Rare Pictures of Queen Sophie of Spain at Disneyland in 1958

The article with pictures of the King of Thailand and family at Disneyland in 1960 posted last week was highly popular among Thai readers and the post on the D&M Facebook page had a record of 1.600.000 Million views (!) Today, we'll stay in the royalty topics but this time it's D&M readers from Spain who should enjoy these rare pictures that i've found of the Queen Sophia of Spain on November 23, 1958 at Disneyland Anaheim! At that time she was 20 years old and Princess Sophia of Greece, as the pictures were shot before she get married with Juan Carlos in 1962.

Walt Disney was not there that day but on the picture above Princess Sophia is on the left, standing in front of  Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Castle, with DL hostess Annette Funicello, center, and Mme Mary Carolou on the right. Below, Princess Sophia ( center ) at the entrance of Disneyland with Main Street Station in the background.



On the next picture, Princess Sophia sits inside one of Main Street horse carriage.




Next stop, the Jungle Cruise and Princess Sophia sits here on the right, close to the skipper, in one of the Jungle Cruise boats.


The last picture with Princess Sophia ( second from left ) is another shot in front of Disneyland castle, well protected by two security men!

More Details About Disneyland Paris 25th Anniversary "Disney Stars on Parade"

A short Disneyland Paris update today as for technical reasons i can't succeed to post Max full update, so you'll have to jump to his site to read it HERE. However, as you may have seen in the previous DLP article announcing last Monday what is coming for the 25th Anniversary, a new parade is coming and it will be called "Disney Stars on Parade".

The parade will have seven new floats. Among them Frozen, Finding Nemo, Toy Story and one of the most impressive float will be the steampunk Maleficent dragon float - picture above. But according to Max sources two other floats of the parade will be the Lion Kind float below...



...as well as the Peter Pan float that you see on the next image. These two pics are not officials, Max found them on Google.



Will the floats be exactly similar as they are on the pictures above, that's the question, but seven new floats will surely help to make of "Disney Stars on Parade" a brand new parade for DLP.

Pictures: copyright Disney, DR

Rare Pictures of Walt Disney at Disneyland With His Grand Children in 1960, Columbia Dedication in 1958

During my research of the 1960 pictures of Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej i've found these rare pictures of Walt Disney at Disneyland with his grand children on June 12, 1960. On the picture above, Walt is inside the locomotive of the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland, and the caption read: "Mr. and Mrs. Walt Disney; Tammy Miller -- 3 years; Joanna Miller -- 4 years; Chris Miller -- 5 years (grandchildren); Ron Miller; Diane Miller."

Below, Walt and his grand children always in the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland.



On the next two pictures Walt and his grandchildren stands near the famous AA Frontierland river beavers.





I'm adding also a few others rare historical pictures showing the "Columbia" dedication at Disneyland on June 14, 1958. Caption slip reads: L/R Rear Adm. Joseph Fowler, USN (ret.), ship construction supervisor; Walt Disney; Mrs. Richmond; Vice Adm. Alfred C. Richmond, Coast Guard commandant presenting a gift Bible to ship".

Will Val D'Europe Host the 2025 World Expo ...and Offer to Disneyland Paris Temporarily a Kind of "Epcot Park" ?

Val d'Europe - the new city close to Disneyland Paris - has applied to host the global village of the 2025 World Expo ...if the Paris bid is successful. The first of two lands offered is called the ZAC de la Motte, next to the aquatic center of Val d'Europe, both on the municipalities of Bailly-Romainvilliers and Serris. The second land is inside the ring road of Disneyland Paris, facing Magny-le-Hongre. 

"They are mainly fields, but these fields are intended to be developed," explains Arnaud Belenet Mayor LR Bailly-Romainvilliers and president of Val d'Europe. The mayor develops the reasons for the nomination. "This is to make the city even more known. We have a capacity to host major events and flows of visitors. And this can strengthen and accelerate the economic development of the territory and increase investment. " 

Only place in Seine-et-Marne to having applied to host the World Expo, Val-Europe's will compete with six other sites in the Paris areato host the global village. The chosen site will be known before summer 2017. True heart of the Expo, the global village should be visited by 45 to 60 million people. It is of course also necessary that Paris was chosen to host the World Expo. The country that will host the World Expo will be designated in 2018 by vote of the 169 members of the International Exhibitions Bureau headquartered which is ....in Paris. 

It's interesting to note that at the center of the global village will be a huge sphere of 127m in diameter ( see artwork ). As we know an Epcot park was envisioned for DLP a long tome ago before being cancelled, so if Val D'Europe and Paris host the 2025 Expo, considering that World Expos generally always show what the future will be made of, may be DLP will have a kind of "Epcot" close to the parks, even if it will be temporarily… 

French version on Le Parisien webite HERE.

Disneyland Paris will celebrate its 25th Anniversary starting from 26th March 2017

Today’s Disneyland Paris awaited announcement just happened and as expected it’s all about the 25th Anniversary no new rides were announced except of course Star Tours 2. Here is the official press release:

Disneyland Paris will celebrate its 25th Anniversary starting from 26th March 2017.

New Guest experiences to include sensational new attractions, a grand celebration with the beloved Disney Characters, a brand new Parade and a breathtaking new night time spectacular. Extra surprises and features to be announced.  Join the celebration with a multitude of new shows from morning through to night where Guests are sure to be amazed! A brilliant anniversary celebration beyond your imagination awaits you during the 25thAnniversary of Disneyland Paris.

