Universal Studios Singapore finally open for " sneak-preview " Sunday Feb 14th !

Edited: After your reading of this article, don't miss the new Grand exclusive report on Universal Singapore with 45 panoramic pictures showing you the whole park! It's HERE.

Universal Studios Singapore will finally open Sunday, Feb 14th, but only for a "sneak-preview"! In theme park world there was "Grand Openings" or "soft-openings", thanks to Universal there is now the "sneak preview" days! In addition to this the Resorts World Sentosa Casino is opening also on Sunday Feb 14th. Frankly, they've found a smart answer to the problem: how to open a theme park not totally operational during Asia biggest holiday when we need people in a casino which is ready for opening?

So, this sneak preview will be every night from Feb 14 to 21 and the park will open from 5pm to 9pm. Good news: admission will be $10 only and with a same-value dining voucher! I tell you more below about what happened this week, but first, the official press release.

Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore’s First Integrated Resort Casino opens 14 Feb 2010; Celebrates with Universal Studios Singapore Previews

Singapore, 11 Feb 2010 - Singapore’s first Integrated Resort (IR), Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), will begin the first day of the Tiger year with the soft-opening of its casino and a preview opportunity to stroll through the amazing environments at Universal Studios Singapore and enjoy the specially themed dining and shopping venues that will complement the incredible attractions, rides and shows that soon will be revealed.

The casino, the Resort’s much-anticipated attraction, will have its first play at an auspicious hour with a private ceremony and welcome its first public guest at 12.18 pm. A day of festivities at the Integrated Resort has been planned to mark the red-letter day, including the debut of its public attraction, Lake of Dreams, and evening previews at its Universal Studios theme park.

The casino opening is part of the initial phased opening of Singapore’s first IR that began on 20 Jan 2010 with the opening of its four hotels: Crockfords Tower; Hotel Michael; Festive Hotel; and Hard Rock Hotel Singapore. Its shopping and dining promenade, FestiveWalk, soft-opened on 30 Jan 2010.





Chairman of Resorts World Sentosa and the Genting Group, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay said: “In less than three years since the time we broke ground and commenced construction for Resorts World Sentosa, we have taken our vision from drawing board to reality. This is a significant milestone in Singapore’s business history. We promised to deliver a true Integrated Resort, and we have not deviated from that.”

Chief Executive Officer of Resorts World Sentosa, Mr. Tan Hee Teck said: “We know a lot of Singaporeans are looking forward to the opening of both our major elements, the casino and Universal Studios Singapore. We are ready to soft-open the casino but are still fine-tuning the rides and shows in the theme park, which are still on schedule to open in the first quarter of 2010. However, since its Chinese New Year, we decided to offer Singaporeans a week long preview of Universal Studios Singapore with a special and unique first-to-see walk-through opportunity. The theme park’s unique restaurants and shopping venues will be open for guests, although rides and shows will not be operational. However, we are confident that the park’s design, vistas and photo opportunities will truly excite and impress guests and motivate them for return visits when fully operational.”

“We celebrate the New Year with the people of Singapore and are thrilled to provide a sneak peek of Universal Studios Singapore during this festive holiday period,” said Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO, Universal Parks & Resorts. “It’s an exciting time for all of us and a great opportunity to share a glimpse of the action, thrills and adventure that Universal will bring to the region.”

For sneak peek week, Universal Studios Singapore will open from 5pm to 9pm every night from 14 Feb to 21 Feb. Admission will be by $10 tickets, rebated by a same-value dining voucher. Sale of the tickets starts from 11:18am Friday, 12 Feb 2010. Guests can visit the box office at the Universal Studios Singapore front gate to purchase tickets for another day (there will be no same day ticket sales available).
Following the sneak peek week, Universal Studios Singapore will open on 22 Feb 2010 to Resorts World Sentosa, Genting, and Universal employees followed by limited audiences of staff families, charities and invited guests. It expects to welcome its first public guests in early March.

