't think it will ever change! I love everything about the film and the message it portrays, probably because I'm a big kid and will never ever grow up! (*laughs*)

I know what you mean! How about your favourite live action Disney film?

As for my favourite live action film, I would have to say Pirates of the Caribbean. The series are all fantastic and they are the type of films that I could watch over and over again. I also love how the Disney parks have captured the films in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, one of my favourite attractions.

Yes there are many references in the ride from the films, although the ride came first of course. Now a slightly different topic, music. What is your favourite Disney song?

This is a tough question because there are so many amazing songs to choose from. My favourite song can also change from day to day depending on what sort of mood I am in. If I had to pick one ultimate favourite, I would probably say Go The Distance from Hercules. I think this is one of the most underrated songs but it has always been one of the best songs for me. This is however closely followed by Gaston, I Just Can't Wait To Be King, Be A Man, and pretty much of the soundtrack to Tarzan!

Some very nice choices there, also nice to see you haven't gone for some of the more commercial songs. Anyway. Let's move onto the main topic of conversation, Disneyland Paris! When was the first time you visited Disneyland Paris, and can you remember a lot about it?

I am fairly new to the Disneyland Paris scene, having visited for the first time in 2015. I visited in January with my girlfriend for my 21st birthday. Obviously I remember everything about it being only last year. I loved everything about it and that has fuelled our love for Disneyland Paris. We visited again in 2016 and plan to go next year too. We absolutely love our time at Disneyland Paris and it is always the highlight of our year. Always lots of new memories to be made.

That's very true. Disneyland Paris is the ultimate place to make memories! So you have been to Disneyland Paris twice then?

Currently, I have visited Disneyland Paris twice, although I am currently in the middle of preparing my third visit. I am extremely looking forward to my visit in 2017 having seen and heard all of the renovations that are taking place to prepare the park for it's anniversary. The new projects are very exciting and I look forward to seeing all of the changes they have made to the parks when I next visit. 

Yes next year should be a very exciting year for Disneyland Paris. I will also be visiting next year for my honeymoon! Now there are many things I love about Disneyland Paris but what do you love most about Disneyland Paris?

It sounds very cliche, but you can't beat the magic of first walking into the Disneyland Park. Walking down Main Street USA, taking in all the sights and seeing all of the magic unfold in front of your eyes is priceless! No matter what the weather, the Disney castle never fails to take my breath away and this sums up the magic you feel when visiting the Disneyland Park. I think every Disney fan would agree that there are too many amazing elements of Disney to write about, but Disney magic just about sums up the feeling you get during every second of your time spent in Disneyland Paris!

I know what you mean. You can't beat a bit of Disney magic! Both the Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios are amazing in their own ways but which park do you prefer?

Personally, I prefer the Disneyland Park purely because it is currently a lot bigger than the studios and I much prefer the theming at the Disneyland Park. Although Walt Disney Studios has a lot to offer, the different areas could definitely use more theming in order to make you feel more immersed in each section you enter. Undoubtedly, both parks are brilliant, however for me, the Disneyland Park definitely makes my Disney experience complete.

I definitely agree with you about the theming at Walt Disney Studios. As you prefer the Disneyland Park, which would you say is your favourite land there?

Good question! My favourite land in the Disneyland Park would probably have to be Frontierland. It's my favourite land because it is home to Big Thunder Mountain, in the middle of a lake! This is one of the best rides in the park and so to feature it in the middle of a lake just makes the whole experience that much better. I definitely think that this area could use some development, however this could be said about every area of the park. Still, this area is very immersive and features some of my favourites rides and restaurants in the park.

Frontierland is a very popular choice, especially with it's immersive Wild West theme. As there are so many fantastic rides on offer in the Disneyland Park, do you have a favourite?

Without a doubt, my favourite ride in the Disneyland Park would have to be Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. My girlfriend and I always have a competition as to who can get the high the highest score on this ride, I always win! It is such a good laugh and we probably ride it the most out of any ride in the park. We always try to outdo our previous score and look for the hidden targets that Disney place around the attraction.

You two are so similar to me and my fiancee! We always try to outdo each other on Buzz Lightyear, safe to say I always win! Anyway, let's turn our attention to the food on offer at the Disneyland Park. Do you have a favourite place to dine in the Disneyland Park?

