Walt Disney World Water Permit Shows the Layout of Animal Kingdom Avatar Land Na'vi River Journey Boat Ride

A new Walt Disney World water permit filed with the South Florida Water Management District shows the layout of the Na'vi River Journey boat ride of Disney's Animal Kingdom Avatar land.

The permit say that it is for a "indoor water system" ride has been filed to have the approval to discharge water to a stormwater pond nearby the construction site of Avatar land. And a map included with the documents shows the blueprint of what is most probably the location for Pandora's Na'vi River Journey boat ride.
 

Last November the Disney Parks Blog described Na'vi River Journey as "a family-friendly attraction called Na’vi River Journey. The adventure begins as guests set out in canoes and venture down a mysterious, sacred river hidden within the bioluminescent rainforest. The full beauty of Pandora reveals itself as the canoes pass by exotic glowing plants and amazing creatures. The journey culminates in an encounter with a Na’vi shaman, who has a deep connection to the life force of Pandora and sends positive energy out into the forest through her music. Na’vi River Journey will open with Pandora – The World of Avatar in 2017"
 

Pictures: copyright Disney

Disney Wants to Use Drones to Project Images During Theme Parks Shows

We learned last month that Disney intend to use drones to create large Disney characters during night shows at WDW and Disneyland theme parks. Disney even filed with the Federal Aviation Administration indicating as many as 50 drones could be in the air at one time. But how WDI Imagineers intended to do with these drones and how was so far a mystery. A new patent application - see rendering above - discovered by Geek Wire provides a few more clues.

According to Geek Wire article: "The assembly will have the ability to project still photographs or video images, according to the application. The assembly contains a rear-projection screen that is a “sheet of porous material such as polypropylene mesh’ that will allow airflow through ” while also having adequate opaqueness to function as an RP screen.”

Also included is a wide angle reflector, such as a parabolic mirror, Disney said in its application. This is designed to reflect light from the projector onto the “rear surface of the rear-projection screen and this will generate a displayed image.”

Disney said the projection assembly “is configured to provide a way of radically expanding the palette of the aerial display” to include “all manner of imagery and effects.” In addition to “pure entertainment uses, Disney wrote the projection assembly has the potential to “open new frontiers for aerial advertising capabilities and for other applications such as rapid dissemination of emergency information to large numbers of people.”

In the first drone patent application, Disney inventors said “that presently there are no mechanisms for creating very large aerial displays, such as a display that is reusable/repeatable, dynamic, and interactive. To address that need, Disney’s R&D department is working to create a multi-drone aerial display system and a ground control station that could choreograph repeatable movements.”

Something pretty incredible could come out of Disney R&D with these drones so we'll keep an eye on this, okay?

Star Wars Land Ride Unveiled in ABC Wonderful World of Disney Disneyland 60th Trailer ?

Did the ABC Wonderful World of Disney Disneyland 60th Special trailer posted a few days ago by Entertainment Weekly gave us our first look at one of Star Wars Land’s rides?

Well, it might be the case as if you look well at the promo video - that you can see on EW HERE - right after the announcer says “Star Wars Land” and Millennium Falcon previously released concept-art appear - the one above - we get a quick two-second clip of this image below showing what could be a CGI WDI video for the ride aboard the Millenium Falcon cockpit. AND, considering that it's Harrison Ford himself who will present this segment of the show no need to be a genius to understand that Han Solo himself is the best one to introduce a ride based on "his" Millenium Falcon, right?

SO, i put my bets on this one and think that we will learn a bit more about the Millenium Falcon ride which, as announced by Bob Iger himself at D23 Expo 2015, will be a ride which "would give guests the ability to take the controls of the Millennium Falcon on a “customized secret mission” ...right in the cockpit.

As noted /Film: "The brief clip seems to show a motion simulator attraction that takes place in the Millennium Falcon cockpit, out-maneuvering TIE Fighters on a desert planet. We see some structure burning as we fly over, but it still doesn’t clue us in to whether this is Jakku, Tatooine or some new planet on the Outer Rim. It also looks like there is an animatronic co-pilot sitting in the second seat."

