Sometimes it’s the little things that make the difference, even if they go unnoticed by most of the Disneyland visitors. One of those little changes is at the popcorn cart in Adventureland at the left hand side of the path just in front of Indiana Jones et le Temple du PĂ©ril. The construction fence around its location has come down recently to reveal a rebuild roof-structure and replaxced backdrop above / behind the popcorn cart.
Popcorn Roof
August 27th, 2010 by Andy de Maertelaere
Colorful Blockbuster Menu
August 26th, 2010 by Andy de Maertelaere
The Blockbuster cafe at the Walt Disney Studios has added new and big menu boards outside of the building. The boards are carrying a metal covered frame, orange lettering and a black background trying to fit in with the restaurants themeing. The choices on the menu are shown in colorful ways.
The healthy salads are on the top and have a green background. Just below it, in flashy orange, you can find the burgers and sandwiches. Underneath of the sandwich choices you’ll get the sweets and ices creams.
An icy blue is used as the background while the last color red is used on the lower part of the boards to show the choices of beverages you can get, including a tea time souvenir mug.
Los Feliz Hotel – the really lucky hotel (facade)
August 25th, 2010 by Stefan Tiesing
When the Studio Tram Tour reopened at the end of May after a length closure required for the construction of Toy Story Playland it came as a negative surprise that the Hollywood Hills posters forming the backdrop for the whole Hollywood Boulevard atop the Studio Tram Tour station had not been replaced despite them not only having faded over the years but also peeling of the underlying wall structure.
Several weeks later, however, the posters were replaced. Nevertheless, the same problem of faded peeling off posters / stickers also applied to the final facade elements of the Hollywood Boulevard where it wasn’t repaired. Now during the busy summer season but in time for the opening of Toy Story Playland (which attracts the attention of guests and the media to the Walt Disney Studios) the resort finally moved in and replaced the …[more] »
AP Holders a.k.a. the early birds of Toy Story Playland
August 24th, 2010 by Dirk
As reported the all new Toy Story Playland has proven extremly popular with guests since it opened in the past week – unfortunately resulting in longer waiting lines for its three attractions. Taking into account this and the success of the exclusive previews of the area prior to its official opening for holders of the Annual Passport Dream the resort has decided to grant all holders of Annual Passports of the resort the unique opportunity to enjoy the Toy Story Playland once again exclusively!
Well, to be correct not just once – but DAILY from August 25 till September 17, 2010! Every day in this period Toy Story Playland opens for holders of Annual Passports from 8:30 till 9:30 am so that AP holders can enjoy the area uncrowded and hop on all three rides (which are scheduled to be operating unless an unexpected technical problem might occur) without the now regular long lines. …[more] »
Single Riders to the front – and more TSPL experiences
August 24th, 2010 by Dirk
Toy Story Playland is not yet even open for 10 days but with the first weekend and several buy summer season weekdays of regular operation under its belt its time to sum up the first opinions and report about the first adjustments that the operational team has introduced in response to what can only be called an overwhelming guest response to the new are of the Walt Disney Studios – one of which is a real positive surprise…
The impact of the new Toy Story Playland becomes obvious already prior to entering the park as the lines on the entrance gates prior to the official opening of the park have considerably grown. However, once the gates open a large number of guests still head to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and in particular Crush’s Coaster, where a massive line still forms and stays in place throughout the day. So the effect of reducing the line at Crush’s Coaster that some fans had hoped for hasn’t shown up. …[more] »
Cinema Mickey REPLACED
August 23rd, 2010 by Dirk
Unnoticed by most guests and even unnoticed by the cast members responsible to prepare the hand-outs with the weekly entertainment program “Cinema Mickey” at the Videopolis has been replaced! Unfortunately the replacement is not a new live stage show but still a screening of animated shorts. So what has changed?
First of all the name. The movie presentation is now called “CinĂ©Disney” instead of “Cinema Mickey”. However, as already said the new name is not yet reflected in the entertainment program even so the change must have occured several weeks ago. …[more] »
Eat in Front of the TV
August 21st, 2010 by Andy de Maertelaere
I’m sure we’ve all done it before, eat in front of the TV during one of our favorite shows we didn’t want to miss. Can you remember when you last had a meal while watching a Disney classic… Wasn’t that long ago was it?
Now you do it the other way around. Instead of eating in front of the TV, eat what you see on the TV in the En Coulisse restaurant in the Walt Disney Studios. New monitors are now showing you a menu to choose from. Gaze at the monitors, pick something you like and even point it out to the castmembers if you want. But you have to be fast enough as the monitors do switch the full menu to a picture of one of the choices on that menu. Main reason for this might be so the one picture would not burn in to the monitors screen (depending on the monitor and technology used this can still be a problem to some screens). Enjoy your television meal!
Sound Barrier
August 20th, 2010 by Andy de Maertelaere
It’s all in the details and Disney proofs this time and time again. Just look at the news about the new Toy Story Playland we brought you here during the last couple of days. How important it is to Disney and the Imagineers to create a perfect experience can be seen in the many details they look after when designing the attractions and the general themeing of an area. Some of these details might not be that visual and other are created to take care of an annoying side effect. A good example for the latter case can be found in the waiting areas of the Slinky Dog ZigZag Spin as well as the Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop… …[more] »
A Drink is All you’ll Get, Cowboy
August 19th, 2010 by Andy de Maertelaere
If you wanted an early lunch at Cowboy Cookout Barbecue in Frontierland it will not be easy because all you will get before 11:30 is a drink! The restaurant will be open as from 10:30, but only for drinks. Hot food will only be server an hour later. This information can be found in front of the Cowboy Cookout Barbecue restaurant on a board written in crayon.
The opening hours in this restaurant have always been a little more restricted. Even when the park would stay open late, this restaurant would still close its doors very early. As from 17:00 you can’t get any hot food nor drinks anymore as the doors will be closed and will remain so until the next morning. A shame as it is a fun place, especially during evening times. However, with no food being served during the first hour, this might be a perfect day to grab a coffee and enjoy it in what probably will be a very quiet place until the hamburgers and fries start leaving the kitchen at 11:30.
Keep Your Treasures Save…
August 18th, 2010 by Andy de Maertelaere
… Get yourself a Treasure Chest!
In the past you had to go all the way to the shop, “Le Coffre Du Capitain” in Adventureland. This shop, located at the exit of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and next to the entrance of the Blue Lagoon restaurant used to be the place to find your treasure trunks. Many young boys have been dreaming away from a pirates life while wandering this shop and many of them holding, wanting or buying one of the treasure chests. …[more] »