Casino Levy
Singapore citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents can start buying the casino levy at the similar time of 11.18 am on Friday, 12 Feb 2010. The levy can be bought from counters outside the Resorts World™ Sentosa casino and online at www.rwsentosa.com. Details of the tours, levy terms and conditions will be posted online from Friday. Enquiries can be made at enquiries@rwsentosa.com or 6577 8888/99.

(end of press release)

So, what happened during this crazy week at Universal Singapore? Well, until yesterday no opening date was announced, not even sneak preview days but Universal Singapore teams worked all days long to fix the technical problems they have on some attractions and to finish all the usuals security tests.

Everything was done to have the park ready to open this week-end - which is Chinese New Year week-end, the biggest holiday of the year in all Asia. I told you last time that some attractions were not fully operational but at least two attractions are definitely not ready for an opening this month. Universal Singapore informed their staff that the Lights, Camera, Action special effects show located in the New York area probably won't be operational before the end of March and the big Madagascar flume ride may not be ready before April. And all the week other USS teams worked on the Jurassic Park ride to make sure it will be fully operational next week-end. If they were small "A" Ticket rides it won't be a problem, but unfortunately the three of them are very good attractions, kind of "D+" or "E" Ticket rides so let's hope they will be operational as soon as possible.

Although USS teams are doing absolutely all their best to have all rides working and safe as soon as possible but even during the park sneak preview days some of the rides won't be operational, as they say in the press release. Nobody is to blame in all this as what happen at Universal Singapore happen for any theme park in the world, and specially theme parks with sophisticated rides. The more sophisticated a ride is, the more difficult it is to have everything working fine. And you know how reality is, so you'll understand that there is no reason that everything works fine at the first push on the button.

If someone must be blame, it would be the guy who choose Feb 14th as the date of 2010 Chinese New Year (there is no "guy" to blame as Chinese New Year happen at the second new moon of the year). If there was not this Chinese New Year next week-end everybody at USS would be probably more relax right now. But there is so much money spent during this holiday that i can understand that Universal Singapore considered a Feb 14th opening as a priority, even in sneak preview mode.

Universal top executives who arrived at the park this week to have a better idea of the situation finally did the right choice or at least the only choice acceptable for the guests security, i.e to have a "sneak preview" of the park with not all rides operational and they'll do a Grand Opening celebration later when all USS 18 attractions will be ready to welcome the guests.

And Don't miss the new great exclusive report on Universal Singapore with 45 panoramic pictures where you will see the whole park! It's HERE.

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Pictures: copyright Universal Studios - Resorts World sentosa

Disney Shopping release new Mr Toad collectible

All fans of Mr Toad will be happy to learn that Disney Shopping released a new collectible item of Mr Toad. The only problem is that it's a snow globe... Damn' snow globes! Why don't they release these items at least in two versions - with or without the globe?



Anyway, Mr Toad collectibles are really rare and the item itself is not that bad (if we except the snow globe!). Below, the product infos:

Horseless carriage automatically rocks as you experience Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
A shower of sparks surrounds Toad and Cyril
Lighted LED fireplace in Toad Hall
Wind music key to hear London Bridge is Falling Down
Walt Disney's animated classic The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad was originally released October 5, 1949, leading off with a featurette version of Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows
Hand-painted, sculpted resin with glass and plastic
9'' H x 6'' W x 8'' D
Requires 2 AA batteries, included

It don't seem to be a limited edition but i doubt they will have it forever... I remind you that Mr Toad character can be find now only at Disneyland (Mr Toad's Wild Ride) and at Disneyland Paris (Toad Hall Restaurant).

While we talk about collectibles here is another great one, the awaited WDCC Limited-Edition "Maleficent: Evil Eruption" Sculpture by Ruben Precopio. This one is a 500 pieces limited edition, is 15" high and its price is $499. Hand-painted porcelain with glass, pewter and resin.



Expensive, but look great. See you tomorrow for a new update!


