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[CafeFantasia]

@ulak
As far as the parks are concerned, I don't think there'll be any additional announcements during D23 Expo 2011. They're going to talk more about projects that have already been announced, such as Cars Land. If they were going to announce anything big, they would've done it yesterday in the D23 Arena, at the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts presentation.

Then again, the description of the event in the D23 Expo 2011 guidebook didn't promise any announcements. I guess fans were just assuming that, because Disney announced lots of cool stuff back in 2009, they'd do the same again this year.

[ulak]

Jodi Benson! Fantastic, magical, wonderful, TOP of the event...

[youtube:3458dwfw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgsb87-X1Sc&list=PLB7C0695877081FBA&index=6[/youtube:3458dwfw]

[DLP-Photos.com]

Too bad that we didn't get any big new announcements, but as Alan rightfully has pointed out it never was in the cards.

The most exciting sneak peek was IMO the first look at Storybook Castle of Shanghai Disneyland - it looks huge and very impressive. We also got a first look of a brand new unique attraction - a boat ride which has a part inside the castle! It looks very exciting and this project is one I really look forward to following.

Check out this little preview of the huge castle as presented on Disney Parks Blog:

[youtube:1snuk3kr]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3h-cnalq6A[/youtube:1snuk3kr]

[CafeFantasia]

I think the interior of the Storybook Castle at Shanghai looks very impressive. And I like the idea of a boat ride going through it.

But the exterior is really ugly. It's definitely ugliest Disney castle ever! It looks really boxy and fat, not tall and elegant like our castle here in Paris. In fact, it looks like the shape of the exterior has been compromised, to accommodate all of the interior elements they want to include.

[ed-uk]

The Enchanted Storybook Castle does look very impressive and different from all the other Disneyland castles, which makes for a good change. I even like the name if they keep it, makes a change from Cinderella Castle and Sleeping Beauty Castle. I also like the look of the Seven Dwarfs Mine train Coaster, looks like fun.

[DLP-Photos.com]

I think the interior of the Storybook Castle at Shanghai looks very impressive. And I like the idea of a boat ride going through it.

But the exterior is really ugly. It's definitely ugliest Disney castle ever! It looks really boxy and fat, not tall and elegant like our castle here in Paris. In fact, it looks like the shape of the exterior has been compromised, to accommodate all of the interior elements they want to include.

Agree - it is not the nicest exterior, although an exterior like our castle would be hard to combine with such an impressive interior. I only hope that their focus so far has been on the interior and the exterior will at least receive some kind of attention

[ed-uk]

Of course DLP Castle is the best, tall, elegant and beautiful, and still unique amongst the Disney Castles. I'm glad they didn't copy it for Shanghai.

[CafeFantasia]

Three Imagineers give you "A Good Look at Buena Vista Street" in this presentation at D23 Expo 2011. You can watch the full thing in 1080p HD on YouTube, thanks to thebugger2000.

Here's how Disney describe the presentation in the D23 Expo 2011 guidebook:

Changes have already come to the entrance of Disney California Adventure, but an even more dramatic transformation begins soon, one that will turn the Golden Gateway and Sunshine Plaza into Buena Vista Street. Imagineers Lisa Girolami, Ray Spencer, and Coulter Winn provide a preview of this idealized depiction of the Los Angeles Walt Disney lived and worked in throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

[youtube:6272c5tt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdrFuWPtQMU&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube:6272c5tt]
[youtube:6272c5tt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_D0DgkL9ao&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube:6272c5tt]
[youtube:6272c5tt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPi2s9L05mU&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube:6272c5tt]

Keywords: Disney California Adventure, DCA, Improvement, Expansion Plan, Renovation, Construction, Planning, New Entrance, WDI, Walt Disney Imagineering, Blue Sky, Lisa Girolami, Ray Spencer, Coulter WInn, Architect, Presentation, Slideshow, Carthay Circle Theatre, 1926, Hollywood, Spanish Colonial Revival

[CafeFantasia]

Here's a video for ulak.

You can now watch the full "2011 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony" on in 1080p HD YouTube, thanks to user "thebugger2000". Here's how Disney describe the ceremony in the D23 Expo 2011 guidebook:

The Disney Legends Awards honor those special few who embody the Company's unique creative spirit. This year's recipients include television icon Regis Philbin, Muppets creator Jim Henson, the extraordinary actresses who vocally brought to life many modern-day Disney Princesses, including Jodi Benson (Ariel from The Little Mermaid), Paige O'Hara (Belle from Beauty and the Beast), Lea Salonga (singing voices of Jasmine from Aladdin and Mulan), Linda Larkin (speaking voice of Jasmine from Aladdin), and Anika Noni Rose (Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog), plus other equally impressive contributors to the Disney legacy. The ceremony will be hosted by noted television personality Tom Bergeron (host of ABC's Dancing with the stars and America's Funniest Home videos).

