DLP Big Thunder Mountain Re-Opens !

Less than a week after its second accident this year Big Thunder Mountain re-opened at DLP. If the park reopened a ride like this less then a week after the accident where two of the train wagons derailed - see picture below - it's very probably because they quickly identified the reason of it and know that a re-opening is safe.



The announced internal investigation was expected to take longer, but the “Wildest ride in the wilderness” is now open and DLP guests can enjoy it again. Everything on the attraction is working fine at the exception of the moving rocks in the last lift and most of all i hope this will be the last BTM accident!

Picture: copyright DR

HKDL Update : Full Toy Story Land Report !

Hong Kong Disneyland Toy Story Land will open on November 18 and the park just released the very first pictures of the new land, this time totally finished! Considering that Toy story Land also exist at the Walt Disney Studios it will be interesting to see if there is anything new in the HKDL version. And, although the three rides remain the same, yes, there is some changes, beginning by the giant Woody - picture above - at the entrance of the land, instead of the giant Buzz Lightyear at the WDS.

The next picture shows the Slinky Dog Spin ride, which looks identical to the one at the WDS except the rooftop of the queue line on the bottom right which don't exist at the WDS.



A first view of the land shot from Toy Soldier Parachute Drop ride, with RC Racer in the background. Note on the bottom left the giant "flower parasols" which are new in this HKDL version.



On the next picture, the Toy Soldier Boot Camp, just in front of Rex. Sarge and his Soldiers are looking for new recruits. HKDL guests can earn their stripes through a series of fun challenges at this Toy Soldier Boot Camp to test if they have what it takes to become a real Toy Soldier.



Talking about Rex, there is apparently another entrance to the land, the "Rex Entrance" - through which HKDL guests will probably enter when the two other lands currently built will finally open. It's a good idea to use Rex for this entrance as HKDL guests and young children won't be able to climb on him which should avoid to HKDL TSL the problems that they had at the WDS version with kids damaging Rex.



The next picture was shot high in the 27-meter tall U-shaped RC Racer, and you'll see a big part of the land in the background.



Now, what you will see on the next two pictures is unique to the HKDL TSL version and doesn't exist at the WDS. The first one is Jessie's Snack Round-Up, and HKDL guests can swing by Jessie’s Snack Roundup to get their fixins. Lots of healthy and fresh treats are available here, including pizza cones and frozen yogurt. May be they could bring this Jessie's Snack Round-Up at the WDS? Why not put it where the RC Racer car was before and now removed because kids were falling from it, they probably have the room available and it will make a nice themed snack in the center of the land, which is missing at WDS TSL.



...and the next one is Andy's Engine where over 50 new Toy Story Land-inspired gifts await HKDL guests. From toys and apparel to character-inspired creations, guests will surely find something to remember their TSL experience.



Let's end with another picture shot from Toy Soldier Parachute Drop, with Andrew Kam, HKDL Managing Director on the center.



I know that some of my reader don't like the TSL concept whether it's at the WDS or anywhere else, but personally i like it a lot. And it seems that HKDL Imagineers did a pretty good job here, too, at HKDL. Toy Story Land is opening November 18 and if you plan to go at HKDL, don't miss it!

Let's end with an official video showing the preparation of the land!




Pictures and Video: copyright Disney - HKDL


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Direct iTunes link HERE!

Editor's Note: i have for you today one of the funniest magic act i ever watched - and with Steve Martin! Also, you can have a look at this new blog with life like drawings of Disney princesses, it's pretty well done.

Steve Martin at Disneyland - Plus his hilarious magic act

Let's have a little bit of magic, today. You all know the DL Magic Shop at Disneyland, and you all know Steve Martin, right? Well, Steve Martin is now a world famous comedian, but when he was 10 years old he was selling guide books at Disneyland, Anaheim. And later, he worked in Main Street's Magic shop as you can see on the black and white picture below.



During Disneyland 50th anniversary celebration, Steve went back for a photo session in the magic shop and in front of the Opera house - pictures on top and below.



But Steve's love for magic didn't stop there as you will see on this youtube video where he perfoms many years later - but not at Disneyland - one of the most hilarious magic act that i - and probably, you, too - have ever seen. I found what is the trick he used in this very well done magic act, will you find it?

