DCA Blue Sky Cellar reopens with Buena Vista Street exhibit

The Blue Sky Cellar opened again yesterday with new sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes looks at the transformation of Disney California Adventure. As usual guests will be able to view new videos, models and renderings and this time the display is all about Buena Vista Street, the Carthay Theater and the Red Car Trolley.

Three new attraction posters are now display, the first one is for the Red Car Trolley - picture above - and the two others are for the Tower of Terror and Soarin' over California. All three are to die for and i hope they will be released and available in the park next year! In the meantime click on each to get them in bigger size and then jump on Mint Crocodile web site where you'll see a full report of the new Blue Sky Cellar exhibit.





Pictures: copyright Disney

Disney's Aulani Grand Opening Celebration

The Grand Opening of Disney's Aulani Resort happened yesterday morning and Bob Iger and Tom Staggs were there to celebrate the opening of the Resort. As Tom Staggs says on the Disney Parks blog "The Grand Opening Ceremony took place on the beach of Aulani’s lagoon with the resort itself serving as the backdrop. It opened with an “oli pale,” a Hawaiian blessing, which was followed by a powerful performance by drummers, dancers and singers, including Keali’i Reichel, one of Hawai`i’s most popular artists who wrote a beautiful chant specifically for Aulani.



Then came time for the official dedication of the resort so Mickey and Minnie joined Bob and me onstage to do the honors. To symbolize the joining of the Hawaiian culture and the magic of Disney, we placed some sand from our beach into an ‘umeke, a ceremonial wooden bowl, and mixed it with – what else – some pixie dust.

From the very beginning we have committed ourselves to ensuring that Aulani embraces and celebrates the unique Hawaiian culture and traditions. We are grateful for the warm welcome we have received from the local community and I’d like to thank the Imagineers, cast members, construction teams, local artists and everyone who had a hand in bringing Aulani to life. Their passion, commitment and talent can be seen in every detail of this spectacular resort and I can’t wait for our guests from around the world to experience it themselves."

Let's have a look at this grand opening with videos and this first video is the Disney's official video showing highlights of Aulani's grand opening celebration.



These two next videos were filmed by our good friends of Mice chat and shows Aulani's dedication by Bob Iger and Tom Staggs as well as the celebration with Hawaiian dancers and singers.

Hong Kong Disneyland new lands video update

Here is a new Hong Kong Disneyland video update of the works on the three new lands, thanks to the always good michael20183. Toy Story Land is always scheduled to open in November but what is interesting on the video is that there is much more to see on the two others lands, specially on Grizzly Trail where you can now clearly see the different tunnels of the coaster as well as the western town. The main buildings of Mystic Point are also almost finished although not already painted. Considering that they are now planting trees to avoid the works to be watched from the HKDL railroad this might be one of the last video update in which we can see the construction quite clearly...




Don't miss also my HKDL Halloween full report with plenty of pictures and videos HERE.

Video: copyright michael20183

Pictures: copyright Disney

Breaking News: Avatar Land coming to Animal Kingdom !

It was just announced today officially by Bob Iger and Tom Staggs and it is like a thunder lightning: Disney and James Cameron made a deal to bring the world of Avatar to Disney's Animal Kingdom, with works beginning in 2013!

Nobody saw this coming and for once the secret was well kept. That is one of the best move Disney ever did and for sure the best counter-attack to IOA Harry Potter's land, specially considering that there is two more Avatar movies to come and i wouldn't be surprised if WDI Imagineers will use the different episodes of the trilogy to create the various theme lands of this Avatar land. Animal Kingdom is definitely the perfect choice for an Avatar Land and its environmental message and i can't wait to see renderings and to know which kind of attraction will be put in this new land!



Here is more from the Disney Parks blog:

"At a press conference happening right now at Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob Iger and Tom Staggs just announced a long-term creative partnership with James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the fantasy world of AVATAR to life at Disney Parks. And it’ll all begin at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

James and his producing partner Jon Landau and their team at Lightstorm Entertainment will serve as creative consultants on the project and will work side-by-side with our Walt Disney Imagineers as we dream up experiences that will take our guests deep into worlds of AVATAR like never before. There are also two sequels to the record setting first film in the works, which will offer more fascinating stories, characters and locations to explore in the AVATAR universe. Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort is planned as the site of the first AVATAR-themed land with construction expected to begin by 2013.
We believe Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a great fit for this project because it was created to give guests the opportunity to experience the worlds of animals and nature – real and mythical – in new ways. Disney’s Animal Kingdom also celebrates adventure, living in harmony with nature and environmental stewardship – themes that are deeply rooted in the story of AVATAR."



