Shanghaî Disneyland Opening Date Official Press Release With New Imagineering Pictures

Shanghaî Disneyland opening date was officially announced today - see next post below - and it will be Thursday June 16! Shanghaî Disneyland press office released the press release below and for those of you wondering at what point SDL Imagineers are in the rides construction SDL provided new pictures showing that things may not be as late as you can think!

Shanghai Disney Resort to Officially Open on June 16, 2016

Authentically Disney, distinctly Chinese destination will offer world-class attractions and premium guest experiences

Shanghai, January 13, 2016 – The Walt Disney Company and Shanghai Shendi Group announced today that Shanghai Disney Resort will host a multi-day grand opening celebration, culminating in a spectacular welcoming ceremony for the resort’s first official guests on June 16, 2016.

The opening of Shanghai Disney Resort will mark a key milestone in the development of Shanghai’s tourism industry, offering a unique new international tourism destination for guests from China and around the world. Considered one of the largest Sino-foreign joint investment projects in the modern service industry in China’s history, the resort’s grand opening will be a celebration of the partnership between Disney and Shanghai. The destination is sure to delight and entertain the people of China for generations to come at a truly magical place that is both authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese.

Once operational, a visit to Shanghai Disney Resort will be unlike any experience in the world and will demonstrate Disney’s relentless innovation and famous creativity. With Shanghai Disneyland, a Magic Kingdom-style theme park with six themed lands, two richly themed hotels, Disneytown, a huge shopping, dining and entertainment district and Wishing Star Park available to guests at opening, Shanghai Disney Resort will not only showcase the best of Disney’s storytelling but also celebrate China’s incredibly rich heritage and cultural elements to create a one-of-a-kind destination. From world-class attractions to Broadway-quality entertainment, the newest Disney destination will offer premium experiences that guests can only find at Shanghai Disney Resort.

“We are extremely excited to announce our opening date of June 16. Both shareholders and the joint venture board of directors agree this is the optimal time to welcome our first official guests to the resort,” said Philippe Gas, general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort. “Shanghai Disney Resort celebrates China’s rich heritage and is the result of years of partnership and innovation with contributions from our talented Cast

Members and Imagineers, as well as thousands of artists, designers, construction workers and suppliers from across China and around the world. Our special thanks go to the joint venture shareholders and the local government who provided tremendous support to the project along the way.”

Ride testing continues on another attraction created especially for Shanghai Disneyland. Guests will soon be able to take a spin on Fantasia Carousel, which features characters and symphonic music from the groundbreaking Disney film, Fantasia.

“Shanghai is one of the most exciting and dynamic cities in the world and we’re delighted to be able to open a world class tourism and entertainment destination befitting this incredible city and its people,” said Bill Ernest, president and managing director of Asia for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We are taking everything we’ve learned from our six decades of exceeding expectations – along with our signature innovation and classic storytelling to create this truly magical place that is both authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese.”

"The construction of Shanghai Disneyland – which has involved the talents of tens of thousands of technicians and construction workers – has gone through an extensive construction period and is now entering the timeframe to prepare our operation,” said Fan Xiping, chairman of Shanghai Shendi Group. “Over the past five years the joint venture partners have worked closely with one another to ensure the smooth progress of the project and applied innovative and best practices for building the resort. There’s still work ahead in the coming months before opening but working together I’m confident we’ll be successful in our final sprint and provide a spectacular grand opening for our guests."

Major construction of Shanghai Disney Resort is now complete and will be followed by an extensive preparation period to ensure the resort is fully operational and ready to greet millions of guests. During this period the resort will continue to hire and train new Cast to join the current team of nearly 2000 Cast Members and Imagineers. Shanghai Disney Resort Cast Members will undertake extensive preparatory work to ensure Disney’s legendary guest service standards of safety, courtesy, show and efficiency are fully ready for the grand opening period. The theme park’s ticketing plan as well as other operational details of the resort will be announced at a later date.

