Rare 1957 First Concept of Disneyland Haunted Mansion by Ken Anderson

You may know that, originally, the Haunted Mansion ride was supposed to be a walk-through instead than the ride we know using Omnimovers. Well, Heritage Auctions put on sale a rare and fascinating original 1957 document that we thought we would never see, prepared by Ken Anderson at the request of Walt for a Haunted Mansion first concept of what Disneyland's "spook house" might be. It’s also interesting to note that, back in 1957, the “New Orleans” style for the exterior of the mansion was already chosen.

And, as this was done in 1957 more than ten years before Disneyland Haunted Mansion opened it seems to still be the "walk-through" concept which is depicted here. Have a look below at the images from the auction page ( make sure to click on each to see them in big size ) and for those of you interested to bid, jump HERE, bidding starts at $1600.

The Haunted House/Haunted Mansion Disneyland Notes and Plans Group (Walt Disney, 1957):
Here is one of the single most important lots we have ever offered in relation to Disneyland. After reviewing a Ghost House in one of Harper Goff's original concept sketches, Walt Disney gave the idea of a Ghost House to Ken Anderson. Mr. Anderson and Mr. Disney then visited the "Winchester Mystery House" in San Jose California. Walt asked Ken Anderson to create a story for a theme park haunted house. This is the group of extensive hand-typed notes and preliminary plans for a Disneyland "Haunted House." It is in a soft binder with a label that reads, "2nd Revision September 17 'The Haunted House' By Ken Anderson." This has his notes from the Winchester House visit, with his entire 24-page story for the attraction. The binder has a two-page table of contents and a spec page for the Winchester House. Also included are two small sheets with his notes on the Winchester House dimensions. Also included, a folded 30" x 18" architectural drawing print of the inside of the proposed ride. Print reads Ken Anderson 9/2/57. This plan is loose. The Front Elevation plan is in the last page of the binder and is a fold-out. Minor handling, edge wear and folds to two architectural plans. Good condition.

Pictures; copyright Heritage Auctions

Breaking News: New Scenes Unveiled For DLP Pirates of Caribbean, Pirates Auction Scene Changed and also Coming in 2018 at DL and WDW POTC Versions, more...

Major news unveiled today about Disneyland Paris Pirates of Caribbean attraction which will reopen on July 24. A new pirate scene exclusive to DLP version will be introduced but the change that for sure will get the more reactions is about the "auction scene".  As i told you last week on D&M Facebook page the legendary "auction scene" as we know it with the pirate auctioneer and the famous "we want the red head!" shout by nearby pirates will disappear to be replaced by another one that you'll discover below. And a similar scene will be introduced at Disneyland and WDW Magic Kingdom POTC versions next year ( see renderings below ). Music from the POTC movies score will also be introduced in the ride and it's also confirmed that the"Blue Lagoon" restaurant will have its name changed for "Captain Jack Pirates Restaurant". Here is the full text from the Disney Parks Blog:

"When Pirates of the Caribbean re-opens at Disneyland Paris on July 24, guests will discover new surprises as well as a band of new buccaneers. The blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean” films provided the inspiration for our Imagineering team to come up with new twists and turns in our story, and a chance to introduce new characters and magic to this classic attraction.



Captain Barbossa, from the blockbuster films, will appear in the attraction for the first time, joining a skeletal crew in a scene unique to Disneyland Paris. Also, ghostly visages of Davy Jones and Blackbeard will warn that “dead men DO tell tales!”

Throughout the attraction, we’ve enhanced the show with new Audio-Animatronics figures, costumes, special effects, lighting and sound, including some of the now-classic musical themes from the films. Of course, the classic “A Pirates Life for Me!” song will continue to underscore the attraction.



You’ll even discover that a familiar character is playing a new role joining the pirates ranks and helping the local townspeople “unload” their valuables at the Mercado auction ( above artwork ).

Above, the original auction scene that will be changed at DLP, DL and WDW POTC rides. If you look at the picture of the scene as it is now and the rendering of the upcoming new scene you can see that basically all Animatronics stay at the same place they were before.

In the U.S., this famous redhead will appear in a similar scene at the Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland park in 2018 following a previously scheduled refurbishment. Below, the artist’s color rendering of the new DLP, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort scenes.



Disneyland Paris guests will also discover some changes to the Blue Lagoon Restaurant, re-opening as Captain Jack’s. It seems that Captain Jack won the restaurant in a wager and is now welcoming pirates of all ages to relax over a drink and hot meal. The interior of the restaurant has been re-themed and the establishment has been staffed with a fun-loving band of pirates. The adventures set sail on July 24 in Adventureland at Disneyland Paris."

