Friday, April 6, 2018

Pandora "Conservation Initiative Utility Suit" Coming April 22 to Pandora – The World of Avatar ...And The Secret of How They Did It



On April 22, at Disney's Animal Kingdom land of Pandora, in the breathtaking Valley of Mo’ara – amid the moon’s floating mountains, waterfalls and native flora – something new will emerge and WDI apparently succeeded to create in real the "Amplified Mobility Platform" which in the Avatar movie were used for combat, handling heavy cargo and traversing the grounds of Pandora, except that here it will be a "Pandora Conservation Initiative Utility Suit". Check the video below!




As you've seen the legs of the man body are not in fact moving the ones of the AMP,  contrary to the movie, simply because they couldn't make it this way in real... which leaves the question: how do they do to have the legs moving by themselves and avoid the whole thing to fall and always find a balance when the arms are moved ( this time by the guy )? I suspect the balance is achieved by using tilt and gyroscopic sensors like on the Segway, but i could be wrong. I wonder if WDI will release a video explaining how it works...

Editing: It didn't took long as Disney released a Behind-the-Scenes video about creating the Pandora Conservation Initiative Utility Suit ( see others posts below ) ...without revealing the secret of it.

However, thanks to Pedro, the kind D&M reader who sent me the answer we know how are walking the Pandora AMP that will be introduced on April 22 at DAK, and it's damn' simple!
"Answering to your question: The mechanism is very simple, the man is wearing stilts and the legs you see in the front are fake to make the illusion of the man controlling the machine but it is in fact the man itself who moves the legs of the AMP with stilts."




Picture and video: copyright Disney

Photos and Videos : Disneyland Paris "Pirates and Princesses" Festival Has Started - Full Pictorial Report

Disneyland Paris "Pirates and Princesses" festival has started and i have dozens of colorful official pictures for you today!

The "Pirates and Princesses" show/parade has 100 performers - dancers, acrobats and characters - and play 4 times a day and 7 days a week. On the Princesses side, there is Mickey Mouse with 9 Disney Princesses and Moana / Viana! On the Pirates side guests can see Minnie Mouse with Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, Jack Sparrow, Peter Pan or Wendy along with 21 pirates acrobats, as it also includes acrobatics, as you'll see on the pictures below.

The structure of the show is simple: 2 units one for pirates - artwork above, one for princesses - artwork below. Each of them starts from both ends of the parade route. One leave from the parade entrance near It's a Small World with a first stop at the "Castle Stage", while the second leave from the other parade entrance at Town Square and will make a stop at the center of Main Street. After the first stop which will last around 4 to 5 minutes the two units will move again up to Central Plaza.

On Central Plaza, 4 scenes on the 4 flower beds, allow during this last "Show Stop" of 4 to 6 minutes, to offer a new interactive dance with the guests. Then, the two units continue their paths. Interactivity is also the central element of the show. The visitors are involved with a specific dance for each of the two teams.

Let's start by having a look at the Princesses team!





















All Princesses join together on the Castle Stage...






Here is the video of the team Princesses filmed by Max!




And now, here comes the Pirates team and pictures of the acrobatics moments!






























Here is the video of the team Pirates filmed by Max!




DLP guests can find more pirates with a Pirates orchestra playing near Captain Hook ship in Adventureland!




And apparently some of the guests receive a "diploma"!


This Pirates and Princesses festival sure looks colorful and full of energy and sure will be successful with the guests. I'll have another DLP update soon for you, in the meantime i remind you that Disneyland Paris celebrates its 26th Anniversary this month, on April 12, and D&M join to the celebration  by doing a special offer on the LAST English copies of the acclaimed Disneyland Paris book "From Sketch to Reality". The French edition is totally out of stock but if you're French, and wish to purchase the book in its English edition i will send you a PDF file of the full French text of the French edition.


