NEW ! Stunning HKDL Wallpapers HD App now available on the iTunes Appstore !

5/24/2012 : Important Editor's Note about the HKDL and TDS Iphone - iPad Apps: We have a problem since 10 days on four of my iPhone - iPad applications, including the one about HKDL and TDS. I noticed the problem only last monday when i received some mails from customer who have bought the apps. What happened is that the server of the programmers who did the program of the apps had crashed. They are trying to put in place a new one and we hope to have it working by the end of the month. When i learned about this i was not happy, of course, and all the apps created with them are for now not anymore on sale on the iTunes Appstore until the problem will be resolved. I will post a message here to let everyone know when it will be working fine again. Again, deeply sorry about this problem and hope everything will be fine soon. If not, everyone who have bought the app since May 1st will of course get a refund. Thanks for your comprehension and patience.
Note : Below, the presentation of the HKDL Wallpapers App. For the TDS Wallpapers App presentation click HERE.

Here is something great today for all of you who own an iPhone, an iPad or an iPod Touch. After the success of the TDS Wallpapers application - that you still can find on the iTunes Appstore HERE - here is a new wallpaper app and this one is all about Hong Kong Disneyland! It is called HKDL Wallpapers HD, it is now available for download on the iTunes Appstore, and each picture will look gorgeous on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch as they have been enhanced for the Retina Display screen.



And, double good news, there is almost twice the number of pictures that was in the TDS Wallpapers app! There is 206 stunning pictures in the new HKDL app - instead of 117 in the TDS app - and the HKDL app is at the same price than the TDS app on the Appstore. The app is available whatever is the country you are living but the direct iTunes link if you live in Hong Kong is HERE, if you live in the U.S is HERE and if you live in France is HERE. If your iTunes account is in another country just enter as keyword "HKDL Wallpapers HD" in the iTunes Store search box and you'll find it instantly. Although there is 206 high-def wallpapers pictures in the HKDL app the price is still a very low price , i.e 1.49€ or $1.99 only which should be an affordable price for everyone.



So, what will you find in this HKDL app? Well, as indicated on the application menu page above you'll find gorgeous pictures of each land of the park and half of the pictures are beautiful HDR pictures! Not to mention dozens of fantastic night shots of each land, a special "How to go" section, the possibility to choose your favorites, a direct link to Facebook, and more... all this with a very friendly user interface!

Main Street U.S.A is beautiful whether it is day or night and you'll find plenty of great Main Street shots by daylight in the app but as we know it's at sunset that Main street becomes magical and here is two examples of night shots.





Adventureland at HKDL is probably the biggest Adventureland ever built in a Magic Kingdom and the app pays tribute to the Imagineers wonderful work. Below two examples of pictures of the Tarzan Treehouse and Jungle Cruise Boarding.





The Fantasyland section includes of course great shots of HKDL Sleeping Beauty castle, whether it is by day - picture below - or by night like the picture on the top, but also closer shots on beautiful details of the land. Any of them will make a great wallpaper on your iDevice.







There is even a special section of HKDL fantastic and new It's a Small World ride as it is the best version i've seen of the ride with the one, totally different, at DLP. In fact, i never thought it was possible to create a such different version of this ride!







Tomorrowland fans will be in heaven with the Tomorrowland section of the app. Not only it includes fantastic day shots but also incredible night shots of the land - and we know that Tomorrowland is always gorgeous at night, don't we?





These are small examples of the 206 pictures include in the app and here is the app Features:

1. NEW user interface. Categorized Wallpapers. Ability to sort the wallpapers by land.
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 iPhone and iPad screen!
4. Ability to save each picture to enjoy them offline
5. Save your favorite pictures in the favorite section
6. Ability to zoom in each picture. Simple swipe to advance / revisit the pictures
7. Share with your friends on Facebook!


HKDL Wallpapers HD is also a GREAT app for those who are planning to visit the park!

The app is now available on the iTunes Appstore, just enter as keyword "HKDL Wallpapers HD" in the iTunes Store search box to find it instantly. Hope you will enjoy the app!

All Pictures: copyright Park Lane editions Ltd

First Official Pictures of HKDL Toy Story Land !

Hong Kong Disneyland released today the first official pictures of Toy Story Land! You won't see everything of the land but they did it to mark the countdown to TSP opening which will be in less than 30 days. HKDL team is now putting the final touch to each TSL element and you'll note on some pictures some scaffoldings waiting to be removed.