Unfortunately, only having visited Disneyland Paris twice, I have only been able to dine at Plaza Gardens in the Disneyland Park. I loved this restaurant, offering an excellent choice of food with friendly staff and a relaxing ambience. It is also an incredible place to watch the Disney Dreams show at the end of the night because you can dine whilst watching the fireworks go off around you. Hopefully, with more Disney trips in the works, I will be able to experience more restaurants in the park in the future.

You definitely want to on your next trip mate. There are lots of lovely dining options in the Disneyland Park although I would probably say that Plaza Gardens is the best one there, so you made a good choice going there! How about we discuss a bit more about Walt Disney Studios? Do you have a favourite land in Walt Disney Studios?

I would have to say my favourite land in the studios would be the Ratatouille area. This is a relatively new area and I believe it captures the movie brilliantly! The fact that the ride is amazing also makes this area stand out for me. The studios could definitely use a lot more theming, but I think they are definitely moving towards this with areas like Ratatouille and Toy Story Playland. 

Yes I agree, with the new areas I think the future for Walt Disney Studios looks pretty bright! Would you be able to choose a favourite ride in Walt Disney Studios?

This is such a tough question because there are 3 to 4 rides in the studios that are very high in my estimation! Firstly, Crush's Coaster is one of my favourite rides because it's so much fun and is also quite thrilling. The only downside to this ride is the wait times due to the lack of a fastpass option. Nevertheless, it is still one of my favourite rides in the park. You cannot overlook the Tower Of Terror and Rock N' Roller Coaster, both Disney classic that give you big laughs and big thrills. These rides are definitely the first I head to in the park! Finally, Ratatouille is another of my favourites as it captures the movie so well and is one of the more up to date rides across both parks. It would be a very tough decision to pick between those rides!

All very good choices! Again we turn our attention to food. Where do you like to dine when in Walt Disney Studios?

Sadly, I have not been able to dine in any of the areas at Walt Disney Studios, having only visited twice. Ratatouille (Bistro Chez Remy) is definitely on the list of restaurants to do in the future! I have been able to purchase snacks in the park whilst watching shows like Cinemagique and Moteurs…Action! Things like hotdogs, crisps and burgers have never disappointed! 

I must say Bistro Chez Remy is on my list of restaurants to try in the future too. It is hard to visit a new one though when you have your favourites from previous visits. Let's discuss a different topic, a favourite for many, shopping! Do you have a favourite shop in either park?

One of my favourite shops has to be in Walt Disney Studios directly on the left when you enter the park. This shop has a variety of Disney merchandise and is often very quiet which gives you a lot of time to look around without all of the hustle and bustle. The studios shop has a lot of movie merchandise on sale which is unique to the parks however also sells the majority of Disney merchandise featured around the park.

That is a very lovely shop, probably the best in Walt Disney Studios in my opinion. Also quite handy as well as it's one of the first things you see when you enter the park. Now we're going to turn our attention to my favourite aspect of Disneyland Paris, Disney Village! Are you a fan of Disney Village? If so, what do you like about it?

Disney Village is definitely one of my favourite places to shop. Every single piece of Disney merchandise imaginable is on offer throughout the village, which makes it the best shopping experience in Disneyland Paris for me. I never fail to leave the village without something new! On top of the array of shops, the restaurants and food stalls also offer some of the best food in Disneyland Paris. My favourite of these restaurants is Billy Bob's because I am a big fan of the food they offer and I love the atmosphere. 

I must admit myself and Laura (my fiancee) enjoyed dining at Billy Bob's last year and we'll probably visit there again next year. As you know Jay, just up from Disney Village are the Disneyland Paris hotels, surrounding Lake Disney. Have you stayed in any of these before?

Yes. So far I have stayed at the Hotel Santa Fe and Sequoia Lodge. I enjoyed both hotels, however we did not spend a lot of time in either because we were in the parks pretty much all day! I would definitely like to try the Hotel New York and Newport Bay Club in the future just to see the differences. 

All lovely hotels mate. Would you say you have a favourite hotel?

Sequoia Lodge is currently my favourite hotel. I love the atmosphere of this hotel as I think it's very welcoming and homely. The food is excellent and the staff are extremely organised and friendly. On top of this, we enjoyed many nights in the bar enjoying their cocktails! I would definitely say the Sequoia Lodge is more aimed at adults, being themed as a relaxing, warm hotel compared to the more childlike theming at Hotel Santa Fe. I have heard a lot of positive reviews about the Golden Forest rooms in the Sequoia Lodge therefore this is on top of my bucket list for next time we visit.

