Editor's note: Don't miss the "last call" for the Disneyland Paris book below or HERE. Right now, i have not more than three copies of the updated english edition of the book. If you want to order this great DLP book - see at the end of the article comments of readers who own the book - it's now or never!

Disneyland Paris Main Street High-res wallpaper pictures

It's the week-end, and as usual, here are some great wallpaper pictures. I did the pictures two weeks ago at DLP, and many of them were shot at the "magic hour", one hour before sunset, when the light is soft and beautiful. No doubt it will be beautiful too on your computer desktop.

This serie is all about Main Street, whether it is some pf the facades or the great Main Street signs designed by imagineer Eddie Sotto and his team. Sometime you even have the same location on different angles. Double-click on each picture to get them in big size. Enjoy them all!













All pictures: copyright Alain Littaye - Disney and more

The meeting of two Animation Genius : Hayao Miyazaki and John Lasseter

What happen when two genius of animation movie meets? You will discover it on this two-part youtube video filmed some time ago when Japanese genius Hayao Miyazaki did a surprise visit to John Lasseter.........at Pixar Animation Studios!

This was a memorable day at PIxar, and for sure they will remember it forever. Oh, and guess what's the size of the gift that Miyazaki brings from Japan for John Lasseter?

Note: the first minute of the video below is in japanese language. Don't worry, after this first minute, both videos are in english.






Youtube video thanks to rachelcakes1985

WDW Hurricane Alert : What can be worst than one hurricane ?

What can be worst than one hurricane? Answer: To be trapped between TWO hurricanes at the SAME time. And this is precisely what may happen in three days from now for Center Florida and Walt Disney World.

All this thanks to tropical storms Gustav and Hanna which will become hurricanes in the next 72 hours. I am not the one telling it, but the National Hurricane Center who know what the word "hurricane" mean. See the NHC map below for a better understanding.



However, WDW guests must not panic, as Gustav, the first hurricane is heading - unfortunately - towards New Orleans, Louisiana -, and Hanna goes toward the Bahamas Islands. So the "eye" of the hurricanes won't be over WDW, but as we know, a hurricane is extremely wide and the stormy effects can be feel hundreds miles all around the famous "eye".

In three days from now, WDW will be right in the middle and probably will feel the effects of the two hurricanes almost at the same time, and my feeling is that it is not necessarily good news...So, if you are planning to spend the week-end at the Magic KIngdom, it's probably better to don't forget your umbrella, as heavy rains should be part of the program...

Photos : copyright National Hurricane Center

Laaaaast Caaalll for the Disneyland Paris From sketch to reality book !

No, we're not at Main Street Station, and this "laaaast caaaal" is not because the disneyland train is arriving, but more simply, because my Disneyland Paris "From sketch to reality" book is nearly out of stock.

Generally, i avoid to bother you with this beautiful book i did with my friend Didier Ghez, but i realised that i have only ten copies of the updated english edition, and when i will be out of stock i won't be able to get more from the publisher. Worst, no re-printing of the book is scheduled, and these last copies may be the REAL last one!

Even at the park where i was two weeks ago, it was impossible to find a copy of the english edition. When i asked at the Storybook store if they had the english edition, i was told that they were out of stock.

So, if you don't have it yet and don't want to miss this 320 pages and 750 pictures book - including 250 renderings from Walt Disney Imagineering, i'm afraid to say that may be it's now or never...Price of the book is $75 and shipping is only $13 ( 60 euros including shipping for european orders ). You can send the $88 payment with Paypal by introducing the email adress: lawrence55@wanadoo.fr

I will personnaly sign each copy with a special dedication to you or anyone you wish if your purchase of the book is for a gift.

And, of course, thanks to let me know about your order and the shipping adress by sending me an email at the same email adress - or if you have further questions.

As i am the one who designed the book, i'm not really at the good place to send compliments about it, but if you are a reader who already own the book, please leave a comment at the end of the article to let other readers know what you think about it.
Previous comments can be read at the bottom of this page where the article below was previously posted.

So, here is the previous article that will tell - and show - you more about this great book.



A little description of the book, now - See below some pictures of the book pages - click on each of them to see the photo-montage pictures in big size.

The book is really large at 320 pages and with 750 pictures - of which 500 are park and attractions photos and around 250 are renderings from Walt Disney Imagineering(WDI)! The size is 9 x 12 inches, all pages are in color and it's hardbound with a glossy dust jacket. The text (by Disney historian Didier Ghez), was written after more than 75 interviews he conducted with all the Imagineers who created the park. He goes into just about everything you wanted to know about this unique place that many describe as the best "Magic Kingdom" ever created by WDI.

It took Didier and I five years to create the book, but it was worth all the time we spent on it, and the book looks just as good as we had hoped for at the beginning.

The first chapter about Main Street has 52 pages and introduces the reader to the "legend" of Main Street, USA. You'll learn all about the Disneyland Paris Railroad, the unique "Discovery" and "Liberty" Arcades; find out about the architecture, the restaurants (like "Walt's," a tribute to Walt Disney, but also inspired by Club 33 in Anaheim) and the shops; with dozens of photos, renderings, models, and reproduced for the first time here, all the "cities of the future" posters located in "Discovery Arcade."



