Universal Studios Singapore - First Videos !

Universal Studios Singapore sneak preview week has began and first videos of the park were posted on Youtube. But first the last news about the park "real" opening: As i told you before this sneak preview allows the guests to "visit" the park, enjoy the decors, have dinner in the restaurants and of course come back home with some souvenirs items from the shops. No rides were open as some of them are not totally operationals.

I've been told that the Jurassic Park Adventure, the Madagascar ride, the Lights, Camera, Action special effects show located in the New York area and the Ancient Egypt Treasure Hunters Jeep Ride must be complete before Universal will open the Park for "real", i.e with all rides open for the guests. I've also heard that the park could be open in soft opening mode from March 3, but as it will be about the 5th time that it has been announced we will see on that day if it's true or not...

So far, the buzz from the guests about the park is very good and apparently they liked what they saw during these sneak preview days. Although the visitors won't probably notice it, Universal teams have still a lot of details to finish up and the next weeks will give them the needed time to put the final touch before the Grand Opening celebration.

Sunday was also the Casino opening day and if what i've been told is right the Casino attracted 75,000 Visitors in it's first day, which is simply phenomenal. Disney, who was asked by Chinese officials if it could be possible to have a casino on the future Shanghaî Disneyland resort - and who apparently refused - is probably doing a big mistake as in Asia the word "Casino" not only means big money but also a lot of people coming in. My feeling is that the biggest danger for Hong Kong Disneyland is not only Universal Studios Singapore and its great rides but also the casino nearby. We'll see in one year if Hong Kong Disneyland has been hurt or not by Resorts World Sentosa.

And now here is a selection of videos, all shoot and posted on Youtube by myfamilyng, except the last video. They're all short videos so the download shouldn't take too long.

The first one below show the Universal Studios Singapore entrance and ticket booths.




On this next one, the Hollywood area and also a bit of the Madagascar land entrance.




Newt, a panoramic view of the New York Streets.




This next video show the Battlestar Galactica coaster in Sci-Fi City and the entrance to Ancient Egypt land.




These three next short videos show the spectacular decor of Ancient Egypt land.










The next video shows a panoramic view of the Far Far Away land and especially the castle.




Although the rides are not open, guests can enjoy some "streetmosphere" like this Madagascar "dance" in the Madagascar land...




...or experience some street dance in the New York Street area.




This last video show Sci-Fi City at night. It's a "family" video posted on Youtube by jiopzxcvbnm but it has some interesting night shots of the land.




MANY more pictures and videos of other lands are now on line HERE and HERE.


Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat


Youtube videos: copyright myfamilyng and jiopzxcvbnm

Editor's Note: I've forgot to thanks all of you for being so faithful each day to Disney and more. Last month D&M broke a new record with 118350 visits during January!
Thanks again for your support!

A Selection of Disneyland Artwork

The artwork article of the week is all about early Disneyland concept-arts and don't go away before the end of the article as i will tell you how you can get some great prints of these rare WDI renderings at affordable price.

Above, a great 1960's concept art of Disneyland's Tomorrowland. The artwork below shows the Jungle Cruise and Swiss Robinson Tree and was used for the attraction poster.



The next artwork is a rare Marc Davis rendering for a Jungle Cruise scene.



Below, a great painting for Disneyland's Tahitian Terrace.



The next rendering show, of course, Disneyland's Haunted Mansion.



Below, a less known concept-art for Disneyland's Matterhorn.



This next artwork shows Mr Toad's Toad Hall and i think it was used too for Disneyland Paris Toad restaurant.



Below, a great John Hench painting for Disneyland's Carousel of Progress.



And this last artwork show the Adventure through Inner Space extinct attraction with the famous mighty microscope and the People Mover going through the building.



Now, the good news is that most of these concept-arts are available right now on Ebay as some Ebay sellers - not me - are currently selling great prints of all these artworks with dimensions, for some of them, up to 32 x 40 inches! All the pictures of this article are coming from these auctions and this is why they're not today in high-res as usual. But the Ebay prices for these prints looks extremely reasonable and if you're interested you can make your choice HERE - or go to www.ebay.com and type "Disneyland concept art" as keywords.


Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat

All pictures: copyright Disney - WED Enterprises

The Year of the Tiger begin ! Gong Xi Fa Cai !

Today is Chinese New Year and it's the beginning of the Year of the Tiger! All over the world and specially in Asia it's the biggest event of the year. At Singapore Universal Studios Singapore is opening today for a week of sneak preview - don't miss the D&M USS special report HERE - and at Hong Kong Disneyland a special parade and shows will last until February

Thanks to the Youtube videos of 2007IW2007 we will have a closer look to Hong Kong Disneyland Chinese New Year Celebration parade and the brand new "Jumping Jam". Let's begin by the parade video.




