Shanghaî Disneyland Week-End Update : New Aerial "Drone" Pictures, and more...

Here we go for the D&M Shanghaî Disneyland pictorial week-end update, with new pictures either aerial or shot from the ground. The drone pictures were shot February 25 from a drone, some may have a few weeks more but all are great!

Above and below, Shanghaî Disneyland Enchanted Storybook Castle still in construction. The aerial picture on the top is specially interesting as it shows the back side of SDL castle, something that we've rarely seen so far.

The SDL castle picture below was apparently shot on December 26.




And now, the new aerial shots of the week found on Chinese website Eons.cn or Gizmodo. As usual, click on each picture to see them in bigger size.



Below, a closer view of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.



Next is a closer shot of SDL Tomorrowland and Tron Lightcycles Power Run dome.



The next aerial view below is centered on SDL Fantasyland.



Next picture is slightly the same but a closer shot.



An even closer shot on the Voyage to the Crystal Grotto boat ride.



And that's it for this week-end Shanghaî Disneyland update, see you soon for a new SDL update!

WDI Imagineers Tells Us More about the Making Of Shanghaî Disney Store Unique Clock Tower

Walt Disney Imagineering released a new video with Imagineers telling us more about the making of the Glockenspiel-style clock tower at the Shanghai Disney Store’s entry plaza which now greets guests with melodious bells and musical shows on the hour and half hour.

Picture and video: copyright Disney

Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters Off-Ride and On-Ride HD Videos !

Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters is now open - or in soft opening - at Disney's California Adventure and Youtube Deathbyillusion has posted two great videos, the first one below is an off-ride video, allowing to see the cars ballet as seen from the outside.





But Deathbyillusion has also filmed an on ride video which include the queue decor too!



Videos: copyright Deathbyillusion

Picture: copyright Disney

New Imagineering Video Tell Us More About Disney's Animal Kingdom Rivers of Light Nighttime Show to Debut April 22 !

Disney Parks released an Imagineering video telling - and showing us! - more about the awaited Disney's Animal Kingdom Rivers of Light nighttime spectacular which will debut on April 22 - "Earth Day" !

The show will be staged on Discovery River, the central waterway of Animal Kingdom. Construction walls are still in place, shielding park visitors from the work, which includes seating along the shore, lighting and other structures. It will be the first-ever nighttime show at the theme park, which opened on April 22, 1998.

Disney Imagineers describe the production as having live performances, water screens, "swirling animal imagery" and floating lanterns. "During the show, the hosts set out from the shore on elaborate lantern vessels for a dance of water and light to summon the animal spirits".

The previously announced nighttime version of the park's popular Kilimanjaro Safaris also will debut on April 22, and the attraction will be "artfully bathed in the look of sunset with special lighting".

According to the official Disney Parks Blog, the Rivers of Life show will feature four animal Spirit Guides: an Asian Tiger, Tropical Turtle, African Elephant and Great Horned Owl. "These Spirit Guides return at different points during the show to lead the audience through their journey through the Rivers of Light," the post says.

Other announcements for Disney World were also done and include:

- Additions are coming to Epcot's Turtle Talk With Crush, beginning in early May. Characters from Disney-Pixar’s "Finding Dory," which opens June 17. Crush the sea turtle will be joined by Dory and other aquatic friends.

- At Blizzard Beach water park, Olaf and Kristoff from Disney’s "Frozen" will play host to the Frozen Games, a set of friendly competitions.

Editing March 10: A new Imagineering video was released today and this time it shows the animal lanterns floats that will appear in Rivers of Light.




Picture and video: copyright Disney

First Trailer for Pixar Animated Film "Finding Dory"

The first real trailer for Pixar animated film "Finding Dory" was released on the Ellen De Generes show and here it is!




Picture and video: copyright Disney - Pixar

The Disney's America Theme Park Project - Article updated with new high-res scans

We had a look recently at the WestCOT "that never was" project, and today i invite you to another Disney theme park that, unfortunately, was never built, the famous Disney's America project. Announced in 1993,it was supposed to occupy 1200 acres of a 3000 acre property in Prince William County, Virginia.



