Disney Proposed in 2007 - 2008 a Disney Resort in Australia : 'Disney Wharf at Sydney Harbour'

The Sydney Morning Herald reveal the secret plans that in 2007-2008 Disney had to build a Disney Resort in Australia! And it was so secret that "it was discussed in whispers with a special code name "Project Lester" inside the state government, and flew under the radar." The Walt Disney Company's plan was to put a Disney Resort on prime waterfront land around Sidney's White Bay and Glebe Island. "Glossy proposal documents" seen by Fairfax Media reveal for the first time that the company "was deadly serious in its pitch for what it called ''Disney Wharf at Sydney Harbour''.

More details about the project from the Sydney Morning Herald article: "It was a grand vision, incorporating not just so-called ''classic Disney'' elements, but also themed hotels, a marina and ferry wharf, two new light-rail stations, a retail space, an entertainment quarter and a residential development. The old White Bay power station was to have been reborn as a design studio and arts centre, the concrete waste of Glebe Island would have blossomed into ''Fantasia Gardens'' with hedges cut in the shape of Disney characters, and just a short stroll away would have been what the designers termed a ''high-energy NY theatre-style 

district''.

There would have been a yacht club family resort and ''upscale'' residential developments in Disney Village on the northern end of White Bay, together with a Disney town centre (billed as offering ''prime waterfront office space'') and a Disney university and hospitality school. There would have been Nemo-themed attractions in the theme park area, Peter Pan and Dumbo rides and actors in Disney character costume entertaining visitors as they traipsed in and out of retail outlets such as the ''Goofy Candy Store'' and the ''Princesses'' boutique.

''Project Lester'', as it was code named, was described as ''an integrated Disney destination to live, work, play and learn'' with the promoters promising it would enhance real estate values on the site itself and in the immediate neighbourhood.

The company said the proposed harbourside complex would ''refresh the city's tourism offerings'' and draw patrons from ''all over Australia and the world''.

But the response inside the state government was mixed. The local politics were seen as a huge challenge for a Labor administration, with one insider recalling fears that it ''wouldn't have gone down at all well with the denizens of neighbouring Balmain and Rozelle''. Among ministers, the most enthusiastic was the now-disgraced Ian Macdonald, who held the state development portfolio. Then-premier Morris Iemma and then-treasurer Michael Costa were involved in high-level talks on the project but their interest waned as the scale of infrastructure investment expected by Disney became apparent. 'When they started looking at the infrastructure costs, they just went cold,'' said one senior insider, who recalled a starting figure of $500 million for the rail wharf and road changes that the project would have required.

Another objection from senior members of the bureaucracy was that the plan from Disney was really a ''development proposal dressed up as fun park''. ''One of the main reasons we entertained the idea at the start was that … it was a fabulous site, close to the city, and instead of more million-dollar apartments, we thought why not look at something potentially more interesting'' said one source who looked closely at the project. ''But in the end, it was difficult to get detailed proposals from them in writing, and there was always doubt over whether it could work.''

A spokeswoman for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts said the company was always looking to grow its business and ''as part of that process, we have conversations with many different entities''. The company would not comment on the Sydney proposal.

The site remains largely a concrete expanse, housing a temporary exhibition centre and a cruise passenger terminal."

I also remind you a previous Disney and more article called "Disneyland Australia: Finally, it was not a Mirage" that you can rad HERE in which i was already talking about the White Bay project.

Text: copyright Sydney Morning Herald

Picture: copyright Disney

LAX Airport Encounter Restaurant Designed by Imagineer Eddie Sotto Now Closed

The Los Angeles Times report a sad news: the fantastic Encounter restaurant at Los Angeles airport which was re-designed by WDI Imagineer Eddie Sotto closed last December. The Encounter restaurant was located at LAX airport but outside the terminal and apparently the security measures that passengers now have to go through when boarding a flight didn't helped as they were reluctant to exit the terminal and have to go through all over again the security checks. 

L.A. World Airports Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey told the L.A. Times in late December that a new restaurant operator is being sought but "The problem is, it was built when bringing your family out to have dinner and watch the airplanes was a cool thing to do," she said. "Passengers now won't leave the terminals to have dinner there because it's unpredictable how long it'll take them to get through security again."

Is there any plans to have the Encounter reopening again? Apparently, yes, there is, but it's still too soon to talk about it. So, let's cross our fingers and in the meantime in tribute to Eddie Sotto's gorgeous Intergalactic design on the Encounter i repost today a 2008 article with plenty of pictures of the Encounter as well as original renderings. Don't hesitate to click on each picture to see them in bigger size. 


