News About the Future of WDW and HKDL !

The press event for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ended today and Disney also announced during the event plenty of great things for WDW Resort. I've also for you fresh news from the other side of the world - as Hong Kong Disneyland is located almost at the other side of the planet from Florida.

But let's start with Animal Kingdom and the great artwork above showing the “Rivers of Light” night show which promises "to be an innovative show unlike anything ever seen in Disney Parks, combining live music, floating lanterns, water screens and swirling animal imagery. The show will magically come to life on the broad, natural stage of the Discovery River, between Discovery Island and Expedition Everest, delighting our guests and truly capping off a full day of adventures at Disney’s Animal Kingdom".

Always at Animal Kingdom will come this June the "Harambe Nights", a special celebration event like no other in honor of the epic tale of “The Lion King”.

"It all begins with a Welcome Reception in the park’s Harambe Village, including mouth-watering appetizers and African-inspired wine and beer. Then it’s time for the ‘mane’ event! Take your seat inside the newly built Harambe Theatre for an unforgettable performance of “The Lion King – Concert in the Wild.” This all-new, never-before-seen theatrical experience features a live orchestra and choir, dancers, digitally projected movie moments, and dramatic lighting and scenic elements – all hosted by a celebrity guest narrator. The show brings to life the humor, heart, and stirring emotional power of Simba’s journey to find his place as the Lion King."

"The lineup of celebrity narrators for “The Lion King – Concert in the Wild” features stars from movies, TV, and Broadway. Those scheduled to appear each night of the event include:
June 7 – Viola Davis: “The Help,” “Ender’s Game”
June 14 – TBD
June 21 – Montego Glover: “The Following,” “Memphis”
June 28 – David Alan Grier: “Porgy & Bess,” “In Living Color”
July 5 – Michael Beach: “ER,” “Third Watch,” “Sons of Anarchy”
July 12 – Harry Lennix: “The Blacklist,” “The Five Heartbeats”
July 19 – Joe Morton: “Scandal,” “American Gangster,” “The Good Wife”
July 26 – Alfre Woodard: “Desperate Housewives,” “Miss Evers Boys”
August 2 – Brian Stokes Mitchell: “Ragtime,” “Trapper John, M.D.,” “Glee”
August 9 – Patina Miller: “Pippin,” “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1”

"After the show, the celebration continues with the Harambe Nights Street Party, filled with music, characters, and live performers, encouraging everyone to join in and “Go wild!” You can enjoy an all-inclusive buffet of sophisticated and flavorful African cuisine and gourmet desserts. Exclusive Lion King merchandise and collectibles will be available for purchase during the event, and you’ll want to stick around for a special finale to bid “kwaherini” to a magical evening that could only happen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
Harambe Nights takes place every Saturday from June 7 – August 9, 2014, with the Welcome Reception starting at 7 p.m. and a 7:30 p.m. show time. Tickets are $119 for adults, $79 for ages 3-9, plus tax. Tickets with premium floor seating are $134 for adults, $94 for ages 3-9, plus tax. Capacity is limited, so you’ll want to go ahead and get your tickets by visiting Disneyworld.com/HarambeNights or calling 407-939-1319."

Talking about the Lion King, “Festival of the Lion King,” the musical show will return in a new location in the Africa section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom this June. Above, a first look at what the new theater, which will be located in the left side of the Africa section, will look like.

Earlier today, Walt Disney World Resort President George A. Kalogridis also announced some news about the Disney’s Polynesian Resort which currently have new bungalows being built in front of the hotel in Seven Seas Lagoon. And as part of a complete re-imagining, Disney’s Polynesian Resort is returning to its original, 1971 opening day name: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Tikis bars fans will be happy to learn that the sweeping renovation, happening now, will also include a new food and beverage experience opening for guests next year, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto — based on the popular themed lounge bar at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

And with a great Tikis theming as you can see above and below!

Let's move now in Asia with fresh news about Hong Kong Disneyland, starting by this new rendering for what should be a scene of Iron Man Experience, to open in 2016. It shows the ride shuttle vehicle in the sky of Hong Kong approaching a Stark skyscraper with Hong Kong harbor in the background!