Testing has already begun on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train where guests will hitch a rollicking ride on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Fantasyland.

Shanghai Disney Resort, part of the Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone, is a complete vacation destination offering something for everyone, and on opening day, June 16, 2016, will include:

 Shanghai Disneyland, a theme park with six themed lands: Adventure Isle, Gardens of Imagination, Mickey Avenue, Tomorrowland, Treasure Cove and Fantasyland, with the Enchanted Storybook Castle. Guests will be immersed in popular Disney stories that come to life at the largest castle in a Disney park, at the first Pirates-themed land in a Disney park, on the longest Disney Parks parade route and in more enchanting places filled with thrills, creativity and adventure. Many of Shanghai Disneyland’s attractions and entertainment experiences will be appearing in a Disney theme park for the first time.

Ride testing is already underway at the Roaring Rapids, where guests will embark on a thrilling rafting adventure, straight through the heart of Adventure Isle.

 The Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and Toy Story Hotel, imaginatively themed hotels conveniently located near the theme park. The Shanghai Disneyland Hotel is an elegant Art Nouveau-inspired resort with a touch of Disney magic and imagination, while the Toy Story Hotel immerses guests in a world inspired by the toys from the Disney•Pixar series of Toy Story animated films.

 Disneytown, an international shopping, dining and entertainment district, adjacent to Shanghai Disneyland and including the Walt Disney Grand Theatre, home to the first-ever Mandarin production of the Broadway hit, Disney’s THE LION KING. Another “must-see” for guests will be the innovative World of Disney Store, offering a comprehensive collection of Disney merchandise, including many products designed especially for Shanghai Disney Resort.

 Wishing Star Park, with beautiful gardens, a walking path and a glittering lake. With approximately 40 hectares, the size of 56 football fields, Wishing Star Park presents guests with awe-inspiring natural views and beautiful sunsets.

In addition to Shanghai Disney Resort, guests who visit Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone will also have opportunities to enjoy a wide range of other exciting tourism experiences within the zone, such as Shanghai Village, Ecological Park and Herb Garden.

In Tomorrowland, the massive, color-shifting canopy over the TRON Lightcycle Power Run is already being lit up at night while testing continues on the attraction’s exciting new ride vehicles.

Shanghai Disney Resort broke ground in 2011, began vertical construction in 2013 and has celebrated numerous construction milestones since then, including the topping off of the resort’s iconic Enchanted Storybook Castle in May 2015. In April 2014, the resort’s shareholders jointly announced an accelerated expansion plan to capitalize on the tremendous growth in China’s tourism sector – adding more attractions, entertainment and other offerings to increase capacity at the theme park on opening day.

Guests who want to go to infinity and beyond on Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue will be excited to learn ride testing is already underway! A new storyline combined with a new, interactive targeting system will make this one of the most engaging attractions at a Disney park.

Guests can learn more by visiting www.shanghaidisneyresort.com, the destination’s newly updated official website for news and information about Shanghai Disney Resort.

Pictures: copyright Disney

Official : Shanghaî Disneyland Will Open on June 16 !

The Wall Street Journal  announced it this morning and it is now confirmed officially by D23 and the official statement of the WDC HERE: Shanghaî Disneyland opening is scheduled for June 16! BUT apparently everything won't be ready for June 16, which might mean that some of the park attractions will open at a later date - but not the big E-Ticket rides. I've said it before, this seems to be a huge mistake, specially considering the expectations about SDL. Chinese will rush to the park as soon as it will open, the park will have a lower capacity, waiting time for the rides will be terrible, and it will create bad "mouth to ear" feedback, etc... Seems to me that this is the kind of corporate decision they will regret anytime soon and i can already hear the boomerang coming back...

In the meantime don't miss below or HERE the incredible video filmed at Shanghaî Disneyland construction site by three guys who don't fear anything.

Incredible Video Showing Three Guys Having the Bicycle Ride of Their Life at Shanghaî Disneyland Construction Site!

