Video: copyright Disney Parks around the world
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Start the Day With a Trip around Disneyland Paris Park Aboard DLP Railroad Eureka Train!
Video: copyright Disney Parks around the world
Friday, May 11, 2018
Never-Seen-Before Video of Imagineer Tony Baxter Talk at Walt's Barn in 2001 !
Jordan Goodman very kindly sent me for D&M the link to a video he just uploaded on Youtube, which is a never-seen-before talk that Disney Legend and Imagineer Tony Baxter gave at Walt's Barn, in Los Angeles, in October 2001, nearly 17 years ago.
In the video Tony tells great stories about Disneyland and the attractions he created, all this in what was Walt Disney's barn - picture below and on top with Walt and his daughters!
Note that Tony sometime is a bit at counterlight but Jordan managed to resolve the problem most of the time. Thanks a lot to Jordan and enjoy Tony stories!
Video: copyright Jordan Goodman
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Official : Universal Studios Hollywood "Jurassic Park—The Ride" Will Close on September 3 and Will Reopen in a New Version in 2019 as "Jurassic World - The Ride" !
It's official: Universal Studios Hollywood announced today that Jurassic Park—The Ride” will close on September 3, 2018 and will reopen in a new version with new Audio-Animatronics Dinosaurs in 2019, with "never-before-seen dinosaurs, enhanced storytelling, lush scenic design, an entirely new color scheme and uncompromised state-of the art technology." And the Jurassic Cove restaurant and Jurassic Outfitters retail store also will close with the attraction and reopen with the new experience in 2019! Below, the full Universal Studios press release:
Universal City, CA, May 10, 2018 – The countdown to the extinction of “Jurassic Park—The Ride” begins as Universal Studios Hollywood excavates the site in preparation for the 2019 arrival of “Jurassic World Ride,” inspired by Universal Pictures’ blockbuster film franchise.
“Jurassic Park—The Ride” will officially become extinct on September 3, 2018.
In 1996, Universal Studios Hollywood redefined theme park thrill rides with the unprecedented introduction of “Jurassic Park—The Ride,” based on three-time Academy Award®winner Steven Spielberg’s epic film. Hailed as a technological achievement of triumph and wizardry, the ride featured newly debuted principles of hydraulic physics, mechanics and space-age robotics. Working in partnership with scientists, palaeontologists and aerospace engineers, Universal Creative—the team that develops Universal theme park rides—brought to life one of the most compelling rides ever created. Life-sized and lifelike animatronic dinosaurs, some towering over five-stories high, freely roamed the earth at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Twenty-two years later—and after sending millions of guests back to the Jurassic era for menacing face-to-face encounters with such predators as Stegosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Dilophosaurus, Velociraptors and the Tyrannosaurus rex—“Jurassic Park—The Ride” will become extinct in preparation for a new, next-generation experience that’s even more immersive and technologically advanced. The new ride will pay homage to Jurassic Park and will reimagine this landmark film franchise for theme park guests. The Jurassic Cove restaurant and Jurassic Outfitters retail store also will close with the attraction and reopen with the new experience in 2019.
“The one thing that the history of evolution has taught us is that life finds a way” was famously uttered by Jurassic Park’s Dr. Ian Malcom. In the spirit of this pledge, Universal Studios Hollywood is rallying guests and fans to visit The Entertainment Capital of L.A. as it celebrates this epic ride and prepares for the arrival of the “Jurassic World Ride.”
Plus, in honor of the blockbuster action-adventure that brought dinosaurs out of extinction a quarter century ago, Universal Studios Hollywood in partnership with Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment will host the Jurassic Park 25th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, May 11; Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13. To learn more and to purchase tickets to this highly coveted event, please visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com/JP25.
Want more of Jurassic World? Have a look at this new featurette and new TV spot for Jurassic World 2 released next month!
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
4K Videos : Ride Each Attraction of Shanghai Disneyland Toy Story Land !
