Shanghaî Disneyland Launch Disney Premier Access : Now You Can Avoid the Long Queues of SDL Rides but you'll Have to Pay For It

As you've probably heard queues at Shanghaî Disneyland can be really long on some rides ( Soaring, TRON light cycles, Roaring Rapids, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Buzz Lightyear, Winnie the Pooh and more. Now the good news is that Shanghaî Disneyland just launched "Disney Premier Access" which "allows guests to customize their experience and make their day more flexible than ever". It works on these specific attractions: Soaring Over the Horizon, Roaring Rapids, TRON Lightcycle Power Run, Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan’s Flight.

The BAD news is that you'll have to pay for this "Disney Premier Access" and it'll cost you for ONE "Premier Access" - i.e ONE ride - between 16 and 20 euros depending if it's on peak or regular days, or for the Premier Access Set for all seven attractions between 65 and 80 euros ( peak or regular days ), which mean that this Disney Premier Access Set  will cost you as much as the entrance ticket itself!

It's basically a Fast Pass that you can buy - and you'll have to go through the Fast Pass entrance for each ride - but here at the difference of the usual Fast Passes that you can get for only one ride at a time you can "buy" them for all the rides with the longest waiting times. The regular "free" Fast-Pass is of course still available. Let's have more details about this from the SDL website.

More Flexible Access to the Fun: New Disney Premier Access provides you with more flexible access to the fun and putting choices in the hands. Guests can maximize their day by purchasing the new Disney Premier Access to enjoy priority access to participating attractions at Shanghai Disneyland.

Disney Premier Access Peak Price: RMB 150 (valid on Peak Days) Regular Price: RMB 120 (valid on Regular Days)

Disney Premier Access Set Peak Price: RMB 600 (valid on Peak Days) Regular Price: RMB 480 (valid on Regular Days) Attractions Offering Disney Premier Access Include:

A Disney Premier Access will provide guests with flexible access to one of the seven participating attractions at Shanghai Disneyland.

Attractions offering Disney Premier Access service at Shanghai Disneyland include:

Soaring Over the Horizon – Adventure Isle Roaring Rapids – Adventure Isle TRON Lightcycle Power Run – Tomorrowland Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue – Tomorrowland Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – Fantasyland The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – Fantasyland Peter Pan’s Flight.

Fantasyland Disney Premier Access is non-transferrable and subject to the availability and operating schedule of the attraction.

Disney Premier Access Purchase Locations

You can visit Avenue M Arcade at Mickey Avenue to obtain information and purchase Disney Premier Access for any of the seven attractions and Disney Premier Access Set.
Disney Premier Access will also be available at the designated merchandise locations located in the land of the participating attraction.

Intergalactic Imports in Tomorrowland
Hundred Acre Goods in Fantasyland
Laughing Monkey Traders in Adventure Isle

For example, you can purchase a Disney Premier Access for any of the Tomorrowland participating attractions from Intergalactic Imports at Tomorrowland and any Fantasyland participating attractions from Hundred Acre Goods at Fantasyland.



To ensure access to the attraction, guests should only purchase Disney Premier Access in one of the designated Disney merchandise locations at Shanghai Disneyland. How to Validate:

Upon purchasing a Disney Premier Access ticket in one of the merchandise locations at Shanghai Disneyland, the guest using the ticket will be required to take a photo with a Cast Member. The photo matching the guest using the Disney Premier Access, together with the Disney Premier Access ticket, will be required to gain attraction entry.

Disney Premier Access Rules

Disney Premier Access is subject to availability.
Disney Premier Access is non-transferrable, not for resale and non-refundable unless otherwise required by the law.
Disney Premier Access is subject to the operating schedule of the attraction.
Disney Premier Access is date-specific and valid for admission for one person, one time only on the date purchased.
Disney Premier Access holders should queue up and enter the selected attractions through the Disney Fastpass entrance.
Presentation of this Disney Premier Access along with your corresponding unique photo taken at the sales location at time of purchase is required upon attraction entry.

Pictures: copyright Disney

Soaring Around The World / Over the Horizon Full Movie

Genuine footage of the NEW Soaring Around The World / Over the Horizon movie who has debut at Shanghaî Disneyland and is coming to Epcot and Disney California Adventure on June 17! And, good news, they've kept Jerry Goldsmith awesome original score with just an arrangement for this new movie. Note: the first 30 seconds of the ride movie may be missing in the video below.




Picture and video: copyright Disney

D&M Exclusive Soaring Over the World Movie !

