John Lasseter talks about WDS Toy Story Playland - Video

A short video today showing John Lasseter talking about the new WDS Toy Story Playland. The video also include some good shots of the rides and, of course, Lasseter talking about each ride. Have a look!



Video: copyright Disney

New Toy Story Playland Videos

Today, new videos of Toy Story Playland! DLP Toy Story Playland press event happened on September 4th and the first video below is an official video released by DLP which include on-ride clips.


Cérémonie d'ouverture de Toy Story Playland
envoyé par dlrpexpress. - L'info video en direct.

This next official video is really interesting as it shows the making of the new land by DLP Imagineers.



Filmed by the excellent DLP Info web site, you'll see on the next video Toy Story Playland with its night lighting as designed by the Imagineers. Don't miss the changing lights on Parachute Drop!



In a previous D&M article i've told you about the "Ratatouille road" located on the right of Toy Story Playland. This last video was filmed on a rainy day by photosmagiques.com and will show you more about this little Parisian street.



Picture: copyright Disney and more

Videos: copyright Disney, DLP Info, Photomagiques

Toy Story Playland, first week-end after opening

Toy Story Playland opened officially last Tuesday and because the weather was incredibly good last Saturday - with a totally clear blue sky - i went back to DLP to shot pictures and have a look at TSP in its first week-end after opening. No surprise, there was long lines for each attraction. At Parachute Drop the wait, at 3.30pm, was 80 minutes which admittedly is a bit too long for such a 90 seconds ride.





Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin had a 45 minutes wait and as you can see on the pictures below there was really a lot of guests waiting in line for this 90 seconds ride.





But there is a reason why these two TSP rides had long lines last saturday as unfortunately RC Racer had a big problem almost all day long and since morning the ride was not working. People on the picture below don't demonstrate, they're simply waiting for the ride re-opening and 10 minutes after i shot this picture, around 4.30pm, the ride re-opened!



Of course children of all colors are now playing with Rex, located at the exit of Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin!





Toy Story 3 is a huge success all over the world - soon its box office will be over one billion dollars - and i have to admit that the idea to open three Toy Story themed attractions this summer was a good move from DLP. For sure Toy Story Playland is going to be successful and for sure the three rides will have long lines, but i suppose it's what we call the price of popularity.

All pictures: copyright Disney and more

Toy Story Playland : The road leading to the Ratatouille dark ride

In my Toy Story Playland pictorial report posted last week-end there is an important addition that i didn't talked about. By the way those who had problem with their browsers because the pictures were too high-res can now see them on Mice Chat in lower-res HERE and HERE. But let's come back to this TSP important addition which is actually a path designed like a Parisian street with cobblestones in the ground and typical Parisian benches and lampposts.

And there is a good reason why DLP Imagineers themed this path like a Parisian street: this path certainly leads to the other entrance of Toy Story Playland - where guests can enter the land going through the blue monkey barrel - but in two years from now it will also be the street leading to the Ratatouille dark ride and the "Paris" area. Actually, we can even say that what you will see below are the first pictures of the future "Ratatouille" area.

I know you like to see proofs and i will bring them to you but let's have a look first to this Parisian street with its cobblestones in the ground and typical Parisian benches and lampposts. The first picture below is a panoramic, click on it to see it in larger scale.















Now, if you remind a previous D&M article i told you that a sculpture of Gusteau - Ratatouille's chef - was sculpted on the arch stick to the blue barrel. And as you can see on the picture below it's really the case and it's really a sculpture of Gusteau.



The picture above was shot by Alexandre Rosa, a former Disney and more contributor, during the cast member preview days. Two days later, when the land opened for annual passholders soft-openings last saturday, Gusteau's sculpture was hidden as you will see on the pictures below.





There is a good reason for that - there is always a good reason for anything done by Imagineers! - and it's probably that DLP execs would prefer to keep secret at least for a while the future land which will open during DLP 2013 fiscal year (which begins October 1st, 2012) and the year of the 20th Anniversary. No more Gusteau's sculpture means no questions from the guests, etc...

