Universal Officially Announces That Universal Beijing Will Open in 2021

It's official : the awaited Universal Studios park will open in Beijing in 2021, according to an official announcement by the resort's management on Tuesday.

From China.org: "Originally slated to open this year, Universal Beijing Resort, which will be the fifth and biggest Universal Studios park in the world, will now open its doors to the public two years later.

"You thought the wait is forever, but actually, it will be 2021," the resort announced on its official Weibo account, while posting a promotional teaser video showing the theme park under construction. "This is a gift in advance for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Please expect the grand opening of the Universal Beijing Resort in 2021."

The resort project was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission in September 2014 and is located in Beijing's Tongzhou district, which was positioned by the Beijing municipal government in 2015 to become the city's sub-center. The construction of the first phase of the resort has now entered its final stage with steel structural frames completed and rides installation work and gardening work under way. A subway station serving the resort ( picture below ) will also be in operation by the end of this year.



The resort is owned by the Beijing International Resort Co., Ltd., a joint venture between the Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co., Ltd. and Universal Parks & Resorts, a business unit of Comcast NBCUniversal. The theme park destination will feature several all-new attractions along with the best Universal rides, shows and attractions from around the world. It will also have specially created experiences designed to reflect China's unique cultural heritage.

Approved by the Beijing municipal government, the Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co., Ltd. was also founded for the purpose of supporting Universal Beijing Resort in its investment, development, operation and management. Beijing Shouhuan is owned by five State-owned companies, including the Beijing Tourism Group, one of China's largest tourism companies.

The initial phase of Universal Beijing Resort, covering over 60 hectares, will include the world-renowned theme park – Universal Studios as well as the Universal CityWalk retail, dining and entertainment complex. According to China's media reports, it will have seven zones with attractions and rides inspired by Universal's big productions, including Harry Potter, Minions, Jurassic Park, Waterworld, Transformers, as well as Hollywood attractions and the Kung Fu Panda franchise.



Samples of or actual pieces of theming are now arriving on site. On the picture above, probably the exterior walls to Transformers: The Ride 3D.

It will also have two extraordinary and world-first hotel concepts: The Universal Studios Grand Hotel and the NUO Resort Hotel. The hotels will be destinations unto themselves, offering "incredibly immersive experiences through the perfect blending of unique stylish designs and historic and cultural features". This will bring entirely new hospitality experiences to life for visitors at the Universal Beijing Resort, the resort management said on Sept. 3.



The 800-room Universal-branded hotel, which is designed to be a four-star family resort hotel, is inspired by Spanish renaissance architecture and will contain many film elements within its premises. As for the NUO Resort Hotel, its architecture is inspired by China's famous Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace). The NUO Resort Hotel will be a five-star hotel with 400 rooms, and its construction will soon be completed.



Key International Hotels Management Co., Ltd., a joint venture between the Beijing Tourism Group and Kempinski Hotels, will help deliver the guest experience. The design of the two hotels were led by Universal Parks & Resorts, with support from internationally and domestically acclaimed institutions, while the actual construction of the two hotels is being managed by the Beijing International Resort Co., Ltd.

Now Universal Parks & Resorts currently owns and operates Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Japan and has a license agreement with Universal Studios Singapore. Previous reports said the Beijing theme park has secured an investment of 50 billion yuan ($7.4 billion)."

Pictures: copyright Univesal Beijing

New Jurassic World Movie: "Battle at Big Rock" !

Believe it or not but there is a new Jurassic World movie! No kidding. And yes, it's an official one coming out of nowhere, a short 8.40 min long movie, titled "Battle at Big Rock". It's an all-new short film directed by Colin Trevorrow, written by Trevorrow and Emily Carmichael!

The short takes place one year after the events of the last Jurassic World film in Big Rock National Park, where dinosaurs are now living in our world. The story follows a family of four whose encounter with these wild animals becomes a terrifying fight for survival. Go ahead, watch it in full below!

Special Offer on Last Copies of Disneyland Paris Book "From Sketch to Reality" Rare COLLECTOR's English Edition !

Special Offer on Disneyland Paris Book Rare COLLECTOR's edition!

The book Disneyland Paris in its rare COLLECTOR's edition is out of stock since years and I only have three copies of the normal English edition, all three in perfect condition, each at 250 € that you can order to me if you wish by sending me an email at: amplittaye@gmail.com

BUT I've found back nine copies of the rare ENGLISH COLLECTOR's edition as well as two copies of the "normal" English edition whose interior pages are impeccable but the cover or jacket had taken a little shock during the trip from the printer. The damage is minimal and for each copy proposed i've put in the full article HERE pictures showing the shock that happened on each copy so you can judge the condition.

This collector's edition is sold between $500 and $2000 by other sellers on Amazon, when they have it, which is rare because only 2000 copies were printed, 17 years ago, and the collector's edition is extinct since a long time. The price i ask here for these slightly damaged copies is between 85€ and 150 € depending on the condition of the copy or the damage. The collector's edition of the book differs from the normal edition by a gold-colored print of the title on the cover and dust jacket, a more luxurious printing paper for all inside pages, a limited and numbered edition of 2000 copies and five lithos showing concept-arts for the Walt Disney Studios. The lithos that were included with the collector's edition are here missing in these slightly damaged copies but I will send the PDF files so you can have them and print them. And once again, the interior pages are in perfect condition, so jump to the page HERE and choose the copy you prefer!

ALL D23 Expo 2019 EPCOT Attractions Posters in Glorious Colors and High-Def !

I have a last gift for you coming from the last D23 Expo and those of you who had followed reports about it probably saw these great attractions posters created specially for the 2019 D23 Expo. Thanks to pictures shot by Andy Castro from Mice Age, whom i thanks a lot, and edited by yours truly, you have all of them below.

EDIT Oct 20: The pics are here in 640px large but per request of many readers who arrived too late when i've posted the article last month i've re-uploaded the zip folder of all of them in 2300px high and you can download a folder with all of them, only until DEC 23 HERE.















































































All pictures: copyright Disney

Take a First Look at the Epcot Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride Vehicles !

Take a First Look at the Epcot Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride Vehicles, a family-friendly "storytelling coaster" that will feature a groundbreaking ride system with vehicles that rotate 360 degrees and can even do a reverse launch.





As you'll see in the video below – provided by Walt Disney Imagineering – each individual cab in the attraction’s OmniCoaster ride system will direct your eyes to the story happening around you. Instead of whizzing by the action, the system will fully immerse you in the attraction’s story from the minute you take off.

At Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind the adventure will start in the “Galaxarium,” a planetarium-like exhibition that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and Xandar. You’ll be invited to learn more about Xandar’s treasures – until the moment when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, and adventures across the cosmos ensue.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort in 2021.




Pictures and video: copyright Disney