Final Poster and Trailer for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”

The final poster and trailer for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” has been released. We can see Jyn Erso along with the other members of Rogue One, while Darth Vader and The Death Star loom in the background. The trailer is more convincing than the previous one so may be there is hopes that the movie will be great, after all. And, yes, there is a shot with Darth Vader!


 

"In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.”
Picture and video: copyright Lucasfilm

BIG Announcement About Disneyland Paris Coming Next MONDAY !

A short post to let you know that Euro Disney S.A.S Catherine Powell will do a BIG announcement about Disneyland Paris next MONDAY. She most probably will talk about DLP 25th Anniversary but who knows, may be there will be something else and Dedicated to DLP makes the list of what could be announced HERE.

Shanghaî Disneyland : Concept-Art of a "Main Street" That Never Was

Someone named Fukuhomu posted on Twitter this very interesting rendering done in 2008 by Imagineer Luc Mayrand. Luc Mayrand is VP, Creative Portfolio Executive for Hong Kong and Shanghai Disney Resorts at Walt Disney Imagineering as well as Executive Creative Director/ Senior Show Producer at WDI since 1999. And this rendering is supposed to show an early concept for a “Main Street” or at least the “entrance street” of Shanghaî Disneyland! 

It would have been entirely covered by a canopy like at Tokyo Disneyland World Bazaar, it don't mean that it would have looked like a covered regular Main Street U.S.A - probably not - but in this concept SDL entrance street was definitely under a canopy. The castle design too doesn’t look the same than it is now, the lands are not located at the same place, etc, so in two words: everything on this SDL artwork looks different than it is now.

On the picture below, Luc Mayrand ( left ) stands with Catherynne jean ( right ) at SDL Treasure Cove for a November 2015 Shanghai Daily article that you can read HERE.




This covered entrance street reminds me this other early concept for SDL entrance and “Main Street” that was shown by Bob Iger in 2013 or 14 during a presentation, and which seems inspired by Luc Mayrand rendering.


Have look also at this interview of Luc Mayrand filmed three years ago, talking about projecting oneself in the future to design new products for today, the importance of team work, prototyping, iterating and developing a point of view.


New Product Design at Disney Imagineering - YULBCN 2013 from Mosaic HEC on Vimeo.

Pictures: copyright Disney

Disneyland Paris 2016 Halloween Season Update

Last week the Halloween season started at Disneyland Paris, so here is a special DLP Halloween update with plenty of pics and videos thanks to Max, D&M contributor and DLPWelcome webmaster!

Main Street USA is now in Orange and black, the ghosts residents of the town are back and the street citizens have decorated their buildings with little pumpkins .The decoration, as in previous years, is simple and effective, well integrated and well thought. Disneyland Paris don't change what works well in the Park ( for once! ).

The first and main event of the day is the « Mickey’s Halloween Celebration » cavalcade. Like last year the parade of 3 floats awaits a new one, and with the years, the small size of the parade could harm it. Let's hope something new for its 5 years, next year, during DLP 25th Anniversary.

But this cavalcade is great with his music, his rythm, the large number of performers and the variety of Disney characters more or less well-known.

And here is the video of the full cavalcade!




The second news is about the show « It’s Good to be Bad with the Disney Villains! »

This event allows all visitors to meet the main Disney villains in 1 hour. 2 shows of 8 minutes. One in English with the evil Queen, and one in french with Cruella Devil. Those two shows allow Disney to offer an entertaiment more qualitative than last year, despite the choice of a dubious musical medley.

Here is the video of the version of the show with Cruella...




And here is the version with the evil Queen.




Meet and greet with the characters is always what guests love during Halloween and for once they can meet the Cheshire Cat! You just have to be patient to meet him as everyone wants to!

Maleficent has a new costume this year, nicer in its colors and more details than the previous one. Also, Mickey and Minnie Mouse can be meet with their Halloween costume. Marie from the Aristocats can be meet on Town Square, Stitch or Daisy near Casey Corner and Jack Skellington near Phantom Manor.

Here is Max video showing the Halloween meet and greet with the characters!

