Now, for those of you in America who may not be familiar with this name i have to tell you that Johnny Hallyday is a HUGE rock and roll star all over Europe since 40 years, and specially in France, Benelux and Switzerland. How huge? Probably as huge as Elvis Presley was when he was still alive. No Kidding. Just make a Google search for his name or go on You tube and you'll be amazed to see the results. It's important to know this to have a better understanding of DLP's decision.
The new re-themed attraction will open in spring 2010 and, so, will be one of the new attractions for the Walt Disney studios along with the Toy Story Playland scheduled to open in June 2010. New special effects and state-of-the-art projection system as well as a brand new attraction facade decor are on the program of this new version.
Here is the full press release as well as not-yet-officially released renderings for this upcoming attraction (i did the translation myself from the french press release, so sorry if it's not perfect).
EURO DISNEY ASSOCIATES S.C.A announces a future new attraction : Rock and Roller Coaster with Johnny Hallyday will open at Walt Disney Studios, Spring 2010
Euro Disney S.C.A announced today a brand new version of one of the Resort's most popular attraction. famous Rock and roller Coaster, a high-speed rock and roll roller coaster will welcome super star singer Johnny Hallyday.
"The most successful french singer is as known by our European audience. It was a logical choice for us, and i'm sure that our guests will be delight by this new version of this favorite attraction. Rock and Roller Coaster with Johnny Hallyday will be an immersive attraction in the world of johnny like never before" declared John Fitzgerald, Walt Disney Imagineering Vice-President in charge of WDS future attractions.
Guests will literally surf on the music of Johnny Hallyday's biggest hits. They will discover new special effects, as well as projection system unique in Europe and a new exterior decor which will give tribute to the superstar. "With johnny, we can't do things at half. We were extremely lucky to get his approval and his ideas at each step of the project" declared Charlie evans, director of musical Projects at Universal Music Mobile. in addition, the fans will be happy to learn that a selection of rare Johnny Hallyday collectibles will be available, including a photos selection with a one-of-a-kind Johnny's statue. Walt Disney Imagineering had a special consulting with some of the many Johnny Halliday's fans, and many of their expectations will be include in the attraction.
Rock and Roller Coaster with Johnny Hallyday will open Spring 2010 and is part of an ambitious investment plan for the next three years that will be officially announce during the current fiscal year. (end of the press release)
I've never be a huge fan of Hallyday myself but i must admit that he was an incredible showman. He will do his very last concerts this year, and considering this, i think that the idea of a new version of the RARC with him is quite brilliant. For the hundred of thousands of Johnny's fans, the RARC will be soon the last place on Earth to experience Johnny's magic almost as if he was on stage for real, thanks to the new projection effects.
The Travel Channel (who did brilliant documentaries about Disney parks attraction) was there last friday and did interviews with DLP imagineers working on the project. Here it is below.
A new pre-show movie will replace the one with the Aerosmith band. On the next picture Johnny is rehearsing with his long time friend (and superstar, too) Eddy Mitchell.
The big bus located in front of the entrance will also be re-designed, here is a first concept below (Personal note: i really hope that this is not the final design as in my opinion they can do much better than that).
Finally, as announced in the press release new merchandise products will be designed and sold in the RARC shop at the exit of the attraction.
For the millions of Johnny Hallyday's fans i suppose that this announcement will put them in heaven, but for me i'm more interested by the words of the press release about this "three years expansion plan" that should be announced later this year. Count on me to let you know as soon as i know more about it!
All pictures: copyright Disney-WED Enterprises
Happy April Fools Day!
ReplyDeleteJohnny would be a welcome refreshment, since it really adds a Euro-American touch to the attraction. Since they have removed the water screen from the Lion King show inside the Videopolis, they can now use it somewhere else ;). Being shot trough a water screen sounds like a fun experience to me (you probably won't get very wet from it, just cool down a bit).
ReplyDeleteI really hope they REALLY fix the ugliest entrance ever, once and forever, so I do not have to walk in with my eyes closed. In the video, they still seemed busy adapting the current ugliness to Johnny, I hope they get a little more budget to make it look a bit more like the Florida version. Or maybe they accidentally break the cardboard while replacing it... It would even look better without it ;).