Although I've stayed at four of the Disneyland Paris hotels, I would agree with you and say that the Sequoia Lodge is also my favourite, especially considering I've stayed there more than any other hotel. Before we end our discussion about Disneyland Paris, are there any changes you would like to see there?

In all honesty, I absolutely love visiting Disneyland Paris with my girlfriend because I believe it is such a unique and magical holiday, hence the numerous visits planned! For this reason, there is not a great deal I believe needs changing. If I had to be picky, I would perhaps say that the studios could do with a redesign in regards to the theming to make the area more sectioned out and immersive. On top of this, I would definitely like to see Discoveryland updated because I believe it is fairly dated and could use some modernisation. As previously mentioned, upon our last visit to Disneyland Paris, a lot of upgrades were being discussed or implemented which makes me very excited to see the changes during my future visits. 

Yes there are many things to look forward to in the coming years at Disneyland Paris. Did you mention that you have visited another Disney park other than Disneyland Paris?

Luckily, I have been to Walt Disney World in Florida on 5 separate occasions. There are a lot more parks in Florida which makes it an excellent place to visit. However, I believe it is very difficult to compare these parks to Disneyland Paris because they offer something completely different. They are uniquely fantastic in their own ways, offering the Disney magic we all know and love. This is why I am such a Disney fan overall! I have recently booked my next trip to Florida in 2017 so I am very excited about visiting again!

I'd be excited too mate! Well thank you very much for a great interview Jay, that was really good stuff man! Just before you go, could I get your thoughts on this blog as well as my Facebook group?

It was a pleasure mate. Thank you for giving me the chance to be a part of your blog and for such interesting questions. I am truly interested in all your work and enjoy reading your blogs. I hope they keep coming for a long time and I look forward to seeing what you keep producing. I think the Facebook group is awesome! Nice to be a part of it and to see it grow with your work. Keep up the excellent work pal! It's been a pleasure!

My Favourite Things/Traditions To Do In Disney Village

Disney Village from the air. Quite a sight and even better at night!

As anyone reading this will know, I'm quite a big fan of Disney Village at Disneyland Paris. Most fans of Disneyland Paris would most likely say their favourite part about the whole Paris complex is the parks themselves, and although I love the parks, I've always had extra special love for Disney Village. I'm one of them lucky people to have seen Disney Village go through all the various changes it has faced since opening in 1992 and it has always held a special place in my heart. When visiting in recent years, I have had a couple of traditions that I like to keep going when visiting Disney Village. This article is about those traditions and some of my favourite things to do while in Disney Village.

Early Morning Walk

Guests staying at any Disneyland Paris hotel, other than the Disneyland Hotel, have the daily routine of walking from their hotels, through Disney Village, then into the parks. I absolutely love this morning stroll from whichever hotel I am staying at. It's great because you get to walk past the beautiful Lake Disney then into Disney Village, which looks quite different early in the morning. I'm quite an early riser so normally get to the parks in time for Extra Magic Hours. Walking through Disney Village at this time will allow you to appreciate some of the beauty behind the architecture of the place. Of course there is a better atmosphere with the crowds later in the day but there is something quite relaxing about walking through Disney Village early in the morning, with hardly anyone in sight. It also gives me a perfect opportunity (or rather, excuse!) to take more photos of Disney Village! You could of course get a shuttle bus to the parks from the hotels but I could never miss out a walk through my beloved Disney Village!

Early morning in Disney Village and not a soul in sight!

Lunch at Earl of Sandwich

As I always stock myself up with food during breakfast, I always opt for a smaller lunch option, and Earl of Sandwich provides the best option in my opinion. The hype about this place is so justly deserved. I hadn't visited Earl of Sandwich until my trip in 2014 and I was very pleasantly surprised. After reading all the fantastic reviews beforehand I thought to myself 'Yeah right, it's only a sandwich bar!' Oh how wrong I was! The sandwiches at Earl of Sandwich are simply out of this world! I've never eaten a better toasted sandwich than the ones served here. It's safe to say that Earl of Sandwich is now the place to be for lunchtime at Disneyland Paris when I visit. I don't think any eatery in Disney Village has generated as much buzz as quickly as Earl of Sandwich has done. I recommend the 'La Frenchy' sandwich, you won't be disappointed!