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Pictures: copyright Disney

Disney CEO Bob Iger calls Apple's iPad a "game changer" in digital media

Bob Iger said Tuesday the iPad was a "game changer" that could transform how media companies deliver content to consumers: "We find that the iPad has a lot of potential. We think it's a really compelling device. We think it could be a game changer in terms of enabling us to create essentially new forms of content."

"We've put in the marketplace a digi-books product through our Disney publishing group just recently. We were developing it primarily for the computer screen and we started developing it for iTunes, I should say for the iPhone/iTouch platform, and suddenly this device comes along and provides us with an even more robust technological platform that makes the interactivity that we were going to provide, things like read-alongs, simple animation, music, to just sort of come to life, and that's just one example."

"When you think about ABC, you think about a program like `Lost' and not just being able to watch the program, but all the other things that viewers like to do with that program. ABC News, another great example."

"ESPN ScoreCenter, which is a great app on the iPhone, and provides relatively rudimentary information, scores, basically, suddenly we have an opportunity with a platform where you can really make the scores come to life."

From canadianbusiness.com

Drum rolls begin at Hong Kong Disneyland for the Chinese New Year's Celebration

The awaited Chinese New Year won't be before next Sunday, February 14th, but at Hong Kong Disneyland the celebration already began four days ago! Here is the official press release with full details and great pictures!

"To welcome the arrival of Chinese New Year, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is presenting the Year of the Tiger Celebration to media today Feb 4th. From February 5 to 28, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their pals in their stylish new costumes are ready to greet visiting Guests from across the region. Hong Kong Disneyland Managing Director Andrew Kam, along with singer Kelly Chen joined Mickey to present the first showing of the all-new Disney’s Jumping Jam.



Managing Director Andrew Kam hopes to bring a truly relaxing family vacation to Hong Kong residents and tourists this Chinese New Year. “The Lunar New Year is one of the most important festivals for the Chinese community. Our entire Cast is dedicated to providing our Guests with unique festivities presented in Disney’s truly creative style. We also want to ensure everyone will enjoy their visit and bring home the very best holiday memories, no matter how old you are,” he said.



Guests can take a leisurely walk along Main Street U.S.A and be immersed in the festive spirit as they meet their favorite Disney Friends in new costumes; take photos along the lucky trail; check out the new merchandise in the stores or enjoy delicious traditional cuisine. There are multiple shows of the all-new Disney’s Jumping Jam and the popular Celebration in the Street ready for Guests to enjoy throughout the day. Flower lovers will be delighted with the all-new Lucky Trail.



In the all-new Disney’s Jumping Jam, a 360 degree stage has been placed in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle for the first time ever, allowing Guests to view the show from all angles. The various levels of the stage are filled with Chinese drums in different sizes, the drum which takes pride of place at the centre of the stage is 2.5 meters tall and 7 meters wide.



Mickey leads over 30 drummers, acrobats and cast members in their festive costumes to show off their talents in this one-of-a-kind performance, inviting everyone to join and clap along.



The Park’s Entertainment Team has invited a renowned percussion group based in Xian, China, to collaborate in this new show. Led by An Zhi Shun, an 80-year-old percussion master who has received great acclaim internationally and is known as the “Beethoven of Chinese Percussion” in mainland China, the group has arranged and will perform the percussion part of the Jumping Jam show together with other dynamic performances by acrobats, dancers and everyone’s favorite Disney characters. While Disney is well-known for its attention to details, the whole show is a feast for the eyes and ears with its unique combination of stage design, musical arrangement, art direction and costume design.



Lisa Tsang, Senior Producer at the Park feels that it is a fabulous opportunity for her team to work with An Zhi Shun’s percussion group. “We are thrilled about this collaboration as it has brought a new dimension to our production. Mr. An told me that he is delighted to see how the percussion group and all performance elements are weaved seamlessly into the show. As they usually perform on a theater stage, the experience to perform on a 360 degree audience facing stage while enjoying the interactive experience with Guests has become one of his most memorable productions.”