As we know, 2016 will be the year of a new Soarin' movie so be prepared to soar over the world at DCA and Epcot with "Soaring Over the World" and at Shanghaî Disneyland where the attraction will be titled "Soaring Over the Horizon". And all this in glorious 4K, if not more "K" with the newest and best digital projection system. At Epcot the attraction will be closed from January 4, 2016 until Summer and when it will reopen it will be with a third theater and technical upgrades in the two others existing.

Now, for those of you who are Soarin' fans - and who is not? - and can't wait for the new movie i've got some Soarin' awesomeness for you today, and that is thanks to ...Apple who, in their new Apple TV box included some gorgeous video screensavers for your TV, filmed exactly the same way WDI is filming the Soarin' footage ...and in different locations around the world! So, when i saw these i thought that not only the footage was awesome but also that it would be perfect for a Soaring Over the World "home made" movie, and that's exactly what i did.

Before you jump to the video one or two things you need to know. First, i used the beloved Jerry Goldsmith score from Soarin' Over California. The problem was that the score has been written for what was happening in the Soarin' scenes, and i had to do the editing with new footage which was not only not filmed for the purpose of an attraction movie but also not at the right speed! The Apple screensaver videos are voluntarily extremely slow, just what you need for a screensaver to create something hypnotic on a TV screen. So, i had not only to accelerate each video but to find the right speed which fit with Jerry Goldsmith music. Additionally, the Apple videos are all silent so i also had to found some "outdoor sounds" to add some life to the whole thing like seagull sound, or sea waves sound, etc... The last thing was to give to the movie the same sensation than we has watching the first Soarin', i.e a mix of contemplative beauty and spectacular shots delivering an exhilarating feeling. You'll tell me if i succeeded!

What you won't have is the kind of mini-script you had in the Soarin' Over California scenes in which there was not only beautiful landscapes but also humans skiing, surfing, etc... And of course, no golf ball coming right at you or no orange grove scent, and no Disneyland fireworks finale as there was no such thing in the Apple footage. But even without all this, and considering that this is literally the cheapest Soarin' movie in history with a cost of $0.00 (!) i'm quite happy with the result and i hope you will enjoy it too.

Here are the destinations over which you'll "soar" in the video: The video open with San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate bridge, a tribute to the opening of Soarin' Over California, then we'll fly West and soar over Hawaii, the Great Wall of China, London, Buckingham Palace, New York then enjoy a sunset over Manhattan, and end with stunning night shots of San Francisco Bay and London Thames river. As i said, no Magic Kingdom at the end and no fireworks but i've added a small visual effect...

Some of these locations, by the way, may be included in the "real" Soaring Over the World movie next year, starting by the Great Wall of China which is already announced. May be not Hawaii but New York and London could be part of the different destinations... So, have a look at the video, definitely watch it in HD and full screen, and don't go away as right after i'll tell you how to install these video screensavers on your computer to enjoy a never ending Soarin' day!





Hope you enjoyed the video, and now here is how to download and install these awesome video screensavers. Apple included 34 screensaver videos in the Apple TV and you can download them at this site HERE. Next, you'll need to download a small software called SaveHollywood which is a screensaver software using videos, exactly what we're looking for. It's totally free and it's downloadable HERE. Please note that this is a software for Mac, so if you're on a Windows PC you might have to use another one, which i don't know. If you have a Mac, after you installed the software the system preferences window should open. Check that it is SaveHollywood which is selected in the sidebar and go to the last step, click the "Screen Saver Options" to be displayed in this window.

Finally, you will need to add the videos in the options area. You can drag files from the Finder, or click the "+" button just below and select the files later, or even a folder if you have saved all movies in a subfolder. As for other options, the ones recommended to activate are "Playing in random order" and "Occupy the full screen" to find an interface similar to the one of the Apple TV. If your Mac has multiple screens, an option exist to restrict saver on the main screen only. If you do not check, you will have two different videos, as unfortunately there is no option to display the same file on both screens.

Picture and video: copyright Apple, Disney

Will France Futuroscope Open a Soarin' Attraction Before Disneyland Paris ?

If you're a faithful Disney and more reader you probably know the Futuroscope as i did previously many articles about this french successful theme park, the 3rd in number of guests after Disneyland Paris and the Parc Asterix. Sure, with 1.46 M visitors in 2013 the Futuroscope is not a big threat for DLP and its 14.9M guests, still, with one new attraction each year and often inventive rides the capacity of the Futuroscope to attract new visitors must not be underestimated.

