One more sign that the Ratatouille dark ride is coming to the Walt Disney Studios

Hello everyone. As i've told you i'm currently on vacation and won't be able to post daily articles but here is one with interesting news about the awaited Ratatouille dark ride supposedly coming at the Walt Disney Studios for DLP 20th Anniversary.

Recently, the picture below appeared on Twitter. The picture was shot at Walt Disney Studios and is showing works on the right of Toy Story Playland area, where the Ratatouille dark ride is supposed to be built. You can see on the left of the picture part of the orange/purple structure of TSP RC Racer half pipe coaster. Toy Story Playland will open mid august and you can count on me for a full report about it, but for now we will have a closer look at this picture. Obviously the workers are building a kind of arch, but, if you click on the picture to see it in larger scale and have a look at the top center of the arch what you'll see engraved is Ratatouille chef Gusteau. As a matter of fact what is sculpted on the arch is this picture of Gusteau that you can see at the top of this article.



Now, what intrigued me is the style of the arch itself. The more i look at it, the more it reminds me the style of the archs of Paris most famous bridge: the " Pont Neuf ", that you can see on the picture below.



The next picture is a close shot of a Pont Neuf arch and although the WDS arch is not perfectly similar there is reminiscences of the style in the WDS arch, specially with the "vertical lines" all around the circle of the arch.



Also, it's interesting to note that the WDS arch, which probably will be the "entrance" of the Ratatouille area, have a certain depth. It don't seems to have a 30cm depth but at least 2 meters/7 feet. So, and although i might be wrong as this is not an insider info, i think that this arch designed by WDI Imagineers might be a Paris bridge arch. And WDS guests which will go through it will have access to the Ratatouille area. If i'm right, i must say that going through a Paris bridge arch might be a brilliant idea for the entrance, but again, please note that i don't have confirmation on this, it just my own conclusion when i look at the picture.

Anyway, whether this arch will be the entrance of the Ratatouille area or not, it's also one more sign that this awaited dark ride is coming for real at the WDS. D&M readers were the first to know as i've confirmed it to you many months ago but it's always good to have a confirmation in "real", isn't it? I remind you that the Ratatouille dark ride will use a trackless moving platform and 3D projection effects and will open at the WDS in 2012-2013.

Pictures: copyright Disney-Pixar, DR

Tokyo Disneyland Hotel 2nd Anniversary Tribute - High-Res Pictures

Two years ago, the stunning Tokyo Disneyland Hotel was opening on July 8, 2008. In tribute to this incredibly beautiful hotel i re-post the article that i've posted for the hotel grand opening, with dozens of TDL official and gorgeous pictures.. And all of them are here in high-res!

The TDL Hotel - 705 rooms on 89,000 m² - is a masterpiece of unimaginable grandeur. It's Disney and Walt Disney Imagineering at their best, a delight of luxury.

Here below and above, two pictures of the exterior - entrance and courtyard.



Three pictures now of the fantastic Atrium lobby, one of the most spectacular ever created by Disney! Stepping through the hotel’s main entrance on the third floor, Guests will find themselves in this grand and spacious lobby with an atrium soaring about 30 meters overhead.





Two pictures of a Tokyo Disneyland Hotel room - the same, with two different colours...Tokyo Disneyland Hotel has two kind of rooms: The Standard Rooms: These rooms provide a comfortable stay for families and groups. All of these rooms are on the side facing Tokyo Disneyland Park. Price: from 31000 Yen per night ( $288 )



And the Character Rooms: These rooms feature designs of characters appearing in the Disney classic films Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella. Guests can immerse themselves in the world of Disney in one of these 138 Character Rooms. All of these rooms are located above the hotel’s Main Entrance. Price: from 36000 Yen per night ( $335 ). Click HERE to see all room prices for the TDL Hotel.

Below, a picture of the Peter Pan room.



Here is the Alice in Wonderland room



This one show the Cinderella room



And here is the salon of the Snow White and the seven Dwarfs room



It seems that the main differences for each room is in the change of colours, the paintings on the wall and this - see below - between the beds, here the one in the Peter Pan room.



