Saturday, May 3, 2014

" Great Things Are Coming "is Back !

As you can see the "Great Things are coming" header is back on the front page of Disney and more and if we except the "Monsters Inc Door coaster" for DCA which is rumored to have been cancelled and the Star Wars land which might have some delay and come in the U.S later than 2018 all the rest mentioned in the header is still a go.

By the way now that the Seven Dwarfs Mine Coaster is open what's next for 2014? Well, on May 29 the new projection show Once Upon a Time will debut at TDL, then at the end of June we will probably have at DLP WDS the press event of the awaited Ratatouille ride, in July the lights will turn on Universal for the big opening of Harry potter Diagon Alley at USF, and in September HKDL first permanent nighttime parade "Disney Paint the Night" will debut. There you have the program for the next five months!

Finally, the promo price on the Disneyland Paris book at 60€ only will last until May 31 and the direct link to the book website to place your order is HERE. Don't miss it!

Three New Promo Clips For Disney's Maleficent Include New Footage !


Three new promo clips were released for Disney's Maleficent and there is plenty of new footage on each of them as well in the clip no 2 or no 3 interviews of Angelina Jolie and the actress playing Aurora. Angelina as Maleficent is also on the front cover of the new issue of D23 magazine which include a long article about the "untold story".










Picture and videos : copyright Disney

Friday, May 2, 2014

News About the Future of WDW and HKDL !


The press event for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ended today and Disney also announced during the event plenty of great things for WDW Resort. I've also for you fresh news from the other side of the world - as Hong Kong Disneyland is located almost at the other side of the planet from Florida.

But let's start with Animal Kingdom and the great artwork above showing the “Rivers of Light” night show which promises "to be an innovative show unlike anything ever seen in Disney Parks, combining live music, floating lanterns, water screens and swirling animal imagery. The show will magically come to life on the broad, natural stage of the Discovery River, between Discovery Island and Expedition Everest, delighting our guests and truly capping off a full day of adventures at Disney’s Animal Kingdom".

Always at Animal Kingdom will come this June the "Harambe Nights"a special celebration event like no other in honor of the epic tale of “The Lion King”.


"It all begins with a Welcome Reception in the park’s Harambe Village, including mouth-watering appetizers and African-inspired wine and beer. Then it’s time for the ‘mane’ event! Take your seat inside the newly built Harambe Theatre for an unforgettable performance of “The Lion King – Concert in the Wild.” This all-new, never-before-seen theatrical experience features a live orchestra and choir, dancers, digitally projected movie moments, and dramatic lighting and scenic elements – all hosted by a celebrity guest narrator. The show brings to life the humor, heart, and stirring emotional power of Simba’s journey to find his place as the Lion King."



"The lineup of celebrity narrators for “The Lion King – Concert in the Wild” features stars from movies, TV, and Broadway. Those scheduled to appear each night of the event include:
June 7 – Viola Davis: “The Help,” “Ender’s Game”
June 14 – TBD
June 21 – Montego Glover: “The Following,” “Memphis”
June 28 – David Alan Grier: “Porgy & Bess,” “In Living Color”
July 5 – Michael Beach: “ER,” “Third Watch,” “Sons of Anarchy”
July 12 – Harry Lennix: “The Blacklist,” “The Five Heartbeats”
July 19 – Joe Morton: “Scandal,” “American Gangster,” “The Good Wife”
July 26 – Alfre Woodard: “Desperate Housewives,” “Miss Evers Boys”
August 2 – Brian Stokes Mitchell: “Ragtime,” “Trapper John, M.D.,” “Glee”
August 9 – Patina Miller: “Pippin,” “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1”


"After the show, the celebration continues with the Harambe Nights Street Party, filled with music, characters, and live performers, encouraging everyone to join in and “Go wild!” You can enjoy an all-inclusive buffet of sophisticated and flavorful African cuisine and gourmet desserts. Exclusive Lion King merchandise and collectibles will be available for purchase during the event, and you’ll want to stick around for a special finale to bid “kwaherini” to a magical evening that could only happen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
Harambe Nights takes place every Saturday from June 7 – August 9, 2014, with the Welcome Reception starting at 7 p.m. and a 7:30 p.m. show time. Tickets are $119 for adults, $79 for ages 3-9, plus tax. Tickets with premium floor seating are $134 for adults, $94 for ages 3-9, plus tax. Capacity is limited, so you’ll want to go ahead and get your tickets by visiting Disneyworld.com/HarambeNights or calling 407-939-1319."