Earl of Sandwich, a firm favourite of mine.

A Drink At Starbucks

I know some people may have been disappointed that a brand like Starbucks had been added to Disney Village but I was quite happy to be honest, they do serve rather good coffee after all! For years, Disney Village had been crying out for somewhere you could sit and relax with a hot drink. While yes, you could do this at some of the other establishments, a proper coffee house was needed, and Disney delivered! While I like a Costa coffee when back home in England, I do like a Starbucks on holiday, especially when in Florida. At least once on every trip to Disneyland Paris in the last 5 years or so, I have always stopped at Starbucks for a drink. My favourite time to visit Starbucks is in the afternoon once I've done my fair share of rides for the day. As I mentioned, I'm an early riser, so after being in the parks for quite a long time, it's nice to come back into Disney Village and relax in Starbucks with a nice coffee, normally a latte in my case, or even a hot chocolate if it's Winter time! It's also a nice place to sit down and have a chat with my fiancee, away from all the noise of the parks. Starbucks is also a nice place to visit during the evenings, especially after I'm tired out from as much shopping as I can take for one day! I've also visited Starbucks during the mornings in the past, before visiting the parks. As Disney don't mind you bringing in hot drinks from Starbucks, it's quite lovely to walk down Main Street USA with a nice Starbucks latte in hand!

The perfect place for a hot beverage!

A Meal at Planet Hollywood

As you may have read in some of my other blogs (like this one: http://disneyvillagefans.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/disneyland-paris-october-2015-trip_17.html) then you would know that Planet Hollywood is my favourite restaurant in all of Disneyland Paris. It simply wouldn't be a trip to Disneyland Paris without me stopping at Planet Hollywood at least once! I would probably say that the Planet Hollywood chain is my favourite restaurant chain as I love visiting the restaurant in London as well as the one at Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney) in Florida. It's mixture of film props and American cuisine is a sure fire winner with me, as well as my fiancee and rest of the family. When visiting Disneyland Paris, it's become a tradition of eating my first and last meal of the trip at Planet Hollywood. I've always been a big supporter of the restaurant and will always give it the praise I think it deserves. I've honestly never had a bad meal at Planet Hollywood and have always had fantastic service as you would expect at any Disney property. Don't forget to check out the merchandise store 'Boutique Planet Hollywood' for all your Planet Hollywood clothing and other fun products, including some rather funky sunglasses, which my fiancee Laura brought a pair of!

Laura and her funky Planet Hollywood sunglasses!

Planet Hollywood looks stunning in the evening!

The Sports Bar

Another favourite establishment of mine at Disney Village, the Sports Bar has been a regular visit in recent years. This is my favourite place in all of Disneyland Paris to grab a drink, whether it be a soft or alcoholic beverage. I love the theming at the Sports Bar, including the multiple screens showing different sports, as well as sports memorabilia adorning the walls. I also love the outside seating terrace, which features a large screen, normally showing football or rugby. Being a football fan, I have casually walked past the bar before trying to catch up with some results from England. A first for me at the Sports Bar last year, I actually sat down and watched a Liverpool match, along with a couple of other fans, who I thought were French but turned out to be English when I heard them walking off and talking with a Scouse accent! The atmosphere at the Sports Bar is always very good, and never comes across as being rowdy or aggressive but just full of people sitting down and relaxing with a drink in hand while watching some sport on the telly, what could be better! This is the perfect place to end up after a long day at the parks when all you want to do is just sit down and have a drink. The Cast Members working at the Sports Bar are also really exceptional, not surprising as they're all so brilliant at Disneyland Paris.

Relaxing with a beer while watching the Liverpool match at the Sports Bar!

The Sports Bar before opening hours.

An Evening Stroll

Last but not least, I'd like to finish with my absolute favourite thing to do at Disney Village. I must say, with all these favourite things, I feel like I'm talking a bit like Sophie from the hotel rooms video '10 Thins to Know Before You Go'! Anyway, my favourite thing to do at Disney Village is a really simple one. To me, there is nothing better than taking an evening stroll through Disney Village then walking around Lake Disney. Disney Village is a wonderful sight during the evening, as is Lake Disney with the lights from the surrounding hotels reflecting onto it. One thing I do like to do on an evening stroll is to visit all the Disney hotels surrounding the lake, not forgetting Hotel Cheyenne and Hotel Santa Fe just up from the lake. I find it lovely to soak in the atmosphere of each hotel, including a walk around the lobbies as well as visiting each unique gift shop. It's such a lovely experience to do during the evening, and also a nice break away from the hustle and bustle of the parks. I'm hoping to do the same on my next trip but to also visit a different hotel bar for a drink each night. 

