Friday, September 30, 2016

Europa Park Announces "Project V", Flying Theater Attraction to Open in 2017



Europa Park announced yesterday its big "major" attraction for 2017, and it's a flying theater ride like "Soaring" with two flying theaters and a capacity of 1400 guests per hour! The press release, pictures and videos below tells you more about it. It will be the second flying theater attraction to open in Europe in the next months - with the one at the Futuroscope opening this December - and i still can't believe that Disneyland Paris missed to be the first one to open a "Soaring" attraction when they could have done it since ten years ...if the WDC would have been willing to give DLP the money to build it.

Europa Park press release: "The dream of flying will become true! From 29 September 2016, visitors to Germany’s largest theme park can discover much more about the new major attraction – the largest ‘Flying Theater’ in Europe. In the newly opened Preview Center in the German Alley, numerous models and images give an informative insight into the most expensive individual attraction in the history of Europa-Park. Project V will be completed during the course of the 2017 season and will whisk its passengers away into the wonderful world of the aviation pioneers Egbert and Kaspar Eulenstein. After a tour through the impressive facilities, the command is given in the theatre halls: Fasten your seatbelts and be ready for take-off!



The Eulenstein brothers, both scientists, were fascinated by flying machines from an early age. Their lives were dominated by sketches, studies and experiments with the aim of taking flight themselves one day. In their laboratory no stone was left unturned to make their childhood dream become reality: To fly as free as a bird, at any time and wherever the wind carries them.



The major attraction, which is currently being built under the working title of Project V, will allow visitors to be part of the technical achievements of the aviation pioneers. The 140 passengers spectacularly glide through the air in the two theatres in chairlift-style gondolas. On the 21 meter screens guests will admire visuals from landscapes and metropolises in Europe, which are co-produced by MackMedia and Ambient Entertainment. Special effects such as wind and water will create an intense atmosphere in the 16 meter high domes – providing for a very real and breathtaking feeling of flying.



Largest Flying Theater’ in Europe

Numerous models, videos, pictures, illustrations, and text panels in the Preview Center, also christened the ‘Mack Bank’, provide a deep insight into the new major attraction. Project V is the most phenomenal attraction of its kind in Europe. “With this great investment, we are convinced that we will present our guests with a huge hit”, said Europa-Park owner Roland Mack. “The experience factor will increase yet again with this unique attraction. “In the ‘Flying Theater’ a maximum of 1,400 people per hour can look forward to a breathtaking film, which MackMedia has produced in collaboration with Ambient Entertainment and which shows a spectacular flight over our continent”, added Michael Mack, managing director of MackMedia.

Highly technological camera systems that are unique in Europe were mounted on helicopters and drones and captured sensational footage in the highest quality. Best sound quality in the two theatres is guaranteed by a state of the art surround sound system by IOSONO, allowing to customise the sound to each individual gondola.

Europa Park released three videos showing the making-of "Project V", one about its architecture, one about the storytelling, and one about the movie making. Plenty of concept-arts to see in the videos!










Project V is the first building block of the ‘Adventure Club of Europe’ with which visitors to Europa-Park will be able to discover and experience a whole range of adventures." More to see and read on the Project V website HERE.

Pictures and videos: copyright Europa Park

WDW Magic Kingdom Celebrates its 45th Anniversary - 1971 LIFE Grand Opening Original Issue


Forty Five years ago, on October 1st, 1971, Walt Disney world - Walt's big dream - was opening. LIFE photographers were there and the legendary magazine did a special issue.


I've found back for you this rare original issue and here it is with, above, the LIFE memorable cover as well as the original picture from the photo shoot with 1500 WDW cast-members and characters!



The next pictures are the pages of the article itself which began with two pictures on double-pages, including a fish-eye photo of the Magic Kingdom! Click on each to see them in larger size.





The other pages were mostly showing the now unfortunately extinct Mickey Mouse Revue or the Country Bear Jamboree. The Mickey Mouse Revue went then to Tokyo Disnryland where it is also now an extinct attraction.







The LIFE issue also included an AD for WDW! And it seems that at that time pets were allowed in the resort!




If you are at WDW this Saturday for the 45th celebration i wish you all the best for this happy day!

Pictures: copyright Time-Life

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Final Trailer



With Dr Strange, to be released early November, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - set in early last century New York and in the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling and directed by David Yates - is the movie i am awaiting the most and this new final trailer confirms the good feeling that i have about it. The film stars Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell, Ron Perlman, Dan Fogler, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Gemma Chan, and Jon Voight, and will be released mid-November!




Picture and video: copyright Warner