The second chapter on Frontierland discusses the park's western side with extensive sections about its major attractions, "Big Thunder Mountain" and "Phantom Manor." In fact the book has the longest sections ever put together in a book on all the major attractions. The Pirates of Caribbean section in the Adventureland chapter is 26 pages, Phantom Manor has 16 pages devoted to it, as does Space Mountain, it's a small world, etc. The photo material was so great that we kept adding more pages to the book, which was supposed to have only 240 pages when we started... we ended up with 320 upon completion!



The Frontierland chapter also covers the Mark Twain, the River Rogue Keelboats, Fort Comstock, all the restaurants, the shops and Cottonwood Creek Ranch.and featuring stunning photos of Disneyland Paris from the air by Yann Arthus Bertrand, author of The Earth from Above that make spectacular "double-pages," and allow the reader to discover the park from a whole different angle.



The Adventureland chapter is even more interesting, as many elements of the land exist only in Paris - such as the Bazaar and Aladdin to Africa and the ex-"Explorer's Club." Plus there's a long section about "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril," "Adventure Isle" and "The Swiss Robinson Treehouse" and, of course, "Pirates of Caribbean" the land's major attraction and featuring its amazing Audio-Animatronics! All in all there are 56 full pages about Adventureland, and as in the previous chapters, there are dozens of photos, lots of concept art, and many shots of Imagineers at work. There's even a great bonus here, with the Marc Davis artwork for "Pirates" also included.



56 full pages are also dedicated to Fantasyland. There's an extensive look at Sleeping Beauty Castle, sections on all the dark rides (Snow White, Peter Pan and Pinocchio), as well as a look at "Alice's Curious Labyrinth," the "Mad Hatter's Tea Cups," "Storybookland," and "Casey Jr." There are even 14 pages about "it's a small world" with stunning photos of nearly all the scenes in it. Here the reader can discover a new attraction that exists only at Disneyland Paris, with a great view from above of Alice's Labyrinth.

Discoveryland also gets 52 pages of special treatment, with sections on the Visionarium, the Nautilus, Star Tours, Space Mountain, and everything you wanted to know about the other attractions in this land – Autopia and Orbitron. In fact the Nautilus chapter takes you on a visit with photos of every room of this detailed walk-through and two double page photo spreads, one which makes you feel you're inside Captain Nemo's grand salon, and the other showing you a unique view of Discoveyland featuring the Nautilus and Space Mountain in a kind of "CinemaScope" view.



When the book was released in early 2002, the Walt Disney Studios didn't exist, so you won't see them in the book. But there's still one last chapter about the hotels of the park, and Disney Village too, with the great Buffalo Bill Wild West show that entertains hundreds each evening.

And because every day in a Magic Kingdom should end with a parade and fireworks, we have the Main Street Electrical Parade that close the book, with an Herb Ryman gorgeous painting, see picture on the top of this post.

Editor's note: Don't miss Honor Hunter's update on his Blue Sky Disney site as Honor is talking about the future of Disneyland, Walt Disney World.......and Disneyland Paris between 2010 and 2012 !
Honor will post the second part of his update - this time about Disney parks in Asia - later this week.

All aboard Disneyland Paris Nautilus ! High-res wallpaper pictures

Who don't love Harper Goff legendary Nautilus? Nobody, probably...and this is why today you have on Disney and more a new photographic tribute to DLP's "Les Mystères du Nautilus" attraction. All the pictures are high-res wallpaper pictures, which mean they will do great wallpaper for your computer. Double-click on each of them to see and get them in high-res. However, please note that pictures of the inside may be a little bit less sharp than the one of the exterior, as no tripod was used.

Opened in 1994 thanks to the beautiful work of Discoveryland show-producer Tim Delaney and Nautilus specialist Tom Scherman along with dozens of WDI artists, sculptors, etc...the attraction is a delight for any Nautilus lover. Some of you, dear readers, never had the luck to visit DLP, and you should like today's visit of the Nautilus walk-through.

Here we go, and let's begin by some exterior views.






Before the entrance, guests can have a look to this Nautilus map.



Here is a picture of the entrance hallway where you can hear the voice of Captain Nemo welcoming you.



The entrance of the submarine, with the treasure room in the back.



The first room is Captain Nemo's bedroom. Here is different views of it.





The next one is the beautiful map room...




....where guests can also see a map of Vulcania Island.



Next room is the diving room - the diving suits were made by Tom Scherman himself.



We arrive then, in the famous Grand Salon of Captain Nemo where guests can watch a giant squid attack...





...and hear the sound of the organ...



...where Captain Nemo appear regularly.



Right behind is the Machine room...




And then the exit...



Guests go back to the surface by walking through this hallway.



Beautiful view of Discoveryland await them as soon as they go out.



Let's end with more pictures of the Nautilus outside.






There is a good video of the whole show available on Youtube, and you can watch it HERE

Hope you've enjoyed the visit!

And a big thanks to Daniel for his beautiful pictures!

Photos: copyright Daniel Rous

Giant squid attack picture: copyright Disney