Here is all you need to know to order a copy of the "Disneyland Paris From Sketch to Reality" book with the special offer. First, it's a 320 pages book with 750 pictures of the park including 250 WDI artworks! It's also probably the best gift you can find for a Disney Parks fan - and it is true! Have a look below to the mosaic pictures showing a selection of pages of the book.

To place your order for the DLP book, please send me an email at: amplittaye@gmail.com with your shipping address. The price during the special offer is 65€ ( instead of 85€ ) and shipping worldwide is 22€ ( except Belgium and Italy for which it is 29€ ).

For French readers a PDF file of the full French text of the French edition will be sent.
Lecteurs Français: Etant donné que l'édition française est épuisée, un fichier du texte complet original en Français sera envoyé aux acheteurs Français ne comprenant pas l'anglais.

Also, each order will receive two GREAT surprise gifts!

You can pay with Paypal, credit card or bank transfer. For Paypal payments please send directly the full amount  including shipping ( 87€ worldwide, except for Belgium and Italy for which it is 94€ ) at: nme4@wanadoo.fr  If you wish to pay by credit card and bank transfer, let me know in your email and i'll tell you how to do.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please note that all orders placed before April 17 will be sent in the next 48 hours, BUT orders arriving after April 16 will be sent only on May 6, as the "shipping dept" will be closed between April 17 and May 6. To avoid to wait too long to get the book, better place your order as soon as you can, thanks.

Also, as you know, D&M currently needs your support and if you don't own the book yet, ordering a copy is another great way to support Disney and more. If you don't wish to order the book, you can also send your donation - of the amount you wish - to the same address Paypal: nme4@wanadoo.fr   Thousand thanks to all of you who've already did it!









If you've never seen the book before, don't miss the video below showing the full 320 pages of the book!



Pictures: copyright Disney

Video: copyright DLP Welcome

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Disneyland Paris Announces a New Lion King Show For Its 2019 Entertainment Line-Up!


Disneyland Paris adds The Lion King show to its 2019 entertainment line-up! DLP Press Release below, in English and French.

The Lion King is ready to roar in a brand new musical stage show at Disneyland Paris in 2019. Favored characters such as Simba, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa, along with the iconic songs and the classic story from the film, will come to life onstage for a brand new musical production based on The Lion King in a newly renovated Chaparral Theater in Disneyland Park.

The Lion King show is just one of many entertainment options available to guests visiting Disneyland Paris – from live stage shows to the beloved daily parade and seasonal events. Currently guests are choosing their side in the interactive and musical Festival of Pirates and Princesses season, while audiences in Walt Disney Studios Park are being amazed during the third season of the award-winning Mickey and the Magician show. And this summer, Marvel Super Heroes will arrive at the Walt Disney Studios Park for the Marvel Summer of Super Heroes season including an epic show at Studio Theater, with Thor, Black Widow, Spider-Man, and even the Incredible Hulk.

With this new offering and as Europe’s number one tourist destination, Disneyland Paris is strengthening its reputation as Europe’s premier location for innovative and thrilling entertainment for all ages.


Le Roi Lion prêt à rugir dans un nouveau spectacle musical prévu pour 2019 à Disneyland Paris! Les personnages du Roi Lion tels que Simba, Nala ou encore Pumbaa prendront vie dans un nouveau spectacle musical au sein du Chaparral Theater totalement rénové au Parc Disneyland.

Ce spectacle sur Le Roi Lion est un des nombreux exemples de l’offre de divertissements que Disneyland Paris offre à ses visiteurs : des spectacles aux parades, en passant par des saisons à thèmes. Actuellement, le Festival Pirates & Princesses invite les visiteurs du Parc Disneyland à un grand spectacle interactif et musical, et le primé Mickey et le Magicien revient éblouir les spectateurs du Parc Walt Disney Studios pour sa troisième saison. Et cet été, les Super Héros Marvel débarqueront de manière épique au Parc Walt Disney Studios lors d’une saison spectaculaire, incluant un spectacle époustouflant sur la scène de Studio Theater au casting impressionnant Thor, Black Widow, Spider-Man et même l’Incroyable Hulk.