Have a look at the video, and have a good laugh!




Photos : copyright Disney

YouTube video from Potpie

Editor's Note: Al Lutz has posted today on Mice Age his new update and as usual Al have plenty of unique infos on DL and DCA future, including about the highly awaited Cars Land! Don't miss it, it's HERE.

Disney MGM Studios - The Dick Tracy Crime Stoppers attraction that never was

We will talk today about a Disney MGM Studios attraction that never was - or almost was: Dick Tracy Crime Stoppers.

Remember this Warren Beatty movie adaptation of the famous Dick Tracy comic strip in 1990 ? The stylised movie where Al Pacino and all vilains had masks to have their faces looking like in the comic strip.



Yes, the one with Madonna playing in it - she was dating with Warren at that time!



Well, everybody at the WDC was so much convinced it will be a big hit that Walt Disney Imagineering designed a fantastic Dick Tracy attraction, a whole park area in fact.
An attraction where "Dick Tracy will recruit guests to shoot it out with gangsters bad guys"...



The 1990's press release was saying that " Guests will literally get "into the act" in this new high-tech action-adventure featuring the very latest in Audio-Animatronics, simulation, sound and special effects." And also: "Guests will join America's favorite comic-strip detective in a high-speed chase with his gangster adversaries." And in what kind of decor this high-speed chase would have take place? Well, this kind of decor - a really great great one.



Just below, two close shots of this artwork to have a better view how detailed it was.




As for the high-speed chase itself, this rendering below will give you a perfect feeling of it.



Here also, two close shots of the artwork.




It looked great, doesn't it? And not only the Dick Tracy Crime Stoppers attraction was envisioned for the Disney MGM Studios, but also for Disneyland, Anaheim for a whole new land: "Hollywoodland". And if you ask any imagineer who worked at WDI at that time and who had the luck to see the model, they will all tell you how great the attraction would have been.

Yes, but...the problem was that the box office of the movie didn't reached the WDC expectations, and, well, you know what kind of things happen when a "eagerly anticipated summer hit" finally is not that successful, don't you? That's right, all the plans were cancelled, and we're all still waiting for this Dick Tracy attraction...although...when i looked again to that cinemascope rendering of the decor, the right part of it reminds me something that i saw in the best themed park on earth: the streets under the elevated tramway at the American Waterfront of Tokyo Disney Sea.

Hmmmm, i'm wondering if something from Dick Tracy Crime Stoppers finally survived? Your thoughts?

Artwork: copyright Disney Enterprises Inc.


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Jurassic Park : The Raptors Racer That Never Was

Let's begin the week with something you've never seen or even heard about before. This is a coaster concept which was envisioned for Jurassic Park ten years ago after Islands of Adventure opening. Jean Marc Toussaint, a good friend of mine who was at that time working for IAA/The Coaster Works, a company who designed the Dania Beach Hurricane in Florida. Jean-Marc is the one who designed this Jurassic Park coaster concept and kindly send me these concept-arts.

Here is how it would have been: the coaster structure itself would have been in wood - a wooden coaster, so - and the shape of the structure would have looked like the one of a dinosaur skeleton, which was indeed an interesting idea. The coaster track was partly inspired by the one of the famous Cyclone Racer in Long Beach and the train wagons themselves were inspired by the look of the jurassic Park jeeps.

The ride would have had a "velociraptor theme" and after a high-speed race to escape the raptors the end of the ride was a kind of mini dark ride in which the train was shaken thanks to a moving/vibrating portion of the track. And when the train was arriving at the station, thanks to a special painting which react to U.V the look of the train wagons would have changed and reveal claws hits from the raptors! You can see on the pictures above and below the before/after effect.

The concept was unfortunately not approved and later the same concept - but not with a Jurassic Park theme - was proposed to Paramount Parks, with a theme inspired by The Italian Job movie (but Paramount finally choose a coaster from Premier Rides) and also for Six Flags with a Road Runner theme (they finally did a junior coaster with Vekoma).

Anyway, this "Jurassic Park wooden racer that never was" was a brilliant idea!



Pictures: copyright Jean Marc Toussaint


Don't miss the new HKDL Wallpapers HD App for iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch!
Direct iTunes link HERE!