Originally Posted By FerretAfros I'm kind of surprised that they're building such a big terraced viewing area in front of the castle. I guess I never realized that they would probably want viewing for that big stage they're building! It will be strange to have to approach the castle from the sides, since the stage and viewing area block a direct approach on the front and the boat ride blocks a direct approach from the back I'm also surprised by the awkward amount of empty space surrounding Tomorrowland. It doesn't seem like enough room to add a new land between it and Fantasyland or the Gardens, but it seems far too big to be intended for a future expansion of TL. I'll be curious to see what happens to that area as the park grows
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>I'm also surprised by the awkward amount of empty space surrounding Tomorrowland.<<< I think the current view of "Tomorrow" is a very ecological one, with cities becoming more and more green and environmental friendly. Maybe that's the approach here. The roof of the Tron coaster looks cool and now I'm sure they are using the same technology like Munich did for the soccer stadium.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>I think the current view of "Tomorrow" is a very ecological one, with cities becoming more and more green and environmental friendly.<< Sounds like the old "Montana Future" concept that they did for DL's TL in the early/mid-90's. The premise was that the future would revolve around farming and new ways to create food and plants. Eventually the idea morphed into the final TL98, but some elements of it (like the Agrifuture billboard visible from the train and various edible plants in the landscaping throughout the land) stayed in the final design <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://s288.photobucket.com/user/Vonpooka/library/Unused%20Concepts%20for%20Tomorrowland?sort=6&page=1">http://s288.photobucket.com/us...6&page=1</a> Personally, the 20+ year old drawings look more compelling from that aspect than the SDL layout. It's neat to think how agriculture might take place within a futuristic city; SDL just has futuristic buildings that happen to be adjacent to landscaping, without any real integration I agree that the Tron roof looks very similar to the Munich stadium. I'm looking forward to seeing how that looks when it's complete!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros There was a fire at the castle the other day. Looks like it didn't cause any real damage, but it makes for a good photo! <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2015/10/shanghai-disneyland-enchanted-storybook.html">http://disneyandmore.blogspot....ook.html</a>
Originally Posted By dagobert Here are some SDL news. Mickey Avenue <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2015/10/shanghai-disneyland-mickey-avenue.html">http://disneyandmore.blogspot....nue.html</a> New aerial pictures <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2015/10/shanghai-disneyland-update-new.html">http://disneyandmore.blogspot....new.html</a>
Originally Posted By dagobert And here's a short video about the Buzz Lightyear ride. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaF8hnyyXpE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...8hnyyXpE</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I'm still not sure how I feel about Mickey Avenue. I suspect it will come down to the details as to whether this area feels well done or cheap. Some of the stuff (like the Music Land spin on the Max Factor Building) looks neat, but others (most of the signs) look pretty tacky. It will be interesting to see how it turns out; I suspect it will come down to the finishing details It's also interesting that the back of the Mine Train will be unfinished, unlike at MK. I guess it makes sense if guests won't go behind it, but it looks a little funny I'm also surprised that (at least for now) the labyrinth looks more like a small garden than a maze at the moment. Maybe that will change as the bushes grow in more
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>I'm still not sure how I feel about Mickey Avenue. I suspect it will come down to the details as to whether this area feels well done or cheap. Some of the stuff (like the Music Land spin on the Max Factor Building) looks neat, but others (most of the signs) look pretty tacky. It will be interesting to see how it turns out; I suspect it will come down to the finishing details<<< I think you are spot on. While I would have prefered the Main Street USA concept, I think the Mickey Avenue will work for me too as long as it's done in a quality way. I still think that an original Main Street would have worked in Shanghai too. It works in Paris, in Tokyo and in Hong Kong and none of these countries is into American history or Walt's history. If you ask any guest, I'm sure most will not know that it is based on Walt's childhood in Marceline. Even in the US many guests will not know that.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Even though Main Street depicts an American location, I think that guests in Japan, Europe, and Hong Kong are aware of the era and style that it represents (similar to an American seeing the Haussman boulevards of Paris). I would be surprised if that style of architecture had any meaning to the average Chinese guest, who grew up with very limited information about the outside world. Although China is definitely more open now than it has been in the past (particularly during the Cultural Revolution era), the emphasis seems to be on what's current and what's coming next. There doesn't seem to be a lot of interest in a quaint street from a sleepy era of American history
