Saturday, February 9, 2013

" Pirates Paradise " , Best Non-Disney Themed Restaurant in France ?


I discovered recently a "pirates" themed restaurant located in the south of France at the Odysseum in Montpellier. Called "Pirates Paradise" the restaurant apparently opened two years ago so i'm a bit late on this one. But the real surprise was to see how good the theming is. Not only it's very well done - i mean, this is a restaurant who could find its place at DLP Disney Village dining and entertainment area if DLP did not had already the Blue Lagoon at Adventureland - but also, as you will see, they obviously learned well their "lessons" !.

From the fortress tower to a skull rock, and from pirates skeletons and a real size galleon the whole thing is full of reminiscences from Disney Pirates attractions. But the good thing is that they did a theming which looks almost as good as a WDI theming. The place is very successful - no surprise as everyone from kids to adults always love pirates - and they even built a second Pirates Paradise restaurant in another town not so far from the first one.

The best is that i let you have a look to some pictures coming from their site and then i'll meet you with a video which will show you more.
















Pirates Paradise merchandise shop is inside the "skull rock"!



As you've seen, they did a pretty good job, and specially considering it's a french restaurant - as french as not "naturally" good for this kind of theming, unless of course if WDI imagineering is behind them. But they didn't built only nice decors as Pirates Paradise also have some lightning and cannon effects as you will see in the video below!




So, next time you come in the south of France, don't forget to make a stop and have some lunch or dinner at Pirates Paradise as i'm sure that the Disney fan that you are should really enjoy this place! In the meantime you can have a look at their website right HERE.

Pictures: copyright Pirates Paradise

Friday, February 8, 2013

Vintage WDW Map Reveals Cancelled WDW Resorts and Marc Davis Attraction


The good guys of the Disney Parks blog have put on line this vintage WDW map - above, click to enlarge - which was released when WDW opened, and this artwork "decorated the guest rooms of the Contemporary Resort Hotel and the Polynesian Village Resort Hotel".  What's interesting is that you can see on the map three others resorts which were envisioned at that time and never built...

...i.e the Asian Resort which is located on the map on the bottom, on the left of the transportation center, and here are some renderings of it...





...The Venetian Resort which is located on the map above the transportation center and between it and the Contemporary Resort...


...and the Persian Resort, located on the map above the Contemporary Resort, on the right of Autopia.


But there is something else interesting - and also unfortunately never built - that you can see on this map. Of course you don't see Space Mountain because it was not built yet on Magic Kingdom opening day, but you can see another ride that WED Imagineers were envisioned to build, and it's the legendary Marc Davis Western River Expedition ride which was then cancelled to build instead Pirates of Caribbean.

Where is it on the map, you ask? Well, it's located just at the bottom of Frontierland river and close to the park boundary, and it's this one below.


I'm almost 100% sure that it shows Western River Expedition, and the reason why is because you can see the rocky mountain and also the waterfalls that were part of WRE decor as you can see on the rendering below!


See you on monday, and in the meantime have all a great week-end!

Pictures: copyright Disney

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Last Days to Enjoy the Valentine's Day $60 Discount on the Disneyland Paris Book!


I remind you that that you now have only seven days to enjoy the great Winter sale / Valentine's day special offer on the Disneyland Paris book collector's edition and order it at its lowest price ever, i.e 75€ / $100 (instead of 120€ / $160) plus 15€ shipping wherever you live on the planet!

You can order the 320 pages book either in its collector english or french edition and if you have a Paypal account you can use the Paypal one click button below ( please use ONLY the Paypal button below not the one on the right bar which is not coded at the same price). No Paypal account? No problem, you can pay by bank wire transfer,  please send me an email at : neverlandeditions@gmail.com
Also, please send me an email with your shipping address and also let me know if you order  the book in its english or french edition.

The book which include 500 pictures of the park - including pictures of every ride as well as stunning view of the park from above like the one at the top - and 250 WDI renderings will make a GREAT gift for the one you love. I can even say that it'll be hard in this kind of price to find a better gift for a Disney theme park fan, and it's true!

I remind you that only 50 copies are on sale at this special price, so order now your collector's copy while you can get it at its lowest price ever, and save $60 / 45€ on the book normal price!



Choose quantity and enjoy additional discount
If you've never seen the book the video below will show you the whole 320 pages of the book! For pictures and description details please go HERE.

































Picture: copyright yann Arthus-Bertrand - Altitude

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Official: "Disney Light Ears" and Two New Scenes Coming to DLP Disney Dreams !



