When Reality is Better Than Imagineering Art: Disneyland Paris' Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant

Imagineer Nina Rae Vaughn not only did some beautiful artwork for Tokyo DisneySea, she also produced some fine pieces for the equally incredible Disneyland Paris. 

Just take a look at this art in a large view. The delicate charm and beauty of the castle, Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant, is highlighted by the graceful arches, geometric shrubbery (reflecting the art of the Sleeping Beauty film), and the fireworks cascading from the sky. Yet, the art doesn't compare to the reality.

My attempt to capture the castle in its Christmas finery.

Click here for the video.

Take a tour of the castle with this detailed look found in the above video. Make sure to turn on your sound. It gives the listener an ever greater sense of being in the Paris park, the most beautiful Magic Kingdom of all.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Rare Imagineering Art for Epcot at 35

EPCOT Center was dedicated today 35 years ago. In honor of that, I present to you this beautiful piece of fairly rare concept art by Imagineer Nina Rae Vaughn. Italy never looked so gorgeous!

Unashamedly, I tell you that Epcot is my favorite park in all of Walt Disney World. It is certainly not what it was at opening- not even close in grandeur, scope, scale, and vision, but it is still a pretty amazing way to spend a day. (It used to talk two full days to explore all its wonders!)

There are over 350 articles on this blog alone about this incredible place. Hopefully, the recent and future decisions regarding expansion and changes will make it worthy of another 350.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)