Unfortunately, all signs related to Ratatouille couldn't be hidden beginning by the face of Remy, Ratatouille's main character. And where is Remy's face, you ask? Well, actually he is on EACH bench of this Parisian street. Have a look at the picture below...



Don't see Remy? Okay, let's have a closer look. Do you see him now?



May be you'd like to see where this awaited dark ride will be build? The next panoramic, shot from the Parachute Drop attraction, will show you this. The building you see on the right is actually located backstage and is the "costuming" where cast-members come each morning to pick their costume - a Paris backdrop is supposed to hide the building when the Ratatouille ride will open. And on the left of this building, behind the blue barrel, is the land reserved for the Ratatouille ride and Paris area.



Edited: Christian, from www.eap-magazin.de just sent me this picture showing the land where the Ratatouille ride will be build. Note that there is on the left more land that you don't see on the picture. As you can see it's a pretty big area and I wonder if they will keep the big trees located at the center of the land... my feeling is that they will keep them and it will be a good idea.



I don't want to be provocative, but with the Parachute Drop ride DLP Imagineers provided to us the perfect observation point to have a look at the upcoming works and shoot pictures of the future Ratatouille area... Works, by the way, should begin this fall or early next year as it will be a major ride - with a budget estimated around 130-150M$ and, as i told you before, with trackless ride vehicles and 3D projection effects along the ride. Those of you who complain that Toy Story Playland only have re-themed carnival rides only have to wait two more years to be happy and get the E-Ticket ride they're asking for.


If you enjoyed this Disney and more special report, thanks for your support!

You can see great pictures of Toy Story Playland, shot with a wide angle by Alexandre Rosa on his web site HERE


Pictures: copyright Alain Littaye - Disney and more

Arch with Gusteau's sculpture picture: copyright Alexandre Rosa

Toy Story Playland Opening Video

Toy Story Playland opened officially yesterday August 17th and DLP did a small ceremony for its opening with DLP Ambassadors and guess who? that's right, Mickey Mouse who cut the ribbon. Then WDS guests rushed into the new land following the green soldiers. You'll see all of it in this Youtube video filmed by filaroli.




Youtube video: copyright filaroli

WDS Toy Story Playland HD Video - Part One

D&M special report on the new Toy Story Playland opening tomorrow August 17th at the WDS is going on with a two part full HD video which will give you the feeling that you've been teleported at Toy Story Playland!

In this first video you'll see everything of Parachute Drop and Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin rides including on-ride shots and as you will see WDS guests will have a great view when the parachutes of Parachute Drop lift off in the air. The part two showing the RC Racer thrill ride will be on line later this week when i will have finished the editing.

I remind you the huge Toy Story Playland pictorial report posted this week-end with more than 110 high-res pictures. The article is now divided in two parts that you will find HERE and HERE or click on the previous posts link below.

As i've told you the video is in HD so definitely watch it in full screen mode, it'll be just like if you were there!




Video: copyright Alain Littaye - Disney and more

Toy Story Playland - Full Pictorial Report - Part One

That's it, Toy Story Playland opened today for the first day of annual passholder's soft-opening and the land will open for everyone officially on August 17th. In the pictorial report below you will see everything of the land, including great panoramic pictures. I've spent several hours in the land and i confirm once again that WDI Imagineers did - on my point of view - a great job. I know that some of you don't like TSP, but believe me, it's good.

There we go for the first part showing the entrance and Parachute Drop attraction. For each attraction the pictures are in "chronological order", i.e you'll see the different scenes as you'll see them if you were walking inside the attraction.













































































So, how does it look when the parachutes are going up? The next pictures will show you how high Parachute Drop takes the guests and the great view you have on Toy Story Playland.









Let's have a look now to the Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin attraction.











































Here is a great panoramic shot in front of Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin. Double-click on it to see it in big size.



T-Rex is right at the exit of the attraction!





The part two of this Toy Story Playland showing you the RC Racer ride is RIGHT HERE.
And don't miss the Toy Story Playland HD video which is HERE!

All pictures: copyright Alain Littaye - Disney and more


If you enjoyed this Disney and more special report, thanks for your support!