Botanicus Interacticus

 
Botanicus Interacticus

  This month we present a video about plants that can sense your touch. Will these be planted at Disneyland? This video is from Disney Research Pittsburgh and is 4 and half minutes long

Botanicus Interacticus

*Video Clips are available to our Silver, Diamond and Gold Members.*

This month I shall continue my comparison of California’s Tomorrowland with Paris’s Discoveryland, by looking at their versions of Nautilus and Star Tours, as well as the two Lands’ arcades, shows, theatres and eateries…

Les Mystères du Nautilus at Disneyland Paris is nothing like the submarine attraction in California, either in its present Finding Nemo state or its previous incarnation. Contrary to popular belief, the Anaheim submarine voyage was never themed on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea even though the Florida version was, and the Tokyo version still is.

If Les Mystères du Nautilus was to be compared to anything in the Anaheim park’s history, it would be the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit where Star Tours: The Adventures Continue now stands. 

In both Nautilus and Exhibit, Guests would encounter various set-pieces from the 1954 Kirk Douglas film and then watch a squid try to attack the submarine. A lot of the interior décor is very similar from the piping, gauges, maps and books to the diving chamber with diving suits nearby.

In many ways, the Anaheim version would have been the more superior, in that it used genuine props from the film, rather than replicas. At the time, letting the public so near to movie props was a lot rarer than it is today, and the film was hot stuff having won two Oscars in the Park’s opening year. It therefore had details (such as a Harper Goff model sub) which would not work in the Paris equivalent.

Paris has an organ like the one in the film; California had the one used in the film. That original organ (with different pipes) currently resides in New Orleans Square, in the Ballroom scene of Haunted Mansion.

France’s organ does have an effect which California’s didn’t; every now and again the face of James Mason (who played Nemo in the film) would appear above the keys.

Thematically, however, the Paris version is preferable due to the (false) idea that the Guests are underwater in a submarine themselves, rather than being in a standard ground level show building. This gives the Guests a long walk (including using a spiral staircase and a pretty empty corridor) at the start and end of the attraction which is pretty boring, and not as tension setting as it would like to be. There is an elevator option for those less able to use stairs, but this is equally dull.

In Paris’ favor, Nautilus has some interesting lighting effects and some details (such as a pile of treasure) which didn’t appear in Anaheim.

The squid effect (and its storyline) is very similar in both versions; whilst looking out of a porthole, Guests notice a squid go past. It starts to attack, but a zap of electricity repels it. In Paris, this effect is practically over before it has begun, and it doesn’t have the history of Anaheim’s (where it was co-painted by Walt himself on the eve of Opening Day) yet France has two squids (one either side) whereas California only had one.

Whether or not something based on 20,000 Leagues has a place in a Land themed to the future is debatable. The same could also be said about anything Star Wars related, seeing as these films were set a long time ago, albeit in a galaxy far far away.

Star Tours in Paris has not had the makeover yet into The Adventures Continue which the versions stateside have already undergone, and the Tokyo version is currently undergoing. The Paris attraction is very similar to the original California one, even down to the in-jokes being paged during the pre-show. The Paris ride has some lines of dialogue dubbed into French, and there are six simulators rather than four, but otherwise the two were pretty interchangeable.

In California, Guests exiting Star Tours: The Adventures Continue end up in a gift-shop called The Star Trader. Although Disneyland Paris has a store with a similar name (Star Traders), it is much smaller and is in a building all to itself.

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Hugh is a former Cast Member, who now lives in London where he works as a director. He is in the process of writing a "Mouse Tales" style book about Disneyland Resort Paris, for Bonaventure Press.

 Hugh can be contacted at :

Pirate Lanyards

We are selling exclusive unique lanyards and Pirate Coins. Lanyards can hold you Disneyland Annual Passes. These plastic gold pirate coins are a great addition to your lanyard. Add these pirate coins in your treasure chest 
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**Includes Lanyard and 1 Gold Pirate Coin.**

Bronze, Silver, Diamond and Gold members can purchase for $8.00* each ($2.00* for additional items ordered at same time)..

Deluxe and Premium members can purchase for $10.00* each  ($2.00* for additional items ordered at same time)

Disneyland History Box Set purchasers receive 1 lanyard and Pirate coin for FREE

*-Includes shipping

Star Tours The Adventure Continues

One year ago Star Tours The Adventure Continues opened  This was a complete re-working of the old Star Tours attraction. This month we present a complete ride through of Star Tours The Adventure Continues. The video is 15 minutes long.  Star Tours The Adventure Continues 

 Enjoy!


Click on the image below to take you directly to video clip.

Star Tours The Adventure Continues