August 7th, 2010 by Dirk
Friday, 6 pm, Toy Story Playland, Walt Disney Studios Paris – the toy soldiers are parachuting into Toy Story Playland! To be exact: cast member of the park’s other attractions, restaurants and shops are called in to test their abilities as toy solider parachute jumpers respectively to test the new attraction. All six parachutes on the drop tower do rise and fall simultaneously by the way.
Until the park closed guests in the Toon Studios and on Hollywood Boulevard could witness about 7 or 8 ride cycles, but – unfortunately – were not allowed to volunteer as toy soldiers. However, based on the visible reactions of the cast members the ride seems to be offering fun without being to thrilling as they even found time to wave to the guests looking up to them from the other side of the construction fence.
Thanks to Steffi for the photo!
August 7th, 2010 by Dirk
… with just a couple of steps! Where? Just at the Walt Disney Studios Paris! At the end of our photo tour through the new Toy Story Playland yesterday we stood at the far back end of the area in front of the huge blue plastic Barrel of Monkeys that functioned at the exit / entrance of the land at its back – and wondered where we might end up if we walked through the tunnel / barrel. And here is the answer: on a Parisian street! …[more] »
August 6th, 2010 by Dirk
There is one more part to discover in Toy Story Playland, the area beyond Rex (whom we visited earlier today) further down the main walkway. The walkway leads guests further into the woods with the queue area for RC Racer on the left, shortly before the walkway makes a bend to the right the colorful plastic Monkey of the US childrens’ game “Barrel of Monkeys” have formed one of their chains high up above, across the wide walkway from one Tinker Toy structure to another. Some of the Monkeys are carrying scrabble letters dangling from their feet… …[more] »
August 6th, 2010 by Dirk
For this part of our walk through the Toy Story Playland we continue where we finished our look at the RC Racer yesterday. Instead of heading straight back toward the main entrance of the land where we started our tour on Monday we turn left and follow the main walkway further into Toy Story Playland. Just this time we pass by entrance to RC Racer on the left as well as the Slinky Dog ZigZag Spin 
(which we visited in the part of this series published on Wednesday) on the right. Just a few meter further down the walkway under the tree, right next to the Slinky Dog ZigZag Spin Rex, the fearful dinosaur awaits guests… …[more] »
August 5th, 2010 by Dirk
Once guests half walked into Toy Story Playland and stand between Fort Emery and the Slinky Dog ZigZag Spin area (which we visited in yesterday’s part of our walk through Toy Story Playland) the bright orange race track of the area’s real thrill ride beckons at the far end (and lowest point) of the area, the first ever half-pipe ride in any Disney park worldwide. In fact the (race) track of RC Racer can be seen from various locations inside the Walt Disney Studios, even so it is mostly hidden from sight from Disneyland Park (despite reaching above the berm of the latter) thanks to the fact that it is placed at the lowest point of the land and at the same time among the large trees of the small wood that has been grown for 100 years and longer in the area that is now part of the Walt Disney Studios.
RC Racer seats 20 guests in five rows (of four guests each) in the 8 ton vehicle that has been themed to look like a large version of the RC Racer that has its great moment in the final scene of the very first Toy Story movie. According to Jim Shull, the Imagineer in charge of Toy Story Playland, original concepts only called for a capacity of 16 guests in the vehicle (in four rows) but apparently John Lasseter proposed to add an extra row increasing the capacity of the ride. Nevertheless as RC Racer is the area’s real thrill ride Imagineering expects a large number of guests looking to hitch a ride. So it has come up with a rather long and still uniquely themed queue line… …[more] »
August 4th, 2010 by Dirk
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] »
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] »
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] »
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] »
Friday, 6 pm, Toy Story Playland, Walt Disney Studios Paris – the toy soldiers are parachuting into Toy Story Playland! To be exact: cast member of the park’s other attractions, restaurants and shops are called in to test their abilities as toy solider parachute jumpers respectively to test the new attraction. All six parachutes on the drop tower do rise and fall simultaneously by the way.