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Even though Main Street depicts an American location, I think that guests in Japan, Europe, and Hong Kong are aware of the era and style that it represents (similar to an American seeing the Haussman boulevards of Paris). I would be surprised if that style of architecture had any meaning to the average Chinese guest, who grew up with very limited information about the outside world.<<< I guess it wouldn't have any meaning to them, but I'm sure the Disney characters used for Mickey Avenue don't have any meaning to them either. That's why I meant, that using MSUSA would be okay.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "I guess it wouldn't have any meaning to them, but I'm sure the Disney characters used for Mickey Avenue don't have any meaning to them either. That's why I meant, that using MSUSA would be okay." But using the Disney characters is a way to give them meaning to the Chinese. There's more Mickey merchandise to sell than Main Street merchandise.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros ^^Exactly! It's the same reason they're using Disney characters for the zodiac signs in the garden (even though many of them are pretty minor or obscure). It's all a way to introduce Chinese people to the Disney product, in hopes that they will buy more of it From what I saw when I was there about 5 years ago, there's plenty of awareness (and blackmarket goods) for the Princesses and possibly Mickey & friends. Beyond that, there didn't seem to be anything that I saw
Originally Posted By dagobert Some SDL updates! New Treasure Cove Artwork: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2015/10/shanghai-disneyland-update-new-treasure.html">http://disneyandmore.blogspot....ure.html</a> Mickey Avenue Artwork: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2015/10/shanghai-disneyland-mickey-avenue-high.html">http://disneyandmore.blogspot....igh.html</a>
Originally Posted By dagobert Infos about SDL's Tomorrowland. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://disneyandmore.blogspot.fr/2015/10/shanghai-disneyland-tomorrowland.html">http://disneyandmore.blogspot....and.html</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros It's neat to hear about the design philosophy behind the land, but I'm not sure that it will escape any references to existing architecture. As can be seen in the concept art in that article, the Tron building will be somewhat visible behind the roof structure, and it looks like nearly any generic warehouse in the world I think I finally realized why I'm questioning this land so much: it's all very linear, and seems like it's a diorama, rather than an environment that wraps all the way around you. Sort of like WDW's Frontierland with it's strip of buildings along the river, it seems like guests will just move through it in a certain order and be done with it. There's no room or reason to wander and explore, since everything is set up in a clear order. Given that everything we've seen has focused on the view toward the attractions, I'm starting to get curious what the 'other' side will look like. I hope that it fits the theme as well as MK's Rivers of America fits in Frontierland
Originally Posted By dagobert Update on Pirates ride. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2015/11/shanghai-disneyland-pirates-of.html">http://disneyandmore.blogspot....-of.html</a> Does someone know what companies are building the coasters and water rides?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Very interesting stuff! I don't know who is actually building it, but it does look like it will be a different system than the other POTC rides. If you look at the picture with the crew standing around the track, it's a lot more narrow than the usual trough system. Additionally at the top of the photo, it looks like the track might sort of split, which would follow the turning boats idea. Presumably, the front of the boat would be hooked into the track that turns first, while the rear of the boat would follow the longer track. This would sort of cause the boat to "fishtail" as it makes the tight turn. If the turning boats are only used where the track turns (as opposed to an omnimover, where you often move perpendicular to the direction you're looking), I think it would be a great way to add some subtle realism; it would also seem to fit the Avatar boat concept I think it's interesting that this is the only scene we've seen in the ride. Obviously there will be others, but we literally know nothing about it at this point
Originally Posted By dagobert I guess this scene will be the main one. Two ships battling against each other sounds really cool. As for the Tron ride I assume Vekoma will build the coaster, since they already worked with Disney and they have a motorcycle ride in their program.