Beginning March 26th 2017, Guests at Disneyland Park will experience Star Tours: The Adventures Continue*. The new attraction will take Guests on an all-new, action-packed intergalactic voyage, all in 3D… Epic. Based on the Star WarsTM films, Star Tours will take Guests to multiple Star Wars destinations where they will interact with characters from throughout the Saga.

Every destination will offer unique surprises with journeys through the worlds of Jakku, Hoth, Tatooine, the Death Star and more! Guests will be able to enjoy the attraction multiple times without knowing where the Force may take them. And all of the storyline’s twists and turns will be random, affording Guests the chance to ride the attraction multiple times.

Guests will also be able to join the Rebel Alliance by becoming the drivers of Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain1. The Force will be strong with this attraction, which hurtles through the Star Wars galaxy, following the twists and turns of TIE fighters and an intimidating Star Destroyer.

Also arriving in spectacular style in 2017, Disneyland Park’s new Parade Disney Stars on Parade, where favourite Disney Stars, together with stunning new floats, create magic and happiness for all. 

Guests will also be able to discover a new show Mickey presents “Happy Anniversary Disneyland Paris” at Disneyland Park where Mickey Mouse will start the celebration by assembling as many of his famous Friends as possible for a huge anniversary party. This festive show will take place daily for all guests to enjoy. In addition, fans of the Disney Princesses will be able to witness some of their most beloved Princesses as they host their own sparkling show The Starlit Princess Waltz at Royal Castle Stage (Disneyland Park).

Finally, as night falls, there will be another spectacular new event: Disney Illuminations. This new show, with dazzling lights, projections and breath-taking special effects, will be conducted by Mickey Mouse onto Sleeping Beauty Castle (Disneyland Park). It will transport Guests to a location where the stories of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Frozen and the motion pictures of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean will come to life before guest’s astonished eyes.

What do Mickey Mouse and his Friends hope to achieve during these Anniversary celebrations? To dazzle all guests with amazement!  This will no doubt be an opportunity not to be missed! Disneyland Paris 25th Anniversary – It’s Time to Sparkle.

Celebrations for the 25th Anniversary of Disneyland® Paris will start on 26th March 2017. More information to follow at news.disneylandparis.com

Below, the french version, thanks to our friends of ED92:

Les festivités du 25ème anniversaire de Disneyland Paris commenceront à partir du 26 Mars 2017.

Au programme:

- Star Tours: l’Aventure Continue. La nouvelle attraction contre-attaquera avec un voyage intergalactique inédit, mouvementé, en 3D.

- Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain (au Printemps 2017). La Force sera particulièrement forte dans cette attraction qui traversera la galaxie Star Wars à grande allure aux détours des vaisseaux TIE fighters ou sous la menace d’un Destroyer Stellaire.

- Disney Stars on Parade s’annonce flamboyante. Avec une multitude de Stars Disney, de nouveaux chars vertigineux, de nouveaux costumes, une nouvelle musique et beaucoup d’émotions à partager.

- Mickey vous donnera rendez-vous avec tous ses Amis pour une grande cérémonie d’anniversaire à célébrer chaque jour de l’année : Mickey présente: "Joyeux Anniversaire Disneyland® Paris".

- Les Princesses Disney auront leur propre spectacle avec L’Étincelante Valse des Princesses sur la scène du Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant.

- Enfin, Disney Illuminations! Ce nouveau spectacle de son et lumière et de projections, avec des effets spéciaux à couper le souffle sera mené par Mickey sur la silhouette du Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant. Il transportera le public dans une dimension où les histoires de La Petite Sirène, du nouveau film La Belle et la Bête ou encore de La Reine des Neiges, prendront vie, sous leurs yeux ébahis. Mais pas seulement. Les aventures des films Star Wars ou encore Pirates des Caraïbes seront également au programme de ce spectacle.

Pictures: copyright Disney

D&M Tribute to Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej - Part Two : 1960 LIFE Magazine Pictures

Here is the second part of my tribute to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the greatest King in the world, who passed away last Thursday in Bangkok. In this second part we will have a look to some great LIFE Magazine Pictures shot in 1960 by a LIFE photographer.

Above and below, King Bhumibol Adulyadej  and Queen Sirikit stand at Bangkok Wat Phra Kaew temples and Grand Palace.

On the picture below, King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit inside the Grand Palace in 1960. The nine-tiered parasol in the background is a symbol of the Chakri Dynasty.

But the LIFE magazine photographer also shot some very unique pictures of the King and his family on palace grounds and on the picture below Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej (second left) and Queen Sirikit (left) are taking pictures of their children in 1960.


A tender moment between the King and one of his daughters.

The next pictures below shows King Bhumibol Adulyadej and family at a birthday party in 1960.

On the picture below, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (left) and Queen Sirikit (third from right) giving alms with their children (left to right) Vajiralongkorn, Sirindhorn, Chulabkorn and Ubol Ratana on the morning of Ubol Ratana's birthday in 1960.


The last picture below shows King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit with their children inside Bangkok Wat Phra Kaew Temple of the Emerald Buddha.


One more thing as I also did a post on the D&M Facebook page with the previous pictures of the King and the Queen at Disneyland - that you will find on HERE if you missed them - and i want to thanks again all the kind Thais readers as the post has broken all the records of the most "seen" and "shared" posts since i've started the D&M Facebook page. Usually, each of my posts on Facebook is seen by between 3000 and 10000 readers, but the post with the King at Disneyland has, since yesterday, be seen by 1.400.000 people at the time i write this new article - yes, more than one million four hundred thousands readers in less than two days. The post has also 9200 "likes", has been shared 6100 times and has, so far, 332 extremely kind comments. Thanks to all of you, from the bottom of my heart.

Photos: copyright TIME - LIFE