2014 Chinese New Year Pictorial Report !

It was Chinese new year the last three days in Asia - 2014 is "the year of the Horse" - and, for once, today's D&M update is something different for this week-end, coming from a "real" Oriental land! These colorful pictures shot in Bangkok Chinatown last night will give you an idea of the atmosphere during this 2014 Chinese new year!

In addition, i also filmed a HD video at Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, Bangkok most important Chinese temple. I'm pretty happy with the result, here is why: the whole video - except the 15 sec opening shot - is filmed in just one long sequence shot, i.e a long travelling inside the temple with no cut. It last 8.30 min and doing a one shot travelling in this temple on Chinese New Year with all the people who were there and succeed to have a filming quite smooth with all the temple steps, people going in and out, etc...was not obvious, so i've been pretty lucky on this one. Specially considering that i had a friend waiting for me outside and i couldn't take the time to shoot a second try. 

Below are the pics and the video. Choose really to see it in HD 1080P and full screen mode to enjoy the atmosphere of that very special evening!

Pictures and video: copyright Alain Littaye

Disneyland Paris and WDS Ratatouille Ride Update

A short update today with the latest news and pics from DLP Disneyland Park and WDS Ratatouille site thanks to Max Fan, D&M contributor and DLPWelcome webmaster. But, first, an important news as it seems that the highly awaited opening date for the Ratatouille ride seems to be scheduled for the end of June. I'll keep you updated on the final date when it will be known for sure.

In the meantime DLP slowly but surely has started its communication and recently these pictures of Remi with world famous chef Paul Bocuse appeared in french magazines to announce the ride at the WDS.

Talking about the Ratatouille ride, let's have a look at the latest pics from the construction site and a close-up on the fountain still in the works.

From Toy Story Playland nearby guests can see these scaffoldings placed on a facade but they will be covered soon with cement and a beige color.

Let's move to Disneyland park with pictures of the Disney Magic on Parade and the new Frozen float. Parade floats will be removed one after another these coming days to install new security harness but they all will be back very soon. Right now the opening float is missing and it's the three fairies, Cinderella Godmother and Merlin who open the parade.

And here comes the new Frozen float!...

...and Mickey and the gang at the end of the parade.

You can find a longer version of this update on Max website HERE.

Also, don't go away yet, as i introduce a great "Valentine's Day" special offer until February 15 on the  Disneyland Paris book so you can offer the book to the one you love for Valentine"s Day! The book price, whether it's the ENGLISH or FRENCH edition is 60 euros ( + 15€ shipping worldwide wherever you live ), so order your own copy now to enjoy this Valentine's Day special offer! 

Disneyland Paris "From Sketch to Reality" will tell you all about the creation of Disneyland Paris with 320 pages including 500 pictures of the park and 250 WDI renderings! 

You can order the book and send directly your Paypal payment of the 75 euros either by the Paypal button below or directly from your Paypal account at the email address:  neverlandeditions@gmail.com 

or by sending me an email at the same email address if the paypal button don't work. 

Bank transfer or credit card payment is also possible, send me an email if you wish to pay this way.

Disneyland Paris From Sketch to Reality - Include shipping

1 Copy English NORMAL Edition Disneyland Paris book inc shipping €75.00 EUR 1 Copy English COLLECTOR Ed Disneyland Paris book inc shipping €115.00 EUR 1 Ex Signé Collector Français Livre Disneyland Paris + envoi €100.00 EUR 1 Ex Collector Français Livre Disneyland Paris + envoi €75.00 EUR

Tokyo Disney Resort Announces Plans for TDL and TDS Spring Celebration !

Tokyo Disney Resort announced their plans for the Spring Celebration which will run from April 2 to June 23 at both TDL and TDS. At Tokyo Disneyland guests will enjoy “Disney’s Easter” celebration, "which will include visits to a secret Easter garden, a new “Hippity-Hoppity Springtime” parade that features Disney characters and Easter bunnies. Guests can also participate in an egg hunt, in which they use a map to track down Easter eggs hidden all around the park".

And at Tokyo DisneySea, guests will enjoy “Mickey & Duffy’s Spring Voyage” a celebration in which "Mickey, Duffy, Minnie Mouse and Shellie May embark on a cruise from Cape Cod to see how spring is celebrated around Tokyo DisneySea. Dressed in seasonal costumes, they visit Mediterranean Harbor, travel to American Waterfront for a lively Easter party, and then arrive at the Arabian Coast for a magical celebration of the season. At each of port, guests can enjoy the springtime festivities with the characters."