And recently, Dominique Hummel, Futuroscope board president revealed that from now till 2018 the park will invest 50M € to create new attractions and shows. At WDI you can't have a lot with 50M€, but at the Futuroscope with a budget for each new attraction around 12M€, you can create 3 or 4 new attractions with this amount, and generally good ones.

Now, what are their plans up to 2018? Well, two new pavilions as well as a Live show are currently in the creation process. The first thing, in 2015,  will be a "futuristic circus" a Live show in the spirit of those of Le Cirque du Soleil and this fun park animation will also approach the theme of technology and science fiction.

In 2018 in an attraction called "Darwin 4" guests will be invited to a space voyage thanks to the famous door of Einstein-Rosen ( as seen in the Stargate movie ). Guests aboard 4 wheels drive vehicles - equipped with plenty of on-ride effects - will move through a long tunnel  with 3D projections on each side, up to an attack from extra terrestrial creatures. Sounds to me like something close to the technology used in Universal King Kong 360 3D, but i may be wrong... Anyway, once arrived on the exoplanet guests will be able to have a drink in a space bar, and more...

But the other new ride which interest us particularly is the one scheduled for 2016 as it is a ride which looks very much like one using the same technology than Soarin'.  The theme will be a teleportation in the world of Jules Verne, guests up in the air, facing a huge and immersive hemispherical screen, just like in Soarin'. The name of the new pavilion should be "Sky World". Now, as revealed last week by Geoffrey, we know that DLP might have in its plans to open a Soarin' ride at DLP Adventureland in a near future. Sounds strange to have a Soarin' ride in Adventureand but as explained in another article last week the 1940's "Indy" travels storyline could work well in Adventureland. Although Geoffrey didn't had any dates for the opening we also know that Star Tours 2 : The Adventure Continues should come finally at DLP Discoveryland in 2016. As there is no way that DLP also open a Soarin' ride the same year, and as it won't open too in 2015, chances are that the Futuroscope will be the first one to introduce in France a ride using more or less the same technology than Soarin'.

And it's not that DLP hadn't been lucky during the last ten years that no one else in France introduced a "Soarin'" ride... As a matter of fact a "Soarin'" ride concept was proposed to the Futuroscope ten years ago and at that time they could have had it for not more than 10M€, including the filming of the ride movie but with one theater only instead of two like at DCA. No need to say that there is no way to have a Soarin' ride from WDI for 10M€, but at that time it was possible to do it for this price for the Futuroscope. Strangely, the Futuroscope didn't jumped on the idea - and i say "strangely" because a Soarin' ride is exactly something made for the Futuroscope which, since its opening in 1987, has always been the theme park of all kind of projection technologies.

Anyway, ten years ago they didn't did it and thanks to this DLP was not overtake and still can be the first one to introduce a Soarin' ride in France. Which is important as one of the big "wow" in Soarin' is this unique feeling that you're flying like a bird over the scenes. But now, if the Futuroscope open their "Soarin' " ride in 2016 chances are that DLP won't be anymore the first to introduce to french and european guests this wonderful technology.
I suppose this is the risk that can happen when you wait too long...

Top Picture: copyright Futurocope

Are DLP Imagineers Preparing a Soarin' Ride for Adventureland with a 1940's "Indy" Theming ?

Here is something interesting bringing more infos about the Soarin' ride envisioned for Disneyland Paris Adventureland, as you've learned yesterday from my article about the report posted by Geoffrey on his Facebook page. When i read this, i had some doubts that it was a real good idea to put a Soarin' ride at DLP Adventureland but Geoffrey posted yesterday a comment to my article which gives more infos about the theming and / or storyline that WDI seems to envision for this ride. You may have read his comment at the end of yesterday's article HERE but i repost it below.

"From what we have heard, the Soarin' ride will be themed with some ties with Indiana Jones (the planes travels scenes) and will have a very 40's spirit in it. And from what I understood, the opening and ending scenes would be different from the US version of the "Soaring over Horizon" movie to better tie with this style, while the rest might be the same : flights over old historical places. Finally, one important thing about the location: we said ( ndr: in the report ) it could be built behind the Indy Temple, but there are other places available than the one they kept for Indiana Jones Adventure. One that could be far better to hide the huge show building, and I'm sure you know guess where..."

So, what d'you think, folks, do you think a Soarin' ride could find its place at DLP Adventureland with this kind of Indy story line? Which will explain by the way why they will put it also at Shanghaî Disneyland Adventure Isle... Personally i'm still not totally convinced - not by this kind of "Indy" storyline, i think it will work fine - but mainly because of the huge "machinery" of Soarin'. I'm talking about what you can see on the picture below, coming from The Theme Park Guy.

