Editor's Note: Double-feature today on D&M with a great new official Toy Story Playland visual AND below a rare interview of Walt Disney in 1950's! Scroll down!

WDS Toy Story Playland : New High-res " wallpaper " Visual

Disneyland Paris just released this new Toy Story Playland visual, which looks great. Considering the 4x3 format of the image which is exactly the size of Paris billboards i'm ready to bet that this visual will be everywhere in Paris anytime soon, beginning by the subway stations billboards.

One more thing: click on the visual to get it in high-res and use it as a great "wallpaper" for your desktop! Enjoy.

Picture: copyright Disney

Rare Walt Disney Interview, circa 1950's

Today, a rare interview of Walt Disney, probably filmed on the Queen Elisabeth ocean liner, going to England with his family. At that time the RMS Queen Elizabeth operated by the Cunard Line was a slightly larger ship than the Queen Mary (now in Long Beach) and was the largest passenger liner ever built, which was a record that would not be exceeded for fifty-six years. Years later, in 1972, a mysterious fire broke out on the ship whilst undergoing renovations in Hong Kong harbour and to this day 50% of it lays in the bay. It did star in a James Bond Movie "The Man with the Golden Gun" in 1974 and provided underwater headquarters for the Bond team of MI6.

On the picture above and in the filmed interview Walt Disney stands with Lilian, their daughter Diane, and Sharon who was adopted by Walt and Lilian. Sharon is on the left on the picture above and Diane stands between Lilian and Walt.

Disney movies were very successful in England and the studio made a lot of money but because of British laws Disney was not allowed to send the money back to the U.S. So he spent the money in England making more films like his first live action Pirate movie "Treasure island". He made many trips back and forth to England from the United States and the video below show one of them, on the Queen Elizabeth. On the picture below, another picture of Walt and his family, this time flying on a TWA plane.



It's time to have a look to this rare interview of Walt. Note that this Youtube video was uploaded with the "time code", right in the center of the frame. When Walt get closer to the camera the time code is in the middle of his face and it's a bit a pity, but this kind of Walt's interview is so rare that even with this bloody time code it's better than nothing!




Video: all my thanks to jeffsabu who posted it on Youtube

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WDS Toy Story Playland : First Videos !

A special preview of Toy Story Playland happened last friday, organised by DLP Imagineering for the families of the workers who built this new "land". As the land opened at sunset for this special evening, you'll see on the videos below the land with night lightings, but you can expect day time videos of TSP very soon - and also longer than the one below.

There we go with the first one showing Buzz Lightyear at the entrance.





Parachute Drop Attraction.




A view of the land from the center.




Two short videos of RC Racer ride.







As you've seen the RC Racer is going back and forth and each time going through the
boarding station. How does it look when you're waiting in the queue? This next video brings the answer.




Another view of the land, filming begin from the blue barrel second entrance.




Picture: copyright chti greg - Ameworld Forum

Many thanks to everyone who shot the videos and posted them on Youtube!

Pirates of Caribbean " On Stranger Tides " - Filming in Hawaii - Part Two

As the filming of Pirates of Caribbean "On Stranger Tides" is going on in Hawaii, new videos were uploaded on Youtube this week. I'll try to give you fresh news of the POTC filming each sunday, as long as new pictures or videos will be available!



So, new videos of the shooting on the Queen Anne's Revenge in Kaneohe Bay, Heeia Harbor - and above a new picture of the ship.



Remember last week the video showing a battle rehearsal on the ship? Well, days later they've shoot the real scene, and here is a video showing this. You'll note the smoke effects in the background.




Anybody knows that it's a hard life to be a super-star but Johnny Depp always had a great respect for his fans, specially considering they generally wait a long time to see their idol. On the first video below Johnny, on his way to the set, salutes his Hawaian fans. And on the second one Johnny takes plenty of time to cheers with everyone, probably back at night from a long shooting day - or may be he was going to a night sequence shoooting...







