It is already a tradition that Woody’s Roundup Village on the Cottonwood Creek Ranch is transformed into a real winter wonderland aka “Santa Claus Village” for the holiday season. By Thursday the area had already been covered in snow and the snowmen had been placed on the hill at the far end of the area adding some holiday spirit visible also from aboard the Disneyland Railroad.
In the past years guests could find Santa Claus’ post office at the village as well as the workshop of his elves and the opportunity to meet Santa Claus in the second building. At the same time the two static photo sets featuring Bullseye (Woody’s horse) respectively Stinky Pete in his box (both from the Disney Pixar Toy Story movies) remained unchanged. However, as a new surprise for this holiday season both former unchanged photo sets are undergoing a wintery transformation as well adding some extra holiday cheer for guests, in particular also adding the opportunity to take a souvenir photo in a unique setting without waiting in the line for the meet’n'greet with Santa Claus.
What will the two new photo sets look like? As of Thursday both sets were still worked upon and hidden from view by black clothes (as can be seen for the former Stinky Pete set in the photo on the right). In other words: guests will have to wait until the official start of the holiday season to learn more.
As can be seen in the photos as well the closure Woody’s Roundup Village in the recent months allowed not only for some early preparations of the interior of the buildings for the holiday season. In addition the paint crews moved in and repainted some of the buildings in a brighter red share to cheer up the area a bit more as well.
Following up on the permanent “correction” of the sightline across the roof of the Disney Art of Animation toward the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop today we have a temporary sightline correction to report that is related to the Toy Story Playland as well. This time it is related to the construction site for the (so far only rumored) future Ratatouille dark ride to be added to the Walt Disney Studios Park, next to the costumeing building. When exiting the Toy Story Playland through the giant blue Barrel of Monkeys guests walk straight toward the blue construction fence that blocks access to this construction site. (more…)
On September 5th the members of the Shareholders’ Club and their guests had the exclusive opportunity to enjoy Toy Story Playland after park closure – meaning after night fall. Attendees of the event were among the first guests that were able to experience the lighting design of Imagineering for the new area of the Walt Disney Studios Park. If you missed the opportunity you can now get at least a first impression of the atmosphere with our 4 minute HD-video shot during the event:
For most female guests in any public space a line for an attraction is very often only half as bad as that really dreaded line … the line at the toilettes. Even on busy days the Disneyland Park rarely features these lines thanks to numerous rest room facilities that were placed across all lands. The Walt Disney Studios had a bit of a problem with this when it opened but solved it early on by adding the facilities next to the exit / shop of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror even prior the start of the construction for the tower.
However, when the Toy Story Playland was announced without any additional rest room facilities fans were (mildly said) surprised since the whole Toon Studio already had no dedicated rest room facilities. Now that the new area is in regular operation and has turned out to attract large crowds it becomes obvious that addition rest room facilities would not only have been a good idea but are direly needed. (more…)
The ride vehicle of RC Racer featured small boxes in front of the guests to store small bags, purses, cameras etc. for the duration of the ride. There was even a “test” box early in the queue area for guests to make sure that their bags would fit into this on-board storage. However, during the AP previews those on-board boxed had been closed and could not be used. This past weekend the boxes suddenly had disappeared, i.e. had been dismounted from the ride vehicle. The immediate impact is additional leg-room for guests on board. Already in the past weeks the cast member in the station on the exit-site was taking backpacks and similar items off the guests and storing them in an enclosed rack next to the station’s exit gate.
BTW: at Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop several boxes and barrels have been stacked up next to each parachute. These function as enclosed storage areas for the bags of riders on the according parachute since the parachutes themselves do not have any storage for backpacks etc. However, guests are allowed to take cameras onto their ride to take aerial photos of the area.
Friday evening the Shareholders’ Club members were invited to enjoy the all new Toy Story Playland at Walt Disney Studios Park after park closure. Considering the late nightfall and early park closing of the Walt Disney Studios the event was the first opportunity to enjoy the new addition to the park with its lighting design in full display.