A faithful D&M reader just sent me a link to a truly incredible-but-real video showing three guys in Shanghaî who decided to have a bicycle ride up to Shanghaî Disneyland construction site and to film everything with a GoPro camera fixed on the head of one of them... providing us the first video ever showing shots of SDL filmed from the ground - and with the music of "The Bear Necessities"! And what happen next is amazing.

The first two minutes of the video show them riding on the roads of Shanghaî in direction to Shanghaî Disneyland, and then, suddenly, the next shot show them near SDL lake where are the Spicy Alley restaurants building - don't ask me how they've been through the entrance site security if there is any as i don't know how.

Then, always riding on their bicycles they ride INSIDE Disney Town - SDL entertainment and dining area next to the park - the building with the green dome structure below is i think SDL World of Disney Store...

The next sequence show them walking up a platform AND the scaffoldings where they meet Chinese workers who apparently are asking themselves who the hell are these guys. Some of them seems to told the three guys that they can't move forward on the scaffoldings, but they succeed to get closer to have a stunning view right above Shanghaî Disneyland Gardens of Imagination - SDL "Central Plaza" with the castle in the background on the left and Adventure Isle on the right. The blue dome of Fantasia Carousel is also visible on the right.

If you think the ride was over, just wait. Then, as obviously they couldn't get closer to the park - i suppose there are limits to transgression (!) - they go back to Shanghaî Disneyland lake...

And there, have a ride on the lake with a motor boat! ...and enjoy great view of the Shanghaî Disneyland hotel...

The video then ends with the boat coming back to the pier.

Now, there is no doubt that Disney is going to get mad when they'll see the video. I hope no Chinese workers will be blamed as they are obviously not responsible - you can see this in the workers reactions when they see the three guys arriving. Nothing bad happened, the three guys were just there for a bit of transgressive ride but the video is also interesting by what it shows of the park construction. Most of the building seems to be built now, but when we look at the Gardens of Imagination plaza which is supposed to look like a real garden in six months or so, it's hard to believe they'll be on time for opening day if the date is not changed.

Anyway, as i'm sure you're dying to see the video here it is, and feel free to leave your comments below! One more thing: in the video, specially on the shot filmed over the Gardens of Imagination the park looks huge but remember that it was filmed with a GoPro camera which has a hyper wide angle, showing things larger than they are in real.

Frozen Fantasy Debut at Tokyo Disneyland With Fantastic Frozen Parade

At Tokyo Disneyland Anna and Elsa's Frozen Fantasy is back and the 2016 Frozen parade looks really great. And it's a full Frozen parade, meaning that all the floats are dedicated to the Frozen story. 

As usual the Japanese did things very well and you can see the whole thing in HD - and even 4K! - on the video below filmed by Youtube tdrblognote! One more good thing : you don't hear "Let it Snow" during the whole parade - just with Elsa's float at the end, and that's a damn' good news! Note: jump directly to 5.10 min as the parade don't start before that.




Video: copyright tdrblognote

Photos: copyright tdrblognote, tdrnavi

New Rendering Shows How Will Look Disneyland Rivers of America Waterfront and Disneyland Railroad Once Star Wars Land Will Be Completed

The Rivers of America and the Disneyland Railroad at Disneyland have closed temporarily as construction begins to build Star Wars land in the back of Frontierland. When these areas reopen, the north bank of the Rivers of America will have a beautiful new waterfront, and the Disney Parks blog gives us a sneak peek at it today. "As you can see from this artist’s rendering, courtesy of Walt Disney Imagineering, this gorgeous new riverbank will also feature an elevated trestle over which the iconic Disneyland Railroad will travel."

The artwork was done by the great Greg Pro, make sure to click on the artwork to see it in big size and you'll find it also in three parts below!