The picture on the top shows Woody and Jessie in front of TSP entrance and the giant Woody. Below, HKDL Imagineers put this final touch to Woody and Rex.





The next pic with all Toy Story Land cast-members gives a larger view of the land entrance with R.C Coaster in the background.



To celebrate the last thirty days countdown HKDL did the pic below, and D&M will do his best to show you more pics as soon as the Toy Story Land will be open!




Don't miss the new HKDL Wallpapers HD App for iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch HERE !

Pictures: copyright Disney, HKDL

Disneyland Paris Update : Princess Pavilion is Now Open in Fantasyland !

There is something new at Disneyland Paris, and it is the Princess Pavilion which is now open. Considering that the Ratatouille dark ride is delayed and probably will not open until fall 2013 or 2014 anything new at DLP is welcome! Talking about delay - and to answer a question from one of my readers in the previous DLP update comments - the rehab of Pirates of Caribbean with Jack Sparrow Audio-Animatronics and others special effects is apparently also delayed and should not open next year. The good news is that it is not cancelled and Jack Sparrow AAs might be introduced at POTC in 2013.

As this Princess Pavilion - with the new Meet Mickey in Fantasyland - might be the only things really new for 2012 - not to forget others 20th Anniversary celebrations like a new night show with never-seen-before visual effects - let's have a look at this new Fantasyland addition in details.

The opening happened October 8 at 9.30 and as i couldn't attend the event all the pictures of this article were shot by Dash, a good fellow from Disney Central Plaza forum. The opening began with Thibault, a DLP cast member who arrived dressed with a 17th century costume to announce the opening of this new "royal pavilion" in Fantasyland - picture on top. He then announced the arrival of Sirs Régis Alart et Osvaldo del Mistero and that four royal guests will arrive shortly...



The first one was Snow White...





Then arrived Aurora, Cinderella and Tiana...







Régis et Osvaldo invited then two young girls dressed as princesses to join the official ceremony...





And it was time for the first guests to enter the new Princess Pavilion...



...through the left door as the one on the right is reserved for "court members only".



At the end of the first hallway is a "Royal Proclamation" on which is written: "The Royal Highness will be pleased to greet and welcome today guests of the Magic Kingdom"...



The decor inside is quite sophisticated and to be honest pretty well themed. All along this queue decor DLP guests can see a medieval theming with stone columns and draperies with in each alcove some brilliantly lighted iconic items related to each princess, and right behind them, beautiful stained glass windows showing the castle of each princess.



You'll note also some great details like the birds from Sleeping Beauty - picture below - or the symbol of their royalty, here a crown.



Let's have a closer look to each stained glass window and each crystal item. The first one below shows Snow White castle at sunset and the crystal item is an apple. There is also a quote from the movie written under each crystal item.





Next is Beast Castle with a stained glass window directly inspired from the painting one can see in the movie opening sequence and the crystal item here is the rose of Belle.





Next is the castle of King Stefan, father of Princess Aurora with a crystal tiara.





Next castle is Agrabah Palace for Princess Jasmine and the item is, of course, the Genie lamp.





This next castle is supposed to be the one of the Enchanted Valley from famous 1947 animated cartoon Mickey and the Beanstalk.



Of course the crystal item related to Cinderella is her famous crystal shoe, and here it is.



Next castle is the one of Prince Eric in which Ariel the little mermaid will find a new home at the end of the movie and the crystal item is a shell which change of colors, a real nice lighting effect according to Dash.





Next castle is the one of Corona Kingdom in which Raiponce was born and the item is a crystal flower as the flower gave to Raiponce her hair and powers.





The last stained glass window show Sleeping Beauty Castle and next to it is Snow White magic mirror. Unfortunately DLP thought that the effect was bringing a mood a bit too dark and apparently this will be changed. Let's hope they'll keep this magic mirror anyway...



Then it's time for the meeting with one of the princesses. Once you arrive at the end of the queue some heavy wooden doors are opening and you enter the Princess private area where there is two alcoves - one for each princess - with stone arch, draperies and a different background for each alcoves. It's important to note that, although there is two princesses, each in their own private alcove, young boys and girls can meet only one of them. A DLP photographer is there to shoot the picture. He will shoot one with his camera and another with the guests camera if they have one and ask him to do it.



Apparently princesses also agree to sign children's signature book.



Then arrive the awaited moment - not for you, for DLP! - when guests can buy the photograph...



A nice idea awaits guests when they exit the pavilion as each picture is display for a few moments in a frame and this will give little girls the feeling that they're now part of the Princess Pavilion - no irony, here.



