Sunday, December 8, 2019

Secrets of Galaxy's Edge Star Wars : Rise of the Resistance



A last article about Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride, and this one will unveil some secrets of the ride, so if you haven't done the ride yet or didn't watched the videos, or if you're planning to do the ride soon, do NOT read this article, no kidding!

WARNING : MAJOR SPOILERS STARTS NOW

We'll start with these great floor plans of the ride, done by bobbysussman and posted by cgnsnewsreviews. As you probably know, the ride move on two floors, and the first floor plan below shows Level 1, and the next one below it, the Level 2, please note that these are not to scale to the real scene.


Now, there is something very interesting that we learn thanks to these floor plans, and it's about the "Intersystem Transport  Ship", the one in which you board after the pre-show with Rey and BB8  and which will be stopped by a Star Destroyer. If you watch the videos you'll notice that guests enter the ship by a door and the scene with the two Audio-Animatronics is on the right.


Then, when they exit and find yourself in the Star Destroyer hangar bay, they exit by the SAME door, not by the opposite door. 


This Intersystem Transport Ship three minutes ride works like a soft Star Tours to give the illusion of movement, but not too much because guests are standing and they must not fall down. Now, if guests enter and exit three minutes later by the same door how is it possible that they find themselves in the Star Destroyer hangar bay instead than having the same outdor decor where they were before entering the ship? The level 1 floor plan brings the answer: in fact, the Intersystem Transport Ship is on a turntable which is slowly but surely turning so when the gate open again the ship has positioned itself in front of the hangar bay scene ( see floor plan level 1 ).

So i thought that, if right, it means that we should see it somewhere when guests enter the ship. Remember that there is two doors that open when you enter. If you look closely at the ground between these two doors you can see that the groove, right after the first door, is not straight but slightly curved. That's because it's the turning table platform which will start to turn quietly when you will be inside the ship. It's very well done because guests can't guess it when they board, and so they can't guess the turning table trick too. Enlarge the picture below and look at the floor between the first and second door. 


Now, let's talk about the ride Audio-Animatronics. I’m being told that the second Kylo Ren Animatronic, the one at the end with the wall exploding behind him is the one which used to be the Wicked Witch of the West Animatronic in the Great Movie Ride ( though personally i think that the first Animatronic of Kylo Ren in the ride points and moves more like the wicked witch ).



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And the Finn Audio-Animatronic, the one sit under the AT AT walker is the one of the Great Movie Ride scene with Aliens where the Sigourney Weaver AA is leaning against the wall shaking her head.






Imagineers regularly re-use Audio-Animatronics who were in previous attractions, now extinct, so it's possible that it is here the case.

Talking about the wall which explode behind Kylo Ren at the end, the effect is done using the same technique than another wall also exploding at the end of HKDL Mystic Manor attraction, with some panels falling down, revealing the projection of the explosion behind ( watch a Mystic Manor video HERE )



Below, the final scene of Mystic Manor.



Last but not least, one of the best special effect in Rise of the Resistance is the one with the lightsaber cutting a hole in the ceiling, see picture below. Everyone is stunned by that scene and wonder how they did it. Well, a Mice Chat member has posted the explanation on the MC forum, but because it is truly an amazing scene, here is a new warning as it is a major spoiler so if you don't want to know, don't read below!!!



Sometimes it's more fun not knowing the trick but you've been warned, so here's how they do it:
The entire silver metal section of ceiling is one giant disk with a long curved notch already cut into in it. That entire plate rotates around, reveling more of the notch that was already cut into it as it rotates. The curved cutout doesn't appear to rotate/move, however, because the red hot portion around its edges is a projection that is steady, making it appear that the entire silver metal ceiling piece is stationary.

Yep, it is that simple and i add that the supposed laser cut of the ceiling is done either clockwise or counter clockwise, depending in which vehicle you are.

Now, The Imagineering Story part 6 documentary included the video below in which we have a behind-the-scenes look at the final drop sequence of the motion base ride vehicle system.



On Dec 31st, 2019 Alicia Stella has posted this great video giving even more explanations about the special effects used for the ride, including some that i didn't have found the solution like Rey's hologram during the pre-show which is not a Pepper's Ghost effect contrary to what you might think.




I have a "one more thing" for you with this great video of the ride filmed with a wide angle lens by SoCal Attractions 360, allowing - even if there is a bit of distortion from the wide angle lens - to see more of the ride decor!




And that's it for the secrets of Rise of the Resistance, stay tuned on D&M!

Pictures: copyright Disney

Friday, December 6, 2019

The London Resort Release New Artworks and Lands Description, Will Open in 2024 !



The London Resort the theme park project that will be located at just 18 minutes by train from London St Pancras Station has revealed new concept artwork for the six lands that will be created as the first phase of the 535-acre site, the equivalent of 136 Wembley Stadiums. The visuals are the first to be revealed since The London Resort announced its partnerships with the BBC, ITV Studios and, most recently, Paramount Pictures.