As what i think about these changes, let's say that i agree with what Imagineer X Atencio - who wrote the famous POTC theme song - said a few years ago answering to the question:
"In 1997, the Auctioneer sequence in the Pirates attraction was changed so that the pirates pursued women holding pies. Later they also added Jack Sparrow. Do you like the changes?

X Atencio : I liked adding Jack. The pirates chasing the gals… nobody asked me but my reaction was this is Pirates of the Caribbean not Boy Scouts of the Caribbean!"

Definitely let us know what you think about all this in the comments below!

Pictures: copyright Disney

Disneyland Paris Update: Forest of Enchantment Show Relaunched, Newport Bay Club Dutch Garden Inauguration, and more

Just two days before the relaunch at Disneyland Paris of the acclaimed show "The Forest of Enchantment: A Disney musical adventure" at Frontierland Chaparral Theater, and DLP send us some official pictures of the last dress rehearsal.!





For this second season, the show benefits from a new choreography by Martin Ysebaert, under the artistic direction of Christophe Leclercq and Aurélien Berda. New scenic and visual elements have also been added for a more immersive experience, thanks in particular to the giant video screen that dresses the whole stage and allows new effects, as well as new accessories.





Musically, fans will find all the magic of the original show, with songs always sung live.

The Entertainment teams and the artists are looking forward to seeing their audience, on the stage of the Chaparral Theater, from July 1st!



Always at DLP, Disneyland Paris' Dutch Garden was officially inaugurated yesterday 28th June 2017 in presence of Mickey and Minnie, Disneyland Paris Nature and Environment team, Dutch partners and some children.



Located in front of the Disney's Newport Bay Club hotel This garden is a true symphony of colours and also an attraction in its own right, to start or end a truly unforgettable day at our Theme Parks in our 25th Anniversary year. The Dutch Garden has a size of 2,180 m2 with 115 varieties of flowering plants including 16 different varieties of dahlias, the real star of this garden, and it will prolong the delights of summer until 30 September 2017.






As we talk about Disneyland Paris i remind you that there is also only three more days to enjoy the Special Offer for the English Edition of the great Disneyland Paris, From Sketch to Reality book which will end this week-end, meaning that you have just three more days to enjoy the 60€ price ( instead of 85€ ) is you wish to order this gorgeous 320 pages book while available!

Usually the Special Offer includes a great additional surprise gift, but this new special offer will include TWO great surprise gifts - and believe me, you'll be VERY happy to get them! The book includes 750 pictures of the park, including 250 gorgeous renderings of Walt Disney Imagineering and stunning pictures of the park seen from above. You'll hardly find a better gift for a Disneyland Paris fan so don't miss it as it is the last copies of the book which will not be reprinted!







This Special Offer is for the English updated edition ONLY and the English edition is at 60€ / $65 ( instead of 85€ ) . The shipping worldwide is 22€ ( $24 ). Shipping takes 3-4 days for France, 10-15 days to European countries, 2 to 3 weeks for countries outside Europe.

You can pay with Paypal by sending the full amount - including shipping - by Paypal to: neverlandeditions@gmail.com or use the Paypal button below, which include too an additional discount for those who order more than one copy.

Special note to buyers with a shipping address in Italy or Belgium : For shipments to Belgium or Italy, the shipping cost is 29 €.

To place your order please send me an email to: neverlandeditions@gmail.com

Disneyland Paris From Sketch to Reality Book ENGLISH Edition

ONE Copy Disneyland Paris Book ENGLISH Edition €60.00 EUR TWO Copies Disneyland Paris Book ENGLISH Edition €110.00 EUR THREE Copies Disneyland Paris Book ENGLISH Edition €170.00 EUR

Important Note: I answer to ALL emails so if you don't receive an answer to your email, please check in your spam box in case it would be blocked there.

If you do NOT have a Paypal account you can pay by credit card, or bank transfer, just send me an email about it at: neverlandeditions@gmail.com and i will let you know how to do.

Although you've probably heard about this beautiful book, many of you may have never seen a copy of it. So we've done a video presentation of the full book which will show you each of the 320 pages of the book! The book is so big that it took us seven and a half minutes to show you the full book, and that's without stopping turning each pages! So, if you want to have a closer look at a page don't hesitate to stop the video!




The Forest of Enchantment Pictures: copyright Disney

WDW Disney's Hollywood Studios: New Entrance Road, Possible Star Wars Hotel Location, and more

Always thanks to D&M reader Cleve North we have new pics showing where will be the new road and entry point for WDW Disney's Hollywood Studios. We've seen yesterday that they're clearing the land for parking expansion and you my already know that they're rerouting the entire entry road from World Drive, so the new road will completely avoid the expansion area now. On the picture below you can see where will be the new entry road and the new entry point to the car park.