Because the ceremony was so long, the video is split into six parts. For Jodi Benson's performance, head straight to part 3/6. For the Muppets, head straight to parts 5/6 and 6/6.

[youtube:3lcu4qwf]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwm5rBi-Wjg&feature=related[/youtube:3lcu4qwf]
[youtube:3lcu4qwf]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjigBknEHMI&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube:3lcu4qwf]
[youtube:3lcu4qwf]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEUjt1auzDM&feature=relmfu[/youtube:3lcu4qwf]
[youtube:3lcu4qwf]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM3fmZAyBJc&feature=relmfu[/youtube:3lcu4qwf]
[youtube:3lcu4qwf]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7u7UrgLCv0&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube:3lcu4qwf]
[youtube:3lcu4qwf]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22ebi7l64o4&feature=relmfu[/youtube:3lcu4qwf]

[davewasbaloo]

Am I the only one who thinks this year's D23 Expo was largely a much ado about nothing?

[dagobert]

Am I the only one who thinks this year's D23 Expo was largely a much ado about nothing?

There was nothing new. No new announcements and like always, no single word about DLRP. I followed the coverage on MiceChat, but nothing impressive, except for some things about SHDL. Although most of these news were already out.

Hopefuly they will do a nice summary in the next D23 issue. By the way the current is very interesting since it is just about the 40th birthday of WDW. There is a very interesting article about the secret buying of the land and another one by Roy Patrick Disney about his father.

[davewasbaloo]

Imagine if you had paid the $100's for a ticket, and like some of my friends, flew all the way from Europe for it. Sure, there were cool bits like the Avenger's session, the meet and greets, the Legends, and some overviews in a Blue Sky Cellar kind of way. But after 2 years, and the potenital to be big, this was really a disappointment. Heck, not even Bob Iger felt it worthy to grace with his presence.

On the Shanghai castle though, it does look impressive (though I am sure I have seen the concept art before), and it is wonderful that it is unique.

I hate the plans for DL extending fantasyland further into the hub (where Carnation Plaza is) however.

I also find it facinating that all the films in discussion were still planned during Dick Cook's watch. Rich Ross (oops) has been there for a year, and still no new announcements other than Pixar (what is he doing?).

The new AA in the Carousel of Projects looked quite cool.

[davewasbaloo]

As far as Paris is concerned, they could have at least shown the World of Disney concept art, that would have been better than nothing. Or make announcements about the 20th celebrations....

[dagobert]

The current leadership team of TWDC is very disappointing, especially ever grinning Rich Ross. What has he done recently, except cancelling The Lone Ranger. It seems Disney really wants to destroy the special relationship they have with Johnny Depp. It was one of his favorite projects. I wouldn't be surprised if he refuses to return as Captain Jack Sparrow. TWDC needs another shake up, but there is no one like Roy E. Disney who would do another Save Disney.

I also like the Shanghai Castle, especially the boat ride that starts in the castle and runs through Fantasyland.

The rest of the themepark presentations didn't reveal something new. At least we got to see some nice pictures, but that's it. Are there any news of HKDL or the Tokyo DisneySea expansion.

Sometimes it really seems TWDC is embarrassed by DLRP. No wonder by the bad state of the resort. At least they could have mentioned WoDS and the current refurbs, but the other international resorts didn't get mentioned as well, except for SHDL.

According to loaloa55 (I think it's Alain Littaye) the Ratatouille attraction should have been part of the EXPO:
In fact, there was plans to have a model of the Ratatouille dark ride displayed at D23 and the guys of D23 were enchanted by the idea to have it, but finally it ended to don't be possible as the ride has not been officially announced yet, and that's the main reason why the Ratatouille model is not at Carousel of Projects.

From Micechat member TreoFred:
I had that same discussion and made that same point to three different imagineer yesterday and got nothing but embarrassed glares in response. The people at D23 are all very nice and willing to share what they're working on to a certain extent, but nobody was there to talk Paris...

[dagobert]

Imagine if you had paid the $100's for a ticket, and like some of my friends, flew all the way from Europe for it. Sure, there were cool bits like the Avenger's session, the meet and greets, the Legends, and some overviews in a Blue Sky Cellar kind of way. But after 2 years, and the potenital to be big, this was really a disappointment. Heck, not even Bob Iger felt it worthy to grace with his presence.

Many fans from other Disney boards who visited the Expo were also a bit disappointed. Nevertheless I hope Disney continues to do such events.