The two next videos shows the Jumping Jam show in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle.








"Gong Xi Fa Cai" to all my Asian readers - which can be translated as "May you Prosper" in this Year of the Tiger!


Youtube videos: copyright 2007IW2007 whom i thanks a lot!

D&M Innoventions : A New Kind of Haunted Mansion

Here is a new article in my week-end Innoventions series but first a little story about the top picture. When WDI Imagineers created Innoventions at Epcot they were asked to find a Innoventions logo. Several people suggested a design and Hani El Masri - whom my D&M faithful readers know well thanks to my previous articles about his artwork - also did a proposal, and that was the logo you can see in the picture above, re-drawn specially for Disney and more by Hani.

And guess what happened? During the logos presentation to Michael Eisner it was Michael's favourite choice! Due to internal politic reasons another logo was chosen but the final logo that one can see at Epcot is partly inspired by Hani's first concept.

In this new Innoventions article we will have a look to a new kind of "Haunted Mansion" created by Alterface a company specialized in interactive theater and based in Louvain, Belgium. Actually you can ride the first version of "The House" as Alterface call it in a U.S theme park based in Branson, MO where the attraction is named "Castle of Chaos".

Here is the pitch of the attraction storyline: "It’s the 1920s and Carli Winepeg, a young actress and silent movies star who focuses on horror films, has disappeared with all her film crew in a dark medieval castle in Transylvania. The shooting of the movie "Castle of Chao" will not be completed. Eighty years later, the mystery has still not been solved and has in fact given rise to a legend. The inquiry revealed that Carli Winepeg was a rather strange character. She was for example always accompanied by her loyal and mysterious big black dog, which behaved just as aggressively as its mistress. If she is alive now, Winepeg could still terrify many people. But here’s the question: Is she really dead?"



Combining Clostermann Design’s audio-animatronics and themed scenery with Alterface’s expertise in interactivity, this interactive haunted house offer fans of this type of popular attraction thrilling new sensations. The adrenalin flowing in the veins of up to 30 spectators is taken to boiling point thanks to a show that combines in theatre special effects (wind, water, low smoke, smells…) as well as in the seats (neck- and leg-tickler, buttkicker), audio-animatronics, surround sound system and interactive 3D Full HD 3D. In a large room, sitting in themed armchairs fixed to a revolving platform, the players/spectators experience all-round stimulation of their senses and lose their spatial awareness as the platform rotates. Guests also have laser guns and are able to shoot at all ghosts coming out of almost everywhere during the show. This interactive haunted house open doors to astonishing worlds – ones that evolve as the story unfolds and in line with the audience’s interaction.



Alterface did a good trailer video, and here it is below!



This next video will show you the attraction model.



As you've seen, it sounds not bad at all, and if one of my reader did the ride in Branson's Castle of Chaos and can let us know how good it is, he is welcome!

And, as we are talking about Haunted House today, a great news for all Disney's Haunted Mansion fans revealed by the O.C.register yesterday as "a Newport Beach company, Candella LLC, has bought worldwide rights to develop and sell the illusory flickering candles in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion.

President Peter Smith promises that these rechargeable, false-flame candles will be on the market by May under the name Dream Candles. The price will be comparable to real candles but last longer.

Disney Imagineer Gary Schnuckle created these LED candles specifically for the Haunted Mansion. But the false flame’s random movement and other details that make it realistic is more difficult than you’d think, which is why the flame illusion has numerous patents." You can read more about it in the O.C Register full article HERE and below the video interview of Peter Smith, President of Candella LLC where you'll see these magic candles!



Looks definitely a great idea to bring this on the market for everyone isn't it?

See you next week-end for a new Innoventions article!


Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat

Screen captures and The House Videos: copyright Alterface

Other video: copyright O.C Register

Innoventions logo from Hani El Masri

Disney's California Adventure World of Color Tests Videos

World of Color is now in test mode and it's getting more and more interesting as they are now testing the lights colors system.

Two videos below will show you more and the first one even have a audio-sync with the World of Color original theme! The show is supposed to open with soft openings in March 2010 and a grand opening event in late April.







Youtube Videos: All my thanks to coolrider560 and SwnyTdd

A Special Note about Universal Studios Singapore Opening : If you're a Disney and more reader who intend to go at Universal Singapore sneak preview, please contact me by email at: lawrence55@wanadoo.fr as i am looking for a photographer to shoot pictures of the park's opening. Any pictures from my faithful readers are welcome!