It’s 1999 on 20 Days to 20 Years, and Beth, Manda and I are thrilled to welcome a young and talented writer to the series. Dana, aka DragynAlly, @TheDragynsLair, is always fun to read and follow. Today, she does not disappoint!
Cherie, J’aiRetreci le Public!
When I first volunteered to write a post about Disneyland Paris in 1999 I thought “awesome. I’ll be teaming up with a bunch of other great Disney writers to talk about the wonder that is Disneyland Paris”. After that thought however I had a hyperventilating panic attack as I realized something that I should have considered from the start… I had NEVER been to Disneyland Paris! Want to hear the worse part? I HAVE been to Paris (it’s lovely by the way). So what was I going to write about?
When I think of Disneyland Paris I think of that far away and magical place that is carefully situated on my Disney bucket list. I know I won’t be getting there any time soon and if I’m lucky I’ll get to see it within the next few decades.But then I try to think. It is Disney right? There has to be things at Disneyland Paris that are very familiar to me.
I started doing research about Disneyland Paris circa 1999.That year a show that was very dear to my heart opened in Disneyland Paris; Honey I Shrunk the Audience (or Cherie, J’aiRetreci le Public!). It is actually one of my favorite 4D Disney shows of all time! And now I have something to talk about.
When I was a kid I saw Honey I Shrunk the Audience for the first time. It captured my imagination and reminded me why I loved the Honey I Shrunk the Kids movie so much. It was so fun and exciting to see the characters on a big screen again.
I wonder if kids in Paris were as excited when they first saw it in 1999. I imagine a bunch of French children like me laughing when Dr. Szalinski bumbles around. French kids screaming when it felt like you were being dropped. And I can only imagine what it was like in Disneyland Paris when that first group of kids thought a mouse was running under their chairs.
Am I the only one who wonders if some of the jokes got lost in translation? I doubt it because Honey I Shrunk the Audience remained in Disneyland Paris until 2010 (over a decade of geeky awesomeness). It was actually replaced by the show it replaced in 1999, Captain EO.
Yes in 1999 it seems like Disney transplanted one of its most popular shows in a very magical place (Ah, Paris!) The only difference between what I saw and what kids in France were seeing was occasionally the show would be in French. In fact the show would often switch between French and English depending on the day (Can’t imagine them switching languages here in the US can you?)
Thanks to www.dlp.info for the facts mentioned within this post.
And thank you Dana. Your imaginative and creative mind took us all right inside this beloved attraction. I would say Dana absolutely has the goods to become a Disney screenwriter!! Read more of her work on her blog, The Dragyn’s Lair, at WDW Fan Zone, or on twitter @DragynAlly and Facebook.
Tomorrow, it’s Y2K time at Disneyland Paris!
And thank you Dana. Your imaginative and creative mind took us all right inside this beloved attraction. I would say Dana absolutely has the goods to become a Disney screenwriter!! Read more of her work on her blog, The Dragyn’s Lair, at WDW Fan Zone, or on twitter @DragynAlly and Facebook.
Tomorrow, it’s Y2K time at Disneyland Paris!
Cherie, I love this! I really felt as though you were sitting in the audience. There are a couple of attractions that go from French to English (and other languages) throughout the day, and this amazed me as well; but it WORKS. Thank you so much for your 4-D look back at 1999!!
Great article Dana! I was lucky enough to see this show but I don't remember too much … except being sneezed on my a giant dog! It was great, but I love Captain EO too! 😀 x