See you soon for more news of Pirates of Caribbean "On Stranger Tides"!

Pictures: copyright Disney - Jerry Bruckheimer

Videos: Many thanks to all the different people who've filmed and posted the videos on Youtube!

Universal Studios Japan : Is the new " Space Fantasy " roller-coaster a super Space Mountain ?

I can't believe i've never heard - until today - about this new Universal Studios Japan attraction! Anyway, better too late than never as we say, so all my thanks to Matthew who sent me today a kind email about it. "Space Fantasy" as the ride is called apparently looks a lot like Space Mountain - guests are sent across the universe - but there is some technical improvements and also a typical Japanese story line.

First, Space Fantasy is not a simple roller-coaster as it is a "spinning" roller coaster! Designed if i'm right by MACK each part of the train - in which guests sit back to back - is spinning during the ride, but not during all the ride.

Described by Universal Studios as "a new ride to experience the Universe" guests are "departing from the Earth with the mission to save the Sun", nothing less! According to the press release aboard the "solar shuttles" "You will have a close-up view of the stars and exploring through the asteroids, and experiencing the changing speed which varies along with the story. At the climax of the ride, you will encounter and go into the Sun!" So, it's a space themed roller coaster and just like at DL Space Moutain the ride is full of galaxy projection effects or even huge meteorites like at DLP.

Screamscape who was the first to talk about it some months ago had a better description of the ride: “Once the guests departs from Earth, they will see the big beautiful planet Earth in all its glory, and once slowly moving further away from Earth into deep space, passes by Nebulas, and a Milky way like Star field that looks like a Water Fall, called, the Star Fall. Once they pass thru the Star Fall, they will go around the ring of Saturn, and through the shooting star showers, and other small planets, until nearing the Mercury, pass by Mercury, the guests close in to the SUN.”

There is also some characters that guests discover during the queue-pre-show of the ride - including a talking communications satellite named “G-Bot”, and a Solar Princess born in a supernova called Kosumia: “Kosumia knowing that the sun is losing energy, was holding a crisis. To save the sun, (she) realize that he (the sun) needed the human energy we have, that puts toward the sun appeal to guests.” So, on a certain point of view it's a Space Mountain with a Japanese story-line, but that's not the problem.

The other technical innovation - which is also great - happen during the ride (and also during the queue) and is interactive. Designed by GestureTek this revolutionary 3D camera tracking and multi-touch systems takes visitors into the future of entertainment as "the ride is equipped with 3D cameras and projection systems. This lets visitors control the content on the screens around them by simple hand gestures, enabling them to collect “Stardust Clouds” from the LED displays in a 98-foot, in-ride tunnel"!



More about this amazing in-ride innovation from GestureTek press release: "Using 3D cameras that scan the surrounding environment and detect movement, GestureTek created an innovative and exciting way for guests to interact in free space with dynamic multi-media imagery in the pre-ride area. On the actual ride, GestureTek's touch-free multi-touch interface adds a collaborative element to the rider experience, so that guests can interact together with on-screen elements while working towards a common goal."

In the Pre-ride area "Space Entities Engage with Passers-By, Reacting to Users' Movements and Gestures. Visitors line up next to 85 feet of motion-driven 'Harmony Walls' designed to provide a unique and engaging interactive experience. Using an array of 22 integrated 3D depth cameras, 13 projection systems, a custom-designed tracker and 16 rack-mounted quad-core computers, GestureTek created an intelligent, vision-equipped environment where the heads of up to 66 guests and 132 hands can be tracked. The system's tracking capabilities track an entire audience and their specific gestures, providing visitors with the ultimate interactive experience."

"GestureTek managed the creation of fun custom content featuring animated intergalactic ‘sun fairies’ that tumble, fly, lead visitors and scatter in reaction to visitors' movements and gestures. "Our 3D tracking system can be configured to respond to a broad range of one-handed or two-handed gestures, including swipes, circular motions, pokes, waves and more," said Francis MacDougall, GestureTek's Chief Technology Offer. "The Space Fantasy attraction primarily utilizes intuitive pointing gestures, to guarantee easy and immediate user interaction, with no learning curve."