Newport Bay Club Hotel in the early evening.

Well that's all of my favourite things to do and traditions that I like to keep going in Disney Village. I hope you have enjoyed the article and may even consider doing some of the things I have discussed, that is if you haven't already. Like I said, I had a bit of a hotel room video guide vibe to this blog, so maybe next time I will have to write my own version of Sophie's '10 Things to Know Before You Go', I'm sure you know which video I'm referring to, if you're not, then here's a link for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJSx9R13g3U

Once again, thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!

The History of Disney Village (1992-2016)

Welcome to Disney Village!

Introduction

All Disney resorts around the world have their own exclusive shopping, dining, and entertainment complexes. Walt Disney World in Florida, for example, has Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney) and Disneyland Resort in California has the Downtown Disney District. Disneyland Paris is no exception of course and has the rather brilliant Disney Village. The following is a little guide to the history of Disney Village and the many changes it has faced throughout it's history to date.

How It All Started

When plans were finally decided to build Euro Disneyland, it was decided that the new park would need it's own entertainment district, similar to the ones found at the other Disney parks. Canadian-born American architect, Frank Gehry, was chosen to lead the project. Disney gave Gehry almost complete control of designing the new entertainment district which would be called Festival Disney. Other than providing entertainment, shopping, and dining experiences for guests, it was also designed as a transitional space for access from the Disneyland Park and Marne-la-Vallee train station to the Disney resort hotels. Much like it's American counterparts, Festival Disney's goal was to provide exciting dining and shopping opportunities for guests to experience after a day at the Disneyland Park. Dining and shopping aside, there were also plans for concerts, shows, and it's very own nightclub.

Frank Gehry's concept for Festival Disney was based around the idea of an old abandoned American power station, which was now full of life and music. Festival Disney would be lit up from all sides with a central avenue composed of a bright starry sky. Supporting the starry sky would be columns, representing pylons of the old power station. Gehry explained in the following interview his reasons for designing Festival Disney around an old power station:

"The idea of a station in the U.S. made me think of power stations which are often found this close to a railway line. Festival Disney a bright place full of life. The power stations are illuminated at night, hence my idea of a network of 3,600 low-intensity bulbs that cover all of the structures. Naturally, the lights will be suspended between towers and, as a measure of the design process, I blew and embellished the towers that I wanted to sparkle without merely being decorative. Once the towers were imagined, I disposed of buildings and other parts of a normal avenue."

Original Concept Model of Festival Disney.

Welcome to Festival Disney!

Welcome!

On April 12th, 1992, Euro Disneyland opened it's doors for the first time, as did Frank Gehry's Festival Disney. While some of the restaurants, shops, and other features remain the same today, things were quite different on opening day.

The first thing people would see when they entered Festival Disney was Annette's Diner, situated at the front left of the site. Based on the American diners of the '50s and '60s, Annette's was an instant hit with visitors for it's delicious American fare and was especially known for its delicious burgers. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Anette's is still very much open to this day and is as popular as ever.

You'll always find a retro car outside Annette's Diner!

Annette's Diner, a firm fan favourite.

Towards the front right of Festival Disney was Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Another place still open today, Buffalo Bill's is a dinner show which lets guests experience the Wild West, including shootouts, stage coach robbery's, and even some appearances from everyone's favourite Disney characters. This family friendly show has gone on to become one of Festival Disney's signature attractions and has even broken the world-record attendance of a show with over 10 million guests experiencing the show.

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show! 

Almost central to the entrance of Festival Disney was the Streets of America Shop. This shop sold merchandise themed around different states of the USA as well as products based on American culture. The shop didn't prove very popular with European guests, and closed just over a year after opening.

Walking further down Festival Disney, guests would find the following shops:

The Disney Store

Disney Fashion

Hollywood Pictures

The Surf Shop

Buffalo Trading Company

The Disney Store and Disney Fashion are both still open to this day. The Surf Shop closed in 2002, while Buffalo Trading Company and Hollywood Pictures closed more recently in 2009 and 2013.