HKDL will also have starting this September its first permanent nighttime parade "Disney Paint the Night". Here is the logo of it...

...and here is a first concept-art for this awaited interactive parade during which guests will be able to change colors of the floats!

The second concept-art below shows a "Cars" float with Mack equipped with hundred of light, and programming should make them appearing as three dimensional...

Last but not least - and this last news is about the present - with the release of this beautiful Mystic Point attraction poster!

O-Kay, that should do it for today. See you soon for a new D&M update and in the meantime i remind you that, to celebrate Disneyland Paris 22nd Anniversary, i'm also doing a special offer price on the great Disneyland Paris "From Sketch to Reality" book - for both ENGLISH or FRENCH editions - and in addition to the special price is also include a "surprise gift" that everyone who will order the book will receive, and believe me you will love it!  Thanks to this special offer you will save $50 on the normal price, so if you don't own the book yet i'm sure you don't want to miss it! Paypal and credit card payment are accepted, so make sure you to place your order now! 

You can use the Paypal button below for the english edition, and for orders of the french edition or for credit card payment please send me an email at: neverlandeditions@gmail.com

Disneyland Paris From Sketch to Reality - Include shipping

1 Copy English NORMAL Edition Disneyland Paris book inc shipping €75.00 EUR 1 Copy English COLLECTOR Ed Disneyland Paris book inc shipping €115.00 EUR 1 Ex Signé Collector Français Livre Disneyland Paris + envoi €100.00 EUR 1 Ex Collector Français Livre Disneyland Paris + envoi €75.00 EUR

 

Don't know yet the Disneyland Paris book? Have a look at the video below or on the book website HERE.

Pictures: copyright Disney

A Tribute to Tom Thordarson - a.k.a " THOR " - Artwork - Part One : Tikis and Pirates

Today, I would like to introduce to you a great artist, Tom Thordarson. I will do a series of articles about Tom, former WDI Imagineer now living in Hawaii - lucky man! - and this first article will delight those of you who love Hawaian Tikis, Pirates, and lands of adventure !

Tom Thordarson, or "THOR" as he is best known by both collectors of his work and the growing awareness in the art community, can truly take your imagination on a journey unlike any other. His life as an artist began when he was just old enough to hold a pencil. With his mother being an artist as well, she would hand him paper and pencils to "keep him out of mischief," as she would say. The years spent drawing and painting would soon become a powerful tool to communicate his intense imagination and endless spirit of adventure in his career to be.

Below, a recent picture of "Thor", holding a frosty Mai Tai in his hand.....which is always good for a little inspiration!



In his own words, Thor explains, "Creating my own entertainment and building my own toys was an activity I was highly encouraged to do as a kid. I learned to believe in the real magic and power of my imagination. I believed that if I could draw something with enough passion and thought, then what would stop it from becoming something I could touch or step right into one day?”



"My entire childhood was filled with endless curiosity, drawing and adventure. I loved building tree houses and forts from scrap wood and stuff I could find in my Grandfather's workshop. The experiences that would lead me to what I paint today were inspired by my family's incredibly fun vacations every summer to Hawaii beginning at age 6. I also have two sets of cousins on the Big Island who encouraged me to become a certified diver when I lived with them for many summers growing up as well."



"So, Hawaii is my second home. I love the sea. I spent endless hours on Maui and Hawaii combing the beaches and climbing trees in the nearby jungles pretending I was a pirate or some ingenious castaway living off the land in a high seas adventure."



An honors graduate in Illustration from the prestigious Pasadena Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, Thor was immediately discovered by the entertainment/theme park industry which he remained in for 17 years. His imagination and talents have led him to conceive, illustrate and paint concepts for countless rides and attractions with many major entertainment companies. With strong skills in both team leadership and his art, he served as the Director of Attraction Development at MCA Universal Studios, Hollywood and then as a Disney Imagineer with his role as a Director/Senior Concept Designer.