Also, from the L.A Times, James Cameron statement: "I'm chomping at the bit to start work with Disney's legendary Imagineers to bring our AVATAR universe to life," Cameron said in a statement announcing the deal Tuesday morning. "Our goal is to go beyond current boundaries of technical innovation and experiential storytelling, and give park goers the chance to see, hear, and touch the world of AVATAR with an unprecedented sense of reality."

Fox Filmed Entertainment co-chairman Jim Gianopulos, whose movie studio financed, marketed and distributed "Avatar," said Disney was a natural choice as a licensing partner because of its global reach and stature. He said the world Cameron envisioned, starting with Pandora and stretching out to include other creatures and settings, is a natural fit for a theme-park experience.

"It lends itself very well, not only to subsequent films, but to be imagined and realized in the parks," Gianopulos said. "Yes, it's creative content. But what it really is is an immersive world. And that's what Disney intends to create."



More from the NY Times: "Construction on “Avatar”-themed rides, shops and restaurants will begin in 2013 –- the planning phase has just started -– and the land will open to visitors three or four years after that. Fox and James Cameron, the director of “Avatar,” will receive a licensing fee and a percentage of related merchandise and food and beverage sales.

Mr. Cameron, who is working on two “Avatar” sequels, will collaborate with Disney engineers to design the themed land. Disney’s parks overseas – particularly one under construction in Shanghai – are likely to see “Avatar” themed areas down the road. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday morning, Mr. Cameron said he envisioned the use of animatronic robots and cutting-edge video effects.

“Whatever makes sense to bring this world to life and allow people to wander in it,” he said. “The scenes from the movie that people liked best were not the obvious things like the big battle scenes. It was the creatures. It was learning to fly. It was being in the forest at night.”

I'd like to add that the NY Times is probably right when that say that "Disney’s parks overseas are likely to see “Avatar” themed areas down the road". It will probably be the case for Shanghaî Disneyland but i wouldn't be surprised too if an Avatar attraction was coming too at the Walt Disney Studios...

Jeez, that was a really big news, wasn't it? Also, have a look at Inside the Magic where you'll see some renderings from a Disney patent that could be used for this Avatar land project.

Picture: copyright 20th Century Fox and Disney

Hong Kong Disneyland 2011 Halloween - Full Report

Here is a full report on HKDL 2011 Halloween season, with plenty of pictures and videos. I will talk about the new Headless Horseman who is introduced for the first time this year but before let's begin by some pics showing different Halloween decor in the park and characters.

















The Thaddeus Oswald amazing circus appear for the first time at HKDL Halloween and a morbid curiosity will bring Guests to this traveling show set up in the heart of Adventureland, but one can only hope they will all make it out with their heads intact. The con artist exhibitor claims to have the head of the Headless Horseman as the main exhibit, and the Headless Horseman himself has come to seek revenge.









They've also created nice visuals for each of the circus characters as well as great circus posters inviting HKDL guests to enter to "lose their head"...















Always in Adventureland black magic and ancient incantations have released nocturnal creatures and ghoulish souls. HKDL guests inevitably come face to face with the many new jungle inhabitants as they lie in wait around every cursed corner.











Also, here is another TV Ad, slightly different - and better - than the one i've previously posted.




Next, pictures and video of the full Glow in the Dark parade and pre-show with the Headless Horseman opening the parade. Great parade as usual, i always love the giant Jack Skellington and all of the floats!






















They also had the incredibly good idea to do projections effects on Main street facades and Main Street station. On the first video below you will see the projections on Main Street Station...








But the projections on Main Street buildings are even more spectacularly creepy. I hope that someone at Disneyland Paris will watch these videos as they really should get some inspiration from this to do something similar on DLP Main Street facades...







In Tomorrowland, Space Mountain is turned once again in its Halloweed theming and lighting and HKDL guests are warned at the entrance that they will experience a different and ghostly experience!





Always in Tomorrowland the guests are welcome to engage in the infectious energy and array of activities at the new show “Tomorrowland - Party Zone”. Tomorrowland Street Jam hype up the party fun for every Guest with their stylish, high energy Hip Hop performance. Them, too, are loosing their head and it's a real good effect as you will see on the video below.






If you plan to visit the park and stay at HKDL hotel during the Halloween season you'll be pleased to learn that even the rooms have a Halloween theming...



...as well as the meals!



Hope you enjoyed this Halloween update and see you soon for a new HKDL update!

Pictures: copyright Disney or Disney and more



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