Once Upon a Time, there was a place in France called the Euro Disney Resort. It opened outside of Paris in April of 1992. McDonald's in Europe released Happy Meal Toys to promote the new Euro Disneyland theme park. This set of vehicles is charming and highly animated. It is also kind of unusual and fascinating.
The first thing to notice is that Mickey Mouse is nowhere to be seen. My guess is that, aside from Chip and Dale (who are riding Frontierland's Big Thunder Mountain), they wanted European based characters. Also, this set represents the lands of Euro Disneyland (Main Street, Frontierland, Adventureland, and Fantasyland) but does not include anything for Discoveryland (the park's version of Tomorrowland). At the time these toys were made, McDonald's followed a formula of 4 toys for 4 weeks pretty strictly (especially for European sets).
Pongo from 101 Dalmatians rides in Main Street USA's fire truck. Pongo's head moves from side to side when the car rolls forward. The front of the vehicle and the bell in the back moves as well.
101 Dalmatians was one of the biggest Disney brands represented at McDonald's. There were literally hundreds of different, individual 101 Dalmatians toys created for the restaurant chain during the 1990s.
Chip and Dale (as well as pieces on the train) bob around on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Frontierland at Euro Disneyland is also home to Phantom Manor, the park's Western version of The Haunted Mansion.
Captain Hook from Peter Pan represents Adventureland, home to Pirates of the Caribbean and Adventure Isle.
As with the rest of Euro Disneyland, the park's attractions were modified for the European market. Adventureland was designed to sit next to Fantasyland, so there was a smooth transition from Adventure Isle (a pirate replacement for Tom Sawyer Island) to Peter Pan's Flight in Fantasyland.
Tigger takes a spin on the Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland. This spinning teacup vehicle is, in my opinion, the most impressive of this set. It is curious that a character from Alice in Wonderland was not used here. Seriously, the Cheshire Cat would have been perfect (and would also represent Euro Disneyland's exclusive Alice's Curious Labyrinth attraction, which has a major Cheshire Cat landmark feature).
Tigger riding the Teacups strangely predicted the future of Disney Theme Parks. When Shanghai Disneyland in China opened in 2016, the Winnie the Pooh Hunny Pot Spin replaced the Mad Tea Party concept.
Euro Disney Resort had a major image problem from the time it was announced. Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons took merciless aim at the park's famous early struggles. By 1994, Euro Disney Resort changed its name to (the much more romantic) Disneyland Resort Paris.
I seem to remember Whoopi Goldberg also taking a jab at Euro Disneyland during her hosting of the Academy Awards. And that is really odd that Tigger is riding in the tea cup vehicle. With the lower part of Tigger's body missing, it looks like he's taking a bath in a cup of milk.
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!: Yes, I remembers lots of Euro Disneyland jokes when it opened. Tigger is mounted on a "milk" wheel so that he spins when the vehicle moves forward. Lots of spinning on this Tea Cup toy.
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