During the ride: "Riders Collect ‘Star Dust’ To Save the Sun". As part of the ride, GestureTek's multi-touch software and custom-designed camera array powers an interactive experience where, for the first time ever, riders can control content on the screens around them, simply by gesturing with their arms. The premise of the Space Fantasy ride is the impending death of the sun. As guests travel by cart up a 98 foot in-ride climbing tunnel lined with Barco LED display tiles, they can collect energy from the ‘Stardust Clouds’, that will be used to re-energize the sun."

"The tunnel ride is the first ‘in-ride’ device-free interaction that we have seen," said MacDougall. "GestureTek is one of a very few organizations possessing the in-depth knowledge of cameras, infrared and multi-touch required to isolate multiple hand movements while ride cars are in motion."

With this new spinning-interactive-roller coaster it seems that Universal have a new big E-Ticket ride. With the new Harry Potter ride at Orlando it is the second major ride opened by Universal in three months. And both of them are innovative and spectacular... Not so far ago innovative attractions were always coming from Imagineering but apparently Universal is now leading. I'm pretty sure that Disney Imagineers have some great and innovative projects for the future, but if not, it's really time to wake up at WDI!

Okay, let's have a look at the real thing with the four videos below. The two first videos are from Universal and the two last one are private on-ride videos but all are interesting. On the second one you'll see at the beginning the "Space Fantasy Plaza" with, part of the decor, many little planets all around. HKDL fans will instantly understand where Universal has "stolen" the idea - as these little planets are an important part of Tim Delaney's HKDL Tomorrowland design!

Anyway, have a look at the videos and enjoy the ride!










Pictures and videos: copyright Universal Studios Japan


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Disneyland Paris Update : Frontierland New Indian Teepees - Edited 8/5

Recently, the Indian Teepees located at the entrance of Frontierland, near Fort Comstock, were changed and replaced by new one with Indian paintings as you will see on the high-res "wallpaper" pictures below. Although it surely will look native-american to most of DLP guests it seems that the result is not historically perfect, not to mention that the paintings colors looks a bit too much freshly painted...



When WDI Imagineers built the original teepees, back early 90's, most of the resource material they used for reference was from a Lakota tribe. That was when even the interiors of the teepees were being propped out in anticipation of guests looking inside which is not possible any more.

According to Imagineers who built the original teepees to whom i show these pictures: "Originally we had the interior liners - which are now missing from the redone teepee - which would close that bottom gap as it was the case in original teepees to keep varmits out and the heat of the fire in. They should reinstall them on the new teepees so you can't be looking under the teepees. The lodge poles showing are correct at the base if you have the liners.

Each door on the teepees should have the symbol of the Indian Warrior who live within. It should match the shield on the nearby poles. Back in 1990's we used Buffalo Head, Running Bear, Flaming Sun, Black Widow, etc.. It also should be different from the other story telling depicted on the teepee. The top flaps of the center teepee - where the smoke is coming out - should be darkened a sooty gray black where the smoke exit. There are a few symbols on the new tents which I don't recognize as from an Indian tribe...

The color pallet looks pretty good but the freshly painted colors are too intense, like they came from a paint can rather than from a natural source like crushed berries or leaves or the deep rich oxide powders from the earth... But I suppose that we should be grateful that the Park cared enough to redo the teepees at all. I just wish they had taken a look at the color documentation books that our Frontierland team put so much time and effort into as their guide for inspiration..."



Above, original artwork for Frontierland entrance. Below, a picture of the original teepees shot in 1992.



And now, lot of pictures of the new teepees. You'll note how the trees have amazingly grew up in 18 years...







































See you next week for a new DLP update and in the meantime don't forget to check my special offer below on the great Disneyland Paris book!

All pictures: copyright Alain Littaye - Disney and more

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