KenNetti - Snow White's Scary Adventures

Happy Endings

When the fifth reincarnation of Snow White's Adventures opened in 1992 in Disneyland Paris, France, the era of Happy Endings was in sight for the Snow White dark rides. It was about time for the audience to see Snow White alive and well at the end of the scary dark ride. Thus, an exclusive feature was added into the Paris version's ending: the most lifelike figures of Snow White and her Prince Charming.With the exception of the ride's ending, the 1992 version for Disneyland Paris is usually mistaken for a carbon copy of the 1983 Snow White's Scary Adventures attraction in California's Disneyland. Actually the Paris version is much more than just a copy.

PLEASE NOTE
KenNetti expresses deep gratitude
to Pia Lindström for her generous and invaluable assistance in documenting Disneyland Paris' Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains in great photographs. Most of the photos appearing on this specific page and throughout the Tribute are the results of great contributions by Pia Lindström, but have been especially enhanced and coloured for this KenNetti appearance.

Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains
Disneyland Paris 1992-2009

The French version of Snow White's Scary Adventures was in operation when the Disneyland Paris park opened officially on April 12, 1992. Just like the Tokyo version, the Paris Snow White ride doesn't emphasize the "Scary" word in its official name. In fact, the Paris version is named simply as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains). It seems that the Paris version of the ride has not suffered from the curse of the infamous scary reputation that has plagued the American counterparts for several decades. Maybe the international audiences visiting Disneyland Paris can understand the universal language of the ride's ominous facade more better.

The Paris version of the wonderfully Gothic facade is nearly identical to the 1983 Snow White's Scary Adventures creation for California's Disneyland. The entire Paris version of the attraction - with its facade, queue area, track and interior layout - is generally regarded as a carbon copy of the California 1983 attraction. However, a closer inspection reveals that several modifications were actually made into the Paris counterpart - and a major addition was included into the adventure's end. The ride system used the familiar single rail guide track, but the vehicles had finally been updated with a third bench, increasing the normal seat capacity to 6-8 persons. Most character figures inside the ride still weren't actual Audio-Animatronics, with the exception of the new exclusive figures at the ride's end and the music-making merry little men in the opening scene. Most of the figures and effects worked as simply as before - based on rotating, sliding and bending movements. The cutout sets and other decorations painted with fluorescent colours continued the breathtaking "Scary Adventures Formula".

As in the 1983 California version, also in the Paris facade the Evil Queen parts the curtains of the tower window occasionally and peers down at the attraction's entrance. The vegetation at the Paris facade isn't as decayed and suppressing as in the California version. However, with its weather-beaten walls, ornamental stone ravens, carved stone skulls and twisted entrance pillars the Paris facade is as powerful and and awe-inspiring as the 1983 original. The Paris facade continues to be both gloomy and beguiling. There's no doubt that something ominous yet fascinating lurks beneath the cold stone walls.

Most obstinate observers may, however, still question why the only major flaw of the 1983 Disneyland attraction was duplicated into the 1992 Paris version. The facade gives the impression that the ride may start inside the Evil Queen's Castle - as it actually does in the Tokyo and WDW versions. Yet, as in California, also in this Paris version the vehicle starts its journey by entering the Dwarfs' Cottage that stands in the loading area. The breezy forest ambience with the charming cottage model is visible even from outside the facade, through the massive windows at the queue area. It may easily distract many newcomers to think that the ride is bright and happy - which it is not. After the cute opening scene inside the Dwarfs' Cottage, the ride changes dramatically into a darker direction - with no other happy moments, except the additional Happy Ending.

The 1983 California ride started with its only happy scene presumably because of extremely restricted space of the original ride building. The Dwarfs' Cottage exterior and the Celebration scene inside the cottage could not be put anywhere else inside the ride. However, like it was done in the 1983 Tokyo version, also in Paris the Snow White ride could have been extended - if just to correct the loading area controversy and place the full-scale model of the Dwarfs' Cottage somewhere in the middle of the ride (as in the Tokyo version). It is understandable that with the creation of the Disneyland Paris park the Walt Disney Imagineering used extensively the blueprints for the new 1983 Fantasyland (of California's Disneyland) with the already-remodeled attraction concepts and thus re-remodeled only the things that really needed to be modified. Obviously, the Imagineers were content with California's 1983 remodeled Snow White attraction and didn't feel the need to take the Dwarfs' Cottage out from the loading area only because some people wondered why there was a Dwarfs' Cottage inside the Queen's Castle!