Oh yeah, and let's indeed hope it's not just another April fools joke ;)
ReplyDeleteIf they gave it a nicer exterior, I'd be all for it ;) - Tasman
ReplyDeleteawesome production value to those concept photos and that video! The video really had me convinced this was legit . . . but it just started getting too ridiculous. The head of the project likes to work attractions in his spare time!? haha, The best April fools day joke ever!
ReplyDeletethis will never happen !
ReplyDeleteGreat joke, brilliantly executed with only a few flaws like the "obvious/obviously" mistake in the English "press release" and the phallic imagery with the rails coming out between Cardboard-Johnny's legs (yuck)
ReplyDeleteI just hope that the proposed "three years investment plan" isn't also a joke.
ReplyDeleteBut otherwise: Great Joke. Especially the video.
I hope for a april-joke as well, but this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.photosmagiques.com/wdsfans/news/upload/wdi_johnny.jpg
seems to be real...
@Guido Andree
ReplyDeleteOr... Just another piece of a perfectly executed April Fools joke, just like leaving that little gap open. Just knowing that some fans would jump on just that little detail. Actually, it would be a brilliant piece of Guerrilla marketing!
I still hope they redo the entrance though, I couldn't care less who is inside the building, Aerosmith or Johnny, as long as it's done right. Obviously, not with a piece of coaster-rail sticking out between his legs, symbolizing "the evolution of his career". (What happens to his career at the end of the track? ;)
Oh, I particular liked the part in the video in which they tell you they adapt the music to maintenance issues, like a failure of the lightning inside... Although it might sound like a joke, Disney imagineers would be crazy enough to pull this off. Always try to perform a great show, even in case of failure. ;)
allez... poisson d'avril !!!! c pas tres subtile ;)
ReplyDeleteI wish this is a not really fun Happy April Fool Day joke because Jonhny Hallyday is really bad !!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI hate him, and if the roller coaster is going to be re-themed, I won't ride it anymore.
This is so confusing
ReplyDeleteAre people really that stupid to be fooled by this April Fool's joke? Would not the Disney blogosphere have been rife with rumors for months before any official announcement? Sheesh. Wake up. (much eye-rolling)
ReplyDelete@john321:
ReplyDelete"Or... Just another piece of a perfectly executed April Fools joke, just like leaving that little gap open."
When I look at those "artworks" or however you want to call this stuff it seems to be TOO perfect.
But I hope I was fooled, to be honest...
God!!! Don't scare us that way !!!!! My God, what a horrible idea it would be!
ReplyDeleteGood one though ;)
@Guido Andree
ReplyDeleteWell, perfect? Johnny looks a bit stretched on most pictures, doesn't he? ;). The two hardest parts of photoshopping something into an existing picture is getting the perspective and shading right.
Also, the perspective on that picture of him with the track between his legs doesn't really fit with reality that much.
Yet again, I hope at least some parts of this are true. Down with the ugly cardboard!!! ;)
Au dela du poisson d'avril, je viens d'apprendre que l'attraction a pris feu aujourd'hui, plus exactement sur le toit de l'attraction. Il n'y a eu aucun bléssés mais les pompiers vont rester aux alentours de l'attraction jusqu'a la fin de la semaine. L'attraction reouvrira a ce moment là.
ReplyDeleteSource : http://paris-ile-de-france-centre.france3.fr/info/53076273-fr.php
I MIGHT have fallen for it if it weren't for the fact that the new facade makes it look like the roller coaster is flying out of his crotch...
ReplyDeletepoisson d'avril évidemment, j'imagine la loose totale si ce changement avait été vrai (mais vu l'état du parc actuel, on aurait pu s'attendre à tout...).
ReplyDeleteGuess I was fooled as I thought the story was real.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it has been confirmed to be an april fools joke, pretty well executed ;).
ReplyDeleteOn the other side, as some already have noticed, there was a fire on the roof of the RNRC building today... Nobody was hurt and for now, the damage seems to be small. Next time someone sest the place on fire, please do it at the front of the building ;).
what is the song called at 2:30?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, i don't know the song's title...
ReplyDeleteThis is the Top gun theme ;)
ReplyDeleteIf you go to the Disney Paris website and look under the rehab and closures tab you will clearly see that this is not true.
ReplyDelete