Dan McNeely from ThemeparkHD is a faithful D&M contributor and was recently at Shanghaî Disneyland to film the brand new Toy Story land, just opened, and comeback with four videos showing the land itself and each of the three rides, including the new Woody's Round Up! And it's 4K videos so make sure to watch them full screen!
Videos: copyright ThemeParkHD
Epcot Space-Themed Restaurant to be Built Between Mission: Space and Test Track Attractions.
During last D23 event was announced a one-of-a-kind, space-themed restaurant currently planned for Epcot that will offer guests amazing meals and a spectacular view – from high above the Earth.
Today, the Disney Parks blog confirmed that "this restaurant will be built in a newly developed area located between the park’s Mission: SPACE and Test Track attractions. Once completed, the restaurant will invite guests to travel to space for an amazing dining experience in the stars. The new restaurant will be operated by the Patina Restaurant Group, led by Nick Valenti, which operates several other restaurants around Walt Disney World Resort, including Tutto Italia and Via Napoli at Epcot and Morimoto Asia and Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante at Disney Springs.
But Epcot guests don’t have to wait until the restaurant opens to enjoy a thrilling adventure in space. Last summer, the park’s Mission: SPACE attraction launched new experiences: the enhanced Orange Mission offers a truly intense experience that lets guests feel the force of an actual space launch en route to Mars; while the all-new, family-friendly Green Mission takes guests on an exciting orbit around Earth.
And this summer – starting June 9 – Star-Lord and Gamora from “Guardians of the Galaxy” will take guests on a musical journey through the cosmos in “Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!” as a part of Walt Disney World’s “Incredible Summer” offerings. Guests can catch “Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!” at the America Gardens Theatre at Epcot, five times a day from June 9 through August 19."
Picture: copyright Disney
Disneyland Paris "From Sketch to Reality" Book Special Offer ENDS TODAY !!!
TODAY MAY 10 the special offer on the LAST English copies of the acclaimed Disneyland Paris book "From Sketch to Reality" is ending, so make sure to place your order NOW!
The French edition is totally out of stock but if you're French, and wish to purchase the book in its English edition i will send you a PDF file of the full French text of the French edition.
Here is all you need to know to order a copy of the "Disneyland Paris From Sketch to Reality" book with the special offer. First, it's a 320 pages book with 750 pictures of the park including 250 WDI artworks! It's also probably the best gift you can find for a Disney Parks fan - and it is true! Have a look below to the mosaic pictures showing a selection of pages of the book.
To place your order for the DLP book, please send me an email at: amplittaye@gmail.com with your shipping address. The price during the special offer is 65€ ( instead of 85€ ) and shipping worldwide is 22€ ( except Belgium and Italy for which it is 29€ ).
For French readers a PDF file of the full French text of the French edition will be sent.
Lecteurs Français: Etant donné que l'édition française est épuisée, un fichier du texte complet original en Français sera envoyé aux acheteurs Français ne comprenant pas l'anglais.
Also, each order will receive two GREAT surprise gifts!
You can pay with Paypal, credit card or bank transfer. For Paypal payments please send directly the full amount including shipping ( 87€ worldwide, except for Belgium and Italy for which it is 94€ ) at: nme4@wanadoo.fr If you wish to pay by credit card and bank transfer, let me know in your email and i'll tell you how to do.
Also, as you know, D&M currently needs your support and if you don't own the book yet, ordering a copy is another great way to support Disney and more. If you don't wish to order the book, you can also send your donation - of the amount you wish - to the same address Paypal: nme4@wanadoo.fr Thousand thanks to all of you who've already did it!
If you've never seen the book before, don't miss the video below showing the full 320 pages of the book!
Bob Iger Says Disney Sees Opportunities to Build Disney Parks in Other Parts of the World - Yes, But Where?
The Walt Disney Company Reports Second Quarter and Six Months Earnings for Fiscal 2018 and for Parks and Resorts revenues for the quarter increased 13% to $4.9 billion and segment operating income increased 27% to $1.0 billion.