The next picture with "A, B, C and D" is not coming from Cleve and they got the land clearing wrong - but it does also show the new road going in from a new location.



Finally, Cleeve did new indications on a picture posted by Blog Mickey showing better where could be built a Star Wars Resort, which would be located in front of the upcoming DHS Star Wars Land which will open in 2019. Please note that nothing official has been announced yet for this Star Wars hotel, so we're just betting that it might be built there.



Thanks again to Cleve to have take the time to do these pics!

Picture: copyright Blog Mickey

Now Official: Trump Audio-Animatronic Will Speak in WDW Hall of Presidents With a New Show and Complete Theater Upgrade

The Disney Parks Blog just posted this below about what's real happening with WDW Hall of Presidents, so it's now official:

"Latest on Enhancement to The Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom Park:
Since the Magic Kingdom Park opened in 1971, The Hall of Presidents has brought together a one-of-a-kind look at the office of the President of the United States through film and the magic of Disney’s Audio-Animatronics technology. Despite some media reports to the contrary, President Trump will have a speaking role in The Hall of Presidents, like every president since 1993. We have been working closely with the current White House — just as we have with previous administrations — and the president’s recording session has been scheduled. The attraction will re-open in late 2017.

Whenever we refurbish one of our attractions, we take the opportunity to consider a broad range of enhancements. In this case, The Hall of Presidents is getting a new show, and a complete theater upgrade including a new sound system, lighting and high-definition projection system. The multi-screen viewing experience you may have seen in prior versions of the attraction is returning with an even wider vantage point of our country’s history."

Possible Location For The Rumored Star Wars Resort at WDW

Some months ago, concept-arts for a future Star Wars Resort were leaked, and since no official announcement came from Disney ( but it might be the case at D23 Expo in two weeks ) and no more news about it. Chances are that such a Star Wars resort would be build at WDW and D&M reader Cleve North is wondering if part of the new land to be used officially for the expansion of WDW DHS current parking lot might be used for this rumored Star Wars Hotel. Cleve used one of Blog Mickey's aerial picture from an excellent new update that you can read HERE to indicate where he thinks this Star Wars hotel might be build, right in front of the upcoming Star Wars land. He bets that it's what will happen and ...he may be right!  Note that Disney could eventually prep the entire area but use it at first for parking lot only and build the hotel years later as it's very cheap to rip up an asphalt parking lot.

For those of you who would have missed the previous post months ago showing the leaked Star Wars hotel renderings, i also repost them below. Three renderings were leaked, one showing the Star Wars hotel lobby...

...another one is showing the "guests cabins"


 ...and a third one showing another of the hotel areas.



Pictures: copyright Blog Mickey, Disney

The Special Offer for the great "Disneyland Paris, From Sketch to Reality" book English Edition is Ending Soon !

Folks, i'm sorry to say that the Special Offer for the English Edition of the great Disneyland Paris, From Sketch to Reality book running since the end of March will end on June 30, meaning that you have just two more weeks to enjoy the 60€ price ( instead of 85€ ) is you wish to order this gorgeous 320 pages book while available! Usually the Special Offer includes a great additional surprise gift, but this new special offer will include TWO great surprise gifts - and believe me, you'll be VERY happy to get them! The book includes 750 pictures of the park, including 250 gorgeous renderings of Walt Disney Imagineering and stunning pictures of the park seen from above. You'll hardly find a better gift for a Disneyland Paris fan so don't miss it as it is the last copies of the book which will not be reprinted!







This Special Offer is for the English updated edition ONLY and the English edition is at 60€ / $65 ( instead of 85€ ) . The shipping worldwide is 22€ ( $24 ). Shipping takes 3-4 days for France, 10-15 days to European countries, 2 to 3 weeks for countries outside Europe.

Special note to buyers with a shipping address in Italy or Belgium : For shipments to Belgium or Italy, the shipping cost is 29 €.

To place your order please send me an email to: neverlandeditions@gmail.com

Important Note: I answer to ALL emails so if you don't receive an answer to your email, please check in your spam box in case it would be blocked there.

You can pay with Paypal by sending the full amount - including shipping - by Paypal to: neverlandeditions@gmail.com or use the Paypal button below.

If you do NOT have a Paypal account you can pay by credit card, or bank transfer, just send me an email about it at: neverlandeditions@gmail.com and i will let you know how to do.

Although you've probably heard about this beautiful book, many of you may have never seen a copy of it. So we've done a video presentation of the full book which will show you each of the 320 pages of the book! The book is so big that it took us seven and a half minutes to show you the full book, and that's without stopping turning each pages! So, if you want to have a closer look at a page don't hesitate to stop the video!