During a visit to Toy Story Playland earlier in the day numerous additional, temporary lights were found to be standing in the new area, however, those turned out to be not necessary at night and were not used. Most propably they had been placed in TSPL already in anticipation for the major press event scheduled for Saturday night. But then for Friday’s Shareholders’ Club event the regular lighting needed no extra add-ons. This also had the big advantage that guests could enjoy the light design as it was intended by Imagineering… (more…)
For more than 2 years a giant billboard advertised the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror to everyone heading toward the parks from the resort’s main daytime guest parking lot. Located right above the fence blocking off the future Disney Village expansion lot in front of the Disney Village parking structure the large billboard is perfectly located to be noted by all guests no matter whether they plan to head into the Disneyland Park or the Walt Disney Studios. In time for the opening of the Toy Story Playland the billboard finally was replaced and is now proudly touting the newest addition to the studios: Toy Story Playland. But that is not the only sign which got updates for Toy Story Playland… (more…)
The extreme popularity of the Toy Story Playland (penned up by the late opening on August 17 despite being prominently featured in ads since early spring) is having its impact in particular on wait times as reported here reportedly since the official opening of the area. However, despite wait times exceedings 100 minutes at times for RC Racer the queue area of this attraction has proven to be more than large enough with the line mostly being limited to the covered section and the last meters of the out door section leading to it. On the other hand the queue for Slinky Dog ZigZag Spin is frequently extended with ropes in front of its entrance. Close to the ride’s exit just opposite of the entrance to RC Racer another line has been roped off for handicapped guests who are allowed to bypass the regular line (but nevertheless have to wait in a line). (more…)
A bit more than two weeks have gone by for the Toy Story Playland in regular operation and we can already report the next addition to it – unfortunately its fences. Next to the station building of RC Racer a set up had been installed in a special extension of the walkways featuring a smaller version of the RC Racer on a bit of red toy track. The unique twist there being, that the RC Racer was open on its left side (facing toward the rear of the land) so that guests could step seemingly into the car to get their photo taken as if onboard of it. By the end of last week temporary steel barriers with white plastic coverings had been errected around this RC Racer photo op blocking access to it while still allowing to take pictures over the barrier at least of the scene (even so not with anyone inside). (more…)
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…)
The Mousekingdom Daily is out! http://t.co/TGFmhGel â–¸ Top stories today via @debsdistwit @srsounds @laughing_place @dlrpfans @disneychiefFebruary 8, 2012 1:50
Disney News today: Trip Diaries Day 16: Harry Potter Time http://t.co/eI5HvuozFebruary 8, 2012 5:17
It is already a tradition that Woody’s Roundup Village on the Cottonwood Creek Ranch is transformed into a real winter wonderland aka “Santa Claus Village” for the holiday season.
 By Thursday the area had already been covered in snow and the snowmen had been placed on the hill at the far end of the area adding some holiday spirit visible also from aboard the Disneyland Railroad.
In the past years guests could find Santa Claus’ post office at the village as well as the workshop of his elves and the opportunity to meet Santa Claus in the second building. At the same time the two static photo sets featuring Bullseye (Woody’s horse) respectively Stinky Pete in his box (both from the Disney Pixar Toy Story movies) remained unchanged.
However, as a new surprise for this holiday season both former unchanged photo sets are undergoing a wintery transformation as well adding some extra holiday cheer for guests, in particular also adding the opportunity to take a souvenir photo in a unique setting without waiting in the line for the meet’n'greet with Santa Claus.
What will the two new photo sets look like? As of Thursday both sets were still worked upon and hidden from view by black clothes (as can be seen for the former Stinky Pete set in the photo on the right). In other words: guests will have to wait until the official start of the holiday season to learn more.
As can be seen in the photos as well the closure Woody’s Roundup Village in the recent months allowed not only for some early preparations of the interior of the buildings for the holiday season. In addition the paint crews moved in and repainted some of the buildings in a brighter red share to cheer up the area a bit more as well.