The popular Lucky Trail will bring even more good luck with its brand new look this year. Eight Disney Character figurines made with over 18 types of flowers symbolizing Happiness, Wealth, Longevity, Romance, Success in Studies, Harmony, Achievement, and Prosperity are featured in gorgeous settings. Before embarking on the journey along the lucky trail, Guests can pick up a Lucky Trail Sticker Card at the Sticker Card Collection Counter. After playing games at each stop on the Lucky Trail, Guests can return to the Sticker Card Collection Counter and redeem special edition stickers.







Mickey and Minnie will be capturing the spotlight this year with their stylish Year of the Tiger outfits, specially designed by superstar Kelly Chen thanks to her inspirational taste in fashion. The themes of their outfits are prosperity and luck, with gold as the main color. Mickey’s outfit is tastefully decorated with lucky traditional Chinese symbols such as plum blossom, orchid, chrysanthemum and bamboo with jade green patterns. With fine gold-colored plum detailing, Minnie’s lovely dress (qi pao) is embroidered with a large, red plum blossom. Disney Friends including Donald Duck, Daisy, Pluto, and Chip & Dale will also dress in the festive spirit with new costumes. And Goofy will appear as the God of Fortune on Main Street U.S.A. to take photos with Guests and wish them a happy Chinese New Year.



Mickey will be the ‘maestro’ leading the Celebration in the Street on Main Street U.S.A twice every day. This colorful procession includes Chinese Drummers in an energetic drum routine, and also features a magnificent golden dragon along with an elaborate display of giant puppets, fantastic costumes, and many more. Guests will get into the New Year spirit as Minnie presents a beautiful fan dance and Goofy dresses up as Disney’s God of Fortune!



Main Street U.S.A. will also be filled with other live entertainment throughout the day, with traditional and modern Chinese New Year-themed performers including Drummers and Lion Dancers spreading joy and happiness all around.
Guests can bring home the best of luck with 88 “Mickey Family in the Year of Tiger” merchandise items, and 18 exclusive items from the “Hong Kong Disneyland Exclusive KxM collection” designed by Kelly Chen including unique clothing and accessories for women. The Park will also offer a range of Valentine items to celebrate the season of love! The Park will transform into the Happiest Land of Fortune with decorations in colors that symbolize good luck. The Gods of Prosperity, Happiness and Longevity will be in the Park to wish everyone a good beginning to the Year of the Tiger. (end of press release)

One more thing (as Steve would say): May be you've noticed the young chinese singer Kelly Chen standing with Mickey and Andrew Kam on one of the pictures above. Apparently the park released a series of merchandise items (T-Shirts, bags) called K&M (Kelly and Mickey) and even did a photo shooting with Kelly Chen. Here is one of the publicity pictures...



...And yes, I agree, she's HOT!


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All pictures: copyright Disney - Hong Kong Disneyland

The Princess and the Frog Review

I finally had a chance to see last night Princess and the Frog and here is my review. The movie was released in France last week only and unfortunately the press screenings happened when i was on holiday last month and i've missed all of them, so this is the reason why i couldn't write before this review.

So, i saw Princess and the Frog in perfect condition yesterday evening and i liked it a lot! I think it's a wonderful Disney animated movie and i strongly encourage each of you to go out as soon as you can and see it!

First, the animation is first class animation, just like in the old time of Disney animated movies, and Disney animators did a fantastic job, really. The characters are perfect - everything is perfectly done, in fact - and some of them are really funny like the crocodile or the rich daughter character. Backgrounds are sumptuous and Randy Newman's music is as great as you can expect from such a talented composer.