The hotel offers also 65 Concierge Rooms and Suites. Guests staying in these rooms can check-in (includes welcome drinks) and checkout in comfort at the exclusive Marceline Salon, and enjoy complimentary continental breakfast at the Dreamers Lounge. Most of these rooms are on the side facing Tokyo Disneyland Park.
Here is a picture of the gorgeous Walt Disney Suite. Located on the 9th floor, or the uppermost floor, this is the premier suite at the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel. Named after Walt Disney, this lavishly furnished 235 sq/m suite has a living room, dining room, separate shower booth, air jet bath and other amenities to ensure a magical and unforgettable stay at the hotel. Price: 500.000 Yen per night ( $4650 )



Two pictures of two different restaurants of the Tokyo Disneyland hotel - the Sherwood Garden Restaurant facing the formal Victorian garden, and the Canna Restaurant for an exceptional and stylish dining experience.




The Cinderella Dream Grand Ball Room - This Victorian-style large banquet room is available for parties, gathering, seminars and other events.



The Tokyo Disneyland Hotel have four gardens :

Mickey & Friends Square: The atmosphere of the World Bazaar is continued in this garden, with Disney character topiaries giving a heart-warming welcome to the hotel
- see picture of TDLH courtyard above - second from the top.

The Sherwood Garden : This Victorian-style garden of exquisite design has a pond and gazebo for a moment of relaxation.




Fantasia Court is located on the exterior 3rd floor. This fantasy-filled area features Mickey as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice and the water-carrying brooms from the Disney film Fantasia.




Alice’s Garden - also on the 3rd floor - is themed to the Disney class film Alice in Wonderland.



And it's also in one of the gardens that you can find the beautifully themed Misty Mountains Pool. Themed to the Disney classic film Peter Pan, this outdoor pool even have a Skull Rock and a fountain featuring the tick-tocking crocodile from the film.



The Tokyo Disneyland Hotel also have three shops:

Above, the picture of the Looking Glass Gifts shop - A wide variety of hotel gifts and daily-use items can be found here.

Disney Mercantile is more a "Disney" shop - This shop offers Tokyo Disney Resort merchandise.



Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a beauty salon for young girls. Shimmering dresses, elegantly coiffed hair, lovely makeup… Every girl’s dream of becoming a “Disney Princess” comes true at this magical salon.





The Hotel also have a photo studio: Magic Memories Photo, a complete studio for one-of-a-kind photo portraits.


Nothing is better than a video to have a better look, so here it is!



And here is a video of the inauguration...



All photos: copyright Tokyo Disneyland Resort

Videos from mainichi.co.jp

Disneyland's Tomorrowland Original Artwork

Here is the artwork topic of this week, and it's a special Disneyland's Tomorrowland artwork. The renderings below were done by great WDI artists such as Herb Ryman, John Hench, Dale Hennesy and more. As usual don't forget to click on each image to enjoy them in big size!

Walt Disney was fascinated by the future. Tomorrowland is an optimistic salute to "what's in store", a world where "tomorrow is just a dream away". Below, a 1954 Herb Ryman concept drawing with a painting by Collin Campbell of Tomorrowland Entrance.



This 1953 concept for Tomorrowland by Dale Hennesy included a monorail, an attraction which, as we know, did not become a part of Disneyland until the technology became available at the end of the 50's.



Another concept for Tomorrowland entrance - probably by Herb Ryman. The waterfalls evolved into pylons as designers searched for ways to create a visual language of the future. Note the boat which looks like a Jungle Cruise boat...



Next is a great watercolor of a Space Mountain early concept by John Hench, 1965. Detail from this painting at the top.



Always in 1965, John Hench proposed a futuristic adventure called "Saturn" that catapulted guests through the rings of Saturn to a space station.



Let's end with this great painting of Space Mountain at night by John Hench, a real master.



Talking about John Hench, i'd like to let you know that his great book "Designing Disney" is now available in soft cover, now at a very affordable price - only $13.57
! This 160 pages book is fantastic, each page with plenty of John Hench's paintings, and you can order it if you wish through the Disney and more Amazon store HERE



Artwork: copyright Disney Enterprises Inc

Disney could start building Shanghai Disneyland in November

The latest news about Shanghai Disneyland released today says - if it's a real one - that "Disney could start building Shanghai Disneyland as early as November". The date is interesting as i always thought that Shanghai will wait for the end of the World's Fair - currently happening in Shanghai - to make a new announcement about the future park. Of course it's also good news as it means that a final concept for the park has been approved......and that renderings will be released which is what we're all waiting for, isn't it?