Nevertheless, we have to be extremely grateful that the Paris version of the Snow White ride was built as a duplicate of the 1983 California creation. If the Paris ride had started inside the Evil Queen's Castle, as in the Tokyo and WDW versions, then the epic and powerful Drawbridge sequence with the huge opening doors (leading to the best version of the Transformation at the Magic Mirror) would have probably never been included to the ride!

As in the 1983 California attraction, also the Paris version's queue area features an ominous Secret Chamber, which is confined with "iron" bars from the actual queue. The decorations and spooky voices of the Secret Chamber familiarize the Evil Queen's character (and her alter ego, the Wicked Witch) to guests standing in the queue. The breezy forest ambience of the loading area, with a nearly life-size model of the Dwarfs' Cottage, provides great contrast to the creepy Secret Chamber. The Paris version of the cottage differs significantly from the California 1983 model by presenting only one gable of the house. The long "front" section of the cottage was replaced in the Paris version by a beautiful cast portrait. There are also some differences between the the Paris and California Secret Chambers.

The original Snow White's Adventures dark ride in California's Disneyland (1955-1982) featured a long mural on the loading & unloading area back wall. In the middle of this mural was a gorgeous cast portrait based on the legendary 1937 movie poster of SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. It was quite faithful to the old illustration style by the great Gustaf Tenggren, but for reason or another the entire cast portrait had been flipped horizontally, resulting in a mirror image of the original poster. In the 1983 remodeling the original 1955 mural made way for a very different loading area, and ever since there has been no cast portrait in the California version's loading area.

Thus it was a pleasant surprise when the 1992 Disneyland Paris version brought back the cast portrait to the loading area, although in an updated form. The 1992 mural fixed the characters' positions in their original 1937 movie poster places, with the exception of the Dwarfs who continued being in a mirror image order. The overall style of the Paris mural was made to resemble the authentic 1937 movie art rather than the Tenggren style of the original poster. The artists made an excellent job: the end result is still the very best cast portrait mural for Snow White dark rides. For once, even the Prince looked good!

During the 1983 remodeling of the mother attraction in California's Disneyland, the character of Snow White was finally added into the ride, but was seen only in the beginning. Reportedly, the remodeling team lead by Tony Baxter and Ken Anderson had conceived a beautiful "Happy Ending" for the 1983 ride - with the Dwarfs and Snow White on a bridge and the Prince on horseback. But since the California version's remodeling was realized into the original ride building with very restricted space, there simply wasn't room for anything else after the Witch's plunge from high cliffs except a beautiful gigantic storybook (partly a mural, partly a three-dimensional decoration) telling that "They Lived Happily Ever After". Ever since, countless California Disneyland guests have felt themselves a bit cheated - or at least bit confused - by the abrupt storybook decoration following immediately after the Wicked Witch's blood-curdling scream.

Thus, when the 1983 California concept was being modified for the 1992 version to be built in Disneyland Paris, the ride was finally given a proper Happy Ending with Snow White, the Prince, a white horse, a couple of merry Dwarfs, and a Castle in the Clouds - although all of this extended the ride only by a couple of seconds. The "Happy End on the Bridge" in the 1992 Disneyland Paris version features the most lifelike interpretations of Snow White and her handsome Prince waving goodbye to the Dwarfs. Although a great addition, these Audio-Animatronic figures in the Paris version seem to clash with the original sculpture-like character styling that was initiated in the 1971 WDW version and continued in the 1983 "Scary Adventures Formula" for Tokyo and California.