As you would expect, The Disney Store is crammed full of Disney merchandise, almost anything you could think of. Although the shop has not changed dramatically through the years, it originally housed an indoor playground offering child minding activities for children aged three to ten. The play area was named the 'Never Land Club Children's Theatre'. Interestingly, the only way to enter this area was through a large window. Although it was popular with children and offered a much welcome break for many parents, it only stayed open for a couple of years. 

Original Exterior of The Disney Store.

The Disney Store as it looks today.

Disney Fashion is perhaps the best place to find clothing in the whole of the resort. Offering many unique Disney products not available anywhere else on site, the shop has never had any major changes since opening.

Disney Fashion.

Hollywood Pictures was a shop featuring merchandise primarily based on films, although not just Disney films. Inside, visitors would be able to buy products such as film clapperboards and director's baseball caps. Certain parts of the shop specialised in products from certain films, with large sections based on Star Wars and A Nightmare Before Christmas. 

Hollywood Pictures.

The Surf Shop was situated next to the Los Angeles Bar & Grill restaurant. As the name suggests, this sold lots of surfing goods as well as beachwear. One fun element to The Surf Shop was that visitors could try on clothes in old fashioned beach cabins. 

Concept Art for The Surf Shop.

Buffalo Trading Company was a shop selling lots of Wild West themed products. It was very popular with guests, not surprising considering the nearby Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show is so popular. The shop sold many Western themed clothing such as cowboy style hats, as well as toy rifles for children and many other similar products.

Buffalo Trading Company.

Shopping aside, there were plenty more restaurants on opening day other than Annette's Diner. These included:

Sports Bar
New York Style Sandwiches
Los Angeles Bar & Grill
Key West Seafood
The Steakhouse
Billy Bob's Country Western Saloon

The Sports Bar, just next door to the Disney Store, has been a popular place for guests to reside ever since it first opened it's doors on opening day. The popular venue has an indoor bar full of sports memorabilia as well as an outside area with a massive screen to watch live sports.

The Sports Bar terrace in 2010, decorated for the World Cup.

Next door to the Sports Bar is New York Style Sandwiches, a quick service restaurant. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating as well as a take out option.

Enjoy a quick bite to eat at New York Style Sandwiches.

Los Angeles Bar & Grill was a popular opening day restaurant, situated at the end of Festival Disney, facing Lake Disney. The restaurant was well regarded for it's steaks and served perhaps the best pizza to be found in Euro Disneyland.

Los Angeles Bar & Grill.

Right opposite the Los Angeles Bar & Grill was Key West Seafood. This restaurant was themed after Florida's Key West island and had a bright and colourful tropical atmosphere inside. Seafood was the restaurant's speciality but it was very well known for serving Florida favourite dessert, Key lime pie. 

Key West Seafood Entrance Sign.

The Steakhouse, has been Festival Disney's best venue for fine dining ever since opening day. Like the name says, this is the place for a good steak!

The Steakhouse Entrance.

Another opening day venue is Billy Bob's Country Western Saloon. At Billy Bob's, guests can grab a drink and light snack while watching live music entertainment every night. Upstairs in Billy Bob's is the popular La Grange buffet restaurant. With a cheery atmosphere and brilliant live performances, it's no surprise why Billy Bob's is still as popular today as it was in the early years.

Billy Bob's Country Western Saloon.

Much Misunderstood and In Need of Change (The '90s)

Festival Disney with much needed changes.

The 1990s saw a lot of changes for Festival Disney, one change just a year after opening. Perhaps the biggest change however was it's name. The years leading up to the new millennium saw Festival Disney welcome new restaurants, shops, and entertainment.

The first change to happen to Festival Disney occurred in June 1993. The Streets Of America Shop closed and made way for the new Rock N' Roll America, a restaurant themed around America's favourite rock n' roll artists. The new restaurant featured music memorabilia and would host live music every night. This was considered an inspired change to Festival Disney as The Streets Of America shop didn't prove to be very popular. Rock N' Roll America became a favourite destination for many guests. It's choice of American food and live rock n' roll music was a surefire hit for many.

Rock N' Roll America.