So, let's quietly wait for November and in the meantime here is the full news, of course not officially confirmed by Disney, but that's not a surprise:

"Disney could start building its planned theme park in Shanghai as early as November, a year after Chinese authorities gave the green light for the project, a report said Tuesday.
"Talks on the Disney project are in the final stages and the construction is expected to start as early as November," the China Business News reported, citing an unnamed source.
The park would be Disney's fourth outside the United States and its third in Asia, after Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong -- the last to open in 2005.
All major construction in Shanghai has been suspended until after the World Expo ends on October 31 as part of efforts to improve the city's air quality during the six-month event.
The Shanghai government announced its long-awaited approval for the project in November last year after authorities in Beijing approved Disney's application.
Neither side disclosed any figures or gave a timeframe for the project, but previous reports have said the US entertainment giant will invest 3.6 billion dollars in the 10-square-kilometre (four-square-mile) park.
When asked about the report, Disney said it looked forward to being able to announce a final deal and a timeline for opening in the future."

Important Note: Please note that Disney and more will have a summer break during a big part of the month of July. I will try to post articles but probably not on a daily basis. If you're leaving for vacation whether it's in Disney Parks or anywere else on the planet, i wish you a happy holiday!

Universal Hollywood King Kong 360 3D Video !

One of the most awaited attraction of the year is opening tomorrow at Universal Hollywood: King Kong is back in the beloved Universal Tram Tour, and in 3D thanks to a brand "360 degrees" 3D movie directed by Peter Jackson.



You will find below the first available video of the ride as well as the official making-of with interview of Peter Jackson and Universal Studios Creatives. No need to say that if you want to keep the surprise you should avoid to watch the two first videos which shows the ride itself. Of course, the tram is supposed to move in all direction and guests will see this in 3D which is not the case here... The show looks great, a bit short - but it's always too short when it's good, isn't it?

Here is the first video, filmed during the ride by DaytimeHijacker.



This next video from DreadCentral will show you Peter Jackson introducing the attraction at the Grand Opening yesterday as well as more shots of the ride itself!



Here is another one showing the full ride.



Want to know how it was done? Here is the official making-of!





Video: copyright Universal Studios

Disney and more open its vault ! Private Sale for D&M readers !

You know that i'm a Disney fan since a long time and in one of my previous life as journalist i was invited at many Disney events and park's Grand Opening. Many of you asked me if i had kept interesting press material and collectibles from these events and today i've decided to open my personal "vault" and put on sale in exclusivity for my Disney and more readers rare press collectibles and even a one-of-a-kind Imagineering model! Some of these collectors have an affordable price, and few others are more expensive as they are really rare collectibles.

How does this private sale works? Very simple: from the moment the collectible you're interested by is still listed below OR if it's not written "SOLD", it means that it's still available and you can buy it.

How do you order and pay for it? Just email me at: lawrence55@wanadoo.fr and send the payment of the total amount including shipping by Paypal. Paypal payment must be sent to the same email adress: lawrence55@wanadoo.fr
.
For any questions, just email me. Please note that sometime i might not be able to answer you immediately but generally i always answer in the next three days.

NO 1: DISNEYLAND PARIS SPACE MOUNTAIN GODDESS WDI RESIN MODEL :
Price: ITEM SOLD!

There we go with the first item, and this one is coming from Imagineering as it is a one-of-a-kind 24" high Disneyland Paris Space Mountain goddess WDI model. Walt Disney Imagineering attraction models are extremely rare, and specially those of such famous attraction like Space Mountain. This model is in resin and shows the goddess that one can see on the side of the huge Columbiad cannon, part of Disneyland Paris Space Mountain. The pictures and artwork below will show you where the goddess is located on the cannon.