The first time we see her in the Paris version, the figure of Snow White is almost completely a sculpture-like figure, as in the 1983 Tokyo and California rides. Despite its immobility, this specific Princess figure is amazingly faithful to her original appearance in the 1937 movie. However, the second time we see her in the Paris version, now in her Audio-Animatronic form in the finale, the Princess has real clothes, more lifelike facial features - and to top it all, she seems to have grown much more hair from the previous time we saw her in the beginning of the ride. And what about the charming Prince? His Audio-Animatronic interpretation has very humble resemblance to the original one in the 1937 animated masterpiece - and yet he is magnificently portrayed in the loading area mural as a painting! The Audio-Animatronic Prince of Paris has also quite curious anatomy; an incomprehensible right arm (same with Snow White!), too much rouge in his face, plus ridiculously loose tights. (Further evidence).

We must emphasize that these Audio-Animatronics of Paris are not bad. These figures provide a unique chance to see what Snow White and her Prince may have looked like if they were real human beings. The only actual flaw in these two figures is that they don't smile as broadly - with shiny white teeth - as the original characters did even in original 1937 movie.

The music and sound effects used in Disneyland Paris' 1992 Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains come from the same archives as the audio for the 1983 Snow White's Scary Adventures in California's Disneyland. It is claimed that the music originates from 1937 SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS motion picture soundtrack, although even in the Paris version the music sounds astonishingly fresh to have been recorded over 70 years ago! The most ominous and chilling selections in the music score were originally composed by Leigh Harline. The more happy and memorable song tunes were composed by Frank Churchill and a bit more dramatic musical stuff comes from Paul J. Smith. (The Scary Adventures music score is described in more details on page 6).

The other audio in Disneyland Paris' 1992 Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains combines old and new. All the character voices have been dubbed in French, except the Dwarfs' yodeling and the additional Witch's cackle. The legendary high-pitched cackle echoing throughout the Dark Forest sequence continues to clash quite heavily with the Witch's spoken voice. It is strongly suggested by some Snow White dark ride aficionados that this legendary cackle is not the Witch voice used in the California and WDW rides during 1960s-1970s. However, KenNetti reminds that the cackle could have been provided quite easily by the legendary witch actresses Ginny Tyler or June Foray - or it could also be a diabolical mix of both of them. (Read more about these talented voice actresses on page 4!)

As a dark ride, the 1992 Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains continued to dazzle its guests with strong fluorescent magic of the 1983 "Scary Adventures Formula". When seen in bright maintenance lights, most of the painted decorations also inside the Paris ride may seem incredibly flat and poorly realized - but under the ultraviolet illumination these specially painted two-dimensional decorations transform into gorgeous three-dimensional "fairytale reality". Good examples of this kind of artwork inside the ride are the rich foliage and other vegetation, as well as the shadows that are all painted - because the black lighting of the ride is designed to illuminate everything and not to cast shadows of its own.

Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains
RIDE DESCRIPTION
Disneyland Paris 1992-2009

KenNetti divides Disneyland Paris'
Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains
ride into the following scenes:
(The Tower Window)
(The Secret Chamber)
Into the Dwarfs' Cottage
The Celebration
Evil Queen Behind the Cottage Window
The Castle in the Moonlight (mural)
The Dwarfs' Diamond Mine
Runaway Minecart
The Vultures
The Drawbridge
Transformation at the Magic Mirror
The Dungeons
Witch at the Cauldron
The Castle Lake
Witch on the Boat
The Dark Forest
Return to the Cottage
Witch Offering the Apple
The Stormy Climax
(Boulder Climax)
Castle in the Clouds (mural)
Happy Ending on the Bridge

FACTS & FIGURES
Location: Disneyland Paris, France
Original name: Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains
("Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs")
Grand opening: April 12, 1992
Ride system: "dark ride" with single rail guide track
Ride designed and realized by
Walt Disney Imagineering
In charge of the park design: Tony Baxter
Fantasyland show producer: Tom Morris
Vehicle theming: "Mine-cart"
(Each cart named after each of the Dwarfs)
Vehicle capacity: 6 - 8 persons per vehicle
Wicked Witch figures: 5
Evil Queen figures: 3
Raven figures: 3 (+ 1 shadow)
Snow White figures: 2
Dwarf figures: each 2
(+ 1 Dopey + few extras)
Skeletons: 4 (originally)
Prince figures: 1
Ride music score from the
original 1937 movie soundtrack
Music excerpts by Leigh Harline,
Frank Churchill & Paul J. Smith
Queue area instrumentals by Frank Churchill
Current "Secret Chamber" music unknown
All main voices: French dub
Ride duration: appr. 115 seconds