Finally, this season has as new merchandise, the arrival of the themed « Poison Apple » mug sold in the kiosks of popcorn, empty for 8€ or 9€ with popcorn. It is larger than it looks and with a quality plastic. It also allows good interaction when it is presented to the Disney characters. Only downside: Disney should think to propose a special price for all people with this mug for the recharge of popcorns and avoid paying the full fare. Disney could make itself more money (with more sales) and get a satisfaction improved of the visitors. One last thing: the item is so popular that it was already out of stock this week and no one apparently knows if it'll be back soon!

Max will be back soon with a new DLP update,In the meantime i remind you that you can still order the Disneyland Paris "From Sketch to Reality" book while we still have copies available for 75€ ( + 15€ shipping ), pay with the Paypal button below and send me an email with your order at: neverlandeditions@gmail.com

Jump to the book website HERE to learn more about it and watch a video showing the whole book! See you soon for a new DLP update!

 

Disneyland Paris From Sketch to Reality Book

1 Disneyland Paris Book English or French Edition €75.00 EUR 1 Disneyland Paris Book English or French SIGNED Edition €90.00 EUR 2 Disneyland Paris Book English or French Edition €140.00 EUR 2 Disneyland Paris Book English or French SIGNED Edition €170.00 EUR

Those of you who have never seen the book will find below a video presentation of the full book which will show you each of the 320 pages of the book AND you can see more pictures on the book website HERE.

Although you've probably heard about this beautiful book, many of you may have never seen a copy of it. So we've done a video presentation of the full book which will show you each of the 320 pages of the book! The book includes 750 pictures of the park, including 250 gorgeous renderings of Walt Disney Imagineering and stunning pictures of the park seen from above. The book is so big that it took us seven and a half minutes to show you the full book, and that's without stopping turning each pages! So, if you want to have a closer look at a page don't hesitate to stop the video!


 
Videos: copyright Alain Littaye, DLPWelcome
Pictures: copyright DLPWelcome

Legendary French TV Figure Pierre Tchernia, Friend of Walt Disney, Dies at 88

A legendary figure of french television, Pierre Tchernia, passed away today at 88. Incredibly sympathetic and having an astonishing memory of the whole Cinema history he was beloved by French audience since 60 years and had participated to French television since its creation in 1948. Along creating many famous TV shows about Cinema he was also script writer, movie director, and much more. He was the one who introduced the original Zorro TV series to French audience in the 60's.  I had the luck to knew Pierre Tchernia personally a long time ago and he has always been extremely kind with me, back at a time when i was in my twenties.



Pierre Tchernia knew well Walt Disney and in this rare1962 short interview you'll see him with Walt introducing "The seven dwarfs soup" a sequence that was not included in the final Snow White movie and totally unknown at that time.




Each year at Christmas, French could see the famous "L'Ami Public Numéro Un" TV show ( Number One Public Friend ) or SVP Disney who was all about Walt Disney animated films and spectators could choose which clip they would like to see first.



Below, a short clip showing one of the SVP Disney shows which was aired in December 1966 shortly after Walt passed away. That was back in in the 60's when french television was still in B&W, a long time ago...

First Pictures and Videos of Hurricane Matthew at Walt Disney World

Hurricane Matthew was all over Florida east coast today and the first pictures an videos showing Disney World hit by Matthew have been posted. Let's have a look first to the pictures - above and below.







Below, a video filmed this morning near the Swan and Dolphin hotels when Matthew was approaching.




Another video filmed at the worst moment and this time it's serious with very strong winds.




Blog Mickey tells us that Monorail Red and Green have spent the night inside WDW Contemporary Resort while Matthew was arriving.


How does it look when a Force 4 Hurricane is approaching? Well, the pictures below - shot in Florida today and in Orlando for the last one - will show you how it look!









And i remind you the latest news from the National Hurricane Center, i.e that Hurricane Matthew could hit TWICE Florida and the Bahamas as Matthew will turn after he reached South Carolina and will go back down to hit again Bahamas first and then hit again Florida, probably more Miami than Orlando early next week - see NHC map below.

