Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park, Shanghaî Disneyland First Competitor, Opens on Nov 16!


For Shanghaî Disneyland the times when the park could reign without no real competitor is over! On November 16 Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park, will open officially and the new park located at less than 30 minutes from SDL will be the next major attraction in Shanghaî with a trial run starting on Oct 1! The park also include a new themed hotel, which will also open on Nov 16, and will start to accept reservations from Oct 20.

Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park was designed by Gary Goddard Entertainment - now Legacy GGE - who won five years ago in front of three others companies proposals, with the blue-sky design below. As a former WDI Imagineer Gary Goddard also designed many E-Tickets attractions for Universal Studios and Legacy GGE team include artists who also worked for WDI, all this to say that even if Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park is not a Disney park it was designed by people who know very well how to create quality theme parks. Below, renderings of the Blue Sky Concept design, first design for the park entrance, and the final design.














Regular admission for Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park will run $48 (330 RMB) for adults, and $28 (190 RMB) for children. Peak days – all days in July and August, as well as weekends and holidays - will run $58 (399 RMB) for adults, and $36 (249 RMB) for children. As a point of comparison, nearby Shanghai Disneyland's standard weekday adult admission is $58 (399 RMB) and $84 (575 RMB) on weekends and peak days. With an entrance ticket price 30 cheaper than Shanghaî Disneyland and located at just 30 minutes from SDL, there is no doubt that Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park will be a competitor to SDL, or at least one which must not be underestimated.

Shanghaî Disneyland won't have direct competition from Universal like Disney has in Orlando but instead SDL will have Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park like they have Sea World in Florida, except that Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park will be much more themed than Sea World and will be also much more than just a sea life park as it will include a great Intamin launch roller coaster aimed at families, the world’s longest rapids ride, a train ride, an aerial skyway gondola ride, and plenty others family rides. Click on the picture below to see locations and names of each attraction.




Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park is located off the coast of east China sea, beside the Dripping Lake of Pudong New Area, a core tourism destination of Yangzi River Delta area, where seaport, airport, railway, highway and waterway are interconnected. The project covers an area of about 29.7 hectares, with an overall floorage of about 205,000 square meters, of which 147,000 square meters are above the ground. Below, artworks and concept designs for the park.



Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park is Haichang flagship park and the pinnacle among all the ocean-themed parks built over the past two decades in China, with its top international standards achieved in thematic features, project quality, park scale and construction level. Themed on ocean culture, this project can be divided into 5 major theme areas and 1 ocean resort, consisting of 6 exhibition venues, 3 large-scale animal interactive performance venues, 2 large-scale cinemas and over 10 recreational facilities. Guests will enjoy the unique arctic and antarctic scenery, the fantastic deep sea view and the stunning volcano lava, the extraordinary adventure and wonderful animal show, the world’s first 360-degree penguin super bowl where guests can closely observe the daily life of these creatures, and a five 5-star animal-themed hotel rooms with 360-degree panoramic rooftop.

Tickets can be purchased through official channels of the ticket offices, its official website and WeChat platform, as well as a number of retailers such as online travel agency Ctrip and Tuniu.
The park features five theme zones, three animal theaters, two high-tech cinemas and an ocean-themed resort hotel, and below more original artworks and concept designs as well as latest pictures of the park soon to be finished.

Above and below, ODYSSEAS Undersea World Pavilion beautiful facade, suggesting a futuristic marine life research base bored into the tropical mountainscape, was designed by Christopher Smith, translated into color by Tony Archer, and features a logo by Erik Christensen.


Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park's "STEEL DOLPHIN" Intamin LSM Launch Coaster. As shown here in these beautiful sketches by Christopher Smith, Branislav Hetzel, and Christian Hope, this was done intentionally as a means to activate the park's Aquaria entry zone and Rainbow Falls land with high-decibel excitement and visual energy.


More original artworks...



Bird's eye view of the east side of the park, themed to a tropical environment and located next to the in-park hotel.



Bird's eye view of the west side of the park, themed to a polar environment and located next to the parking garage.



A colossal MOSAIC MERMAID will greet visitors as they arrive at Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park.


Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park's entrance zone massive MOSAIC SHARK who swallows the track of the STEEL DOLPHIN Intamin LSM launch coaster.




The Steel Dolphin coaster will pass twice over the park's central creek and be the first attractions that guests will see after the entrance plaza.