RIDE MUSIC SCORE
Disneyland Paris (1992-)
1. The Celebration
Silly Song (Churchill)
2. The Diamond Mine
Heigh-Ho: Dig-Dig-Dig (Churchill)
3. The Drawbridge
Theme Sinister (Harline)
4. The Dungeons
Transfiguration Excerpt (Harline)
5. The Dark Forest
Montage (Churchill & Smith)
6. The Stormy Climax
Climax Chase (Leigh Harline)
6. The Happy Ending
Some Day My Prince Will Come
- Finale (Churchill)

LOADING AREA
Instrumental Medley
Disneyland Paris (1992-)
All music by Frank Churchill
Heigh-Ho (Part 2)
Whistle While You Work
Some Day My Prince Will Come
With a Smile and a Song

As in the 1983 California version, the presence of the Wicked Witch can be sensed - and maybe even heard - amidst the spellbinding Secret Chamber. A French edition of the Book of Spells is lying open on the rack, with a double-page spread of "Pomme Empoisonnée" - the poisoned apple. The apple image on the double-page spread is a hologram. The Paris book also mentions "L'antidote" to break the apple's evil spell, which is naturally "premier baiser d'amore" - love's first kiss. The California version of the book doesn't include a mention of the antidote, so it may be speculated that the mention of the magical kiss was added to the Paris book specifically because the romantic Happy Ending was finally seen inside the ride.

A moving shadow of the Queen's pet raven can be seen on the Secret Chamber wall. This simple shadow effect is known as a "gobo" and similar effects are used also in Disneyland Paris' dark rides such as Peter Pan's Flight and Phantom Manor. The stylish stone griffins of the 1983 California version were not included into the Secret Chamber in Paris - but an easily recognizable variation of them is actually seen in the darkness of Phantom Manor's "Seance Circle"!

It is currently not known by KenNetti, if the Secret Chamber in Paris includes a French version of the 1983 California version's soliloquy by the Wicked Witch. (If the soliloquy is heard, it is story-wise a bit contradictory to the adventure that follows. In the ride we see the Evil Queen twice before she transforms into the Witch - but here, in the Secret Chamber, she is already the Witch! ...This curious contradiction was initiated in the 1983 California version). Nevertheless, it should be noted that many Disney attractions, based on the classic Disney movies, do not necessarily tell the stories in the usual chronological order; (a good example of this is the recently reopened Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough in California's Disneyland).

In the middle of the breezy forest ambience, the Seven Dwarfs' Cottage emerges in three dimensions amongst the beautiful two-dimensional cutout sets. Some familiar happy tunes are heard in the background, providing great contrast to the ominous Secret Chamber. These rarely heard authentic song instrumentals from the original 1937 movie, composed by Frank Churchill, include Whistle While You Work, Heigh-Ho, Some Day My Prince Will Come, With a Smile and a Song.

The guests take a seat in a vehicle. Just like in the 1983 California version, our journey in the Snow White dark ride in Paris starts as the vehicle drives Into the Dwarfs’ Cottage. Cuddly forest animals watch in a window as Snow White and her little friends are celebrating a joyous evening. This scene became one of the essentials in the 1983 "Scary Adventures Formula". As in the 1937 movie, Grumpy is playing the organ and Dopey has climbed up on Sneezy's shoulders to dance with Snow White. Sleepy is playing the fiddle, Bashful plucks the guitar, Doc performs the mandolin, and Happy has fun with the accordion. Snow White is standing on the stairs holding a candle. Originally in the 1983 California version this Princess figure didn't have her red characteristic cape; here in Paris the same Princess figure has worn her red cape from the beginning in 1992. One theory for the additional cape is that Snow White is hardly ever seen in Disney theme parks without her cape. The bright and bouncy music is "The Silly Song" - known also as the "Yodeling Song" - composed by Frank Churchill. Chronologically speaking, this happy Celebration scene was first seen in the 1983 Tokyo ride version, and a month later in the 1983 California version.