Avec cette nouvelle offre de spectacle et en tant que première destination touristique en Europe, Disneyland Paris renforce son statut de lieu incontournable en termes de divertissements innovant et palpitant pour tous les âges.

How The Most Famous Rock Band of All Time - The Beatles - Ended in 1974 in a Room of WDW Polynesian Resort



An interesting fact about the Beatles that i just learned and that you probably didn't knew: When they stopped recording together after they did the Abbey Road album ( Let It Be was the Beatles' final album release but it was largely recorded before Abbey Road ) the world was shocked, and still miss them. Although Paul McCartney filed suit for the dissolution of the Beatles' contractual partnership on 31 December 1970, legal disputes continued long after their break-up, and the dissolution was not formalized until 29 December 1974, when John Lennon signed the paperwork terminating The Beatles partnership while on vacation with his secret secretary lover at ...Walt Disney World Resort in Florida!



I suppose John Lennon didn't signed the paperwork when enjoying attractions at the Magic Kingdom but rather in his hotel room. In 1974 the only WDW hotels existing were the Polynesian and the Contemporary resorts and we learn thanks to the video below from adamthewoo that it was in the Polynesian Resort, inside what is now the room 1601. Next time you'll stay or go at the Polynesian, just remember that it was there that were signed the papers ending the most famous rock band of all time.




Video: copyright adamthewoo


Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Christmas Special Offer on the Disneyland Paris "From Sketch to Reality" Book !


From Nov 15 until January 10 it's Christmas Special Offer on the LAST English copies of the acclaimed Disneyland Paris book "From Sketch to Reality" and if you own an Apple device get in addition for FREE the eBook English edition when it will be available in 2019, allowing you to read the book wherever you are. And the eBook edition incllude more than 60 video links to the best available videos of the park! It's your last chance to get a printed copy of this gorgeous book at a reasonable price, no kidding! The book is sold on Amazon by others sellers at $2000 or more - check this HERE - and it's the last time you'll find it at its original price!

Lecteurs Français: Etant donné que l'édition française est épuisée, tout acheteur de l'édition anglaise recevra gratuitement l'édition française eBook du livre! Et l'édition eBook contient plus de 60 liens vidéos d'une délection des meilelures vidéos du parc! Note Importante: cette offre avec l'eBook est réservée à ceux possédant du matériel Apple ( iPhone, Ipad ou iMac ) nécessaire pour pouvoir liire l'eBook.

Here is all you need to know to order a copy of the "Disneyland Paris From Sketch to Reality" book with the special offer. First, it's a 320 pages book with 750 pictures of the park including 250 WDI artworks! It's also probably the best Christmas gift you can find for a Disneyland Paris fan - and it is true! Have a look below to the mosaic pictures showing a selection of pages of the book.

To place your order for the DLP book, please send me an email at: amplittaye@gmail.com with your shipping address. The price during the special offer is 100€ and shipping worldwide is 22€ ( except Belgium and Italy for which it is 29€ ).

Also, each order will receive GREAT surprise gifts! ( and believe me they are really great! )

You can pay with Paypal, credit card or bank transfer. For Paypal payments please send directly the full amount  including shipping, i.e 122€ worldwide, except for Belgium and Italy for which it is 129€ at: nme4@wanadoo.fr  If you wish to pay by credit card and bank transfer, send me an email at: amplittaye@gmail.com   and i'll tell you how to do.









If you've never seen the book before, don't miss the video below showing the full 320 pages of the book!



Monday, April 2, 2018

D&M Exclusive : Universal Orlando 4th Theme Park is Currently in Development With Code Name "Project 314"


I've got some great news for you to start the week, and to tell the truth, i had to wait until today April 2 to post it as i thought that if i had posted it yesterday April 1st  you would have thought that it was an April Fools, when it's not!