The Theme Building Encounter Restaurant - A WDI wonder outside Disney theme parks

For most of us, Walt Disney Imagineering is a Disney company creating wonders for Disney theme parks all around the world. And, at 99% that's right. But sometime, it happens that WDI Imagineers create other wonders, and not for a Disney theme park. The Theme Building Encounter restaurant at Los Angeles airport is one of them.



The Theme Building was part of an overall $50 million " Los Angeles Jet Age Terminal " project which began in 1960, the building itself was completed in August 1961. with giant 135 foot high parabolic arches, the Theme Building was at that time the first structure in the U.S to utilize supporting steel arches of this design. And what a design, it looks like a space ship - or a flying saucer - that just lands on Earth! On December 18, 1992, the los angeles City Council designated the Theme Building a city cultural and historical monument. A Los Angeles icon with a kind of Tomorrowland architecture, may be this is why Walt Disney Imagineers agreed with enthusiasm when they were asked to redesign the Theme Building back in 1995.



And who were the WDI Imagineers who did it? Eddie Sotto - the great Imagineer who was Main Street show producer at Disneyland Paris - the best Main Street of all Magic Kingdoms - led the design team. Ellen Guevara, another WDI Imagineer also worked with Eddie on the Encounter Restaurant interior design. And the gorgeous lighting of the exterior was done by WDI lighting specialist - i should say "wizard" - Michael Valentino.

So, let's have a closer look at this Encounter Restaurant with original Eddie Sotto sketches, model pictures and photos of the real thing. Here is a photo of Eddie Sotto doing the concept sketch of the Encounter "red room" in his office at WDI in Glendale. Below, the "red room" sketch.





With the futuristic exterior of the building, WDI Imagineers must have felt that the best choice was to go space-age design with the interior, and, as you will see, they were right.








The intergalactic theme of the interior creates an out-of-this world "experience". Eddie and his team designed flowing walls sculpted to appear as stone quarried from the moon - here are Eddie's sketches.




Eddie also designed furniture and decor elements of the Encounter.





But one of Eddie's favorite creations were these "lava lamps" that guests can find all over the place whether the lava is "red" or "blue"!



The amoeba-shaped lighting structures embedded in the ceilings - visible from the outside - cast soft shadows on the restaurant. And the customized lava lights add a "lounge" feel to the futuristic and stratospheric atmosphere.



And there is this unique crater-shaped bar - above and below - complete with bar guns that emit lasers lights and futuristic sound effects when bartenders pour a drink!



Los Angeles designer Lisa Krohn created the bar stools and the pod-like chairs that appear to float in the air. The carpeting was designed by Sotto and Guevara and also features flowing lines. No patterns are repeated on the entire floor!



" Encounter transforms LAX into an intergalactic gateway accomodating space flights to and from other worlds " said Eddie Sotto. " the sophisticated sci-fi feel of the interior provides the perfect backdrop for what i call " jet set " dining in a space age atmosphere ". And the space-age experience even starts at the entrance downstairs where a hostess in silver costume directs you to the elevator, saying "Have a nice encounter!". By the way, the elevator was also redesigned and features galactic graphics and sound effects!

The stunning exterior lighting by Michael Valentino - a crowning touch to the space age themed restaurant - play an integral part in setting the unearthly tone. Michael's lighting program bathe the building with constantly changing shades such as magenta and electric blue, in addition to traditional white lights.







The Imagineers also designed special atmosphere music for the restaurant - the sound effects will remind you classic sci-fi movies of the 50's. Click below on the embedded 360 degree picture link. The 360 degree effect won't work probably, but you'll hear the music!






Artwork and model pictures: copyright Walt Disney Company

Encounter Photos: copyright Disney, Encounter restaurant and Eric Sander

Gorgeous Disney Villains Perfume Bottles Design

I don't often talk about merchandise but i do when there is something really cool and beautiful, like today. 

So, who don't love perfume bottles, specially when they have a beautiful design? Artist Ruby Spark inspired herself from various Disney villains to design these absolutely gorgeous perfume bottles. They should be on sale at Disney theme parks but unfortunately these are not real products. Now, if some folks working at Disney read this article - and i know some do read Disney and more - here is a smart way to start your week: do a copy and paste of the article - or simply the link - and send it to the Disneyland merchandise guys as they should get in touch with Ruby Spark to sell these perfume bottles at DIsneyland. They even have a shop at New Orleans Square which would be perfect for these. Believe me, folks, it'll be a merchandise hit. 

So, which Disney villain inspired each bottle? Have a look below and you'll have the answer but again, i think that Ruby's creations are stunning. Even better: perfect, it couldn't be better. I can't believe that Ruby succeeded to create perfume bottles and capture the "essence" - if i can say - of each character so well that they're instantly recognizable. Great work, really... Would you buy these if they were available at Disneyland?

Pictures: copyright Ruby Spark