Below, artwork and pictures of Glacier Court pavilion facade as it approaches completion.






Below, the artwork ( bottom ), models and drone pictures for the "Ice Mountain"






The park's arctic-themed mountain include the Alpine Express train ride, polar animal exhibits and the west Skyway station






Below, artworks, models and current pictures of the huge restaurant designed as a "sand castle".








Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park's ISLAND HOPPERS Skyway runs an impressive 550 meters (1800' feet) from one end of the park to the other.









The park also has a huge volcano named Rainbow Falls mountain and beneath it guests will find Rainbow Caverns, a whale shark exhibit.








This illustration of Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park's Rainbow Falls land by Danilo Montejo depicts the way in which guests will constantly be immersed in the high-energy sights and sounds of the Spinning Rapids Ride and Intamin LSM Launch Coaster. Regrettably, the Dynamic Swing Glider was cut after Schematic Design was completed.


These beautiful custom Flat Ride concepts were created by Scott Sherman for Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park's GOLD COAST attraction zone.


A drone view of the huge Dolphin show stadium.



Below, Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park's killer whale theatre.





Another prominent structure in the construction shots of SHANGHAI HAICHANG OCEAN PARK is the CORAL CATHEDRAL- the park's Jellyfish & Coral pavilion. Seen here as designed by the brilliant Richard Gutierrez, the "Coral Spires" marquee and Ropes Course integrated into the facade were regrettably eliminated in later design phases.



This colorful structure is home to Haichang Shanghai Ocean Park's JOYFUL CIRCUS- a comedic show starring the park's resident Seals, Sea Lions, and Walruses.


The facade, and a drone view for show building of the park's seal/sea lion exhibit.




Inspired by the year-round Christmas boutiques of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, WINTER WONDERLAND was designed as an immersive retail experience for Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park's PORT MAJESTIC land.



Once open, Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park's in-park Hotel designed to remind a cruise ship will put its guests right in the heart of the action with dramatic views of the STEEL DOLPHIN Intamin LSM Launch Coaster, CORAL CATHEDRAL Jellyfish & Coral Pavilion, as well as the SAND CASTLE Food & Beverage venue, among other areas and attractions.




Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park trial run starts on Oct 1 and the park grand opening is scheduled for Nov 16!

Artwork: copyright Legacy GGE - Thanks to Themeparx.com who found on Chinese websites part of the pictures included in this article.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Final Trailer for Fantastic Beasts 2 The Crimes of Grindelwald



The final trailer for Fantastic Beasts 2 The Crimes of Grindelwald, one of the most awaited film of the end of the year has been released! I remind you that Johnny Depp who plays the evil figure of Grindelwald, and Jude Law is playing a young Dumbledore. The movie directed by David Yates will be released in the U.S on November 16.




Picture and video: copyright Warner Bros

The Incredible Story of Michael Ovitz at Disney Reveals Who Michael Eisner Ruled Disney Back in the 90's



If there is one read to don't miss this week, it's this amazing article from the L.A Times, a chapter from Michael Ovitz memoirs released today. For those of you who don't remember the Michael Ovitz episode at Disney, here it is: Back in the 90's Michael Ovitz was at the head of CAA - Creative Artists Agency - and the most powerful agent at Hollywood. He was the agent of dozens of stars and directors like Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise and many others. And after the death of Frank Wells who was ruling the Walt Disney Company with Michael Eisner, Eisner proposed to Ovitz to, basically, take the place of Wells.

One year later or so, Michael Ovitz was "out" and with a $150 Million check, something which made a lot of noise at that time as Michael Ovitz was supposed to have had no results at all during his stay at Disney. Except that the story is more complicated and in this chapter from his memoirs he reveals what exactly happened, and it's fascinating as it reveals how Eisner was thinking ( if we can call this thinking ) and all the insane mistakes when Eisner did when he was alone at the helm of Disney. The moment when Eisner asked Ovitz to fire Bob Iger ( at the head of ABC at that time ) is one of the amazing revelations that you must not miss, really.

Jump to the L.A Times HERE.

Picture: collection Michael Ovitz

Monday, September 24, 2018

Matt Cyrus Fantastic Disneyland Paris "Fantasy" Map !