Here is the story of this model: When WDI Imagineers create an attraction, they always build models of it. Models of the whole building, and also models of special parts of the attraction decor. I bought this beautiful model eight years ago from a former imagineer. This model was given to him - while he was a WDI Imagineer - by another imagineer working at WDI model shop. Here is the reason: when a resin model is done, it's always with a mold. When the resin is "dry" they take it out of the mold. Sometime everything works fine, sometime not. In this case the model went out a bit broken and some tiny parts missing - the top of the fingers of the hand holding the bow and a tiny bit of the ribbons on the feet. The model was stick again and it was so well done that you can't hardly see it. However, as at WDI everything must be perfect they don't use an almost-perfect model and re-do it again, this is why the model shop give it to the imagineer from whom i've got it some years later.









The design of this Sky Goddess was inspired by the famous art-deco style, and the sculpture by WDI sculptors is so fine you can see any detail. It will be easy to create a stand for it, or simply to put it against a wall. As it is in pure resin it will be possible, too, to paint it if you wish. As i've said, it's 24 inches high, and its thickness is between 0,5 mm and 1 cm depending which part of it you're looking at.

A beautiful one-of-a-kind rare and unique collectible item for Disney theme park fan!

Because it is a fragile item, it will be sent in a wooden box specially designed for it to make sure it arrives in perfect condition, And of course it will be fully insured for the price you will pay, include shipping price. Shipping in the wooden box is 85 U.S $ in air mail shipping from France.

NO 2: DISNEYLAND PARIS SPACE MOUNTAIN GRAND OPENING PRESS KIT:
Price: ITEM SOLD!

Rare 1995 DLP Space Mountain Grand Opening press kit, beautiful with "silver" printing and gorgeous Space Mountain rendering inside.





NO3: SHOOT FOR THE MOON "40 YEARS OF IMAGINEERING" PRESS KIT
Price: ITEM SOLD!

Rare press kit for the "Shoot for the Moon, 40 years of Imagineering" documentary which includes rare colour and B&W pictures of Imagineers at work! The movie was done and released for DLP Space Mountain opening in 1995. Pictures below.





NO 4: EPCOT MISSION SPACE OPENING PRESS KIT
Price: $30 - Shipping: $18

Great Mission Space press kit, including official pictures of WDI artwork, press material, four beautiful official pictures prints, map of the park, etc...





NO 5: WALT DISNEY WORLD 25TH ANNIVERSARY INVITATION AND PRESS KIT
Price: $80 - Shipping: $20

WDW 25th Anniversary special guests Invitation and Press kit, beautiful, include the program/itinerary of the 3 days 25th celebration events, etc...The cover image of the press kit magically changes when you open it. Very rare items.










NO 6: WALT DISNEY WORLD 25TH ANNIVERSARY INVITATION
Price: $60 - Shipping: $15

WDW 25th Anniversary special guests Invitation only, without the press kit, beautiful, include the program/itinerary of the 3 days 25th celebration events, etc...Very rare item.





NO 7: SET OF WDW PRESS CREDENTIALS
Price: $10 - Shipping: $5

A Set of WDW press credentials, including the one for DLP Honey I schrunk the audience Grand Opening.



NO 8: DISNEYLAND PARIS CHRISTMAS EVENT INVITATION
Price: $20 - Shipping: $6

Disneyland Paris Christmas press event invitation. Rare, simple, and classy. Sorry, the picture is a bit too "blue", don't pay attention to that.





NO 9: DISNEYLAND PARIS MILLENIUM EVENT GUEST KIT AND WATCH
Price: ITEM SOLD!

This rare Millenium event guest kit was given during the Dec 31st, 1999, Millenium night celebration and include a unique collectible "Millenium" watch! The "cold light" stick that every guest was supposed to "break" and light at midnight of this memorable night is still unbroken inside the kit!









NO 10: SET OF DISNEYLAND PARIS ENTRANCE CARDS
Price: $25 - Shipping: $5

During DLP early years the entrance ticket was not in paper but in plastic, just like and the size of a credit card, with special image printed on it. They've changed this a looong time ago and these early tickets are now highly collectibles! The price here include seven different DLP 1990's entrance tickets plus the same for Disney Quest AND a rare Peter Pan 3D image! (which changes depending of the angle of view). See picture below.



NO 11: 100 YEARS OF MAGIC EVENT INVITATION
Price: ITEM SOLD!