Bob Weis - who was at the head of the creative development for the park - defined it as "an ideal complement to visiting Washington's museums, monuments and national treasures" was supposed to be a park " that will be a venue for people of all ages, especially the young, to debate and discuss the future of our nation and to learn more about its past by living it". A place where guests "will be able to have rides, shows and interactive experiences that are both about the history of America, about America today and also give you a sense of America in the future. And he added: "In some ways the park is a timeline, we start in the mid-1860s and go backward or forward in time".


Yes, but what kind of rides and shows guests would have enjoy at Disney's America? Well, once they entered the park, guests would have found themselves in a detailed Civil War era village, the hub of "Disney's America.





From that point, guests could discover either "Native America" and explore the life of America's first inhabitants - including an accurate Native American village reflecting the tribes that were known in this part of the country. And also enjoy interactive experiences, exhibits and arts and crafts, as well as an exciting white water river raft ride that would have gone all around the area, based on the Lewis and Clark expedition.




Guests, then, would discover Presidents' Square, a celebration of the birth of democracy and those who fought to preserve it. The "Hall of presidents" of Walt Disney World would have moved to Disney's America.


A Civil War Fort would have plunge guests into a more turbulent time of American history, and adjacent to it, a big battlefield, where Civil War re-enactments and water battles between the Monitor and the Merrimac would have once again be fought.



Moving in the 20th century, a replica of Ellis Island building where many immigrants came through, guests would have live the "immigrant experience" through music, ethnic foods and a great live show presentation.




Enterprise, a factory town, would have highlights American ingenuity and guests could have ride a major roller coaster attraction called the "Industrial Revolution" , traveling through a 19th century landscape with heavy industry and blast furnaces. And, on either side of the coaster, exhibits of famous American technology that have defined the american industry in the past, as new developments that will define industries in the future.



On Victory Field guests would have experience what America's soldiers faced in the defense of freedom during the world wars. It would have look like an airport area with a series of hangars containing attractions based on America's military fight using virtual reality technology. The airport would have serve also as an exhibit area of planes from different periods, as well as a place for major flying exhibitions.



Another area, the State Fair, was going to show how - even during the big Depression of the '30s - Americans knew how to entertain themselves. With folk art exhibits and a live show on baseball, guests could have enjoy, too, classic wooden thrill rides in memory of Coney Island.


Finally, in Family Farm, WDI imagineers would have recreate an authentic farm where guests could have the opportunity to see different types of farm industries related to food production in addition to some hands-on experiences like milking cows and learning what homemade ice cream tastes like.


Mind you, all was not lost in this Disney's America project, as some of the concepts were finally used in Disney's California Adventure. Jim Hill wrote an article about it, and you can read it HERE.

After the big battle between Disney, and almost everybody who lived in Virginia - okay, i'm exagerating a bit - the project was cancelled. However, in 1995 Disney envisioned to build it - guess where? - at Knott's Berry farm that the Knotts family, tired to run their theme park, wanted to sale. Jim Hill, again, wrote another great article describing all what happened, and you can read it HERE




All photos: copyright Disney Enterprises Inc

All my thanks to Jim Hill for some of the infos included in this article.

Many many thanks to Michael of the excellent Progress City web site.

Those of you who want to find more infos on the Disney's America battle can find good links HERE

All pictures: copyright Disney

First Trailer Released to Promote Shanghaî Disneyland !

A first TRAILER has been released to promote Shanghaî Disneyland! No shots were filmed in the park but it's a cool trailer anyway! ''Nuff said, click on the video below!





Video: copyright Disney - Shendi

Shanghaî Disneyland Pictorial Update !

We'll start the week just like ended the previous one, with a short Shanghaî Disneyland update, this time with pictures shot "from the ground", found here and there on social medias. Please also note that i've added a Shanghaî Disneyland opening countdown widget on the top of the right column, so now you'll know exactly how many days are left before the main event!