Among his many assignments at Disney was the task of the concept design for one of the main "E-ticket" rides for Tokyo Disney Sea called "Journey to the Center of the Earth," TDS top rated thrill ride. He was also a key team player in the early design phases of many other attractions for Disney Sea, especially Mysterious Island.



Residing now in both California and Hawaii, Thor has put aside the entertainment design industry to focus on his art inspired by those early days of tropical adventures that shaped his art and imagination. "I am painting the fantasies and stories now that I imagined all those years sitting on the beaches, diving in the sea or building hideaways in the lush island jungles," Thor explains.




At the beginning of the article, i've promised you Tikis, and here is a selection of Tom's Hawaian scenes with Tikis.








Some years ago, Tom did these two gorgeous paintings below for the WDW Polynesian Resort: "I did these two paintings a couple years ago when they were renovating the Polynesian Resort. I was commissioned directly by Wing Chao, Vice Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. He is a fan of my Hawaii and Tiki art and owns some of my work. These paintings are reproduced and framed in all the new suites in the Polynesian today. There are about a half dozen hidden Mickey's in each painting... I also did four large paintings that are behind the main reception desk at the Polynesian when you check in."




"I am hoping that everyone finds these enchanted places, intriguing contraptions or playful characters I am painting now as much fun to look at, as they are for me to paint. Please feel free to step into them. Come by and share some Aloha spirit with me and I will tell you a few magical tales. The tiki torches are all lit and fluttering in the trade winds.... I will see you on the lanai!"



Tom also creates incredible paintings, not using ink, but rum! That's right, the same and famous Pirates rum! it looks great, as you will see with the four "rum paintings" below.






Now, if you want to see Tom in "action", don't miss this video below, where you'll see Tom at home in Hawaii - filmed by his teenage daughter - experimenting with a fun series of sketches created with flaming rum and a paint brush!



Tom is also painting a great "Tiki Idols" series where he take a person that is tied to the Hawaii pop culture and paint them as a Tiki: "I had a lot of requests for me to do an Obama...so I cranked one out last week before the weekend show. This "Obama Tiki Idol" is the latest add to my Hawaiian Tiki Idol series, and it sold instantly!



Tom Thordarson have his own web site and a gallery in Hawaii - more precisely on the Island of Oahu - where you'll be able to find his beautiful artwork, including these Tiki idols series. Some of them are on sale, and whether it is the originals or very affordable prints, any Tiki lover will find his happiness! Also, if you're a fan of Tom's artwork and want to contact him, feel free to do it through his MySpace page.



In the next article we will talk about a great attraction concept that Tom did for Landmark Entertainment. I think we can describe it as a "Jungle Cruise with Dinosaurs" ride and believe me, you will love it!


Artwork: copyright Tom Thordarson

Polynesian Resort paintings: copyright The Walt Disney Company

All my thanks to Tom Thordarson for all his beautiful artwork!



Click HERE for direct access to the TDS Wallpapers HD iTunes page or READ my article first HERE.

A Tribute to Tom Thordarson - a.k.a " THOR " - Artwork - Part One : Tikis and Pirates

Today, I would like to introduce to you a great artist, Tom Thordarson. I will do a series of articles about Tom, former WDI Imagineer now living in Hawaii - lucky man! - and this first article will delight those of you who love Hawaian Tikis, Pirates, and lands of adventure !

Tom Thordarson, or "THOR" as he is best known by both collectors of his work and the growing awareness in the art community, can truly take your imagination on a journey unlike any other. His life as an artist began when he was just old enough to hold a pencil. With his mother being an artist as well, she would hand him paper and pencils to "keep him out of mischief," as she would say. The years spent drawing and painting would soon become a powerful tool to communicate his intense imagination and endless spirit of adventure in his career to be.

Below, a recent picture of "Thor", holding a frosty Mai Tai in his hand.....which is always good for a little inspiration!



In his own words, Thor explains, "Creating my own entertainment and building my own toys was an activity I was highly encouraged to do as a kid. I learned to believe in the real magic and power of my imagination. I believed that if I could draw something with enough passion and thought, then what would stop it from becoming something I could touch or step right into one day?”