As the vehicle exits the cottage (further into the ride building), standing behind a window is the Evil Queen who turns her head at the direction of our approaching vehicle and tells us in French language approximately that “These dwarfs can’t hide Snow White from me!” The Queen's pet raven (seen throughout the ride) is perched on her arm and reacts to her words with a chilling caw. The Evil Queen's original lilac dress in the 1937 movie apparently changed to powerful pink for a dramatic fluorescent effect in the 1971 very scary WDW version. The new dress colour was continued also in the 1983 California and Tokyo versions, but in the Disneyland Paris version the Queen's dress seems more dark-red than pink. However, the Evil Queen figure who parts the curtains in the facade's tower window, has her original lilac robes in Paris and California.

After a breathtakingly beautiful evening view of the Evil Queen’s Castle in the Moonlight (a gorgeous two-dimensional mural that is a true epitome of the 1983 "Scary Adventures Formula"), our vehicle quickly turns and drives inside the Dwarfs’ Diamond Mine ("Mine des Nains"). Here, diamonds and other gems shine to the instrumental first part of Frank Churchill's "Heigh-Ho" (or precisely its first part, actually a quite different melody than "Heigh-Ho", which is individually known as "Dig-Dig-Dig"). The Runaway Minecart, from the very scary and crazy 1971 WDW ride, found its place in these Paris mineshafts, although this very short mine sequence is quite faithful to the cramped 1983 California creation (which didn't include the minecart careening towards us). Here in the Paris version, the screeching sound effect of the Runaway Minecart may be the one and only obnoxious sound effect in the entire ride.

The mood changes quickly when the vehicle approaches a creaking Drawbridge of the Evil Queen’s Castle, where two vultures gaze at us hungrily from a tree. The Vultures were seen already in the 1955 original Snow White ride in California, but their appearances have been modified from those days. Supported strongly by the throbbing “Theme Sinister" composed by Leigh Harline for the 1937 movie, the huge wooden doors of the Drawbridge open and deep inside the regal chamber we see the Queen summoning the dark powers of her Miroir Magique (as it is known here in France). As the vehicle gets more closer, the Queen turns around with a thundering sound effect - revealing that she has transformed into the wart-nosed old Wicked Witch before our very eyes!

The Drawbridge sequence, with its long straight track leading into the Mirror Chamber, was an exclusive creation for the 1983 Snow White's Scary Adventures ride in California's Disneyland. The powerful sequence was one of the few things not included into the epic 1983 Tokyo counterpart. One may speculate, that the Drawbridge was inspired by the diabolical Portcullis of the Evil Queen's Castle sequence inside the original 1955 mother attraction - although the 1983 creation replaced fright with awe.

As originated in the very scary 1971 WDW version, the California and Paris effects of Transformation at the Magic Mirror are still achieved with two figures, which are half the Witch and half the Queen, rotating at the opposite sides of a "mirror" glass to give the impression that the Queen transforms into the Witch. The Mirror Chamber in 1983 California version contained the Queen's magnificent throne, but in this 1992 Disneyland Paris version the throne was - for whatever reason - replaced by the Queen's pet raven perched on the French edition of the Book of Spells. Explaining the Transformation scene, the book shows another double-page spread, this time about the magic formula of "Deguisement de Mendiante" - and "Peddler's Disguise" in English.

Deeper into the Evil Queen’s Castle we go, into the Dungeons, supported by the chilling music excerpt from Leigh Harline’s “Transfiguration” underscore. First skeleton dangles in a cramped cell, the second one is hanging chained to the wall and the third lies on the floor, reaching for a fountain. In this 1992 Paris version of the Dungeons the skeleton chained to the wall holds his skull in upright position, while the California counterpart's skull droops more realistically. Furthermore, the aforementioned Paris skeleton is hanging more loosely than his California counterpart and seems to grin quite happily. The real surprise, however, comes in the form of an additional skeleton descending upon the approaching vehicle from a dark corner! This particularly scary skeleton "number 4" has occasionally disappeared from its place (quite possibly due to angry reactions by some parents), but it has made as many returns. Despite of the additional inhabitant, the layout of the Dungeons scene in Paris is very similar to the California version. (More secrets of this gruesome scene are revealed separately on a page dedicated to the scary Snow White Dungeons and their skeletal inhabitants).