Yes, the cockpit will be probably based over a simulator platform but this time you'll be the pilot of the Millenium Falcon, meaning that riders should be able to have the control of the simulator instead to be only spectators of a pre-programmed simulator ride, like Star Tours. Which should make a big difference... IF what i'm saying is right, of course. Anyway, it'll be probably the "D" ticket of the land, the big E-Ticket remain to be more clearly explained and we'll have to wait a bit for that.

Can't wait for this Disneyland 60th special to learn more!

Pictures: copyright Disney

New Shanghaî Disneyland "Crystal Clear" Aerial Pictures !

We're back at Shanghaî Disneyland today with "crystal clear" aerial pictures of the park and resort, posted on Chinese websites. And we'll start the tour by the one above showing the Shanghaî Disneyland hotel. As you can see the garden in the front will be soon finished and the outside of the hotel itself is ready.

The great picture below shows almost everything, i.e the whole park, part of the lake, Disney Town, the buses parking lot and even the Toy Story hotel in the background on the top left.



Next aerial picture shows the Lakeshore building near the lake with a perfect vertical shot.

The picture below is another perfectly vertical shot over Disney Town.

Even the bus and taxis parking lot near Disney Town looks great on the picture below!



Of course you're awaiting a closer aerial shot of the park only, and here it is. Interesting one showing that works on the Gardens of Imagination - SDL "Central Plaza" in front of the castle are going on and everything should be ready in four months.



And that's it for today SDL aerial shots - not a lot for once, i agree, but these were great ones and shots with a better light than all the others we saw previously!

Pictures: copyright news.cn

Hong Kong Disneyland Explorers Lodge Hotel Update

Hong Kong Disneyland new hotel - the Explorers Lodge - is scheduled to open in 2017 and it's been a while since we had a look at what's happening on the construction site. Thanks to Google Maps we can see that the main buildings of the hotel are built - although plenty remain to be done and it'll take them at least one year to complete. On the picture below the hotel on the left is the Hollywood Hotel.

The Explorers Lodge is located on the right of HKDL Hollywood Hotel - the one on the top left - and on the left of the HKDL Hotel. It will be also right behind Mystic Point and the other picture below show you more about all this. 

As it happen often for Disney's hotels the Disney Explorers' Lodge has a background story and in this case it's an "explorers" background story: in 1920 four explorers built together 
the hotel, to show the crafts and collected specimens they've bring back from around the world.

Dedicated to the spirit of exploration, Disney Explorers Lodge will invite HKDL guests to leave the everyday world behind and enter into a new world full of discovery, nature and exotic cultures. The hotel will feature four distinct gardens based on exotic cultures from around the globe, along with new themed restaurants, a shop and a large outdoor swimming pool.


I remind you that the hotel will be divided into four "regions", which will include the African savannah, the tropical rain forests of South America, the Pacific Islands, and Asia. Each region will also have a link with different Disney characters like the Africa area where there is the story of The Lion King baboon, the South America zone with the Guyun birds, the Pacific Islands with Finding Nemo Turtle, the Jungle Book baby elephant for Asia, etc... Four new renderings showing each of these areas have been released today.

Finally, if some of you find in the hotel design some reminiscences of the Animal Kingdom Lodge it's may be not a coincidence as it seems that this new Disney Explorers Lodge will borrow part of his architecture to Animal Kingdom's beloved hotel, and probably also a bit to the Hawaii Aulani Resort. And why not? The HKDL Disney Explorers Lodge looks promising and should have an exciting theming, and i can't wait for his opening in 2017!

Pictures: copyright Disney - HKDL

Shanghaî Disneyland Weekend Update !

Here we go for the ShanghaI Disneyland weekend update! Plenty of pictures for you but we'll start by the park ticket prices for both peak and usual days, which will cost 499 yuan (almost US$75.85) and 370 yuan (almost US$56.24) respectively. Advance booking of tickets will start from Mar. 28 ahead of its grand opening in mid June.

