New WDW Fantasyland Story Book Circus Artwork, and more...

Disney Parks just reveals this new great rendering of WDW new Fantasyland Story Book Circus area, scheduled to open next year. "Casey Jr, has rolled into town and brought the grand Storybook Circus with him. The area will be filled with colorful circus tents and nods to the famous film. Guests – especially little ones – will be welcome to cool down with Casey Jr., who can be found near the train station, getting splashed by playful circus animals.

Just past Casey Jr., guests will encounter big-top circus tents that lead to a “double” version of Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Also, in the tradition of classic air shows, Barnstormer will take on a new look and theme, becoming a spiraling stunt plane built by The Great Goofini".

Two others artworks related to Beast Castle...



...and Maurice's Cottage were also released recently and as i didn't had the time to post them, here they are. For more infos about these two artworks please visit the Disney Parks blog HERE.



Artwork: copyright Disney

Why Steven Spielberg next movie " The Adventures of Tintin " is one of the most awaited movie of the year

Until now, for most of the Americans, the name "Tintin" didn't mean that much, but when Steven Spielberg new movie will be released at the end of the year this might change a bit. Actually, America is probably the country in the world where The Adventures of Tintin is the less known. But come in Europe and ask anyone if they know the hero and they'll look at you and say: are you kidding? i know him almost since i was born, everyone here knows Tintin!

And not since yesterday, but at least since 60 years! Actually, i think that Tintin, a globe trotter reporter, was more popular - specially in Europe - than Mickey was since the 1950's or even before. What is really amazing in fact is how the Adventures of Tintin never succeeded to be popular in America! There is a lot of good reasons for that and i could spend a lot of time explaining them but instead i'd like to come back to the Spielberg adaptation, incredibly awaited in Europe as everyone is looking to see how Spielberg will succeed to do a movie from this immensely popular comic book series, almost impossible to adapt.



Mind you, in the 1960's two live action movies were done and an animation studio was created in Belgium to produce animated movies of Europe's most beloved comic book hero. Considering the era these movies were not bad but the problem with an adaptation of Tintin is that the dozens of millions of readers who've read his stories have their own mental image of Tintin as well as the others characters of the stories. And because Hergé - the creator of Tintin - was a genius - definitely a genius, really - each character have so much humanity and that doesn't help when you try to do a movie out of the Adventures of Tintin.



The good point is that it's two highly talented directors who've decided to do the impossible: Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson. Right now, three movies are planned, the first one is directed by Spielberg, the second one will be done by Peter Jackson and we still wait for the director's name of the third one. Spielberg movie will be based on the "Secret of the Unicorn" album, but as Steven wanted to introduce the others main characters, the beginning of the movie will be inspired by another album called "The Crab with the Golden Claws".



Spielberg got the rights from Hergé widow in 1984 - why it took so long to him to do the movie is a long and interesting story that you can read HERE - and he thought that a live action movie was not maybe the best way to adapt Tintin. Instead he choose to do the movie in motion capture computer animation - the same techniqe used by Robert Zemeckis for his "Scrooge" last year or more recently "Mars needs Moms". Although i am not a big fan of the Zemeckis movies i think Spielberg did probably the right choice. It will be interesting to see the result next December.



Recently, a first trailer was released and i must say that it looks not bad at all. Interesting, really. So, have a look at this first Tintin trailer - until the end if you want to discover the "digital face" of Tintin - and let me know what you think of it.
I, personally, can't wait to watch the whole movie next December to see if Spielberg has succeeded to find the right "spirit of innocence" for Tintin and each of the beloved characters.




Pictures and video: copyright Sony Pictures

Three new clips of Cars 2, and more...

Three new clips of Cars 2 today, just released by Pixar - you can feel that the movie is released in the U.S in less than two weeks! - and the two first clips are directly related to the "espionnage" part of the movie...






Next clip is called "Lewis Hamilton/Jeff Gorvette Cameo" and apparently the action is in Japan during a Tokyo party.




Last but not least, here is a few seconds of Pixar awaited new short animated called "La Luna", directed by Enrico Casarosa who gave an interesting interview to Animation World Network that you can read HERE if you want to know more about this mysterious short.




Picture and videos: copyright Disney - Pixar

Want to know why Indiana Jones Adventure is not built yet at Disneyland Paris ?

Among my readers comments one special question is coming back regularly: when WDI Imagineers will build Indiana Jones Adventure at DLP Adventureland? In previous posts i've tried to answer to the question saying that, basically and although the room to build the ride is kept in Adventureland, there was two reasons why IJA is not yet built at DLP: the ride cost which is probably now at least or over $150M and the maintenance cost which is huge.

How huge, you ask? Well, for the first time, an article from the Orange County Register will answer this question. The article won't give you the cost in dollars but when you'll read that "Hundreds of employees are trained to work at Indiana Jones, including 12 machinists and mechanics. At any given time, 18 operators are on duty. In a year, employees receive 27,000 work orders, such as fixing hydraulic leaks, replacing light bulbs and installing tires..." then you'll understand that DLP probably can't afford the maintenance cost of this beloved attraction.