In the far corner of these chambers the Wicked Witch is seen At the Cauldron, poisoning the apple for Snow White. The background painting of the Cauldron Corner in Paris is different from the 1983 California version, although both scenes share the same basic layout and a decorative "iron" spiderweb in the foreground. The web's purpose, however, may actually be protecting the decorations. The Cauldron Corner background painting in the California version featured a dark archway behind the Witch figure (as also in the Tokyo version), but in Paris the background has a heavy wooden door, on which the Witch's shadow has also been painted. The walls in these chambers are another excellent example of the immense work of the fluorescent paint artists: all shadows and bricks - an even some of the laboratory equipment and utensils on the shelves - are "mere" paintings!

At least in the Paris version even the smell in the Dungeons scene is particularly musty - while the smell at the following Dark Forest sequence is significantly fresher! Our dark ride vehicle finds its way out from the castle cellars, up onto a lake where we encounter the Witch on a small boat, offering the shiny red apple to us. The epic Castle Lake scene with its rugged stone wall (but no real water) came from the 1971 WDW version, albeit in a slightly smaller but better appearance with significantly improved lighting. The quite suddenly appearing Witch on the Boat was first seen in the very scary 1971 WDW version, but it may have been preceded by the Behind the Pillar scene in the original 1955 Snow White's Adventures. At least in the original 1992 Paris version of Witch on the Boat, the old hag had significantly more seriously scary look in her half-closed, yellow eyes than the other three current Witches (California, Tokyo and WDW) who stare at the vehicle with their round, completely open eyes.

Leaving the Castle Lake behind, we rush into the Dark Forest, where faint echoes of the Witch’s high-pitched cackle are heard amidst the powerful “Montage” music composed by Frank Churchill and Paul J. Smith. The terrifying trees seem to reach for us, cracked logs open their jaws like crocodiles and bats are flying in the treetops (probably replacing the legendary original 1959 effect of Eyes of the Forest). From its 1955 beginning, the Dark Forest sequence has always been the highlight of the Snow White dark ride. With the maintenance lights on, however, the Dark Forest decoration and especially the monster trees may seem quite unconvincing. This is an excellent case of true dark ride magic, where the ultraviolet illumination and fluorescent paints - combined with dramatic movement, sound and music - create a very convincing and menacing result.

As in the original 1955 Snow White's Adventures in California's Disneyland (and in the 1983 remodeled version), also in the Paris adventure we Return to the Cottage after the frightening forest. The cottage in this scene is the dimensional model of the house's front, as initiated in the 1955 mother attraction. Here, the front door swings open to reveal the Wicked Witch standing in the darkness - offering the Pomme Empoisonnée to us for one last time. Legend has it, that the original apple got stolen so often in the California ride, that it was finally replaced by a hologram in this specific scene. True or not, the hologram apple is unfortunately quite difficult to see, especially here in Paris.

Approaching the Stormy Climax scene, we see that the heroic Seven Dwarfs have chased the Wicked Witch up onto a steep cliff, where she tries to hurl a huge boulder to crush her pursuers. The Paris version is nearly a duplicate of the epic 1983 climax creation for the Tokyo and California versions, featuring an animated rain effect, thunder and lightning - and the little important snippet of Leigh Harline's ferocious "Climax Chase" music (which wasn't included in the 1983 Tokyo version). The Dwarf figures standing on the cliffs are almost carbon copies of the ones in the Vision on the Stairs sequence in the 1971 WDW version. The Stormy Climax follows its ingenious 1983 layout also in Paris. The scene on the cliffs is not only built in dramatically "descending" way, but at its culmination the perspective changes from the Dwarfs to the guests in the vehicle, as the Witch seems to be pushing the boulder to crush the vehicle in stead of the Dwarfs.