It follows hot on the heels of a partnership announcement with EDF Energy that aims to make The London Resort the most sustainable, major theme park destination in the world. In what is believed to be a first for the global tourism industry, the deal will see The London Resort pursue a Net Zero emissions goal.

Four visuals have been released, hinting at the “next generation” rides and unique experiences people can expect when the park opens in 2024. The artworks shows the six lands that will form the first phase of what is described as a “next generation” theme park. They hint at just some of the potential “next generation” rides and unique experiences that guests can expect to live when the park will open in 2024.

The rides include multiple rollercoasters, including one with Dragons which seems to interact with an impressive British castle and the idea reminds me a bit the roller-coaster project for the mythical Beastly Kingdom that never was for Disney's Animal Kingdom. The park will also include multiple flat rides, including what seems to be a gyro swing, as well as water rides and other attractions to be located undercover.

“We are creating a first-class theme park. A destination that maximises all the new, immersive and interactive technologies and experiences in the world,” said PY Gerbeau, Chief Executive of London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH). “But we won’t just be creating a world class leisure destination, it will also be one of the most sustainable theme parks on the planet.”

“We have three guidelines we work to when it comes to developing attractions,” continues Gerbeau. “Number one is innovation. We’re not here to copy what’s been done before even if it has been successful. Number two is relevance. We need to consider that the customers of today will not be the customers of 2024. And the third is flexibility. We need to create a park that can evolve and adapt easily.”

Billed as one of the most ambitious theme park projects ever in Europe, the London Resort will be the first European development of its kind to be built from scratch since the opening of Disneyland Paris in 1992. It will eventually be a two-park resort – the first ‘gate’ will open in 2024 and the second within five years (2029) and it is expected that around 70% of attractions will be undercover.


The six lands 
The entrance to The London Resort will be via a grand plaza that leads visitors and hotel guests through ‘The High Street’. Full of shops, restaurants, hotels, a Convention Centre and a first-class waterpark.

The Studios 
Visitors can start their journey in The Studios, a gritty, modern-day warehouse district that practically roars with the exhilarating thrills of big, blockbuster features. A winning combination of explosive action, high-octane car chases and high-stakes espionage.



The Woods 
Just to the north lies The Woods, an enchanted realm where springtime reigns eternal and the boundary between reality and fantasy dissolves. Here, the young and young-at-heart will be invited to step through the pages of a storybook and embark on adventures that put a fresh spin on beloved bedtime stories, fables and fairy tales.

The Kingdom 
From the Woods, the journey continues through the ages into The Kingdom, an immersive realm of swords, sorcery, dragons & legend. This is England as a dark and ancient land, a place of threatening and imposing castles and mystical Arthurian legends.

The Isles 
To the north lay The Isles, a land of giant creatures, mythical beasts and adventures at the crossroads of imagination and reality. Fantastic jaw dropping architecture will combine with magnificent rides and 21st century technology.

The Jungle 
The past begins to blend with the future in The Jungle. Ancient ruins of a mysterious long-lost Mesoamerican civilisation are seen pushing up through treetops. Here, an overgrown environment, brimming with ancient secrets, surprising discoveries and strange mystical artefacts will be transported to the present by inquisitive explorers – young and old.



The Starport 
The final land, dedicated to futuristic experiences, alien encounters and big thrill rides, The Starport is a bustling 23rd century landing zone. It will launch visitors into thrilling science-fiction adventures that are out of this world, leaving them mesmerised at things that should be impossible but are not.

So, will this time be the good one for The London Resort? Let's wish it, but for Disneyland Paris which has a lot of visitors from the U.K, if confirmed, the opening of The London Resort in 2024 is potentially not a good news as British will probably be attracted by a new park, specially in London.

Arworks: copyright The London Resort

Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Media Event Mini Show Shows Kylo Ren and Rey in an Epic Lighsaber Battle !



A cool mini-show happened on Dec 4 on the roofs of Black Spire Outpost during the media event for the Grand Opening of  Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Holyywood Studios. Resistance soldiers, a Stormtrooper, and a First Order soldier fought during a few minutes before Kylo Ren and Rey face off during an epic lightsaber battle with Chewbacca joining at the end. The show also had pyrotechnic effects.

This is the kind of mini shows that is missing at Galaxy's Edge and it would be welcome if Disney could have it playing every day, but i wouldn't bet on that and i have the feeling that this small show was cut for budget reasons, although the infrastructure to have it happen is built.

Check the video below posted by ThrillGeek.


More News About Rides, Shows and Restaurants Opening This Winter at WDW !



More news about what's opening very soon at WDW! First, at Epcot, the Space 220 Restaurant will open this winter! Space 220 is a new table-service restaurant at Epcot next to Mission: SPACE. When you enter the restaurant, you’ll step into a special space elevator that will take you 220 miles above the earth’s surface and offer incredible celestial views.  You’ll feel as if you’re traveling straight up into space to dock next to the Centauri Space Station suspended just beyond the orbit of Mission: SPACE.