Talking about the Lion King, “Festival of the Lion King,” the musical show will return in a new location in the Africa section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom this June. Above, a first look at what the new theater, which will be located in the left side of the Africa section, will look like.


Earlier today, Walt Disney World Resort President George A. Kalogridis also announced some news about the Disney’s Polynesian Resort which currently have new bungalows being built in front of the hotel in Seven Seas Lagoon. And as part of a complete re-imagining, Disney’s Polynesian Resort is returning to its original, 1971 opening day name: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.


Tikis bars fans will be happy to learn that the sweeping renovation, happening now, will also include a new food and beverage experience opening for guests next year, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto — based on the popular themed lounge bar at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.


And with a great Tikis theming as you can see above and below!


Let's move now in Asia with fresh news about Hong Kong Disneyland, starting by this new rendering for what should be a scene of Iron Man Experience, to open in 2016. It shows the ride shuttle vehicle in the sky of Hong Kong approaching a Stark skyscraper with Hong Kong harbor in the background!


HKDL will also have starting this September its first permanent nighttime parade "Disney Paint the Night". Here is the logo of it...


...and here is a first concept-art for this awaited interactive parade during which guests will be able to change colors of the floats!


The second concept-art below shows a "Cars" float with Mack equipped with hundred of light, and programming should make them appearing as three dimensional...


Last but not least - and this last news is about the present - with the release of this beautiful Mystic Point attraction poster!


O-Kay, that should do it for today. See you soon for a new D&M update and in the meantime i remind you that, to celebrate Disneyland Paris 22nd Anniversary, i'm also doing a special offer price on the great Disneyland Paris "From Sketch to Reality" book - for both ENGLISH or FRENCH editions - and in addition to the special price is also include a "surprise gift" that everyone who will order the book will receive, and believe me you will love it!  Thanks to this special offer you will save $50 on the normal price, so if you don't own the book yet i'm sure you don't want to miss it! Paypal and credit card payment are accepted, so make sure you to place your order now! 

You can use the Paypal button below for the english edition, and for orders of the french edition or for credit card payment please send me an email at: neverlandeditions@gmail.com



Disneyland Paris From Sketch to Reality - Include shipping
 

Don't know yet the Disneyland Paris book? Have a look at the video below or on the book website HERE.



Pictures: copyright Disney

What Makes Seven Dwarfs Mine Train a Unique Ride


Let's start first with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train dedication that happened this morning by Tom Staggs, Snow White, and of course the Seven Dwarfs. Short but cute dedication as you can see below.




The good guys of Inside the Magic filmed a video of the dedication that you can see below.
They did a big report on the press event with plenty of videos so make sure to check their others articles, too.




Now, to come back to the title of this article, what's make Seven Dwarfs Mine Train a unique ride? Sure, there is the new Audio-Animatronics with the rear projection effects for the Dwarfs faces... and then there is gorgeous theming everywhere... and of course the fantastic rock sculptures which i like personally really a lot, also because it's a different kind of rocks / shape than the one they did previously in others attractions.


But there is something else that makes this mix of dark ride and family coaster unique and here is what it is: if you remember all the others dark rides created by Walt DIsney Imagineering - Peter Pan's Flight, Pinnochio, Snow White Scary Adventures, etc... they all finish well after the guests have been through the usual encounter with the evil character. I mean: the last scene is generally a typical "and they lived happily ever after..." scene, right?

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is different. Contrary to the old Snow White dark ride there is no scary scenes and it's a happy ride all along, whether because of the scenes inside the mine or in the dwarfs cottage at the end, and not to mention the coaster itself and the new twisting vehicles which for sure will enjoy everyone. But, also contrary to the old dark ride the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train doesn't end on a "happily ever after" scene, it ends with a "threatening" scene, as the very last thing that the riders can see is the evil witch waiting its time outside the cottage, with her basket full of poisoned apples!


 Chronologically speaking all the scenes are in perfect respect to the original movie storyline. In the movie the witch indeed appear at the cottage after Snow White dances with the dwarfs, so on this plan everything is right. In fact where the old dark ride was telling the Snow White story from the start to the end - in a way sometime too scary for very young children - the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train concentrate on the dwarfs themselves and the middle part of the movie. Still, it ends almost with a "cliffhanger" with the evil witch who as we know will poisoned Snow White anytime soon.

And that's another element which makes this brilliant ride unique, the fact that at first sight it ends well - the dance in the cottage - but with a scene including the threatening evil character, not defeat,  just two seconds later.

