The Walt Disney Studios park has not only seen the addition of major attractions in it’s first 7 years but also numerous smaller changes to improve the guest experience most of which were implemented without any big announcement. Right now it seems that another of these improvement projects is getting underway at the Backlot Express restaurant located opposite of the Rock’n'Roller Coaster.
The restaurant already offering various warm and cold foods to grab on counters already underwent small changes in its first year of operation, when the originally only covered terrasse was fully enclosed to expand the indoor seating. However, the latest changes are more centrail aiming at the themeing concept itself…
As its namesake in the Disney Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World the interior of the Backlot Express is decorated with countless props to give the impression of a prop warehouse. The Paris’ version mixes some generic stuff created as decorational items with real for real movie props, e.g. small signs created for the “Dinotopia” mini-series (a set of which was recreated along the parade route as well), as well as theme park props, such as the solo (one person) submarine from EPCOT’s former Horizon pavillion, suspended from the roof. However, to be correct one needs to say: Backlot Express used to be decorated with these items … in the last weeks all props were taken down till only bare steel and concrete walls remained – all with regular operations of the restaurant to continue.
However, if rumors are correct guests will not have to dine in such a depressing industrial setting for long. Instead online rumors claim that instead the restaurant will be devided into two zones – one featuring a “Pirates of the Caribbean” and one a “High School Musical” theme. No official confirmation for these rumors yet, but the removal of the original props sure indicate something is happening soon…
Which leaves the question: where did all the props go? No word on that either. However, several online discussions mentioned the idea that maybe at least some of the props (the actual, real props that would be) could end up along the route of the Studio Tram Tour. Afterall that did loose its display of costumes and the short look into the costume department of the resort recently due to the rerouting necessary as work started for the rumored “Toy Story”-themed area behind Disney Art of Animation and the Toon Studios. But once again that is only an “idea” mentioned by fans – even so the current closure of the Studio Tram Tour (which should reopen tomorrow) would Imagineering to install a display with the props taken out of the Backlot Express…