When you'll go at Shanghaî Disneyland, before you enter the park, even before you purchase your ticket, the first thing you'll see is the Steamboat Mickey fountain, a tribute to the original Mickey Mouse: "The Steamboat “Mickey” fountain premieres at Shanghai Disneyland, in tribute to the 1928 animated film created by Walt Disney to introduce Mickey Mouse to the world. The fountain is a modern spin on the film, using a more current version of Mickey than Walt’s original. The fountain is at the park entrance, leading into Mickey Avenue". And here is the very first picture we have of it!



The next picture was shot from the top of the castle and you can see the Alice in Wonderland maze on the left and on the top right a bit of Treasure Cove. Note the castle gargoyle on the foreground.

The next picture shows the Tangled Tree Tavern in Fantasyland, a place where you'll be able according to SDL website to "let your hair down for hearty fare at a tavern inspired by the Snuggly Duckling from Disney’s Tangled—with roasted chicken, fish & chips, Mongolian-style beef and other hot dishes. Desserts, sides and vegetarian options are also available".

Here is the Snuggly Duckling tavern as it appears in the animated film...

And here is picture of it at SDL Fantasyland with a close-up on a WDI rendering, too.

We've got more pictures too of others Fantasyland buildings still waiting their final touches, and among them the Bibbidi Bobbed Boutique of Merlin ( bottom left ) and even a rest-rooms building ( top right ).

We will end with these new pictures of SDL Enchanted Storybook Castle, may be finally this grey color on the walls will be better than i thought...

See you soon for a new Shanghai Disneyland update!

Hooray For Leo !

At last, Leonardo Di Caprio received an Oscar last night as Best Actor in Alejandro Inarritu's The Revenant. Which i saw last week and it's truly an incredible movie. As a matter of fact, Leonardo deserves an Oscar for almost each of his roles since he started and this reminds me a story: some years ago i was going with someone who was my best friend - and passed away unfortunately since - to see Di Caprio latest movie. I don't remember the title but i remember my friend, who was one of the best french comic-book artist in his late 70's, saying at the end of the movie "This boy is a Genius...". And that's exactly what i think of Leonardo Di Caprio, he has so much "fire" that not a lot of actors can play with this amazing intensity as he does in each role and of course in The Revenant. So, it was about of time that he gets the Academy Award he deserves from the start, but Hollywood don't like too much people who are too gifted - see Orson Welles who never got one, shame on them!

The Revenant though, didn't get the "Best Movie" award who went to Spotlight but Alejandro Inarritu got the "Best Director" award that he deserves, too. And Emmanuel Lubezki who did the stunning photography of The Revenant got the Best Photography award! The great british actor Mark Rylance got the Best Supporting Actor award for his amazing performance in Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies - i didn't knew him when i saw the movie but he steal the show from the start to the end, even if Tom Hanks is excellent. Lot of technical awards for Georges Miller Mad Max movie and of course Pixar's Inside Out got the Best Animated Film award that he fully deserve. Nothing for Star Wars but C3P0, R2D2 and BB8 were on the stage of the Dolby Theater!



But Leonardo Di Caprio was not the only one to receive for the first time an award, Ennio Morricone received one for the music of Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight - another excellent movie with brilliant actors.

Don't miss below Leonardo Di Caprio acceptance speech as well as the great intro by Chris Rock!

Order Your Copy of the Disneyland Paris Book "from Sketch to Reality" Before March 4 and Get a Signed Copy for the Price of a Regular One!

Folks, during one week until March 4 you can get a SIGNED copy of the Disneyland Paris "From Sketch to reality" book  - English updated edition or French collector's edition - for the price of a non-signed copy AND there is as always the great additional surprise gift!

Price is 75€ ( + 15€ shipping worldwide except Belgium or Italy: 25€ ) and to place your order send me an email at: neverlandeditions@gmail.com

Paypal or credit card payment are accepted. Paypal payment can be sent directly at: neverlandeditions@gmail.com

If you don't know the book, watch the video below showing EACH of the 320 pages of the book which include 750 pictures with 500 photos of the park at opening day and 250 WDI artworks!