Seen the photos of our still on-going series of a walk through Toy Story Playland? Can’t wait to go and see the newest addition to the Walt Disney Studios for yourself? Then here is the latest rundown of confirmed and rumored information regarding when you might have a chance to enjoy the rides before as well as after the official opening on August 17! …[more] »
Toy Story Playland – Extra Opening Hours (UPDATED)
August 4th, 2010 by Dirk
Taking a spin with Slinky Dog
August 4th, 2010 by Dirk
When exiting Fort Emery which we visited during yesterday’s part of the walk through Toy Story Playland to return to the area’s main walkway guests are facing the small side of the box in which Andy’s Slinky Dog came. It has been placed on top of a little hill / mount on the right side of the walkway. One long site of the box is facing toward the right from our current position (in the general direction of the area’s main entrance), while the one is facing toward RC Racer. Both long sides are opened up. Between this box and the RC Racer (in front of which the main walkway takes a bend to the right further into Toy Story Playland) the actual ride has been placed.
The ride is a Disney first however [update: another version of this ride type can be found in Tokyo Disney Sea in the outdoor section of the Mermaid Lagoon] can be found in various incarnations in many other theme and amusement parks as well as on traveling fun fairs where it often goes by the name “Music Express” or “Schlittenfahrt” (the latter in German speaking areas). To offer the guests on board the experience of going up and down the ride is much higher in the back than in the front. While Toy Story Playland already features a height difference of about 2 meter from the front to the back (where RC Racer is located), the Slinky Dog ZigZag Spin requires a higher difference. To avoid the right sticking out a small hill has been errected behind it, to hide its structure. On top of that “hill” the Slinky Dog box is located. …[more] »
The Toy Soldiers and their Parachute Drop – really close up
August 3rd, 2010 by Dirk
Welcome back to our walk through Toy Story Playland at the Walt Disney Studios. After a few meters on the path leading into the new area on which we started in the second part of our series the bamboo moves back on the left side to make room for first attraction: Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop. The marquee for the attraction is actually a plastic toy plane propped up next to the walkway leading toward the twoer, with the attraction’s name painted on the undersides of its two wings. 
Guests passing by this unique marquee and then turning around will be able to see that Andy has scrawled his name on the side of the plane in the same writing which he already used on the underside of Woody’s boot.
Since an army with just one plane would be a bit small Andy also brought in a second plane – a small plane with a wind up air-screw. In fact the halfway wound up elastic band that would propell the plane into the air can be seen in this toy, which has been propped up right next to the first plane as if ready to start. 
In front of the two planes two large benches have been placed for those who do not want to join the Toy Soldiers and fellow guests on their parachuting mission. Both benches are actually (fittingly oversized) curved segments of a wooden toy-train track. But don’t even think to lift them up … obviously they are out of concrete and way to heavy. Now further toward the attraction… …[more] »
Step INTO Toy Story Playland
August 2nd, 2010 by Dirk
Time for the second part of our walk through Toy Story Playland at the Walt Disney Studios. After a closer look ath the giant Buzz Ligtyear at the entrance of the area in the first part, we are now inching closer to the entrance, approaching the walkway behind him that will lead us through the bamboo surrounding the area. To the right of the walkway the official marquee of the area stands. The Toy Story logo is placed on a large yo-yo that stand up on a huge tower made out of building blocks spelling out “PLAYLAND” from top to bottom. …[more] »
Buzz is waiting…
August 2nd, 2010 by Dirk
… for YOU as he guards the entrance to the Toy Story Playland – he can’t wait to let you in on all the surprises of the latest area added to the Walt Disney Studios. However, the official opening is only on August 17 and even any potential, unconfirmed soft openings are still more than a week away. Afterall, Imagineering is still in control of the Toy Story Playland with the hand over to the operation team of the park only scheduled for August 10. Still, why wait so long? DLP.info invites you to join us on a tour to discover Toy Story Playland – right now! …[more] »
Dropping in at the Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop
July 29th, 2010 by Dirk
From beyond the construction walls as well as from on-board the trams of the Backlot Tram Tour the only progress of the Toy Story Playland at the Walt Disney Studios visible currently is the ongoing testing of all three attractions of the area. 
However, even with the testing now going on for quite some time there are slight changes to notice that indicate progress.
Take for example the latest shots of the Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop during testing. Instead of the empty seats earlier during testing now weights to simulate guests have been placed in the seats.
Thanks to Steffi for the photos!
Toy Story Playland SOFT OPENING?!
July 27th, 2010 by DirkThe countdown to the official opening of the Toy Story Playland as latest addition to the Walt Disney Studios Park is starting to race faster and faster with less than a month to go before the big moment when guests will shrink down to the size of toys. With every day closer to August 17, the official opening dates, hopes are growing among fans that the resort may conduct unanounced soft openings. However, at this time the area is still under the control of Imagineering and awaits the hand over to the park’s operational team which would be the ones that might organize the soft openings. Now thanks to Facebook new information has come to the light as on the event pages of Facebook … <drum roll please> …Â a Cast Member Preview of Toy Story Playland event has been added! …[more] »
Toy Story Playland – a short update
July 23rd, 2010 by DirkShort is the keyword today – short, because we only have a short update; short, because it is only a short time left till the official opening of the latest expansion area of the Walt Disney Studios Paris; short, because, well, we are talking about a land where guests will become short enough to ride on the back of a toy dog and mingle with other toys. But enough of the intro.
Progress of the area is barely spottable across the construction fence anymore – but that is because the area seems to have entered seriously into the test-and-adjust phase for the attractions. Once dusk sets in the colorful lights of the area are regularly turned on apparently with their light shining across the fence. Also reports about all three attractions being tested arrive frequently now, talking about the race car of the RC Racer riding up on the half pipe track, the parachutes being hoisted up to the top of the tower as well as Slinky racing in a circle. …[more] »
Disneyland Paris inspires
July 22nd, 2010 by DirkAdmittedly that is no big news considering how passionate fans are about Disneyland Paris and how many childrens’ and adults’ dreams are fueled by the magic of Disneyland Paris. Also there might be some theme parks and amusement parks out there who got inspired by the Disney’s European resort to further expand and develop their property. But today we are talking about Disneyland Paris and in particular it’s Disneyland Park and its influences on the next Disneyland Park which The Walt Disney Company has confirmed. In other words we are talking about SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND!
During events to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the original Disneyland Park the past weekend at The Walt Disney Family Museum a first concept artwork with an overview of the upcoming resort was revealed. A closer look at the Disneyland Park indicates some interesting resemblances / similarities to the Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris. Curious? Check out our detailed post on the Mousekingdom Blog!
Shareholders Toy Story Playland Evening Event
July 20th, 2010 by Andy de Maertelaere
Although the toys will have started to play as from August 17, special opening celebrations go on into September when shareholder are invited to a special evening event in the Walt Disney Studios. The Shareholders Club is inviting its members for a special evening event to discover the new attractions at the Toy Story Playland. The Slinky Dog ZigZag Spin, RC Racer and Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop will remain open after hours for the invities. But those will not be the only attractions to enjoy after hours! Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Crush’s Coaster and Cars Race Rally will also be opened for the remainder of the event.
The event will take place on Friday September 3, starting at 8:30pm and will end 11:30pm. Your Shareholders Club card needs to be valid on July 20, 2010 and can’t expire before September 3, 2010. This will entitle you to a maximum of 4 tickets for the event. Online registration in mandatory and needs to be filled out before Friday August 27, 2010 via your personal shareholders Internet page. Places are limited!