A bolt of lightning hits the ledge, sending the Witch plunging to her death. The "plunge" has always been the weakest effect of the Snow White dark rides - although the authentic 1937 movie scream by Lucille La Verne (the original Queen/Witch) accompanies the plunge even in Paris. The Witch figure has always made only a minor tilt backwards and after it, remained visible to anybody who hasn't got the imagination to understand the plunge. Currently it is not known, if the Paris plunge has been improved the same way as in the California and WDW versions, where a strobo light illuminates a shadow image of the Witch reeling back, with the actual Witch figure shrouded by darkness after its tilt backwards.

Only in the Paris version, the Stormy Climax is followed by the 1992 "Happy Ending" featuring Audio-Animatronic figures of Snow White and her Prince. (A different "Happy Ending" was included into the remodeled 1994 WDW version, but it did not include Audio-Animatronics of the royal couple). First we see a beautiful mural of the Castle in the Clouds amidst breezy and verdant forest scene, mostly realized with two-dimensional cutouts. The aforementioned Prince's castle in this Paris 1992 version is based on the original artwork by Gustaf Tenggren rather than the final castle used in the 1937 movie (and in the 1994 WDW version). However, the same Tenggren castle is seen also in the loading area mural, so there is definite integrity in this selection.

Then our vehicle turns to the direction of the Happy Ending on the Bridge. Here in the Paris version, the Audio-Animatronic figure of Snow White (featuring real clothes and quite a lot of additional hair) waves goodbye to the Dwarfs - and also to the guests sitting in the vehicle. (It should be mentioned, however, that despite the Audio-Animatronic realization of the Princess, she doesn't speak - or sing - a word). Dopey is seen with a bouquet of flowers for the Princess. The figure of Happy is also featured in the scene, while some "hoorays" by the other Dwarfs are heard in the background. The entire scene is supported by the beautiful finale music composed by Frank Churchill for the 1937 animated classic. The vehicle passes under the bridge into the unloading area - and the Disneyland Paris ride is over.

The duration of Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains dark ride in Disneyland Paris is approximately 1 minute 55 seconds - only a few seconds longer than in California's Disneyland park. However, it is not unusual that the duration of the ride is actually even a bit longer, because during rush hours the vehicle may stop at the aforementioned Happy Ending scene more than once.

IMAGE GALLERY

This KenNetti Tribute strives for presenting at least some of the essence of the actual enchantment and atmosphere found in the Snow White dark rides. This is why most of our exclusively enhanced & expanded photos are not as glaringly revealing as most dark ride images on the internet. We ask you to notice, however, that some of these expanded and/or enhanced photos may not show things (sets, lighting and character design) exactly like they appear / or have appeared in the rides.

Most images and photos are specially processed for this KenNetti appearance. Originals can be found at the websites of the image providers or copyright holders. Whenever a provider or copyright holder other than Disney has been indicated in these images and photos, the originals have been used by permission in this KenNetti Snow White's Scary Adventures Tribute. KenNetti doesn't always have the exact source of the original images and photos provided by several different people, so these originals are usually copyrighted to the providers of the images.

*Official Publicity Shots

Facade & Queue
"Facade Blanche-Neige"
The Facade Tower # 1
The Facade Tower # 2
Closer... The Tower Window
The Evil Queen at the Tower Window*
"The Gothic Perspective" (Entrance)
Queue Area Facade Seen From Above
The Facade Tower # 3
Queue Area Facade
Closer... Queue Area Windows
Queue Area Fantasy
Queue Area (without Enhancement)
Queue Area - The Secret Chamber
Queue Area - The Cast Mural
"The Gothic Perspective" Fantasy
"The Gothic Perspective" (without texts)