Picture: copyright Disney

Disney Asks FAA Permission to Fly Drones During Fireworks in U.S Theme Parks

In a previous article posted August 2014, i was telling you all about an "Amazing New WDI Patents Shows Quadcopter Drones Used For Flying Screens... or Puppet Masters". Now, Market watch discovered that the Walt Disney Company "has taken the next step in integrating drones into its fireworks shows at Disneyland and Walt Disney World: it has applied to the Federal Aviation Administration for what’s called a Section 333 exemption, which allows a company to legally operate drones commercially. Currently, it is illegal to operate a drone for commercial purposes, though that’s expected to change in 2016.

The drones would fly preprogrammed flight paths and emit LED lights at various intervals, lighting up the sky. Up to 50 drones at one time might be used for nightly firework shows, according to details included in the Section 333 exemption request. But no need to worry about a drone crashing down and ruining your vacation -- Disney also said in the paperwork filed with the FAA that these drones will only fly in the theme park’s 

“pyrotechnic clear zone,” meaning areas that are inaccessible to visitors."

As we know the big advantage of the new drones is that they're light, and the main problem with them is ...the same. As they're light, if the wind changes, they can easily become uncontrollable and if one was crashing and injuring guests it could potentially cost Disney a fortune if the guests sue the company. That's probably why and although the patent which was filed describes the use of drones also for parades we should see them flying only in areas which are not over guests.

And in another article the Orlando Sentinel adds "The form includes some of Disney's safety precautions and planned operations for the drones, including a restriction as to where it would not fly the crafts, including not within 100 feet of guest areas at all times. "Their flight paths will largely take place over water elements and restricted areas," it reads. The Flixels would max out at 150 feet above ground level, according to the application. They would be used for park entertainment productions, including fireworks."

I'm not surprised that Disney is trying to introduce the use of drones in their shows as there are great things to do with them. For instance, have a look at this video showing the 25th Anniversary let's Dream night parade designed by the Goddard Group for South Korea Lotte World theme park, in which they use plenty of drones - it starts at 12.00 min - but it's inside a mostly indoor or covered area which of course make things easier.




And now i repost below the August 2014 D&M article explaining in details and patent renderings the new patent which was filed by Disney Enterprises:


Thanks to Market Watch, the blog of The Wall Street Journal we've learned that Disney Enterprises - WDI - filed three new amazing patents on August 21, just four days ago, and all patents -  applied for by Clifford Wong, James Alexander Stark and Robert Scott
Trowbridge - involve the use of quadcopter drones (UAVs). And these are not the kind of drones firing missiles or spying you, thanks God, as they will be used to deliver more amazement to the guests in Disney parks entertainment productions.

The first two patents cover different methods of producing light shows, either with large, flexible screens lifted by small remote-controlled craft or swarms of drones that are each fitted with a light and act as "flixels" or floating pixels. In one, the screens could be large projection surfaces made of mesh that would allow wind to pass through, or they could actually produce their own images: Disney's application suggests loosely woven strips of LEDs. And thanks to a ground control station they could choreograph repeatable movements.

The first patent called "Optical: systems and elements projection screen moving during projection"  is described as "a system for presenting an aerial display over an audience of spectators. The system includes a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and a plurality of flexible projection screens. Each of the screens is supportable in a display air space by the UAVs. The system includes a ground control system with a processor executing a fleet manager module and with memory storing a different flight plan for each of the UAVs. During operation during a display time period, the UAVs execute the flight plans to move and to position the flexible projection screens within the display air space. The flexible projection screens each may include a mesh body configured to have low wind resistance and to provide a projection surface for reflecting light. The system may include a projector projecting light onto the projection surface of at least one of the flexible projection screens during the display time period."

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary aerial display system of the present description during use to provide an aerial light show with a number of UAVs supporting a flexible projection screen or scrim within a display air space;

FIG. 5 is a partial view of a flexible projection screen configured as a emissive display that may be positioned with UAVs in a display air space

The drones would be able to detect each other and work in concert, according to a central program. In two of the images, they're even carrying huge ribbons around a Disney castle!