So, as you've read in the title it's all about Universal Studios Orlando 4th park - or 3rd theme park if you don't count the Volcano Bay water park - for which the code name so far is "Project 314". The infos below are coming from a faithful D&M reader who has a very reliable insider source and, as the infos that he sent to me previously were accurate, i believe that these new and major infos about Universal Orlando are right too.

So, he's been told by his insider source that, for sure, "the 4th Universal park in Orlando is in development and its code name is "Project 314". I have no clue what Project 314 is but that is currently taking place and they are recruiting a ton of creative people to get this park started..."

Of course, personally i have also no clue what "Project 314" means, but if any of you does, you're welcome to let us know. However, we know a bit more about what lands are apparently planned to be built in this 4th park and he's been told that, first, the Super Nintendo World is going to be there, which is so far no big surprise and even logical. Digging deeper into Nintendo land there should be a Zelda ride, a Mario kart ride, a Donkey Kong roller coaster, and play areas. Also the center point will be Peach castle so it should be a major major land if done right. And apparently Universal is trying to add Pokémon too, as he's been told that there is talks to try to get Pokémon involved in the Nintendo land: "Pokémon is the biggest missed opportunity and I know people are working hard to include that somewhere down the line. It’s a brilliant idea." We'll see if Universal succeed.



Two, he has also been told that a Lord of the Rings land is being highly considered for one of the lands of this 4th park. Remember that Universal was rumored to have bought the theme park rights for Lord of the Rings some years ago? Well, may be they've finally really got the rights.


Three, the “Ministry of Magic” - from Harry Potter prequels "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" will also be one of the lands. We can assume that Ministry of Magic will be a major land, and what is great with Ministry of Magic is that they'll have a choice of great decors for that land. You can see one in the picture below.


There is more with, four, "a new Jurassic Park thrill ride.” I thought it was strange that they don't build it in Islands of Adventure where is the Jurassic Park land, except if they want to create a Jurassic WORLD in the new park, of course, but he's been told about this new ride that "it's being played with currently in reference the new Jurassic world movies. Also, guest research has been out asking guests what they expect from a Jurassic Park attraction and their feedback about the original ride. I agree that it wouldn’t make sense to have 2 lands with the same IP but I know the current ride will be getting upgrades at IOA."



And when can we expect this fourth Universal Orlando park, you ask? Apparently Universal is in "full speed ahead" mode on the project, with  managers being sent over to new positions to manage the project. It's always difficult to say a time frame, but he would expect it to be before 2023-2024. That’s a rough estimate as Universal always amaze us on how fast they can build... so, it could be sooner.  He was also told that it is why the hotel projects are so fast pace right now, so Universal Orlando will have enough hotels for the 4th park when it will open, because the hotels have to come first.

If this 4th Universal Orlando park is built, even with "only"these four lands, it will be a clap of thunder in Orlando, and Disney will need as usual to counter attack, meaning that in a few years we'll be back to the situation that existed when the Harry Potter lands were so successful that Disney had to come with an answer, which they did with the Avatar and Star Wars lands.

Talking about Harry Potter, don't go away as he also told me interesting infos about the new Harry Potter coaster coming at Islands of Adventure Wizarding World: “The new Harry Potter ride will be an indoor coaster and the rumor that it'll be located outside is not true as they can’t do it due to the weather and also because the indoor coaster will have projections and dark lighting for the forbidden forest, so that’s why it won’t work outside". Well, may be a part of it will be outdoor, we'll see...

Well, that's all for today about this mysterious "Project 314" for a 4th Universal Orlando park. Of course take all this with a pinch of salt and consider it as "rumor" until an official announcement, but it's some pretty cool news to start the week, isn't it?

Pictures: copyright Universal, Warner, Universal Studios Japan, Travel with Bender