The peak days include its multi-day opening celebration from Jun. 16 to 30, Chinese holidays, weekends and the summer break.

The amusement park will provide special offers for children (between 1 to 1.4 meters tall), the elderly (over 65 years old) and the disabled, who will enjoy a 75 percent discount. Toddlers below one meter in height are free to enter the park.

As you understood the prices will be different depending of regular, peak or opening days prices, the picture below will help you to see a bit more clearly.

Here are the prices of others Disney parks around the world to help you to see the differences.

          

All tickets will be date-specific and valid for admission only for the date purchased.

Following the grand opening period, regular price of admission to the theme park is set at 370 RMB. Peak pricing for high-demand dates, including designated holidays, summer holidays and weekends, is set at 499 RMB. Special pricing will be provided to many guests. Children (1.4M and below), seniors (65 years old and above) and guests with disabilities will receive discounts of 25%. Infants (1.0M and below) receive free admission. A two-day ticket will be available at a 5% discount.

Pricing is based on in-depth market research and analysis conducted with a wide range of Chinese consumers, industry experts and local regulators. Shanghai Disneyland’s two-tiered pricing and date-specific tickets will allow the park to manage the extraordinary anticipated demand for the innovative attractions and premium entertainment at the newest Disney destination, putting choices in the hands of guests while at the same time delivering an exceptional experience.

On March 28, 2016, guests can obtain information and purchase tickets through several official channels. To ensure access to park facilities, guests should only purchase tickets from these authorized official channels:

1. The newly updated website of Shanghai Disney Resort, www.shanghaidisneyresort.com

2. The Shanghai Disney Resort Reservation Center at 400-180-0000 or 86-21-31580000

3. Official travel partners listed at www.shanghaidisneyresort.com.

Other authorized official channels, including Shanghai Disney Resort’s official mobile app and onsite ticket sales at the resort will be available at a date to be announced soon.

The picture at the top is supposed has been shot this week and shows SDL castle as seen from the back.

  

Let's have a look now at some new park pictures posted on Chinese media sites, starting by this picture of SDL Mickey Avenue showing buildings freshly painted and looking nice!

The next pic shows obviously a pirate from Treasure Cove and probably may be from the POTC ride!

The next picture are showing works in Adventure Isle on Roaring rapids raft ride - you can see the lift on the right.

No Disney theme park without geysers!

Let's move to Fantasyland to have a look at the different buildings

The next picture shows the Tangled tavern.

                             

And what about the castle, you ask? Here are the latest pics!

                            

Blue Frog restaurant bar will be settled in Shanghaî Disneyland DisneyTown next to the Walt Disney Theatre.

"Western-style casual dining experts "Blue Frog restaurant bar" confirmed that a Blue Frog restaurant will be settled in Shanghai Disney Resort's shopping dining and entertainment district. The Blue Frog restaurant bar will open at Disney's town Broadway next to the Walt Disney Theatre, offering visitors a variety of dining options. It will be integrated in all other aspects of the Disney classic decor and menu design elements, with the introduction of North American style dishes and creative drinks, family dinners, friends and romantic date with the most perfect dining experience . Disney enduring "Sharing Family Entertainment" concept will also be here to get the perfect embodiment."

   

As China's rapidly growing Western-style casual dining chain, Blue Frog restaurant bar have opened in more than 24 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Nanjing, Wuxi, Chengdu and other major cities.

On the picture below showing SDL Disney Town the part of itwith a blue square shows where the Blue Frog will be most probably located.

 Let's have a look now at the Shanghaî Disneyland hotel, starting my these plans indicating the different wings and rooms.

       

    More pictures from shots from the outside and entrance.

                 

And here are shots of the inside, the first one showing the columns of the lobby that you've seen previously in the rendering.                 

                 

                 

                 

Pictures of the room also designed in Art Nouveau style... Kids will sleep in company of Mickey thanks to the mural hidden behind the kids bed.

   

And a last pic showing the view on the park from Shanghaî Disneyland hotel!

See you soon for a new SDL update and have a great weekend!

Pictures, copyright Disney - Shendi, Blue Frog, DR