Editor's Note: Lot of big news today! Don't miss the WDW new Fantasyland artwork below but also the major Shanghai Disneyland news right after it revealing that not one but THREE theme parks are envisioned for Shanghai Disneyland!

Final concept of WDW New Fantasyland revealed with new Artwork !

WDW revealed today that the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history is underway, a project that will nearly double the size of Fantasyland and deliver a new home for Ariel, new ways to interact with favorite Disney princesses, an exciting new family coaster, a double dose of Dumbo and more. Honestly, the new concept looks better than the first one announced at D23 with more fun rides and is certainly the counter attack of Disney to the huge success of Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter. New WDI artworks were also released and you will find all of them below!

Scheduled to open in phases beginning in late 2012, the new Fantasyland will immerse guests in Disney stories as never before.  Among the highlights planned:

Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, a major, all-new attraction during which guests will travel with Ariel and her friends through their exciting adventures above and below the waves – all against a musical backdrop of songs from the classic film.


 
The castle of the Beast, standing majestically upon a hill just across an old stone bridge from Ariel’s new home. The Be Our Guest Restaurant will feature a lavish dining experience in the elegant ballroom, gallery, and mysterious “West Wing” of the castle.  With seating for 550, this magnificent facility will offer “great food fast” service by day and full table service dining in the evening. Nearby in Belle's Village, guests will find the rousing Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts.
 


Just outside the village is Belle’s cottage and Enchanted Tales with Belle. The adventure begins in Maurice’s workshop, where a magical mirror is the doorway to a captivating new kind of storytelling experience: Guests are transported to the Beast’s library to meet Belle and Lumiere, and share in a lively, interactive, re-telling of the “tale as old as time.”



But that’s just the beginning of what guests will discover when the multi-phase project is completed.  Here’s more of what’s in store:
The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will take guests on a rollicking, musical ride into the mine “where a million diamonds shine.”  The coaster will feature a first-of-its kind ride system with a train of ride vehicles that swing back and forth, responding to every twist and turn of the track.  The journey will be accompanied by music from the classic Disney film and animated figures of Snow White and the Dwarfs.


 
Here is a detail of the big Fantasyland artwork at the top of this article (which i will put online in high-res early next week) showing the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride - and the Little Mermaid attraction in the background. It's interesting to note that the train goes in and out of the "mine" several times with big parts of the ride outside. In fact it reminds me the Grizzly Trail coaster currently build at HKDL (which have also a "mine" story) and i won't be surprised if WDI did a "Snow White" adaptation of the HKDL concept.....which is itself an adaptation of the Expedition Everest track, more or less. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride could very well be a solid "D" ticket attraction.



In Princess Fairytale Hall, Aurora, Cinderella and other Disney princesses, such as Tiana and Rapunzel, will greet guests in their new home, an elegant royal court on the site where Snow White’s Scary Adventures stands today.



The sound of the calliope will lead guests to the brand new Storybook Circus and not one but two circling carousels of airborne pachyderms on Dumbo the Flying Elephant.  



Before taking to the skies on this Fantasyland favorite, guests can experience an array of fun-filled family games and interactive wonders for kids of all ages inside the Big Top.



Next door in Storybook Circus, the classic Barnstormer gets a bright new look as well, featuring Goofy as The Great Goofini.  It’s a twisting, turning roller coaster “flight” high above the circus fun.



All of this looks not bad at all, isn't it? I like particularly the new Dwarfs Mine Coaster, they can do something really good on that concept...we'll see!

Artwork and press release: copyright Disney

Breaking News : Shanghai city officials disclosed that Shanghai Disneyland will include three theme parks

Major news about Shanghai Disneyland today, and apparently coming "from the horse's mouth" i.e Shanghai officials who revealed that three theme parks are envisioned for Shanghai Disneyland. In the future, of course, not all three opening in 2015. The two others are supposed to be an Epcot and an Animal Kingdom! An Epcot in Shanghai? Considering how chineses love new technologies that may happen...and Shanghai temperatures may also allow to build an Animal Kingdom park... Also, SDL will also have a special Metro line! More about all this in the Shanghai Daily article below:

"It's all aboard the Disneyland express, after the city announced that a special Metro line will take visitors to the theme park when it opens in 2015.

The route of the 9.2-kilometer line was published online by Shanghai's environmental authorities yesterday to solicit public opinion on environment issues. Work on the dedicated Metro line, which is expected to cost 3.992 billion yuan (US$606.3 million), is set to begin in September. Trains will start running in July 2015.

The line will connect to Metro Line 11 at Luoshan Road Station, providing passengers from downtown Xujiahui area and suburban Jiading District with subway access to the much-anticipated park in Pudong. Its final stop - Disneyland station itself - will connect with the Metro Line 2 via shuttle bus lines.

The Disneyland metro line has three new stations: the elevated Kangqiao Road E. station, Hengxin Road station, and Disneyland station, which will be underground. The route will pass Zhoukang area before reaching Chuansha town.

Meanwhile, city officials disclosed that Shanghai Disneyland, the first Disneyland on China's mainland, will include three theme parks.

Details had been made public of one of the parks, "Magic Kingdom." The possible choices for the other two theme parks are "Epcot" and "Animal Kingdom," delegates at Shanghai People's Congress were told yesterday.