It's now official : the acclaimed Disney Dreams show at Disneyland Paris will be enhanced with two new scenes starting April 2013. The two new scenes will be from Brave and the Lion King. Also, DLP will introduce the interactive Disney Light Ears which will glow with the show thanks to infra-red technology. the Disney Magic on Parade and the 20th Anniversary train will also stay and be part on this 20th ann extended. But the Tarzan show at Chaparral stage and Disney's Fantillusion night parade won't come back this year. 

Also coming at DLP Disney’s Sequoia Lodge hotel designed by architect Antoine Grumbach the "Golden Forest Club" for 124 rooms and suites only, located in the central building of the hotel. Golden Forest Club guests will have exclusive services like a private and personalized check in, DLP Fast Pass or VIP Fast Pass ( for the suites ), an access to the Golden forest Lounge for a breakfast buffet with Disney characters, and also a special area with non alcohol beverages, newspapers and magazines as well as free snacks at special hours of the day.  

I remind you that between now and February 14 i'm doing a great Winter sale / Valentine's day special offer on the Disneyland Paris book collector's edition that you can order at its lowest price ever, i.e 75€ / $100 (instead of 120€ / $160) plus 15€ shipping wherever you live on the planet!

You can order the book either in its english or french edition and if you have a Paypal account you can use the Paypal one click button below ( please use ONLY the Paypal button below not the one on the right bar which is not coded at the same price). No Paypal account? No problem, you can pay by bank wire transfer,  please send me an email at : neverlandeditions@gmail.com
Also, please send me an email with your shipping address and also let me know if you order  the book in its english or french edition.

The book will make a GREAT valentine's day gift for the one you love. I can even say that it'll be hard in this kind of price to find a better gift for a Disney theme park fan, and it's true!

I remind you that only 50 copies are on sale at this special price, so order now your collector's copy while you can get it at its lowest price ever, and save $60 / 45€ on the book normal price!



Choose quantity and enjoy additional discount




If you've never seen the book the video below will show you the whole 320 pages of the book! For pictures and description details please go HERE.




Picture: copyright Disney



Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Breaking News: Bob Iger Announces Star Wars "Standalone" Films on Specific Star Wars Characters !


Big news from the Star Wars galaxy with the announcement by Bob Iger that lucasfilm will also produce standalone films which will focus on specific characters! More from Star Wars.com
The Star Wars cinematic galaxy is about to experience a Big Bang. Lucasfilm is officially announcing new spinoff films that will expand the mythos and depths of the Star Wars universe in previously unexplored ways.
One of the standalone films will be written by Lawrence Kasdan, screenwriter of The Empire Strikes BackRaiders of the Lost Ark, and co-writer of Return of the Jedi while the other will be penned by Simon Kinberg, writer of Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The movies will be separate from the upcoming Episodes VII, VIII, and IX, on which Kasdan and Kinberg are also consulting, and are expected to be released sometime after Episode VII. Each standalone film will focus on a specific character, and two spinoff films are currently confirmed.

In a call to investors, Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, revealed while the original focus was on the highly-anticipated sequel trilogy, the idea of spinoff films was bandied about early and the additional films are now becoming a reality. "We are in development of a few standalone films," he said, "that are not part of the Star Wars saga...there are now creative entities working on developing scripts for what would be those standalone films."

Picture: copyright LucasFilm

Tokyo Disney Sea Pictures, Circa 1920 ?


I just found back some "old fashioned" pics of Tokyo Disney Sea that i did some months ago using different filters of an iPad app which allows you to make a picture look old. The original pics were coming from my Tokyo Disney Sea app. Just for the fun i post them here and feel free to use them as digital postcards if you wish!

Editing: As one reader asked me which apps i used to do the pictures, here it is: 
I did used two apps: the four first pictures were done with an app called Old Pic Agent Pro published on the App Store by Sang Hyun Jun and all the others pics were done with an app called Old Photo Pro published by Deion Mobile. And it's pretty easy and fun to do, nothing really complicated, so have a try!













The Tokyo Disney Sea Wallpapers app for iPhone and iPad, from which i used some pictures to do the one above is a fantastic tribute to TDS. The application includes 117 gorgeous high-definition wallpaper pictures AND will be updated with new gorgeous HD pictures in a very near future ( note that the update will be free for those who will have previously downloaded the app ). There is pictures of each "land" of the park and each picture will look fantastic on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. The TDS Wallpapers HD app cost a ridiculous $1.99 or 1.59€ on the iTunes Store, so don't miss it! Click HERE for direct access to the TDS Wallpapers HD iTunes page or READ my article first HERE.






Pictures: copyright Alain Littaye

Monday, February 4, 2013

Why Shanghaî Disneyland Won't Have a Main Street U.S.A or a Frontierland



Editor's Note: Please note that the article below reflects only my thoughts and not necessarily  the ones of the WDC or anyone working on the Shanghaî Disneyland project. In others words, my analysis may be right or may be wrong.  