FIGS. 6A and 6B show an aerial display system of one embodiment at two operating states (or operating at two sequential points in time during an aerial light show or display) showing use of UAVs to move and position flexible projection screens/scrims.

The next patent is described as "a system for performing an aerial display. The system includes a plurality of UAVs each including a propulsion device and a display payload, and the system includes a ground station system with a processor executing a fleet manager module and memory storing a different flight plan and a set of display controls for the UAVs. Then, wherein, during a display time period, the UAVs concurrently execute the flight plans through operation of the propulsion devices and operate the display payloads based on the display controls. The display payloads each include a lighting assembly and a light controller. The output light is one of a two or more colored light streams, and each of the display payloads further may include a light diffuser with the output light being directed onto a surface of the light diffuser. The light diffuser may include a light diffusing screen extending about the lighting assembly."

Here, the patent indicates that drones could even potentially replace fireworks, which can be dangerous and inconsistent. Instead, the patent calls for an aerial display system based on the floating pixel, or “flixel.” Each drone would carry a lighting assembly that could display images or colors, making use of the sky as a screen. The other option would see the drones carrying lights that would change color as needed, letting an operator program them to make pictures or abstract displays that look like fireworks.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an exemplary aerial display system of the present description during use to provide an aerial light show with numerous flixels (flying pixels assemblies)

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary flixel or flying pixel assembly including a multicopter with a display payload providing a lighting assembly and display screen in the form of a light diffusion cylinder

The two first patents looks already great tech but this third one will amaze you as it indicates a use even more amazing of drones that could be used to hold giant puppets during parks entertainment. With the drones, these larger-than-life puppets could be mounted with rods to fly through the air!

Here is its description: "a system for performing an aerial display. The system includes a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and a ground control system with a processor executing a fleet manager module and with memory storing a different flight plan for each of the UAVs. The system further includes a marionette with a body and articulatable appendages attached to the body. The body and appendages are supported with tether lines extending between the marionette and the UAVs. Then, during a display time period, the UAVs concurrently execute the flight plans to position and articulate the marionette within a display air space. In some embodiments, the UAVs each is a multicopter, and each of the multicopters includes a local controller operating to move the multicopter through a series of way points defined by the flight plan associated with the multicopter."

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary aerial display system during operation to support and articulate an aerial marionette within a display air space

FIG. 5 illustrates another aerial display system showing UAVs manipulating and supporting an aerial marionette via puppet frame elements in the arms and torso of the marionette

“This is a significant improvement over prior flying characters, which typically were provided in the form of parade or other blimps/balloons filled with hot air or other gases and that had little and/or awkward articulation of any movable parts,” according to the patent.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of an aerial display system in which each "marionette" is supported and articulated by one or more UAVs is configured to be combined with a one-to-many other "marionettes" to form a larger marionette/display assembly, which can then be further moved about the display air space and/or articulated by the UAVs

All what shows these patents looks indeed technologically amazing and if it can really works in reality it surely will stun Disney theme parks guests. But - and it's a big "but" - the use of these flying quadcopter drones as great as they can be might become a problem when there would be a wind strong enough to destabilize them... And, as Disney points out, the quadcopters could be more flexible than ordinary displays but safer and more predictable than fireworks... as long as they're able to minimize the risk of one accidentally falling out of the sky.

So, what do you think of these mazing new WDI patents?

Editing: Forbes Magazine has posted an article written by a drones specialist called "Four Things You Need To Know About Disney's Drones" and i think you should have a read of it HERE.

Pictures: copyright Disney Enterprises

Final Performance of Aladdin Show at Disney California Adventure - Watch It One Last Time in 4K!

The acclaimed Aladdin show at Disney California Adventure had its final performance today and for many, including me, this musical show was the best show ever in a Disney theme park. Watch it one last time, and in 4K definition - thanks to this video filmed by Youtuber HanaaMontan