" Imagineering the magic " event at Disneyland on April 5th !

If you are a Disney and more reader, you indeed love Walt Disney Imagineering. Well, i have great news for you - and even a great great news for those of you living in California near Disneyland - as in two days, on April 5th a special event will take place in the park for the release of a new Disneyland dvd : " Imagineering the magic " described as an " Exclusive behind the dreams peek at the creation of the Disneyland resort as told by Walt and today's imagineers, with rare and never before seen footage".

And four Walt Disney Imagineers - Tony Baxter, Dave Fisher, Kevin Rafferty and Michael Sprout - will be there to dedicate it between 9 am and 11 am !

If you don't live near Disneyland and are interested to order the dvd i suppose it will be possible through the mail order service at: 1800 362 45 33

Now, this special imagineering dvd looks exciting doesn'it? Let's have more infos about what will be include inside from the product description released by the Disney Gallery web site:

Product Information:
Join today's Walt Disney Imagineers as they take you behind the scenes of the "Happiest Place on Earth." Learn how your favorite attractions from opening day in 1955 to the newest attractions, including Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage � went from dreams, to sketches, to reality. Disneyland® Resort -Imagineering the Magic will be available for $24.95, plus tax.

The following Walt Disney Imagineers will be on hand for a special appearance and signing from 9 AM - 11 AM on the day of release.

Tony Baxter - Senior Vice President, Creative
David Fisher - Senior Show Writer
Kevin Rafferty - Senior Concept Writer, Director
Michael Sprout - Senior Concept Writer

Online Ordering Opportunity:
Online sales for the Imagineering the Magic - Disneyland DVD will begin on Wednesday, April 2, 2008. Applicable shipping fee and tax will apply. Available while supplies last. Please note: The DVD's ordered online will not be signed.

To order the Imagineering the Magic - Disneyland DVD, please go here:
http://www.register123.com/event/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x546935c192


This 90 minute tribute includes:

Disc 1: Disneyland® Resort - Imagineering The Magic!
Main Street, U.S.A.® Area
The Plaza
Adventureland® Area
Critter Country®
Frontierland®
New Orleans Square®
Tomorrowland® Area
Mickey's Toontown®
Fantasyland® Area

Disc 2:
Disney's California Adventure® park
What is Imagineering?
Mickey's Trivia Tour
Imagineering New Attractions
Imagineers on Imagineering

So, if you love imagineering and want to meet legendary imagineers like Tony Baxter and others, be ready to fly to Disneyland saturday morning. For the others, just like me, who are a bit too far to attend the event, we are waiting for the first comments on this very interesting new dvd! Let us know about it!

Photo and product description text: copyright Disney

Disney and Stan Lee will team on three pictures !

Variety announced today - and it seems to don't be an april fools - that Walt Disney Pictures and Stan Lee have set three projects that will be executive produced by Lee and Gill Champion and their POW! Entertainment.

The troika of projects will each be based on a story by Stan Lee.

"Nick Ratchet" will be written and directed by Richard LaGravenese. Larry Jacobson and Sonny Grosso are in talks to produce.

"Blaze" will be written by Gary Goldman.

"Tigress" will be written by Zoe Green. State Street Pictures' Robert Teitel and George Tillman will produce.

I must add that Stan Lee really always amaze me : he's now 85 years old, and still developing projects just like when he was 30! What a great man! Excelsior!

Source: Variety.com

A Disney MGM Studios celebration - Part Two - Sunset Boulevard and Tower of Terror original artwork

Hello, here is the part two of this Disney MGM Studios series, and, as in France it's already April 2nd, it's not an april fools!

Finally, the article about the Great Movie ride will be the next one, and instead we will have a look today on the original artwork for the Sunset Boulevard and Tower of Terror.

Let's begin first by a series of renderings for the Sunset Blvd facades, and note that the one above on the top show a building that was never built.





And, yes, the next one is the Carthay Circle Theater, which was replicated at Disney-Mgm and who will be, too, one of the icon of the new DCA placemaking, hosting the "Walt Disney story".



Here is another one, showing the Tower of terror in the background, and the Carthay Circle Theater on the right.



This next one is a beautiful night view, and the Carthay Circle Theater is now on the left!



And this rendering seems to indicate that a "Disney film festival" was envisioned by the imagineers in the Carthay Circle Theater. Just like on the rendering above, note the red tramway on the right. Never built, we will finally get it in the new DCA placemaking.



On this next rendering, have a close look the "orange grove" area on the top left, finally never done.



Let's have a look now to the Tower of terror renderings, beginning by these two early concepts. As you can see , the building had a totally different look.




Here is another TOT concept art, pretty rare, too.



The next renderings are others concept, closer to the final version, and a picture of the model.






This one is really interesting as it shows how the ride was previously envisioned, and as you can see, the Twilight Zone room was supposed to be in the basement and not at the top.



Let's end with a picture of the model that we all know, but always beautiful.



Okay, next time, promise, you'll have the Great Movie ride article!

All artwork and photos: copyright Disney Enterprises Inc.

Breaking News !!! : Apple and Disney create the " IPark " concept !

Al lutz reveal in his last update the new - and still secret - theme park concept that Apple and Disney will announce soon.
All details about how Disney and Apple will reinvent the theme park concept with "IPark" can be find in Al's update HERE

First pictures of Hong Kong Disneyland It's a small world

As a big debate is growing little by little about the new version of Mary Blair's It's a small world attraction at Disneyland, Anaheim, the first pictures of the HKD version are released.

The attraction will be officially open to the public on April 28, 2008, and a countdown was launched on march 27.



Let's begin by some details of the facade, which looks familiar...







And, yes, Disney characters are now include in the decor, and all of you who worry about what could happen to the future new DLR version should have a look at the pictures below, beginning by the farwest scene with Woody...



A close shot of Woody and Jessie...



The oriental scene with Aladdin...



The Little Mermaid scene...



The Hawaian scene with the Stitch character...



A Paris scene with one of the Aristocats character...



And the Cinderella and her Prince scene. I must say that, at the exception of Stitch that i find a bit too much cartoonish, the introduction of the other characters are quite well done, in the "Small World" style.



Let's have a look at other scenes, beginning by the Japan...



The China scene...



Guests will discover a brand new "Hong Kong" scene...



Here is a tribute to Thailand...



The Jungle scene...



A close shot on the hippo...



And the famous Rain forest scene.



Let's end with a colder country, with the Canada scene, and i think it's Pocahontas that we can see in the background.



All pictures: copyright Disney / Hong Kong Disneyland

Pixar Play Parade and Playhouse Disney Live on stage making-of video

The new Pixar Play Parade at DCA is already very popular and this Disney video below will give you an interesting insight on the making of. Also include, a sneak-peek of the new "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage!", which, obviously is for very young kids.



This Playhouse Disney Live on stage is supposed to be a new addition to the Walt Disney Studios in Paris next year. Not the greatest news of the year, but i suppose that the kids will love it...



Photos and video: copyright Disney

The best news of the year for Tiki Room lovers !

Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily - yes, the two great sculptors that we all have to thanks for the great collectibles they've created for Disneyland 50th anniversary - have done it again!

A series of great collectibles inspired by Disneyland's Tiki Room will be released on June 22, and it is a limited edition!

All looks great, but Kevin and Jody favorite - and mine, too - is this great Enchanted Tiki Room fountain , standing 19-1/2” high and features many design elements from the original Disneyland attraction. Click on the image to see it in big size and how it looks great.



Jump on Kevin's blog to see more pictures of these Tiki's collectibles and get all infos, including prices.

Photos: copyright Disney