Michael, a faithful Disney and more reader, sent me a message with this question: "Alain, do you know why Shanghaî Disneyland won't have a Main Street U.S.A or even a Frontierland like in others Disney's Magic Kingdom?" To tell the truth, Michael, no one from WDI explained me why it'll be the case but it doesn't mean that i don't have any thoughts about this.

First, Michael, you're right, Shanghaî Disneyland will not have a Main Street U.S.A as we know it, no Frontierland either ( but SDL will have a kind of "entrance street" which will be totally different than anything that WDI Imagineers have done for others Magic Kingdom ) and SDL won't also have a "Shanghaî Disneyland Railroad". All this was confirmed some months ago when a map of the park was leaked on different forums but what is interesting in this is that the three have a direct link with America. Main Street U.S.A is an american street at the turn of the century, Frontierland is the land of the American West and the usual railroad is a typical american train of the end of the 19th century - early 20th.

So, is it a coincidence if they won't be part of Shanghaî Disneyland? It could be, but i don't think it is and i think i understood why it's not when i was told recently that SDL Toy Story Land will NOT have a Parachute Drop ride. First, i thought: "mmmh that's strange, but may be they will put another ride instead..." or "may be Parachute Drop would be too high to avoid a visual intrusion in others lands of the park...". But i had the feeling that there was another reason and i started to think "why" Parachute Drop couldn't be part of SDL Toy Story Land. After all, HKDL have a Parachute Drop in Toy Story Land and it's very popular, so why not at SDL? And i suddenly remembered what Parachute Drop theming is all about. Sure, for all of us, the ride is linked to the small green soldiers from Toy Story and the ones with which we played when we were kids. But the whole Toy Story Land is also themed like a U.S army camp! And it's there that i realized that may be the lacks of a Main Street U.S.A, Frontierland, a SDL Railroad and a Parachute Drop were all for the same reason. As i've said, all of them have a direct link with America and my guess is that the reason why they won't be part of Shanghaî Disneyland is closer to something called "geopolitics" - or, in more corporate words, "chinese sensitivity" than anything else.




No Main Street U.S.A, no Frontierland, no Big Thunder Mountain, no Mark Twain, and no railroad too for Shanghaî Disneyland. But don't worry, you'll find fantastic new rides that will take your breath away.

If we remember that hundred if not thousands of chinese died helping the construction of the american railroad we understand that it wouldn't be a good idea to have the same kind of train - for which their ancestors died building the tracks during the 19th century - going all around the park. It might remind the chinese not so good memories... And if the 19th century was great for America development in the West or in the U.S cities, for the chinese it was one of the worst period in their history, a time during which China was humiliated by occidental countries - not to mention the opium wars mainly organized by occidentals. So, bringing back the 19th century era at Shanghaî Disneyland even through an idealized american west or a typical "main street " might not be a good idea. And, knowing the importance in China of symbolism having a ride themed like a U.S army camp - even a "toy" army camp - is really a bad idea, believe me. HKDL has it so why not SDL, you say? Sure, but Hong Kong is not China main land. There is a huge difference between Hong Kong inhabitants who for the most have lived like occidentals during one century thanks to the british, and chinese from China main land.

WDI Imagineers may have also remember how Disneyland Paris was seen like an "american invasion" by some french when DLP opened in 1992. Sure, it was completely stupid and now french love the park but i'm pretty sure that Disney takes great care that this won't happen in China with Shanghaî Disneyland and also make sure that SDL will be "geopolitically correct", if i can say. And I think that Disney is right to be extremely cautious on that point, specially when we know that China intend to become 21st century's leading nation, economically speaking. And it's not sure at all that the U.S are going to like it, or simply will let China achieve his goal. Also, the future in the China sea is unpredictable and a conflict might happen for any reason. And even if the conflict wouldn't be a direct one with the U.S chances are that the U.S might be involved in a way or another when they will provide a military or intelligence help to some of their allies, like Japan or Taiwan if it happen that they'll be in conflict with China. Just remember what happened recently to japanese factories in China when China and Japan had a dispute about these two small islands...  I'm almost 100% sure that Disney has thought that having two lands directly linked with America - and Main Street U.S.A and Frontierland are the two most realistic lands in a Magic Kingdom - was a risk that SDL might be the target of chinese anger if anything goes wrong in the future between U.S and China.

And it will be the same for Shanghaî Disneyland attractions: you will hardly find at SDL one ride that could be "linked" with anything U.S.  Fantasyland rides will be inspired by european tales only - mostly from England or Germany, Adventureland rides as usual will be set in exotic locations and even the Pirates of Caribbean ride will be a brand new one with a storyline that will take your breath away. Sure, they might build in the future a Marvel ride in Tomorrowland - so, inspired by classic U.S comic book superheroes - but here it will be different as it will come more from a "fantasy comic world" than "reality".