Gorgeous invitation for the "100 Years of Magic" event at WDW in October 2001. The box open and inside you have several cellos which unfold with Disney classic animated movies scenes printed on each. Beautiful, rare and highly collectible. See pictures below.









NO 12: THREE ALICE IN WONDERLAND POSTCARDS FROM DISNEY ANIMATION EXHIBIT IN PARIS
Price: ITEM SOLD!

Two years ago a gorgeous Disney Animation exhibit happened in Paris Grand Palais. Some beautiful postcards - here below from Alice in Wonderland artwork - from legendary Disney animators artwork were published specially for the exhibit and are not available anymore. Note that the picture below is a bit too "blue".



NO 13: SNOW WHITE AND JUNGLE BOOK POSTCARDS FROM DISNEY ANIMATION EXHIBIT IN PARIS
Price: $12 - shipping: $5

Two years ago a gorgeous Disney Animation exhibit happened in Paris Grand Palais. Some beautiful postcards - here below from Snow White and Jungle Book artwork - from legendary Disney animators artwork were published specially for the exhibit and are not available anymore. Note that the picture is a bit too "blue".



NO 14: PETER PAN, CINDERELLA & LADY AND THE TRAMP POSTCARDS FROM DISNEY ANIMATION EXHIBIT IN PARIS
Price: ITEM SOLD!

Two years ago a gorgeous Disney Animation exhibit happened in Paris Grand Palais. Some beautiful postcards - here below from Peter Pan, Cinderella & Lady & the Tramp artwork - from legendary Disney animators artwork were published specially for the exhibit and are not available anymore. Note that the picture is a bit too "blue".



NO 15: DISNEY'S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE GRAND OPENING FUN MAP
Price: $100 - shipping: $20

This Disney's California Adventure fun map was given to the guests invited to DCA's Grand Opening. The map was originally fold, not rolled, and will be sent like this.





NO 16: DISNEY'S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE GRAND OPENING PRESS KIT
Price: ITEM SOLD!

Great original DCA Opening press kit, including THIRTY SIX Disney official pictures, beautiful 8" x 10" prints, and park guide map, press material, etc...great stuff.





NO 17: DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM GRAND OPENING PRESS STUFF
Price: ITEM SOLD!

Set of Animal Kingdom Grand Opening press material, including event credential, park map of opening day, small notebook, etc...



NO 18: HONG KONG DISNEYLAND PRESS KIT
Price: ITEM SOLD!

Nice Hong Kong Disneyland press kit, including, park's guide maps and Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel Stationery and rendering print!





NO 19: TOKYO DISNEY SEA GRAND OPENING COLLECTOR WATCH
Price: $100 - shipping: $15

RARE Tokyo Disney Sea Grand Opening collector's watch, in its original box, perfect condition, never used. Great collector's item.





NO 20: DISNEYLAND PARIS "SONG OF THE SOUTH" COLLECTOR PIN'S
Price: $40 - shipping: $5

Beautiful Song of the South collector's pin's released by Disneyland Paris in a limited edition series. The pin's includes a picture of Walt in the center. Size: approximately 2" large x 1,75" high. Perfect condition.



NO 21: DISNEYLAND PARIS "DL MOUSEKETEERS" COLLECTOR PIN'S
Price: $25 - shipping: $5

Beautiful DL Mouseketeers collector's pin's released by Disneyland Paris in a limited edition series. The pin's includes a picture of Walt in the center. Size: approximately 2" large x 1,75" high. Perfect condition.



NO 22: FRENCH WALL-E AND UP! PRESS KITS
Price: $40 - shipping: $15

Beautiful and rare french WALL-E press kit. It includes a special brochure which unfold in all directions to reveal the WALL-E Press brochure inside. Also include, the french UP! Press kit.







NO 23: PIRATES OF CARIBBEAN DEAD MAN'S CHEST PARIS GRAND PREMIERE INVITATION - SIGNED BY JERRY BRUCKHEIMER
Price: $50 - shipping: $15

Huge 18" x 11" Pirates of Caribbean Dean Man's Chest Paris Premiere Invitation, signed by Producer Jerry Brukheimer. Beautiful invitation for this VIP event, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Jerry Bruckeimer were there, surrounded by hundred of Paris fans.







All pictures: copyright Disney, Pixar, Bruckheimer Productions.