Hong Kong Disneyland Third Hotel Will be Named "Disney Explorers' Lodge"

You knew that Hong Kong Disneyland announced recently that a third hotel will be built on site, between the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel and the Hollywood Hotel, two renderings were released and we now have the name and the logo of this future hotel which will be named "Disney Explorers' Lodge"!

Many of you had noticed that on the renderings above and below the outside of the hotel looked like the Animal Kingdom Lodge, well now we know why as it will be also a "lodge", although probably with a different theming. I line its name as HKDL Imagineers can do a great theming with this name, with "explorers" props from all around the world. And i wonder if the ones that were previously in WDW Adventurer's Club that they didn't used in Mystic Point will find a new home in this new hotel... probably, if they still have some.

Pictures: copyright Disney

Avengers Age of Ultron Cast and Crew at Brunch !

The shooting of Avengers Age of Ultron is still going on and here is a great picture of the cast and crew at brunch! You will easily recognize on the picture Robert Downey Jr ( second left ), Samuel L Jackson, shooting a selfie at the same time ( first right ) , Director Joss Whedon ( second right ).

Picture: copyright Marvel

Tokyo Disney Resort Unveil Its Strategy Until 2023 !

Oriental Land Company - translate : Tokyo Disney Resort - released yesterday its annual report with plenty of good financial news as TDR welcomed 31.3 million visitors in the fiscal year ending March 31, a record attendance thanks to Tokyo Disneyland 30th anniversary. That means a 13.8% increase in attendance over the previous year and OLC also reported that per-guest spending rose on top of the attendance increase, with per-guest spending up 4.5% overall, led by an 8.4% increase in merchandise sales.

Now, there is more interesting news in this annual report as Oriental Land explain in details what will be their strategy, and this up to 2023! I did a selection of the most interesting pages and you can download the full annual report HERE.

This first page describes the medium-term plan.

The next one reveal they intend to "execute investment for new growth outside the Maihama area ( Maihama is where TDL and TDS are currently located ). No more details so may be it means a new theme park outside Tokyo's area, may be not.

The next page, though, brings a bit more infos as they explain that the "new business" outside the Maihama area is "a business that can bring dreams, moving experiences, happiness and contentment by offering unprecedented value and experiences".
Sounds to me like a perfect definition of a theme park, doesn't it?  :-)

This next page is about their strategy to a tract more guests in the theme park segment, and you'll note that they're looking to attract as many overseas guests as possible...

This next page is where they reveal their investment in the next ten years of 500 Billion Yen ( 4.88 Billion Dollars ) that i told you about in yesterday's article.

In this next page we learn they plan to "sequentially launch large scale investment projects" that will help to maximize the value of the theme parks.

Again, Oriental Land to "be prepared to welcome more guests from overseas". There must be a reason why they insist on this...

The next one is all about coming attractions and projects. Don't get too excited as they don't reveal anything else that we already know. May be also because their choice of rides up to 2023 is not done yet.

The next pages are about the 2016 medium-term plan is more about "sustainable growth of the core business"...

The next two pages are the last ones from the 2013 annual report.

Pictures: copyright Oriental Land Co

New Awesome Godzilla Trailer !

A new awesome trailer for the Godzilla movie was released two days ago, and it's also probably the best one. Why? Because not only it includes plenty of new footage but also it explain a bit more the start of the story, where Godzilla is coming from, etc... and you'll also see that others creatures are part of the movie!

Frankly, i can't wait for this one, i have very good feelings on this movie... i think that the mix of digital effects and human emotions should be perfect. Only two more weeks to wait, so that's fine.

Editor's Note: I've updated the article below about Seven Dwarf Mine Train as well as the one about Star Wars 7 cast with new pictures and infos. You might want to check them again...

New Imagineering Behind-the-Scenes Video of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Audio-Animatronics !

Jesus... will this incredible day with plenty of awesome news ever end? After the Star Wars 7 casting announcement and the ones about the new huge investments in SDL and TDR - see articles below - Walt Disney Imagineering release a new "behind the scenes" video showing the making of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Audio-Animatronics!

As you'll see in the video below they've worked in team with animators of Walt Disney Animation Studios who went back to the original film to study each Dwarf’s individual motions and even facial expressions in order to get them just right for the AAs that guests will see in the awaited Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride.

Not only they used the face projection effect on the dwarfs but also on some of the little animals...

And here is the Imagineering video! Go ahead, watch it in full screen mode!




Pictures and video: copyright Disney

Star Wars Episode 7 Casting Announced at Last !

Wow, what a day, after all these unbelievable news from SDL and TDR LucasFilm has finally announced the highly awaited casting for Star Wars Episode 7, and with this great picture above of all the cast! So, who will play in it?

Here we go: Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film.

Director J.J. Abrams says, "We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud."

So, who is who on this great picture above showing all the cast at Pinewood studios? The picture below will help you to identify them.

I don't need to introduce the actors from the first trilogies but If you're unfamiliar with the other names, you might remember John Boyega from 24: Live Another Day, Adam Driver from Girls, Oscar Isaac from Inside Llewelyn Davis, Domhnall Gleeson from About Time and various Harry Potters. And Andy Serkis, of course, played the CGI Gollum in Lord of the Rings. 

Below, clockwise from upper left: John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver

And of course there is the great Max Von Sydow, a fantastic actor who played in legendary Ingmar Bergman movies as well as the exorcist in Willian Friedkin's The Exorcist.

Also, according to The Hollywood Reporter, director J.J. Abrams "has another substantial role to fill — and it's a female part. No further details are known. That might be good news for a vocal segment of Star Wars fans that have bemoaned the lack female roles in the six previous films as well as the just-announced new cast. In Tuesday’s big announcement, newcomer Daisy Ridley is the only woman among the new actors joining the franchise."

Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams returns as the composer. The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015.

Picture: copyright LucasFilm