As we know, Shanghaî Disneyland also won't have a Space Mountain. May be WDI Imagineers were tired to build one more time another Space Mountain - after all there is already five Space Mountains around the world - but we must also remember that China have big ambitions about Space and intend to send someone on the moon as soon as possible. And you can be sure that if they can find a way to put up there a flag big enough to be seen from the Earth, they will do it! I'm kidding, but anything about space is a real sensitive subject in China right now, and will be in the future as chinese will take great pride of their future success. So, who knows, may be the theming of Space Mountain looked also a bit too much like an american vision of space? Anyway, whatever the reason is we'll have a brand new and thrilling E-Ticket ride in SDL Tomorrowland instead of Space Mountain so we don't have to complain, do we?

However, the lack of these two realistic lands that are Main Street U.S.A and Frontierland also have some positive aspects and from what i've been told the whole park should look like a fantasy kingdom, a real magical and happy place, and for sure a different kind of Magic Kingdom. Or, as Bob Iger has said in more corporate words, "authentically Disney and distinctly chinese".

Editing: A kind and anonymous reader posted a very interesting comment, and i thank him a lot for this. Although his comment appear in the comments section, as it is someone who worked on SDL design and as his comment include precious informations i did an editing and include his comment below. And, guess what, it seems that i'm all wrong and that the reasons why SDL will not have a Main Street or Frontierland are not "geopolitical" ! So, yes, i was wrong and i don't mind to be wrong, i like the truth and if i have to be wrong to know the truth, it's perfectly okay for me!

Hello:

I worked on several areas of design for Shanghai Disneyland, and although your speculations for the lack of a Railroad, Frontierland and Main Street are interesting, they are not accurate.

First of all the Railroad -- China does not have a romanticized view on railroads the way Americans and Europeans do. They don't have a stronghold in the minds of the people. Especially in regards to passenger trains. Most Chinese could not afford to ever have ridden the rails of the past - Also few Chinese are aware of the fact that rented and paid Chinese labors were used by the Central Pacific Railroad to help construct the transcontinental railroad. Thousands of Irish, German AND American laborers also died building the Pacific railroad. The truth is, the Chinese government and Chinese investors didn't have an interest in including the park Railroad in the opening group of attractions - although various versions were considered. Too bad, as this park is very large and will require a great deal of walking. This decision was not unlike the Oriental Land Company declining on a PeopleMover for their Tomorrowland at Tokyo Disneyland.

Main Street. Early on it was decided to make this a unique area of the park--First a grand glass covered shopping arcade “Welcome Court” was designed—using many facades from WDW’s Main Street very similar to World Bazaar at Tokyo Disneyland and many new designs that were rather Palladian -Venetian style. As the design process took place, the glass covered atrium (like World Bazaar of Tokyo Disneyland) was discarded and INTERNATIONAL STREET was designed--various blocks represented different areas of the world--there was a French area, an Italian area, a London area and a Moroccan area and even a US area--towards the end segueing into Adventureland--with an entire New Orleans section located were Plaza Inn is in other parks featuring Tiana's Showboat restaurant--this area went into very detailed design phase including elaborate models. Eventually it was felt the main Disney Classic characters needed a stronger presence in the park -then came the concept of Mickey's Main Street--this design literally was a combination of Buena Vista Street facades, Main Street USA (Disneyland type) facades and Toon Town. Eventually this concept has evevolved into Mickey Avenue--and features a more specially designed Main Street USA/Toon Town hybrid.

Frontierland/ Westernland was too designed and there is space for its potential addition at another time, but probably smaller than what was originally proposed. Shanghai's Frontierland did however do away with any kind of representation of a Cavalry Fort or stocades--the lands entrance was to be a river way spanned by a wooden bridge with a large natural arch rock formation framing the entryway. One thing is that since a full main Street USA was not included, Frontierland in Shanghai was designed with three full blocks of Old West false front structures—creating a complete town. The north corner included the Big Thunder Mining load Buildings and a Riverboat landing (With a Molly Brown type Riverboat) The Rivers of the Far West is smaller here, and the central Island -NATIVE ISLAND was designed to be reached buy guests thru two tunnels that went under the river. The island had caves and trails as well as an Indian Village where American Indian type shows would be performed. Frontierland/Westernland just didn’t make it into the opening day offerings budget--but maybe another time.

Also Shanghai Disneyland will be very expensive--and NOT for the common visitor--only the elite and wealthy. There will be areas outside the magic kingdom that will allow the general guest entertainment--the majority of whom will not be able to afford a visit into the Magic Kingdom.

Artwork and pictures: copyright Disney