One last detail with the exit sign designed like a scroll.



For sure it's more a sophisticated photo location than an attraction but to be fair i think they did a real good job on this one and i'm pretty sure that young girls will love it. A last info about the waiting time: so far the wait for this new Princess Pavilion was between 20 to 40 minutes. Now, i suppose you'll be pleased to see all this on video so here is a good one shot by filipv during this opening.




See you soon for a new DLP update!

Pictures by Dash: copyright DCP Forum

Video: copyright filipv - dlrp fans.be

Hong Kong Disneyland new lands video update

michael20183 is back with his monthly video update of HKDL new lands and it's always interesting to see how the awaited Grizzly Trail and Mystic Point are getting bigger since his last update. Have a look!




Video: copyright michael20183

Editor's Note: You fans of robotics will be amazed to see the first robot that flies like a bird. Jump to my Innoventions Blog to watch the TED talk about the amazing SmartBird - truly a WOW!

Transformers Ride : First Pictures of the Pre-Show Decor

Universal Studios Hollywood fans will have to wait till next summer to ride the awaited Transformers attraction but at Universal Studios Singapore the ride will open this December and UNI Singapore already released some shots of the pre-show decor.

As you will see below it looks great and the first picture shows the NEST Orientation Room facility: "Recruits who will join in the battle will receive a briefing from General Morshower here. You must pay attention when you arrive, it is important to know our allies.

AUTOBOTS RACHET and BUMBLEBEE will explain to you how the power-hungry DECEPTICONS came to Earth in search of the ALLSPARK. The leader of the AUTOBOTS, OPTIMUS PRIME, will also introduce the other AUTOBOTS: IRONHIDE, SIDESWIPE, and WHEELIE. Once you are briefed, you will need to prepare yourself, mentally and physically, for this Ultimate 3-D Battle."



The next picture, also released officially by Universal, is showing the ALLSPARK Vault at NEST: "Behold the ALLSPARK, or the only shard that’s left. The final shard is protected deep inside the NEST facility where you’ll arrive for duty. It is your mission, with the help of the AUTOBOTS as a recruit of NEST to protect this from the DECEPTICONS.

The ALLSPARK, which used to be a large cube of energy, can create life from mechanical objects and was the origin of life on Cybertron – home of the TRANSFORMERS. MEGATRON, the leader of the DECEPTICONS is after it to transform machines into an invincible army, and take over Earth."



This last pic was not released officially and is supposed to show the "Control Room", always in the pre-show. No doubt that there will be "briefing " for the riders in these rooms and you'll note the quality of the decors. My feeling is that this Transformers ride should be a Mega-e-Ticket ride probably as much enjoyable as the Spiderman ride at IOA is. Can't wait for the opening!



Pictures: copyright Universal Studios

All about The Adventures of Tintin, released October 26

The hugely awaited "Adventures of Tintin" movie directed by Steven Spielberg will be released October 26 in Europe, November 10 in Asia and December 21 in the U.S. As i told you in my previous post it's an understatement to say that millions of Tintin fans - mostly in Europe as the stories are less known in the U.S - are extremely curious to see how this first movie will be faithful to the comic book stories and Hergé universe.

We already knew that the movie will be a mix of the Secret of the Unicorn and The Crab with the Golden Claws stories but it seems that Spielberg also did some changes. It might be minor changes which will not change the global spirit of each story and the first reviews of the movie are excellent but we'll have to check this when the movie will be released.



Anyway, in the meantime i have plenty of new clips of the Adventures of Tintin - including interviews and making-of - and let's begin by the third trailer.




But i have better for you as they released five different clips of the movie. Here they are!
















The next video is not from the official movie but it's a great piece of animation created by James Curran. James is a brilliant animator and he did this short animation which is not the official credits from the movie. But it should have been as he wonderfully gives tribute to each album of the Tintin series in less than 1.12 minute! Don't miss it!

The Adventures of Tintin from James Curran on Vimeo.

Next, four videos showing the making-of of The Adventures of Tintin and the magic of Spielberg and Weta Studios wizards. Plenty of shots showing Spielberg!













Here are three other videos with, in the order, interviews of Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Jamie Bell and Andy Serkis - playing Tintin and Captain Haddock.














And last but not least, for iPhone, iPad and Android phones owners there is even a game inspired by the movie to be released anytime soon by Gameloft. Here is the trailer.




Picture and videos : copyright Paramount, Columbia, Moulinsart and Gameloft