1996 was a big year for Festival Disney. The year saw the opening of Planet Hollywood with a grand opening ceremony including film stars Sylvester Stallone and Gerard Depardieu. The Planet Hollywood restaurant chain already had strong links with the Disney company as they had a restaurant based at Downtown Disney in Florida, so it was a no brainer to open one in Festival Disney. Planet Hollywood was indeed an instant winner with guests who were in awe of the amazing film memorabilia inside the restaurant as well as the fantastic food on offer. Unsurprisingly, Planet Hollywood is still open today, and is still a popular destination for many.

The instantly recognisable Planet Hollywood.

Although Planet Hollywood was a fantastic addition, it was not the biggest change to happen to Festival Disney in 1996. The year saw the entertainment district find a new name in 'Disney Village', which it is still called to this very day. Most visitors and cast members liked the name change which seemed to fit better than Festival Disney. It was thought that the name was changed to coincide with Euro Disneyland also being renamed. Euro Disneyland was renamed to Disneyland Paris.

Disney Village, a beautiful sight at night.

Frank Gehry's much misunderstood Disney Village would go through further changes in the 90s, sadly changing a lot of Gehry's original concept. The once appealing starry sky of lights was eventually taken down. The pylons supporting the starry sky were kept in place although some had metal plates removed. Inside some pylons were now statues and food kiosks. Disney Village was a great sight at night but the daytime was another story. Unfortunately, Gehry's Disney Village was beginning to look very dated during the day, not an image the Disney company wanted it's guests to see.

The original pylons with removed metal plates, now featuring statues.

One very much welcomed change to Disney Village was the addition of new shop, The Disney Gallery. Originally, the building housed a tourist information centre. With other places for tourist information, it was quickly decided that there was no need for it, so The Disney Gallery was born. The shop features beautiful Disney art, most of which is for sale. 

An example of some of the lovely artwork on offer at The Disney Gallery.

The eight screen Gaumont Multiplex Cinema opened it's doors on May 7th 1997. This was a big addition for Disney Village as it was proving to provide a lot more than just shopping and dining. The Gaumont is still open to this day and proves to be popular with guests due to the fact it shows films in not just only French but also English.

Concept Art for the Gaumont Multiplex Cinema.

In 1999, just before Disneyland Paris welcomed in the new millennium, two new dining additions were added. On the 25th January 1999, Disney Village was pleased to announce the opening of McDonald's, the world famous fast food chain. Due to there not being many fast dining options in Disney Village, it's fair to say that McDonald's was a much welcomed addition. McDonald's was an entirely new building and was built in the area just behind Hurricane's Night Club. The second addition in 1999 was the Rainforest Cafe. A very popular chain restaurant in America, the Rainforest Cafe was an instant hit with families for it's family friendly menu, not to forget the amazing interior filled with animatronic animals. The Rainforest Cafe was built in place of opening day restaurant Key West Seafood.

Mc Donald's.

Rainforest Cafe.

Throughout the late '90s, Disney Village played host to concerts, almost nightly, on it's central stage (just outside where the Sports Bar is now) and these continued into the early 2000s, although they became much less frequent.

Disney Village Central Plaza Stage.

A New Millennium and A New Lease of Life (Early 2000s)

One thing bugging a lot of guests and on the minds of Disney employees was the fact that there was not a single Disney themed restaurant to be found at Disney Village. Plans were quickly discussed to rectify this matter and the idea of Cafe Mickey was born. It wasn't until 2002 that Cafe Mickey would finally open it's doors to the public. Cafe Mickey replaced the opening day restaurant Los Angeles Bar & Grill, which closed in 2001. The Surf Shop next door also closed it's doors in 2001 and was replaced by the new World of Toys store, a smaller version of the Disney Store. Cafe Mickey was everything Disney fans had wished for. Cafe Mickey provides guests with the chance to dine with the characters as well eating lots of Disney themed food. The likes of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Pluto are always bound to turn up at your table. Proving to be a massive hit, Cafe Mickey is still very much open today and always full with Disney diners.

Disney's World of Toys store.

Cafe Mickey. You can still see traces of the original restaurant Los Angeles Bar & Grill.

May 10th 2003 welcomed guests to dine in the new establishment, King Ludwig's Castle. Themed to Bavaria's Neuschwanstein Castle, King Ludwig's features a menu of mainly German fare but also many other options. It has a more adult feel to it but it caters for all ages, just like everywhere else in Disney Village. A lot of guests suggest this is the best place in Disney Village to get an alcoholic drink. King Ludwig's was built in place of fan favourite Rock N' Roll America but thankfully King Ludwig's has now turned into a firm fan favourite itself.