Though, it took Princess and the Frog more than six weeks to make $100 M at the U.S box-office and the movie is not as successful as the latest Pixar movies. So, where is the problem - if there is one? If we except the huge success of Avatar who took a lot of spectators, some may say that if Princess and the Frog was not extremely successful it's because it's a 2D animated movie. Let's think about this one minute : personally what i liked in Princess and the Frog was precisely that it has the class of Disney animated features in the grand Disney tradition (as John Lasseter would say). And it's true that when you see it you have the feeling it could have been done anytime between the 1950's to the 1990's as the animation style and the "Princess" storyline could have been one they choose to adapt in these old days. But that's a big part of the movie charm, precisely! It is this quaint charm which makes it enjoyable.

However i can see two reasons which could explain its so-so success at the box-office. First it's a "Princess" movie and although i don't doubt that young girls can still believe to these poor-girl-who-finally-meet-the charming-Prince stories i think that it's not anymore the same with parents. Let me be clear: even forty years ago adults didn't believe that this kind of fairy tale was true. But, in our 21st Century age, the cynism of the society reached such a point that it has almost destroyed any form of innocence in people's mind. Life is harder and harder - and it's going to get worse - and it's more and more difficult for adults to keep (even hidden) a childhood spirit.

I know that when we go to Disneyland it's precisely to find back this "childhood spirit", but we know that it's not the real life. Back in the 1950's - 70's when the future was bright it was different. Innocence was not yet replaced by cynism and even adults could be sensitive to these "Princess" stories. But not anymore. And that's probably one of the reason why "Princess" didn't had the success it deserves.

One other reason could be that in the times we're living people like what is "shiny". And i have to admit that CGI animated movies have a look more "shiny". It's absurd because it is the animation quality and the storyline which should be more important, but the look of CGI animated movies is more "charming" for the eye. And, by the way, we can see this love for shiny everywhere if it's not in any product. As you know i'm a big fan of Apple computers but i'm furious that all Mac computers have now - and only - a glossy screen. The reason why Apple is doing this is not only an economic reason but also because, precisely, glossy-shiny screens are as i've just said more charming for the eye.

All of this to say that the high quality of Princess and the Frog is not into question. It's probably more difficult now to have huge hits at the B.O with a 2D animated movie but that's not a reason to stop 2D animation. Right now the international box-office of the movie is $149 M but if we except Germany and Italy where the movie was released last December - and France since last week - the movie has yet to open in theatres of many major countries like the U.K or Japan. So, in the meantime, please go out to watch Princess and the Frog, it's a wonderful movie with great characters and, as i've said, top class animation. I'm sure you will love it!


/Film did recently a great behind the scenes Princess and the Frog documentary called "Frogumentary" and filmed at Walt Disney Animation Studios. It's now released in four parts on Youtube and i've embedded it below. Great document, don't miss it!


















Picture: copyright Disney

Video: copyright slashfilm.com

Universal Studios Singapore is racing against time for a Chinese New Year opening

Here is a new update on Universal Studios Singapore and its opening date. Before i go further, here is a special request: If you are a Disney and more reader living in Singapore, owner of a good digital camera, and intend to be at Universal Singapore on opening day 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 help from my Singaporian readers will be appreciated!

In my last article i told you that the park said they were waiting for the Singapore Government authorization to open the park? Well, they've finally got a government authorization this week, but it's for the Casino opening!

So, Resorts World Sentosa which include Universal Studios Singapore has been awarded its casino licence and for sure that's the authorization they were waiting for. I strongly doubt they were waiting for a government authorization to open the park but they were indeed waiting for the casino license as it will be the real money maker of the resort. With the Chinese new year coming on February 14th and big Chinese gamblers expected for this celebration it was urgent to get this casino license, and now they have it.



The grand arch at the park's entrance and ticket booths (below) are ready to welcome the guests...but the park is not open yet!



So, nothing should stop now the theme park opening, you ask? Well, normally yes, but truth is that Universal Singapore is fighting against time to have all attractions ready for a Chinese new year opening. Universal Creatives are working from 7a.m to 10p.m to test all the rides and last week they put the final touches on the Jurassic Park Ride. Right now it's not sure the park will open for the Chinese New Year as not enough Rides are fully operational.