Pictures : copyright Disney

" An Evening With Walt Disney " - Mice Chat Event , Feb 7

In addition to the "Building the Dream" event with Imagineer Tim Delaney on February 8 our good friends at Mice Chat also organize the day before, on February 7, another event "An Evening with Walt Disney", a dinner event during which you'll join the folks of the "Save Walt Disney's Birthplace" project, explore Walt's early history and discover how we can preserve the home where Walt was born!  You'll be wowed and entertained and leave satisfied that you are doing something very important.

This very special event will include:

Dinner buffet at the Anabella Hotel's award winning Tangerine restaurant
An audio/visual presentation on Walt Disney and his boyhood home by theme park design company, Super 78.
A chance to rub elbows with the creative minds behind the Save Walt Disney's Birthplace Project, Dina Benadon and Brent Young!
An opportunity to bid on some unique items with all proceeds going to support the wonderful project to save the home Walt Disney was born in.
Special guests: Bob Gurr (Disney Legend and original Imagineer) & David Price (Son of Disney Legend Buzz Price)
ALL Proceeds from your ticket will go toward saving the home Walt Disney was born in!  

Space is limited to 70 guests, so make sure to secure your spot at this very special dinner now and to make your reservation do the jump right HERE.

May the Horse Be With You: Darth Vader Celebrates the Chinese New Year !

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Chinese New Year Celebrations started last night and 2014 is the Year of the Horse! And the Dark Lord of the Siths also celebrates Chinese New Year in this video just released on Youtube by Star Wars channel.

And just for your information, Darth Vader is not serving Chinese around the table, it's a Chinese tradition to serve each other during the meal, and you'll see the young child passes a dumpling to Darth Vader. I think it is interesting to reveal the cultural differences as, from some comments, western people see this shot as a waiter serving someone, which here is not the case.





Video: copyright Star Wars

Tim Delaney Tribute - Mice Chat Event February 8 !

The great WDI Imagineer Tim Delaney who was Disneyland Paris Discoveryland show producer will be part of the next Mice Chat event happening February 8 at ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney, Anaheim!

Tim will have fantastic stories for those who will attend the Mice Chat event with an audio-visual presentation and Tim will also sign copies of my Disneyland Paris "From Sketch to Reality" book which will be available for purchase at the end of Tim 90 minutes presentation. This will be the very first time that a Disneyland Paris Imagineer Show Producer will sign the book so if you live in South Cal you probably don't want to miss this event! Limited seats are available so make sure to do your registration today at the link HERE where you can also pre-order a copy of the DLP book to make sure you'll have a copy waiting for you at the event.  

During his career at Walt Disney Imagineering Tim was not only a fantastic show-producer of memorable attractions but also created gorgeous artworks and i did for you a selection of my favorites. 

One of Tim first achievement was Epcot Living Seas in its first - and unfortunately now extinct version. Here are some great artworks that Tim did and these are enhanced versions of scans previously posted in my Epcot Living Seas article that you can read HERE.

Of course, Tim biggest achievement was Disneyland Paris Discoveryland , a true wonder and probably the best version ever of a "Tomorrowland".

A Star Wars land will come in a near future at DL and DHS but Tim, back in the 1990's imagined what was at that time the first vision of a Star Wars land in which Space Mountain's was dome looking like the Death Star!

A few years later, Tim did a fantastic work as show-producer on Disney's California Adventure's Paradise Pier...

...before designing a new version of Tomorrowland for Hong Kong Disneyland. 

In the part two of this Tim Delaney tribute, to be post next week, we will have an extended view of Tim Delaney's artwork for Hong Kong Disneyland along with an exclusive interview of Tim, so don't miss the part two article!

At the Mice Chat event, on February 8, Tim will talk about his work in an audio-visual presentation which for sure will be great as Tim is a great show-man, too! So, those of you who live near Disneyland or travelling to South Cal on that date, make sure to attend the Mice Chat event and to make your reservation HERE while there is still seats available. At the same link you can also reserve your own copy of the Disneyland Paris book which will be waiting for you at the event!

Pictures: copyright Disney

Happy Chinese New Year to all Disney and more readers living in Asia!

It's Chinese New Year tomorrow, the most important event of the year in China and in many countries all over Asia and i wish to all of you long life and prosperity in this year of the Horse! To celebrate this new "lunar" year the Disneyland Paris book in its english updated edition will be at 60 euros only ( + 15 euros for shipping worldwide ) during the next 4 days until sunday evening February 2 for everyone, even if you don't live in Asia!

You can send your payment by Paypal at: neverlandeditions@gmail.com and your order with your name and shipping address at the same email address.

More details about the book can be found on the book website at the link below. Don't miss this great special offer!:  http://neverlandeditions.blogspot.com/