King Ludwig's Castle.

Despite the negativity about it, Disney Village became a favourite night spot for people not visiting the Disneyland Park. It was therefore decided to finally build it's own car park. On December 3rd 2004, the new art deco themed VINCI Park opened, finally providing non-Disney park guests somewhere to park.

VINCI Park car parking facilities.

2005 could have been considered as the year of change for Disney Village. With Disney Village still looking very much dated during the day, Disney resort management started on renovations which would take a few years to complete. The neon lights and large signs which were situated over most restaurants since opening day, were being removed one by one. The central stage was also removed and would only come out for very special occasions. To make Disney Village look more visually appealing, the pylons in the middle were all removed, with only a few remaining to this very day. Colourful light up balloons were added to the remaining pylons. In April of 2005, Disney Village introduced PanoraMagique, a captive hot air balloon that reaches 100 metres into the sky and can hold up to 30 guests at a time. Situated on the edge of Lake Disney, PanoraMagique boasts the world record of being the largest captive hot air balloon in the world. A 570-seat IMAX cinema was also added as part of the Gaumont Cinema Multiplex in 2005.

Original neon light signs were all removed from Disney Village.

PanoraMagique, sitting on Lake Disney.

The visual changes continued at Disney Village in the next few years. In 2008, resort management added more plants and trees to the central plaza as well as adding terraces to all of the restaurants and bars. All of the buildings were also repaired and repainted. Disney Village was finally starting to get the love that it deserved.

Buffalo Trading Company ceased operations in 2009 after 17 years of service. In July that same year, Starbucks opened in it's place. It was the first Starbucks to open on a Disney resort, and many more have now opened in the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland California.

Starbucks, sitting where Buffalo Trading Company once stood.

Things Are Looking Good! (2010 to 2016)

With Disney Village finally coming into fruition, the last 6 years have seen some big additions, perhaps paving the way for Disney Village to finally be given the glory it deserves and possibly even set Disney Village in a new direction.

March 1st 2010 saw the first change at Disney Village. The once brilliant Hurricane's Nightclub, finally closed. Although it declined in it's final years, Hurricane's Nightclub will live long in the hearts of many that experienced it. Many loved Hurricane's for it's much welcome departure from the Disney side of things, perhaps making it the most adult of places in the Disneyland Paris resort. Hurricane's does live on, although in a much different capacity. The area which once held Hurricane's is now a cast members rest area.

Hurricane's Nightclub, once party central, now a cast members rest area.

On the 15th June 2011, Disney Village was pleased to announce the opening of Earl of Sandwich, a new dining experience for visitors. Ever since opening, Earl of Sandwich has been a big big hit with guests. Many will leave the parks just to eat in Earl of Sandwich. Other than offering amazing toasted sandwiches, the restaurant provides guests with stunning views of Lake Disney.

Earl of Sandwich.

Many fans would agree that the biggest addition to Disney Village was the opening of the World of Disney Store on July 12th 2012. The art deco themed shop proved to be an instant hit with visitors and many say that this is the best addition to ever happen at Disney Village. The fantastic theming and products surely make this the best shop in all of the Disneyland Paris resort. If this is how Disney want to improve Disney Village, then this is definitely a step in the right direction.

World of Disney Concept Art.

The most recent change to Disney Village was the opening of the Lego Store in 2014. The Lego Store replaced Hollywood Pictures, an opening day shop. Hollywood Pictures closed in mid-2013. With the popularity of Lego, it was an easy choice to open a new store in Disney Village, and with no surprise, it has been a huge hit.

The Lego Store, a very welcome recent addition to Disney Village.

With all of the changes since the new millennium, it's fair to say that Disney Village has grown a lot more in popularity, especially with the people who once doubted it. Even die-hard fans of Disney Village would find it hard to argue that Disney Village now looks better than it ever has done. With the amount of changes since opening in 1992, it's hard not to feel sorry for Disney Village designer Frank Gehry. While Gehry's original designs for Disney Village certainly looked fantastic, it never really ended up looking that way. Still with all the changes, you can still see a lot of Gehry's original vision for Disney Village, and we should never forget how much of an influence he was to the Disney Village we see today. It's fair to say that there will be many more exciting changes to look forward to at Disney Village in the coming years.

Disney Village from the air.