New UP! " Discovering a new world " featurette

A new UP! featurette was released by Pixar, and this is one is very interesting as it shows Pixar animators on their trip to South america - on the REAL location that inspired the South american scenes in the movie - where they did sketches and find inspiration to recreate this jungle and "table mountains" universe in UP!

Have a look below - there is plenty of new shots from the movie - and enjoy it!

Of course it was an April fools joke !

Hi everybody. Wow, never had so many comments for a D&M article! So, yes, of course this "Rock and Roller Coaster with Johnny Halliday" article was an April fool joke, and i hope you enjoyed it.

We did it with the talented folks of the Disney Central Plaza forum who did a brilliant job with the video, renderings and everything. They asked me to be part of the plan - as well as the wdsfans web site - and if i could do an article on Disney and more, which i did. Personally, i think the video is very funny...

So, all of this article is not true - and sorry, the "three years expansion plan" doesn't exist, too - but i put in the article ONE info that is right. Can you guess which one? Just go back to the article, try to find what is the right info and let me know in the "comments". The first one who find it will win some interesting Disney stuff. Please do not sign your answer in the comments as "anonymous", many people do it this way and it will be impossible for me if you're the winner to know who you are. Just sign your comment with your name or a "nickname", okay?
UPDATE: No need to search any more as Shane McDonnell found the right answer (see the comments) and is the one (and only) winner!

Now, to come back to the RARC, something incredible - but true this time and less funny - happened today: the Rock and Roller coaster building - the same one i talked about in my April fools article - was on fire this morning! Nobody was hurt, but the attraction will be closed for three weeks they said.

What is really strange in all this is that Johnny Hallyday's most famous song is called "Allumez le feu" ("Light the fire"). So , here is this article about a new RARC re-themed with Johnny Hallyday as an april fools joke, and the same day the real RARC building is on fire! Of course i can swear that i have nothing to do with the fire itself!

Allright, see you soon for the last part of the Mickey's Magical Party event!

Walt Disney Studios Rock and Roller Coaster: Good Bye Aerosmith , Hello Johnny ! - New re-themed attraction will open Spring 2010

Rumours were strong last week-end, but it's now officially announced by Disneyland Paris: The Rock and Roller Coaster attraction at the Walt disney studios will close this fall and re-open in Spring 2010 with a brand new theme. The new name of the attraction will be "Rock and roller Coaster with Johnny Hallyday".

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.

Rock'n'Roller Coaster avec Johnny Hallyday - Travel Channel
envoyé par grandmath

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

DLP Mickey's Magical Party Opening event - Part Two: Discoveryland Stitch Show

Here is the part two of the Mickey's Magical Party event, and this time we will have a look to what's new at the Disneyland Park, always with lot of pictures and videos.
I should also have confirmation later today of a major change coming soon at the Walt Disney Studios and i'll let you know.

In Main Street U.S.A the 15th Anniversary decorations are now replaced with a new Mickey's Magical Party theming. By the way, as you will see, the weather was always "stormy".



On Central Plaza the new stages for the main show are now ready. Note the "walls" of the stages which match quite well with the Castle's walls.




On the Castle itelf a new element appears with Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Pluto.




Inside Videopolis guests can watch now old Mickey cartoons, on three screens.





But what's really new in Discoveryland is the new Stitch show in front of the Star Traders shop. Basically, it's a dance show with Stitch arriving in what is supposed to be his space ship. After a few minutes, Stitch appear and will be the "D.J" of this dance show. On the ground, circle with four colours were painted and this was done for the guests to help them during some special dance movements. When i was there, only children were "dancing" but may be grown-ups will join them this summer - it's still a bit cold in Paris right now, you're not really in the mood for outdoor dancing...











Okay, enough pictures, here is the video of the show! (in three parts). Please note that during the filming i was located near the loudspeakers, so the sound is a bit saturated. The best is that you put the sound a bit down on your computer, it will be more pleasant for your ears.





In part three of this special MMP event report, i will talk about the evening itself, with the awaited "Mickey and Friends" show on Central Plaza!

Disney pictures: copyright Disney

other pictures: copyright Disney and more - Alain Littaye

DLP Mickey's Magical Party Opening event - Part One : WDS Stars and Cars Parade and Playhouse Disney Live on Stage

It was the opening Event of DLP's Mickey's Magical Party yesterday and here is the full report in three parts. Plenty of pictures - a mix of my pictures and Disney's official pictures, and lot of videos too! In this first part we'll see what's new at the Walt Disney Studios, beginning with the new Stars 'n' Cars parade.

The cars of this Stars 'n' Cars parade were previously at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and it seems that the music is also the same. Honestly, i liked it, i think the cars are nicely themed, good music, characters were fine, so i think it wioll be a enjoyable parade for the WDS. The cars arrive by the backstage door located on the right of Aladdin's Flying Carpet and go to the "Place des Stars" where they stop.
Now, yesterday, the worst thing that can happen during a press event happened, i.e a huge storm with tons of rains and ice! Unbelievable. Some pictures below will give you an idea how this storm was powerful.









The characters then go down and there is a small show in front of the stage with a Hollywood backdrop.







Then they met the audience and sign some autographs...






Before getting back in the cars (always under the rain) which goes back by the same road and exit the park using the same door they went in (sun was coming back).












From where i was located i could film the arrival of the cars but not the show, this is why you won't see it on the video below. Please note also that the vertical rays that appear sometime in the video are reflection of the lights in front on me in the camera lens.



At the Art of Animation guests of this opening event could see a "Mickey's Ears exhibit". The park asked a lot of celebrities to design Mickey's ears and all of them were displayed in the attraction's post show. The design of each of these Mickey's ears are supposed to have the "personality" of the V.I.P. It was also the place for T.V inteviews of some of these V.I.P like famous rugby man Sebastien Chabal or musician Phil Collins.












It was time to have a look at the only new attraction that open this year, the Playhouse Disney live on stage, located in the former Disney Channel studios. It's obviously an attraction for very young kids nut the park didn't had one, so it's welcome.

Good news as soon as you enter as the pre-show room is really nice. Guests can sitdown and watch some videos while they wait for the show itself or meet and greet with characters of the show.










The show is presented in three different languages - french, english and spanish - at different hours each day. If you wonder why "spanish" instead og german or italian, it's because the Playhouse Disnet TV show is tremendously popular on Spain. And there is a good reason as the Disney Channel is free in Spain ( in France you have to pay and it's a cable-channel) and so many more people are watching it!

The show iself is fine. As i've said, it's for really young kids, and there is no seats - the audience is sitting on the floor. Four parts in the show with the different characters of the TV show- Mickey and friens, Little Einstein, Winnie and Tiger and another one i don't remember. Some special effects too, like bubbles falling from the ceiling,etc happen during the show which is the same that one can see at DCA.
The audience yesterday enjoyed the show and i think that the show should be popular, specially with families with young children.

Below, some pictures of the show as well as many short videos for each part. I could not attend the english version so the show you'll see below is in english language.



















At the exit, the outside wall is also decorated with the show's characters and families use them as photo locations to take pictures with their children.





In the part two coming soon, we'll have a look to what happened at the Disneyland park!

A report like this is always a lot of work - no kidding. So if you liked the report and if you can do it, a little Paypal donation will be welcome!

Disney Pictures: copyright Disney

Other pictures and videos: copyright Disney and more and Alain Littaye