ALL WDW Parks Close Their Gates as Hurricane Matthew is Approaching Central Florida with 250 Km/h Winds - Edited: Florida Could Now be Hit TWICE by Hurricane Matthew!

That's it, folks, due to the arrival of Hurricane Matthew, all parks of WDW will close today Thursday at 5pm and of course will be closed all tomorrow Friday and are supposed to reopen on Saturday 8. Hurricane Matthew is not only approaching Orlando as a Category 4 Hurricane but he will even get STRONGER when he'll comes up from Miami with expected winds of 145 mph ( 235 Kmh ) and up to 170 mph ( 275 kmh ). The latest advisory says hurricane-force winds will extend 60 miles from Matthew's eye, while tropical storm force winds will impact areas 160 miles from the eye. It is potentially the strongest hurricane that Florida has seen in 118 years and definitely the strongest storm that the Orlando area has experienced since years and a very very serious "killer" storm that WILL damage a lot all around, so there is nothing else to do than to stay safe indoor and wait until the Hurricane move up north. 

Below, some WDW official information about what will be closed ( basically everything ). As for Universal Orlando Resort parks they're also closing at 5pm today and all tomorrow Friday.

SeaWorld announced they would close today at 2pm. Discovery Cove will be closed early today, and SeaWorld’s Aquatica won’t open it’s gates this morning. Tomorrow all three of SeaWorld Entertainment’s properties will remain closed. Legoland is doing the same with its gates closing early today and tomorrow as well. 

Editing: Unbelievable. The latest forecast from National Hurricane Center indicates that Florida and Bahamas could be hit TWICE by Hurricane Matthew as this one will turn after he reaches Saturday South Carolina and will come back next week to hit again Bahamas first, and next eventually again Florida! See new NHC map below and CNN report HERE.

And now, the WDW official release about what will be closed starting Thursday 5pm: 

Treehouse Villas and Bungalows unavailable: With severe weather expected over the next few days, Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Bungalows have been evacuated and will be unavailable beginning Thursday afternoon in an abundance of caution. The safety of our Guests and Cast is always our first priority. Guests staying in these select rooms will be offered alternate accommodations. 

Any customary cancellation fees will be waived for early departures As the Emergency Management Team continues to monitor Hurricane Matthew, the Walt Disney World Resort is taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of our Guests and Cast Members. 

Due to potential weather impacts in Central Florida, Walt Disney World Resort will be implementing the following operational changes: 

THEME PARKS, WATER PARKS & RESORTS: 

The following locations will close at 5:00pm, Thursday, October, 6:
Magic Kingdom 
Epcot 
Hollywood Studios 
Animal Kingdom 
Typhoon Lagoon 
Blizzard Beach (Closed all day
ESPN Wide World of Sports 
Disney Springs 
Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf 
Winter Summerland Miniature Golf 

The following locations will be closed Friday, October, 7: 
Magic Kingdom
Epcot 
Hollywood Studio
Animal Kingdom 
Typhoon Lagoon 
Blizzard Beach 
ESPN Wide World of Sports 
Disney Springs 
Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf 
Winter Summerland Miniature Golf 

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is cancelled for Thursday night. Guests may call 407-566-4985, option 5, to make alternate plans, anytime from 9:00am to 11:00pm EDT 

Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground is closed now through Sunday. This includes all Thursday and Friday performances of Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue and Mickey’s Backyard BBQ 

The Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Bungalows will be unavailable beginning Thursday afternoon. Spirit of Aloha dinner shows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will be cancelled Thursday and Friday evenings 

Select spa locations, including La Vida Health Club at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Senses a Disney Spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, and Ship Shape Massage, Salon and Fitness at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, will be closed beginning Thursday at 12:00pm through Saturday evening. 

ENTERTAINMENT, AMENITIES & OTHER OFFERINGS 
Characters in Flight at Disney Springs is closed now through Sunday. 
The Baseball Canada game scheduled for Thursday at 1:00pm at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has been rescheduled for 10:00am the same day. Select weekend events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex have been canceled including the 2016 Disney Cross Country Classic and Baseball Canada’s Friday and Saturday games/practices