I mean, with the best "Adventureland" storyline in the world there is no way they can theme this huge machinery ( or i don't know how we can call it ). You'll tell me, people will not care as they'll look at the movie. Sure, but you'll admit that it would better fit eventually in Discoveryland than in Adventureland. The 1940's "plane" storyline will help for sure, but i still think - wrong or right - that the transition between an exotic world outside and the inside machinery of Soarin' might be a bit hard to swallow... Now, don't get me wrong, i'm sure DLP  or SDL Imagineers are aware of this and will do their best to create a great theming inside, but i still need to see it to believe it can "work"...

As for the ride location, if they can build the Soarin' show building backstage, on the other side of the railway track, and keep intact the land that they've kept so far to build Indiana Jones Adventure that would be perfect... who knows, may be someone some day at DLP will finally have an epiphany and realize that bringing IJA at DLP Adventureland would be a great idea.

Pictures: copyright Alain Littaye : The Theme Park Guy

Soarin' over the world to have multiple films like Star Tours ?

Lance from Screamscape has a very interesting rumor today as he heard " that the new Soarin' version ( aka: Soarin' over the world ) coming in 2016 may borrow a little technology from the Star Tours 2 project. This would be more than the switch over from Imax film to Digital (each has it’s own merit), but a switch to digital would also allow for the possibility of using a randomizer to include different possible ride scenes to be shown during each visit... 

Now while I can’ verify that this will happen, the simple fact that there are really far too many incredible places in the world worth Soarin’ over, more than would easily fit into a quick 5-6 minute ride film, this would be a great way to add them all into the mix of possible locations. In fact… they could even incorporate some of the great scenes from Soarin’ over California into the mix, ensuring that some of the existing ride lives on into the next generation." 

Not only this would be a great idea but it will also makes perfectly sense. In fact, when i've read Lance post i thought: " how didn't i think about this before?!? " It would be absurd to "soar" above the whole world in 5 or 6 minutes, so this is really what must be done, and i hope it will happen for real!

Now, if you want to have an idea how great Soarin' over the world sequences might be, here is something that is as close as possible to how it should look. Discovery Channel released recently a series of beautiful short documentaries called "The World from above". Each episode has a different destination and the one i embedded here will take you for a HD flight above Italy and especially Venise the gorgeous city of Doges. As i wouldn't be surprised that Venise will be one of Soarin' over the world destinations this kind of "preview" should interest you. 
Very important: choose to watch it in the highest definition - 1080p - and definitely in full screen mode!

More on Screamscape HERE , and also more about Soarin' Over the World different countries / destinations in my latest update HERE. 

New " Planes " Trailer Released, It Looks Really Good... And Why The Movie Might Also Be A Trailer For A New Attraction Coming in 2016 At DCA and WDW Epcot !

Disney released at last a real trailer for the upcoming "Planes" movie and i wonder why it took them so long to show us something better than the previous "Top Gun" style shots.  Now it looks not only much better than expected but you will also understand why John Lasseter and Bob Iger decided to release Planes in theater instead than directly on Dvd or Blu Ray.

You can watch the trailer below and as you will see we learn more about the storyline.
Apparently there will be a planes race around the world...

...which will lead the different planes to fly over many countries...

...like India and the famous Taj Mahal...

...to Vietnam's Halong Bay ( or it might be a China landscape )...

...to the north american national parks...

...or even New York.

The animation was done by Disney Studios - not Pixar - and looks really good, so that's a good point. But what is interesting in this planes race around the world is that i wonder if it's not also a way to introduce the new and long awaited  "Soaring over the world'" movie which is not yet officially announced but is in fact scheduled to replace Soarin' Over California at DCA and Epcot in 2016, one year after it will make its debut at Shanghaî Disneyland Adventureland under the title "Soaring Over The Horizon".

And, as i've been told recently that the Soarin' attraction might change its name and become a "Planes" attraction - although the ride system should remain the same - you understand why i make a link between this excellent trailer in which we see planes literally "flying over the horizon", and the Soaring ride itself...

That said, may be there is also another kind of "Planes" ride coming as Mark Hickson, former Imagineer, revealed on his excellent site Disney by Mark that he has been told by an insider source that the new WDI patent called "Twister Ride System" would be used for a "Planes" ride. You can see more patent sketches as well as an explanation of this twister ride system on Mark's site HERE.

I'm sure we will know more about all this pretty soon, may be at the next D23 Expo in three months.

Anyway, in the meantime here is the Planes trailer, hope you'll enjoy it!




Pictures and video: copyright Disney