"Operating income growth for the quarter was due to increases at our domestic and international parks and resorts. Results included a benefit from a shift in the timing of the Easter holiday relative to our fiscal periods. The current quarter included one week of the Easter holiday, whereas the entire Easter holiday fell in the third quarter of the prior year.
Higher operating income at our domestic parks and resorts was primarily due to increased guest spending, attendance growth at Walt Disney World Resort and higher sponsorship revenue, partially offset by increased costs. Guest spending growth was due to increases in average ticket prices, average daily hotel room rates and food, beverage and merchandise spending. The increase in costs was primarily due to labor and other cost inflation, an increase in depreciation associated with new attractions and higher technology spending.
The increase at our international parks and resorts was due to growth at Disneyland Paris and higher occupied room nights and attendance at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. These increases were partially offset by a decrease at Shanghai Disney Resort driven by lower attendance, cost inflation and an unfavorable foreign currency impact. Higher operating income at Disneyland Paris was due to increases in guest spending and attendance, partially offset by cost inflation. Guest spending growth at Disneyland Paris was due to higher average ticket prices driven by less discounting, and increases in average daily hotel room rates and food, beverage and merchandise spending."
Full official WDC results release HERE. The picture below summarizes the second quarter and six-month segment operating results for fiscal 2018 and 2017 (in millions)
Now, Bob Iger also said that he sees “opportunities to expand” the company’s theme parks in China and other parts of the world. “We think there’s opportunities to expand in China,” Iger said. “There may also be opportunities in other parts of the world. The more popular our IP is, the more in-demand it is in our parks,” Iger said during the call adding that the WDC is evaluating where else in the world it might locate a theme park, based on factors such as economic and political stability. “It doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to build something anytime very soon,” Iger said. “But we’re going to look.”
O-Kay. So, where Disney could build a new theme park? Although Iger had a meeting recently with the Saudi prince, i won't bet they will build a Disney theme park in Saudi Arabia, for many reasons including Saudi Arabia medieval rules, and they won't build one in Dubai either, at least in a near future, as there is already too many parks there - the Fox theme park was cancelled last week for this reason.
So, where? I don't know which country the WDC is currently thinking about but what i can tell you is where they WERE thinking to build a Disney theme park during the last ten years, even if they changed their plans finally at that time to build a park in Shanghaî. And among the countries where they envisioned and probably are still thinking to build a Disney park were South Korea - actually Imagineers have worked quite a bit on a park in South Korea and the great WDI artist John Horny even did concept-arts for it, Rio de Janeiro - they really thought about building a park in Brazil years ago, India - because they could have visitors from the Gulf or South-East Asia, but i suspect they're waiting for a bigger middle class in India, and Singapore - they were talks about it before Shanghaî and it didn't worked because the Singapore government apparently didn't agree with the deal proposed by Disney. And Iger talked not so long ago about Beijing, too. But, sorry, nothing about Australia even if long ago there was some talks about it.
Which one will be the lucky winner? Here is the order in which i would put my bets:
1. Beijing - because China is so big, the middle class is growing and SDL is doing so well.
2. Rio de Janeiro - because there is no Disney park in South America which so far was not a problem for Disney as South Americans could come to WDW.
3. India, but not probably before at least ten years.
4. Singapore - because of the political stability there and also because Singapore is the closest place in South East Asia looking like the U.S, but they might not be a number of park visitors enough for Disney which is probably looking to have at least 10 Million visitors per year.
5. South Korea is at the end of my list because of the proximity of Disney parks in Japan and Shanghaî or Hong Kong where Koreans can visit and actually go, and of course because of the unknown outcome of the crisis with North Korea.
We'll see where will be the next park but it won't be in Europe - Disneyland Paris is at the center of it, it won't be in Russia too, and it won't be in the Middle East or Africa because of Disney factors announced above.
Last but not least, what about the deal with FOX, now that Comcast announced yesterday a higher bid? Here is a Bloomberg video in which Iger talked about it yesterday. And by the way, a good news as The Wall Street Journal is reporting that James Murdoch will not join Disney if Disney is winning the acquisition of 21st Century Fox:
Video: copyright Bloomberg
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