Matt Cyrus did this fantastic Disneyland Paris "fantasy" map which not only include existing attractions but also others who "should" exist according to Matt, and i think he did a great job, really! Click on the map above to enlarge it and make sure to check everything on the map above as each number tells the title of the attractions added by Mark. Here is Matt presentation, from his Facebook page HERE:

"I've never had this much fun drawing! I'm bringing back its original park name, some cancelled attractions, as well as long rumored projects and some personal ideas. It is my own way of thanking the incredible people who designed this place for inspiring me to become an artist. Visiting the preview center “Espace EuroDisney” in 1991 was a life changing experience and I set to become a designer on that day. Then I spent most of my teenage years drawing countless maps and eagerly waiting for those attractions that never got built. If not just for the fun of it, this drawing is also meant to make up for the long wait: if they don't build it, I can draw it!"

Matt also posted on his Tumblr page some pictures of his work-in-progress...



The line only version of the map.


The final version...


...as well as some zooms on each area of Matt's Disneyland Paris fantasy map. From top: Frontierland, Adventureland, Adventure Isle, Fantasyland, Discoveryland...













...and the new "Shadow land" added by Mark. By the way, "Shadowland" was an old rumor for WDW ( a concept for a fifth park ) so that's Mark take on it.



Again, big congrats to Matt for this great "fantasy" map and make sure to follow him on his Facebook page HERE.

Pictures: copyright Matt Cyrus Sachezchi

Disneyland Paris Update Part 3 : Walt Disney Studios Renovations, New "Value" Hotel for DLP, and more



Here is the part three of the big Disneyland Paris update, and this one is all about what's happening at DLP Walt Disney Studios, and more, thanks to Max, D&M contributor and DLP Welcome webmaster. Let's start by WDS « Studio 1 » building, which currently have its facade in renovation.








The Tower of terror continues to be covered with scaffolding for its long renovation.














And, yes, there will be plenty of renovation works to do!










Works to double the road network near the « Santa Fe » Hotel and the « Disney’s Sequoia Lodge » continues. This work carried out by the state were planned with Disney in a development plan signed in 2014. The origin of the works is simple, it is the coordination between the road works and the opening of a new « All-Stars » value hotel like the ones at Walt Disney World in Florida. We know it's most certainly is a value resort because in the docs between Disney and the state it is written that this zone is made for a "value" ( hotel cut off of everything and surrounded by roads ). Not to mention its characteristic shape of the All Stars hotels. The deduction is done. But, as you know, there is no work zone and even less announcement from Disney regarding this hotel. It is in these moments that we clearly see the delays and shortcomings of the company even it had commit to a development with the government. The State thus finds itself to have to invest in new, and for now useless, infrastructures, for today and at least the next two years, only to respect its part of the contract.










Disney Hotel "All Stars" : Waiting since more than 2 years: The plan below comes from the phase 4 signed between Disney and the state ( public document ) which rules the development of this area. Thus, the state being responsible for the road network it builds the network according to the projected development negotiated between Disney and the state with different deadlines. Road works to adapt the road traffic to a building is usually the last to be done.  So the road under construction today means that it's been 2 years since the works for this hotel should have started to open at the same time, at the end of the road works done by the state.


Disneyland Paris :
Rose/Pink : Disneyland Park
Bleu/Blue : Walt Disney Studios Park
Rouge/Red : Disney Village
Orange/Orange : Disney Hotels
Blanc/White : Extensions Zone (Parks/Hotels/Village)


From November 2018 to April 2019, the swimming pool of the « Disney’s Sequoia Lodge » and its fitness room will be closed to visitors for renovation. A reconfiguration of the changing rooms, the reception and the fitness room will be done to optimize the space and fit better to guests practices. Here are the blueprints.












A new Disneyland Paris update will come soon, in the meantime for those who have missed the Summer special offer on the Disneyland Paris "From Sketch to Reality" book this is a last chance to get one of the last copies of the book at a reasonable price, in fact at the best price ever, so don't miss it!


Note: 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. The other option for French readers is to pre-order the eBook edition, see HERE. Note that the eBook edition exist for now in French language only.

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 60€ ( 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. Ou commandez la version eBook en Français ICI.

Also, each order will receive GREAT surprise gifts!

You can pay with Paypal, credit card or bank transfer. For Paypal payments please send directly the full amount  including shipping, i.e 82€ worldwide, except for Belgium and Italy for which it is 89€ 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!



Pictures: copyright DLP Welcome, Disney