Dai Haibo, deputy director of Pudong New Area government and a congress deputy, said he was deeply impressed by the Orlando Disneyland which includes four theme parks, including Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios. He promised that Shanghai Disneyland will provide entertainment for both adults and children.

Large-scale construction on phase 1 of the project is expected to get under way in May. There is no start date for the other parts."


But that's not all about SDL as some people are beginning to complain that Shanghai City should get bigger Disney cash share:

"To make Shanghai Disneyland profitable for the city, local government must ensure that Walt Disney Co gives it a bigger share of the income, a member of the city's top political advisory body proposed yesterday.

"Shanghai should try to negotiate with the Walt Disney Co to earn more sources of income from the project rather than just ticket sales," said Tu Haiming, a member of the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

"It's the biggest lesson Shanghai should learn from Hong Kong, which hardly makes any profit from the Disneyland project, so far."

According to Tu, the Hong Kong government only takes home part of the proceeds from ticket sales.

Other more profitable sources of income, such as sales of Disney products, accommodation in its hotels, TV channels and English teaching projects, all belong to the Walt Disney Co.

Although the Hong Kong government paid more than 90 percent of total investment, it has gained little from the project, said Tu."

Pixar release new pictures of Cars 2

Pixar Animation just released two new pictures of the awaited Cars 2, and the first one shows Mater, Lighting Mc Queen and secret agent Finn Mc Missile in Tokyo.



The other one shows Mater and Finn Mc Missile with spy-in-training Holley Shiftwell, apparently inside a plane. I wouldn't be surprised if the espionage part of the story was not only fun but also hilarious. Can't wait for the movie release!



Pictures: copyright Disney - Pixar

Guy Williams Tribute : When LIFE Magazine meets ZORRO at Disneyland in 1958

Guy Williams was born January 14, 1924 and here is a tribute to the best "Zorro" of all time thanks to this 1958 LIFE Magazine special report by LIFE photographer Allan Grant at Disneyland, Anaheim. Let's have a look at these rare pictures and remember how great Guy Williams was!

Here he is arriving in Frontierland for the Zorro show.



Guy Williams as Zorro leaping from a roof during the show. This remembers me that we had a Zorro show at Disneyland Paris at the opening of the park, unfortunately canceled since then.



We must remember how good swashbuckler Guy Williams was. I think the other guy is the actor who played the Monasterio character in the first season, isn't it?



After the show, Guy Williams signed autographs for his (young) fans at Disneyland.



Now, LIFE photographers shoot Guy Williams also on the ZORRO TV series set! Here are some pictures, beginning by the one at the top of this article. Below, Guy Williams on the set of the TV series, on a white horse - not "Tornado" who had a black colour, if i remember well...



Actor Guy Williams practicing swordplay on the set for his role as Zorro.



Guy Williams acting in the TV show, against Sgt Garcia and another soldier.




Always on the set, with a lovely waitress.



This last picture doesn't show Williams and was not shoot at Disneyland, but it's a very rare picture of Zorro's creator, author Johston McCulley, helping neighborhood fans to imitate their hero!



All pictures: copyright LIFE Magazine

Family of ousted Tunisian dictator find refuge at Disneyland Paris Hotel

If you've watched the news recently you probably know that North-African country Tunisia is going through very dramatic events with almost every Tunisian demonstrating in the streets for their liberty after years of dictature. More than 66 people were killed by police and hundred wounded since the last three weeks. Finally, last night, president-dictator Ben Ali flew out of the country leaving Tunisia in chaos after 23 years of evil reign. His corrupted family members also left the country the last days.

Well, It's hard to believe, but members of Ben Ali family - including apparently one of his daughter - have found refuge at the Disneyland Paris hotel! And in three VIP suites of the "Castle Club" - the luxury section of the hotel - please! According to french daily newspaper Le Parisien the rooms are reserved until sunday and a very particular mood is floating inside the Disneyland Paris hotel as in the hall four tunisian security agents who probably arrived with the family were looking at anyone walking around. Others were listening to conversations and hotel guests who wanted to have dinner in the hotel restaurants needed to be escorted by one of the DLP hotel security men, etc...



DLP could easily find better publicity than having at its most luxurious hotel the family of one of Arab country's worst dictator, family also hated by all Tunisians. The only good alibi for the park is that until last night Ben Ali who flew away in the evening to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia was still Tunisia's president. And i can agree that it was difficult for the park "diplomatically speaking" to refuse members of Tunisia president's family.

Okay, now that the coward flew away and left his country in chaos, throw these bastards out of the Castle Club!

Edited: A Disneyland Hotel official just announced that Ben Ali's family left the Disneyland Hotel saturday late afternoon for an unknown destination. Good. May be the park finally understood what huge mistake it was to have them at the hotel. Not to mention the risk of riot in the hotel from tunisians people living in France now that everyone knew where to find them.

Panoramic pictures: copyright Disney and more

Editor's Note: As i told you before i'm away until mid or end of January. This is the reason why i can't post big pictorial reports as i usually do but mainly "press agency news" as i did last week. However, Shanghai Disneyland news are always good to know and that's only the beginning of the SDL saga which will surely last for years!