The Ride Interiors
The Dwarfs Cottage - Snow White # 1*
The Dwarfs Cottage - Snow White # 2*
The Dwarfs Cottage - Dwarfs # 1*
The Dwarfs Cottage - Dwarfs # 2
The Evil Queen Behind the Window # 1*
The Evil Queen Behind the Window # 2*
The Castle in the Moonlight*
The Magic Mirror*
The Witch at the Cauldron*
Witch on the Boat Fantasy
The Happy Ending - Prince's Castle
Snow White and the Prince # 1
Snow White and the Prince # 2
The Happy Ending - Dopey Detail
Snow White and the Prince # 3
Snow White and the Prince
(without Enhancement)

Specials
Attraction Poster 1992

* * *
VIDEO LINKS

The Blanche-Neige Ride
Presented by photosmagiques at YouTube
With surprisingly good lighting

Next Page

KenNetti Presents
SNOW WHITE'S SCARY ADVENTURES
T h e -T r i b u t e

The Introduction & Tribute Main Index

Research, analyse, text,
design and image processing
by Kenneth Sundberg

T H A N K - Y O U
Without the indispensable support
and inspiration of the following
kind and generous people
KenNetti's SWSA Tribute would have
remained very little and inaccurate
P i a -L i n d s t r ö m
D. Brecher • J. A. Ganz
Dan Olson • Kurt Raymond
Charles Routh • D. Allen
Daveland & Dave DeCaro
Gorillas Don't Blog & David Eppen
Walt Dated World & Mouseketeer Alison
Chris' TDR Fan Site & Chris Calabrese
Widen Your World & Mike Lee
DAFE & Rick Davis
Markku Jääskeläinen
MintCrocodile at YouTube
WidenYourWorld at YouTube
HV10N90 at YouTube
RandomJazzy at YouTube
hbvideos at YouTube

Other information & photo sources:
Jack E. Janzen: E-Ticket Magazine #13
Randy Bright: Disneyland - Inside Story (1987)
Richard Holliss & Brian Sibley: Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs & the Making of the Classic Film (1987/1994)
The Imagineers: Walt Disney Imagineering (1996)
The Imagineers: The Imagineering Field Guide to the
Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World (2005)
Jeff Kurtti: Walt Disney's Imagineering Legends and
the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park (2008)
David Koenig: Mouse Tales (1994/2006)
David Koenig: More Mouse Tales (1999/2002)
David Koenig: Mouse Under Glass - Secrets of Disney
Animation and Theme Parks (1997/2001)
David Koenig: Realityland - True-Life Adventures
at Walt Disney World (2007)
Alain Littaye & Didier Ghez: Disneyland Paris
- From Sketch to Reality (2002)
Tim Hollis & Greg Ehrbar: Mouse Tracks
- The Story of Walt Disney Records (2006)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Original Motion
Picture Soundtrack CD (Walt Disney Records, 1993)
David Tietyen: The Musical World of Walt Disney (1990)
Steve Birnbaum: Walt Disney World - The Official Guide (1986)
Birnbaum's Disneyland - The Official Guide (1997)
Steve Birnbaum: Walt Disney World - The Official Guide (1991)
Ollie Johnston & Frank Thomas: The Disney Villain (1993)
Disney theme park guidebooks & maps
YouTube / Wikipedia.org / Answers.com
www.DoomBuggies.com message boards
Happy Hills Way Happy Hoppies Test & Travel Group
Dr Vanessa Toulmin, NFA Website, 1997: Fairground Shows
Nick Laister (www.joylandbooks.com)
Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiasts (www.dafe.org)
Laff in the Dark (www.laffinthedark.com)
www.MovieMusic.com messageboards
Kentsu Pictures Video Archives
and Kenneth Sundberg
_______________________________________

KenNetti is a totally non-commercial website by Kenneth Sundberg to pay tribute and to honour the work of the talented people behind some of the most wonderful things found on this planet. All the material is gathered here only to inform, to promote things that need to be noticed, and to entertain people all over the world. KenNetti and Kenneth Sundberg are not affiliated to any of the companies, theme parks, movies, people, ghosts or other things appearing on this site. No rights of reproduction have been granted to KenNetti or Kenneth Sundberg, except where indicated. If You feel that some image or material whatsoever should not appear on this site, please CONTACT Kenneth Sundberg so that we can quickly resolve the problem.