27000 work orders per year, can you believe that? I know, it's hard to believe, but there is more to learn in the reading of the OC Register article, so jump HERE and then you'll understand why we might not see - unfortunately - an Indiana Jones Adventure ride anytime soon at DLP, at least until WDI Imagineers didn't find a ride system which cost less in maintenance.

Picture: copyright Disney

What about having a free trip in real Adventureland places ?

As i've told you i'm currently on a break, but as i thought there was no reason i was the only one to travel i've got a little gift for you today. Actually, it's a gift for those of you who own an iPhone, an iPad or an iPod Touch as this about a new application which will take you all over South-East Asia thanks to hundreds of HD wallpaper pictures! And the app is FREE on the iTunes Appstore!

Asia Wallpapers HD is now available on the Apple Appstore and you'll find below some examples of the hundreds of wallpaper pictures that you will find in the application. You can use each picture as wallscreen for your iOS device, share on Facebook, choose your favorites, etc...

The pictures shows fantastic places from different South-East Asia countries like Thailand, Burma, Laos, and each of the pics have a web link to know more about the places.

You can find the Asia Wallpapers HD App for free on the Appstore HERE.















And if you wish to bring your support to Disney and more, a "Premium Edition" also exist which include a different and fun interface, all the pictures of the normal edition AND hundred more pictures of gorgeous Asian places including what is probably the most "Adventureland" temples in the world - which also has served as inspiration to WDI Imagineers - the famous Angkor Wat temples. The Premium Edition is $1.99 or 1.59€ and it's also an easy way to bring your support to D&M! HERE is the iTunes Appstore link to this Premium Edition of Asia Wallpapers HD and below the App Features and some pictures of Angkor Wat that you will find in the app. Enjoy the Apps!

Premium Edition App Features:

1. NEW user interface. Categorized Wallpapers. Ability to sort the wallpapers by country.
2. Optimized wallpapers for each IOs devices. Fast wallpaper download.
3. HD Pictures designed to take full advantage of the new IPhone 4 and IPod Touch retina screen! Looks gorgeous on the IPad screen!
4. Ability to save each picture to enjoy them offline
5. Save your favorite pictures in the favorite section
6. Caption for each picture and Wikipedia link for each location for full infos about each site
7. Ability to zoom in each picture. Simple swipe to advance / revisit the pictures
8. Share with your friends on Facebook!
9. NO Ads in this Premium Edition version of the App!

Asia Wallpapers HD Premium Edition is also a GREAT app for those who are planning to travel in Asia and to Discover a lot of not-to-be-missed places all around Asia!







All pictures: copyright Park Lane Editions

Discover "Disney by Mark" the new web site of former WDI Imagineer Mark Hickson

If you're a faithful Disney and more reader you probably already know WDI former Imagineer Mark Hickson thanks to the great interview i did of him about the incredible S.S Disney project. The S.S Disney concept was to transform a huge super-tanker in a floating theme park wich would have bring the Disneyland experience to countries around the world. Well, now, Mark Hickson launched his own web site called "Disney by Mark" and it's not that often that a former Imagineer share rare pictures and memories, so i think you will like it.

Mark Hickson started his WDI career working on the Splash Mountain/Critter Country project at Disneyland and then chosen to become part of the Tokyo Disneyland Project Office. Over a period of four years they conceived, produced, and with Disney Japanese partners, installed 13 attractions including TDL Splash Mountain, Adventureland Treehouse, and Mickey’s Toontown. He was also involved in contributing to some very special projects including the “Aida” and “Beauty and the Beast” Broadway Productions, Disneyland’s 35th Birthday celebration, and the development of Tokyo Disneyland 5, 10 & 20 year Master Plan. He concluded his Disney career working on the EPCOT development team and leading the S.S. Disney Floating Theme Park effort.

On Mark's site which began recently, you'll see never seen before "backstage" pictures of Disneyland rides like this one shot when the Mark V orange monorail was delivered to Disneyland in the summer of 1987...



...or a rare shot of what the DL Submarine Voyage ride operator sees when the 306 Argonaut was coming back to the dock...



...not to mention historical pictures like this one, of beautiful Tiki Room Hostess in 1968.



So, jump to "Disney by Mark" to discover more rare pictures - it's HERE - and come back regularly on Mark's site as i'm sure that Mark Hickson has many more picture and memories to share with us!

Pictures: copyright Mark Hickson

Cars Land Summer 2012 Opening Date Confirmed

Disney spokesman John McClintock has confirmed that Cars Land, will open at Disney's California Adventure in Summer 2012. We all knew that it was going to open next year but not exactly when. Now we know, and it will be in "Summer 2012", the exact date will of course depends of all the ride tests that WDI will do on each Cars Land attractions.

The Orange County Register did the picture above which will tell you precisely what will be what in the awaited 12-acres DCA addition and you can read more on their site HERE.

Talking about "Cars", Pixar announced that italian legendary actress Sophia Loren will voiced Mama Topolino - on the right on the picture below - when the character will speak in italian - Vanessa Redgrave will do the voice in the english version.



And, last but not least, Pixar also released this new Cars 2 clip called "Tokyo Party"!




Cars Land Picture: copyright Orange County Register

Cars Picture and Video: copyright Disney - Pixar