Pictures: copyright Disney

Movie: copyright inside the Magic

Thursday, May 1, 2014

It's Also Disney's Hollywood Studios 25th Anniversary Today !

You'll find a full coverage with full ride videos of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train below but it's also Disney's Hollywood Studios 25th Anniversary today! And you won't find a better article to celebrate it than the one that Mark Taft did on his site Insights and Sounds, a HUGE article full of vintage photos, dozens of rare concept arts like the one below, a detailed history of the park, and combination multi-year trip reports covering visits in 1989, 1992, 1999, and 2007. Don't miss this great article and click on each pic to see them in big size!
It's right HERE.


Picture: copyright Disney

WDW Magic Kingdom New Fantasyland and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train From Above !


Disney released a video showing WDW Magic Kingdom New Fantasyland and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train From Above. The video was shot from a helicopter and i embedded it in the article below but i repost it here for those of you who missed it.




As it is probably forbidden for anyone except Disney to fly with a helicopter right above the Magic Kingdom no need to say that we won't see another video as good as this one anytime soon. So, i did screen captures of the best shots and as the contrast was a bit poor on the video i enhanced the pictures contrast, colors and sharpness and here they are. Click on each to download them in large size!












Next, some great aerial shots of Cinderella Castle...




More aerial pics of New Fantasyland and Magic Kingdom...




And here is a greats series of night shots...






Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Press Event - Official Pics and On-Ride Video ! Now Edited with FULL Ride Videos !


The awaited Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Press Event is currently happening at WDW Magic Kingdom Fantasyland and Disney released a set of great pictures as well as two videos including one showing half of the ride!

Editing: That's it, we now have a REAL FULL RIDE POV video of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train including the final scene, and more, thanks to Theme Park Review!




And here is another one filmed by WDW Magic, also ( twice ) full ride, with better colors than the other one below but which strangely don't show the final cottage scene.




This next one filmed by Inside the Magic will show you the ride at night and, important note, because of the night time you see much better the inside of the cottage at the end with the dwarfs and Snow White!




But here is may be the best Seven Dwarfs Mine Train video filmed by Big Fat Panda. And it's because it's a multi angle video and it also shows the interactive queue at the start, so it worth to give it a look!




Disney also released a fantastic video shot from helicopter and showing the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and all Fantasyland ( and even more ) from above! Don't miss this one!




This next video shows the reverse angle, and is interesting as it shows a family riding the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Sure, you won't see the decor as well as in the other videos below but the amazement and fun of the two children in the foreground is charming, really and you understand why the coaster is going to be very successful with young kids.




You've probably noticed that there is a little story in this ride. You see first the dwarfs at work in the mine, then it's time for them to go back home and i think the chinese shadows scene on the wall with them is a great idea, and it also legitimate why you can see them again dancing inside the cottage at the end of the ride as they went back home. And you even have the witch waiting its hour outside.

I think they did a great work on this attraction and i'm definitely impressed by the theming of everything and specially by the quality of the outside rocks sculpture which i find amazing, really.

And now, here we go with great official pictures! Below, the seven dwarfs at the entrance of the attraction.


As you know there is an interactive queue and he first shot below shows guests at the first interactive station in the attraction queue, where Doc’s note explains the jewel washing game. As the jewels flow by in a wooden trough, or sluice, guests touch and drag them into a tray on the side of the sluice, matching them by color and shape. The trough is about 15 feet long and is accessible from both sides.


Another scene from the interactive queue. Here guests, by turning the diamonds can see images appearing on the ceiling. You'll see the scene in the video below.


This first Disney video below will show you a bit of the interactive queue...




And this next one from Inside the Magic will show you all the interactive queue!




And now, all aboard for a ride through the forest and the dwarfs mine.



Below, great pictures of the scenes with the dwarfs with the new Audio-Animatronics.





Right after these scenes the train goes out of the mountain for this big drop below... 


...and then pass on the little bridge above.


You've probably noticed that due to the daylight we can't see very well on the videos the inside of the cottage at the end of the ride. Thanks to the nighttime video from Inside the Magic we can see it much better and i did from it two screen captures sticked together.


Also, here is the evil witch standing behind the cottage at the very end!


Let's end with the Disney POV ride video. The one they've released as a "full ride POV video", is not, a big part is missing. But you'll see the inside scene above with the dwarfs AAs. Unfortunately they've put on the video a music which has absolutely no link with the story and probably with the ride which is pretty bad, so not only it shows just a part of the ride but you also don't hear the real soundtrack of the ride.





Pictures and video: copyright Disney, theme Park Review, WDW Magic