Upon arrival, you will be guided to your seats past the grow zone, a spinning wall of produce that mimics Earth’s gravity and represents some of the fresh ingredients used by the restaurant’s culinary team

Always at Epcot, Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue is the new fast-casual restaurant that’ll open also this winter at The American Adventure ( where the Liberty Inn restaurant was previously ) serving classic barbecue and home-style craft brews. Regal Eagle will celebrate American backyard barbecue with flavors from different regions around the United States.


And, believe it or not, but THREE new films will debut Jan. 17, 2020 at Epcot,  in less than six weeks from now!

“Awesome Planet” in The Land pavilion showcases the Earth’s beauty and diversity in a 10-minute film featuring spectacular imagery, in-theater effects and an original musical score from Academy Award-winning® composer Steven Price.

“Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” in the Canada pavilion is an update to the previous “O Canada!” film with new scenes, a new musical score by Canadian composer Andrew Lockington and new narration by award-winning actors Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy.

“Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along” in the France pavilion is directed and produced by Don Hahn, producer of the animated and live-action “Beauty and the Beast” films, and invites guests to participate in a twist on a tale as old as time. It also features narration from Angela Lansbury, who played Mrs. Potts in the original film. The new sing-along will run in rotation with the original “Impressions de France,” which will receive avery welcome upgrade to 4K projection!



Always at Epcot, Disney’s DuckTales World Showcase Adventure is coming to Epcot! Guests are invited to join Scrooge McDuck, Donald, Launchpad, Webby and the nephews in search of priceless treasure. Using the Play Disney Parks mobile app, guests take a trip around World Showcase discovering exotic destinations, exciting mysteries, and maybe even a few thieves, villains and supernatural guardians of ancient artifacts.


At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Mickey Shorts Theater will show an original short film in the style of the popular Disney Channel animated series “Mickey Mouse,” and will feature photo-opportunity locations for guests. Today’s new rendering shows the interior of the theater, including fun Mickey Mouse-themed seats.


...and i remind you that the next BIG ride, the awaited Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is opening March 4, 2020, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! On Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, you’ll step through the movie screen and join Mickey, Minnie and friends like never before – bursting into a world where mouse rules apply.


Pictures: copyright Disney

Thursday, December 5, 2019

New Poster and Trailer for Disney’s Mulan !



New poster and trailer for Disney’s Mulan. Looks not bad at all to me. I still find a little problem of credibility when we see a young teen leaving alone her family home to go to war, but if it is in the original legend/story, then let’s do it...




Photo and video: copyright Disney

Watch the Excitement of the Opening Day of Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Hollywood Studios !




Watch the excitement of the opening day of the Rise of the Resistance ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios - including ride breakdown moment - thanks to this video of Mickey Views.

Brayden, a really cool vlogger who looks like Leonardo Di Caprio when he was young, shot footage of the opening day in Hollywood Studios, arriving at 3:52AM and covering the official opening of the groundbreaking new attraction. From the insane crowds, to the virtual-only queue, Star Wars Rise of the Resistance ride POV footage, flying X-wings and more, see everything that unfolded on this historic opening in this Disney Vlog! Please note that the video include footage of the ride.




Video: copyright Disney Views

What I Think About Galaxy's Edge Rise of the Resistance Ride


Some asked me my opinion about Rise of the Resistance. I thought i had been clear already but, as a picture worth a thousand words, i did this little picture above. There is NO WAY that this ride won't get a THEA Award ( the equivalent of the Oscars for theme parks and entertainment industry ) next year, so consider it done. The other ride which will also probably get a 2020 THEA Award is not open yet and it will be the Super Mario ride at Universal ( the new Super Nintendo World land will probably get a THEA Award too ).

About Rise of the Resistance, I think it's an awesome ride, and i need to find something to improve I just think that the army of Stormtroopers in the hangar sequence and the two standing when guests are waiting for the jail scene could have had a bit more - just a little bit more - movements, specially in the hangar scene where just a very few of them are moving heads. But for all the rest WDI Imagineers did a splendid job, the storyline, decors and lighting are perfect and the Animatronics of the Mon Calamari and Kylo Ren are fantastic, as well as the ones of Finn. And it is also great that you don't see totally the same things depending if your vehicle goes left or right - for instance in the AT&T Walkers scene there is two different Animatronics of Finn and you see First Order soldiers either in the front or on the side of the AT&T, there is also two different appearance of Kylo Ren ( before the scene when he cut a hole in the ceiling with his lightsaber ), and different footage as well in the movie when you're falling with the escape pod, which, like the first one in the troop transport vehicle at the start, also have day or night scenes depending at what time you do the ride.

The whole attraction was extremely intelligently thought. For instance, there is an effect not noticed but very well done during the jail scene with Kylo Ren and a guy from the First Order. Both of course are not AAs but a movie on a hyper high-def screen. If you watch the scene in one of the videos uploaded on Youtube, when Kylo Ren comes and exit you can see on the ceiling his shadow moving with him like a real shadow, just like if he was here in real and not just an image on a screen. It's all these little detais which makes the greatness of an attraction. Technically the ride is an outstanding achievement, and my opinion is that Rise of the Resistance became an instant "classic".