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

Very Sad News : The Great WDI Imagineer Skip Lange Passed Away on Oct. 14

A very sad news as i learned today that the great WDI Imagineer Skip Lange passed away on Oct. 14. Skip lange joined Imagineering in 1970 as a dimensional designer, and went on to be a field designer on several attractions at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Park. During the creation of Epcot he was the production designer for two Future World pavilions, and he was the show producer for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Tokyo Disneyland. Later he would act as field art director for each of the five themed lands at Disneyland Paris, and he was the show director for the fantastic Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland Anaheim.






The picture above shows Skip Lange ( right ) working in late 70's on Disneyland Big Thunder mountain with Imagineer and friend Pat Burke. 

Retired Imagineer Chalmer Day shared some thoughts about his colleague: “My fondest memories of working with Skip include when he was the overall field rockwork art director for Mysterious Island at Tokyo DisneySea. I also recall when we were working on Adventureland for Hong Kong Disneyland and he was given the last-minute direction to add an entire ‘wow’ scene to the jungle river ride. It was a huge challenge and he pulled it off beautifully. Skip was an amazing Imagineer and an even greater friend who did so much good in the world.”




On this last picture above, shot at Tam-O-Shanter restaurant after the funeral of Imagineer Pat Burke in January 2015 Skip Lange is on the right with, from left, Imagineers Matt McKim ( Sam McKim's son), Tony Baxter, Chris Runco, Tim Delaney, Julie Svendsen - and Skip Lange.

Picture: copyright Disney

King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej Died Today in Bangkok, Thailand, at 88 - Rare Pictures with Walt Disney of a 1960 Royal Visit at Disneyland,

The King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej died today in Bangkok, Thailand, at 88. He was King of Thailand since 70 years, and was the King with the longest reign - longer than Queen Elizabeth. He was also the greatest King alive, wonderful human being who saved many times the country, he was revered like a semi-God by all Thaïs.  He was also a photographer and a Jazz musician, among many others talents. His son, the crown Prince will become king soon, but it will be hard for him to replace in the hearts of Thaïs his incredibly beloved father.

I succeeded to find pictures of Rama 9 - Bhumibol Adulyadej name as King - at Disneyland with Walt Disney on June 22, 1960 during a royal visit in the U.S.A with his wife, Queen Sirikit, and their children Prince Vajiralongkorn and Princess Ubol Ratana Rajakanya. The young boy that you will see on the pictures below is the crown Prince who will become king in a few days.

Before moving to Disneyland here are two pictures of their arrival in the U.S.A. On the picture below, King Bhumibol Adulyadej with Queen Sirikit arriving at Ontario International Airport on June 18, 1960. He was greeted by about 50 Thai students living in the area.

On June 22, 1960, King Bhumibol Adulyadej with Queen Sirikit and Prince Vajiralongkorn and Princess Ubol Ratana visited Disneyland and on the picture below they are entering Disneyland.

On the top picture, King Bhumibol Adulyadej stands with Walt, Queen Sirikit and their children the young Prince Vajiralongkorn and Princess Ubol Ratana Rajakanya on the steps of Disneyland City Hall.

Always at Disneyland City Hall, Walt offered to the young Prince what looks to be a Disneyland flag with Mickey!

A color version of this picture is also available!




King Bhumibol Adulyadej with the young Prince and Walt aboard Disneyland C.K.Holliday locomotive.

On the next picture, King Bhumibol Adulyadej with Queen Sirikit in one of Alice in Wonderland vehicle.

With Walt and their two children, King Bhumibol Adulyadej with Queen Sirikit in a boat of Story Book Land, with Captain Hook ship in the background.

Believe it or not but there is some short very rare footage existing of this Royal visit at Disneyland, and here is the video below.





On June 21, 1960, so before going to Disneyland King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit met some representatives of U.S State Dept as well as American business men during a special reception for the visit of the King in the U.S.A.






On this last picture King Bhumibol Adulyadej  is greeted by Don Douglas Jr who had organized a lunch in his honor at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The King was 3é years old at the time of this visit in the U.S.A.

Don't miss Disney and more part two tribute to King Bhumibol Adulyadej in which you'll see fantastic pictures in glorious colors, also shot by LIFE magazine in 1960! The part two article is now online HERE.

Your comments to this article are very welcome, just note that it might take a few hours before the comment will appear on this page.

Final Poster and Trailer for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”

The final poster and trailer for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” has been released. We can see Jyn Erso along with the other members of Rogue One, while Darth Vader and The Death Star loom in the background. The trailer is more convincing than the previous one so may be there is hopes that the movie will be great, after all. And, yes, there is a shot with Darth Vader!


 

"In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.”
Picture and video: copyright Lucasfilm

BIG Announcement About Disneyland Paris Coming Next MONDAY !

A short post to let you know that Euro Disney S.A.S Catherine Powell will do a BIG announcement about Disneyland Paris next MONDAY. She most probably will talk about DLP 25th Anniversary but who knows, may be there will be something else and Dedicated to DLP makes the list of what could be announced HERE.

Shanghaî Disneyland : Concept-Art of a "Main Street" That Never Was

Someone named Fukuhomu posted on Twitter this very interesting rendering done in 2008 by Imagineer Luc Mayrand. Luc Mayrand is VP, Creative Portfolio Executive for Hong Kong and Shanghai Disney Resorts at Walt Disney Imagineering as well as Executive Creative Director/ Senior Show Producer at WDI since 1999. And this rendering is supposed to show an early concept for a “Main Street” or at least the “entrance street” of Shanghaî Disneyland! 

It would have been entirely covered by a canopy like at Tokyo Disneyland World Bazaar, it don't mean that it would have looked like a covered regular Main Street U.S.A - probably not - but in this concept SDL entrance street was definitely under a canopy. The castle design too doesn’t look the same than it is now, the lands are not located at the same place, etc, so in two words: everything on this SDL artwork looks different than it is now.

On the picture below, Luc Mayrand ( left ) stands with Catherynne jean ( right ) at SDL Treasure Cove for a November 2015 Shanghai Daily article that you can read HERE.




This covered entrance street reminds me this other early concept for SDL entrance and “Main Street” that was shown by Bob Iger in 2013 or 14 during a presentation, and which seems inspired by Luc Mayrand rendering.


Have look also at this interview of Luc Mayrand filmed three years ago, talking about projecting oneself in the future to design new products for today, the importance of team work, prototyping, iterating and developing a point of view.


New Product Design at Disney Imagineering - YULBCN 2013 from Mosaic HEC on Vimeo.

Pictures: copyright Disney