I know that strong rumors keep saying that USS will open this week - and even I told you they were looking for a soft opening on February 11 - but if they do so, chances are there will still be 4 or 5 Rides that won't be open. Not only there is always the last minute details but there are many layers of testing for each attraction and some of the rides haven't gone through all of them. In two words four or five rides are not totally safe yet. May be they will be this week, may be not. Some of the rides are really complex and let's hope that Universal won't decide to open the park anyway including these not-totally-tested rides simply because they don't want to miss the Chinese new year event.

However, the good thing is that Universal is generally very strict on these security issues and that's the right thing to do.

In the meantime final touches are done, including last minute technical problems like the one that happened last week on the famous Universal Studios Globe at the entrance of the park.






However, visitors can have access to other areas of Resorts World Sentosa like the Festive Walk and its fountain, here shoot at sunset.





More update about Universal Studios Singapore opening coming soon, but don't miss my next article later this week where we will talk about the NEXT Universal Studios theme park in Asia and how it might not be the one that everybody is expecting for in South Korea...


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All pictures: copyright Mark Lim

D&M Innoventions : Walt Disney " PolaDroids" Pictures

We all remember the fantastic Polaroid pictures and their unique colours. The digital era arrived and changed everything and soon even if you still own a Polaroid camera, it will not be possible anymore to realize Polaroid pictures. Simply because the Polaroid Co will stop this year the fabrication of the legendary Polaroid photographic paper...

And then arrived PolaDroid, a magical and FREE little software. Created by Paul, obviously a big fan of the old Polaroid era, PolaDroid allow you to give to ANY of your digital pictures "Polaroid" colours in a few seconds. Suddenly, the picture you took last year will look like a 1960's picture, bringing you back in time, with colours that no camera is doing anymore. To give you an idea of how it looks here is some famous pictures of Walt that i've put through the PolaDroid application.

Above, Walt in Main Street surrounded by Disneyland guests in the 1960's. Below, Walt presenting the Man in Space TV series.



Next picture is of course Walt standing in the Tiki Room.



A famous - and great - picture of Walt aboard the Disneyland Railroad.



Walt and the famous tiger who appeared during Walt's TV shows.



Probably the most famous picture of Walt walking under Sleeping Beauty Castle before Disneyland's opening day in 1955. The original picture is in black and white but the PolaDroid app can also transform your B&W pictures.



Walt holding the Jungle Cruise boat model.



Walt and his brother Roy.



Before Disneyland's opening, Walt with the Jungle Cruise AAs.



Walt and Indian price minister Nehru in late 1950's on the Jungle Cruise boat.



Walt and disney Legendary Imagineer John Hench at WED Enterprises.



Another famous picture of Walt Disney.



Walt and the famous Mouseketeers during the recording of a TV show .



Walt in one of his last TV appearance announcing the WDW and Epcot project.



As you've seen this PolaDroid application can create amazing effects, now here is how it works, and it's extremely simple: First go on the PolaDroid web site HERE and download the application which works both for Mac and PC. The PolaDroid software is free, but if you wish to do a donation to his creator it will be highly appreciated. Once you've installed the application, you launch it, and a little Polaroid camera will appear on your screen. Now, all you have to do is to choose any of your digital picture, and drag and drop it on the Polaroid camera. That's all you have to do, can't be more easy, isnt'it?



Ten seconds later a little picture will come out of the camera, and just like the real Polaroid pictures, it'll take the photo 2 to 3 minutes to appear! Actually, you'll see it appearing little by little, just like with the real Polaroids. Once it's done, the picture in big size and jpeg file is waiting for you in the "Images" folder of your computer. Very easy, very fun, very magical. So, go ahead, try this amazing PolaDroid application, and enjoy it!

You can also read a previous article i did one year ago about the PolaDroid app using pictures of the parks HERE.


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Pictures: copyright Disney, National Geographic