The Walt Disney Studios still remain the premier construction site at the Disneyland Resort Paris, if general rehab work is excluded. So time for a short round-up of the status-quo…
The work on the Studio Store is finished. The shop windows have been replaced with wider versions and new, wider entrances to the first and last section of the building been installed as well as the planters in front of these two entrances made considerable smaller to invite guests to take a short diversion into the shop, whose interior has also been carefully re-arranged for a better shopping experience, especially moving the cashiers closer to the exits. As a side-effect the large black limousine used as a photo backdrop for Character Meet’n#Greets was also moved further to the back of the Frontlot in front of the Studio 1, so not to block the entrance to the first part of the Studio Store.
The front facade of Studio 1 facing the Frontlot is still covered by scaffolding covered by a printed canvas of the facade. However, there is no work going on behind the canvas. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the resort has decided to retain the scaffolding for easier installation of another oversized poster advertising a Walt Disney Pictures release, just in case Walt Disney Pictures would be interested to place such poster in the park (since, after all, the resort gets paid for such advertising). Further inside the Walt Disney Studios, guests can’t avoid noticing, that nearly the complete Disney Channel building his covered with scaffolding (hidden by another printed-on canvas) as well. The building houses two attractions (Stitch Live! and the all new Disney Playhouse on Stage) as well as the offices of the French Disney Channel, whose staff will have to cope with the scaffolding and the obscured views till the complete facade of the building has undergone a full rehab. More exciting from a fan’s point of view are the construction area of the Backlot Express restaurant and behind Toon Studios…
The Backlot Express restaurant has been cleared off all props as reported earlier in preparation – according to rumors – to be transformed into a Pirate sof the Caribbean / High School Musical restaurant with each movie providing the theme for one room. So far the former terrace (that was enclosed earlier on) is closed off and all windows have been obscured so to block any view inside. The reminder of the restaurant continues to operate at least on selected dates during the current transformation, when management expects the park to be especially busy. When open guests have to dine in totally empty, bare rooms – so as trade-off a small live band ocassionally performs during the main lunch hours in the front room facing Armageddon to provide an diversion from starring at bare walls. This room also underwent a first step in the re-themeing as it has been painted totally in black, which is on most fan boards online considered an indication that it will house the Pirates of the Caribbean themed area. The main room with the counter area on the other hand has received selected bright red highlights. Also various temporary East High Panther posters in several sizes were spotted in the past days, which looked like themeing tests. No official word yet, when the re-themeing project is supposed to finish. But due to the step-by-step approach it may take longer than initially expected by fans…
The main construction side of the studios however is the area behind the Toon Studios were the rumored “Toy Story Playland” should be under construction – which by the way has not yet been officially announced by the resort and thus also features all blue non-descript construction fences only. Not much to see here, except that the ground work continues in preparation of the installation of the rides and the re-design of the area. So far several large machines involved as well as huge piles of earth could be spotted. As the area needs to receive a complete installation of new infrastructure the ground work can be expected to go on for a bit longer, before steps with more visible success can be expected later this year. Check back often for reports about progress…