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!
July 27th, 2010 by Dirk
The 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] »
July 23rd, 2010 by Dirk
Short 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] »
July 22nd, 2010 by Dirk
Admittedly 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!
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!
July 16th, 2010 by Dirk
John Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich has been spotted in the Disney Village earlier today for the official stone laying ceremony for the very first Earl of Sandwich Restaurant in Europe. Disneyland Paris released a photo of the ceremony earlier today on the resort’s official twitter account. The photo shows John Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich, and Philippe Gas, president of EuroDisney S.A.S., holding to comic-style shovels, while Mickey Mouse and a person in a medieval court costume look on. The background behind the group is also worth a look as ti shows a part of the lake’s sidearm that has been filled in already for the restaurant’s future footprint.
July 9th, 2010 by Dirk
Today’s progress report regarding the construction of the upcoming Toy Story Playland in the Walt Disney Studios (as already featured in the park maps and on the waiting times information board in the park) is – for a change – reporting some aural progress. As user 15MagicalYears posted on the MagicForum Imagineering during the past week tested the audio feature of the giant Buzz Lightyear statue placed right behind the current construction fence at the future entrance of the new area.
Luckily the tests were conducted during regular park operation hours and apparently the volume of Buzz’ catch phrases must be rather high as guests on the walkway outside the construction area were able to hear Buzz speak. Rumors claimed that Buzz would occassionally utter various of his catch phrases from the Toy Story features. However, 15MagicalYears managed to catch only one of those phrases: following the sound effect of a radio connection (typical statics) Buzz announced “Buzz to Star Command, can you read me Star Command?“. We don’t know about Star Command, but guests of the WDS obviously read you Buzz!
July 8th, 2010 by Dirk
The Disney music specialists over at the MagicMusic board point out that Disneyland Paris in the most recent update of its website also (together with a technical partner) incorporated a free music stream. Under the title “web radio Disney Village” guests of the official website can now listen to an online stream of the “Disney Village Radio” as played throughout the streets of the resorts entertainment, dining and shopping area located between the parks and the Lake Disney. …[more] »
July 8th, 2010 by Dirk
We just recently reported about the on-going wave of new merchandise tying into the “New Generation Festival” hitting the shops of Disneyland Paris. However, following its new concept of adding new merchandise more or less constantly the resort is not only premiering items related to this year’s festival. In addition the resort has remembered a merchandise category of its very early years: attractions specific merchandise (that is: beyond pins and photo frames)! …[more] »
July 7th, 2010 by Dirk
Finishing our tour of rehab projects at the Disneyland Park that were going on last-minute before the start of the summer season takes us to Fantasyland for the final installment. As the rehab of Dumbo has been covered in detail already (and the ride has reopenend past weekend looking all shiny and new again) we would like to point out a second, smaller rehab that was underway just days before the beginning of the summer season:
a repainting of the exterior facade of the Auberge de Cendrillon. It concerned only the facade next to the Sir Mickey’s boutique, facing toward the Le Carrousel de Lancelot. Due to the work the arcade leading along this facade had to be closed off cramming the face painting, that has set up shop here, into the very front section. Also the Cinderella fountain was hidden behind the construction walls.
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.