"My entire childhood was filled with endless curiosity, drawing and adventure. I loved building tree houses and forts from scrap wood and stuff I could find in my Grandfather's workshop. The experiences that would lead me to what I paint today were inspired by my family's incredibly fun vacations every summer to Hawaii beginning at age 6. I also have two sets of cousins on the Big Island who encouraged me to become a certified diver when I lived with them for many summers growing up as well."



"So, Hawaii is my second home. I love the sea. I spent endless hours on Maui and Hawaii combing the beaches and climbing trees in the nearby jungles pretending I was a pirate or some ingenious castaway living off the land in a high seas adventure."



An honors graduate in Illustration from the prestigious Pasadena Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, Thor was immediately discovered by the entertainment/theme park industry which he remained in for 17 years. His imagination and talents have led him to conceive, illustrate and paint concepts for countless rides and attractions with many major entertainment companies. With strong skills in both team leadership and his art, he served as the Director of Attraction Development at MCA Universal Studios, Hollywood and then as a Disney Imagineer with his role as a Director/Senior Concept Designer.

Among his many assignments at Disney was the task of the concept design for one of the main "E-ticket" rides for Tokyo Disney Sea called "Journey to the Center of the Earth," TDS top rated thrill ride. He was also a key team player in the early design phases of many other attractions for Disney Sea, especially Mysterious Island.



Residing now in both California and Hawaii, Thor has put aside the entertainment design industry to focus on his art inspired by those early days of tropical adventures that shaped his art and imagination. "I am painting the fantasies and stories now that I imagined all those years sitting on the beaches, diving in the sea or building hideaways in the lush island jungles," Thor explains.




At the beginning of the article, i've promised you Tikis, and here is a selection of Tom's Hawaian scenes with Tikis.








Some years ago, Tom did these two gorgeous paintings below for the WDW Polynesian Resort: "I did these two paintings a couple years ago when they were renovating the Polynesian Resort. I was commissioned directly by Wing Chao, Vice Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. He is a fan of my Hawaii and Tiki art and owns some of my work. These paintings are reproduced and framed in all the new suites in the Polynesian today. There are about a half dozen hidden Mickey's in each painting... I also did four large paintings that are behind the main reception desk at the Polynesian when you check in."




"I am hoping that everyone finds these enchanted places, intriguing contraptions or playful characters I am painting now as much fun to look at, as they are for me to paint. Please feel free to step into them. Come by and share some Aloha spirit with me and I will tell you a few magical tales. The tiki torches are all lit and fluttering in the trade winds.... I will see you on the lanai!"



Tom also creates incredible paintings, not using ink, but rum! That's right, the same and famous Pirates rum! it looks great, as you will see with the four "rum paintings" below.






Now, if you want to see Tom in "action", don't miss this video below, where you'll see Tom at home in Hawaii - filmed by his teenage daughter - experimenting with a fun series of sketches created with flaming rum and a paint brush!



Tom is also painting a great "Tiki Idols" series where he take a person that is tied to the Hawaii pop culture and paint them as a Tiki: "I had a lot of requests for me to do an Obama...so I cranked one out last week before the weekend show. This "Obama Tiki Idol" is the latest add to my Hawaiian Tiki Idol series, and it sold instantly!



Tom Thordarson have his own web site and a gallery in Hawaii - more precisely on the Island of Oahu - where you'll be able to find his beautiful artwork, including these Tiki idols series. Some of them are on sale, and whether it is the originals or very affordable prints, any Tiki lover will find his happiness! Also, if you're a fan of Tom's artwork and want to contact him, feel free to do it through his MySpace page.



In the next article we will talk about a great attraction concept that Tom did for Landmark Entertainment. I think we can describe it as a "Jungle Cruise with Dinosaurs" ride and believe me, you will love it!


Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat

Artwork: copyright Tom Thordarson

Polynesian Resort paintings: copyright The Walt Disney Company

All my thanks to Tom Thordarson for all his beautiful artwork!