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

Now that Toy Story Playland is opened, what will be DLP's next attraction ?

Toy Story Playland will open officially next tuesday - big pictorial report about it coming very soon on D&M - and with less than two years before Disneyland Paris 20th Anniversary it's time for a new update about DLP's future. In two words, here is the program: no Little Mermaid ride - may be and hopefully it will come later, Star Tours 2 most probably coming at Discoveryland, and the highly awaited Ratatouille dark ride is, as we will see, "double confirmed" although not yet officially.

Two words about Star Tours 2, first. Although there is no signs that Star Tours 2 is on schedule for Discoveryland i still put my bets on it mainly because it's pure logic: there is not one good reason that the park won't have it in a very near future. The ride definitely needs a new version to boost the attendance, the cost won't be too high for something which will be almost a new attraction, and it's the less expensive choice for DLP's management for a new ride in the park to celebrate the 20th Anniversary.



And we must remember that it's Disneyland Paris park 20th Anniversary - not the one of the Walt Disney Studios. However, as we saw during the 15th at DLP the Anniversary party don't last only one year but generally at least two. It's a marketing trick to keep guests coming at the park to enjoy what is supposed to be a big Anniversary party and generally it works well. Which means what? It means that Star Tours 2 could be very well scheduled as a "20th Anniversary" attraction not opening in 2012 but...in 2013, which will be already DLP's 21th Anniversary but "officially" always the 20th Anniversary celebration, if you see what i mean...

Anyway, in the meantime you can have a look at this new video - released today by the Disney Parks Blog - which will appear in Star Tours 2 queue next year!

Whether Star Tours 2 will come or not one thing is sure: the awaited Ratatouille attraction will be THE 20th Anniversary E-Ticket ride. And this time, folks, there is no more doubts about it. Only a worldwide financial break down could have some effect on DLP's management decision to build the ride. The budget - translate: the money needed to build the ride - was approved by the banks early this year and, more important, works have began on the location that DLP Imagineers reserved for this future attraction.



We're going to talk about this but first let's have a look to what we know now for sure about the ride itself. And i'm not talking about rumors here. By the way, the Disney Central Plaza forum - DLP's fans biggest forum - did recently a pretty good résumé of what is non-officially confirmed and it matches perfectly with what i've learned from my own other sources.

As i told you in a previous article the attraction cost should be between 130 and 150 $M which is indeed pretty expensive and there is good reasons for that, i mean good technological reasons: the Ratatouille dark ride will use WDI latest high technology with trackless vehicles thanks to the same LPS technology that Imagineers used on the Winnie the Pooh ride at TDL or in the future and awaited Mystic Manor at HKDL. But there is more as WDS guests will have to wear 3D glasses to enjoy the 3D projection effects that DLP imagineers have designed for the ride. And some of them should be really amazing. Recently an external manufacturer designing a huge steel dome for the ride unintentionally revealed that the dome will be used for projection effect in the Ratatouille dark ride. For sure the 3D scene inside this hemispherical dome should be a pretty immersive experience - see picture below. A trackless 3D ride with projection effects? For some of you it may sounds like the Spiderman ride at IOA and it's interesting to note that part of the technology for the Spidey ride was supposedly brought to Universal years ago by a former WDI Imagineer...no need to say that WDI was not happy...



But the Ratatouille ride at DLP's Walt Disney Studios will be more than a sophisticated ride. In fact it's a whole Parisian area that will be build. From a typical parisian path starting on the right of Toy Story Playland, lay with cobblestones like the one you still can walk on in some of Paris streets. And when WDS guests will arrive in the Ratatouille area they will find not only the attraction itself but a shop, a small plaza, probably a Paris backdrop painting and even eventually rest-rooms all themed in a perfect parisian style. A restaurant would be perfectly logical in a Ratatouille area but nothing is confirmed yet on that one.



Talking about parisian style the queue area of the attraction should be perfectly themed as the queue line decor will put the guests on the rooftops of Paris with breathtaking height feeling, thanks to forced perspective. At least that's how it was envisioned by Imagineers one year ago and if WDI Imagineers didn't changed their plans for the queue decor - which sometime happen to reduce the costs - it should be a perfect introduction to the ride. An interesting fact about the queue area is that it will be designed for a pretty long queue. Don't panic, it doesn't mean that you'll have to wait hours before boarding in the vehicle, but Imagineers who always know how successful will be an attraction can estimate how long the queue might be and theme the queue area on this appraisal. To give you an idea, the queue of WDS Crush Coaster was designed for a 45 minutes queue but the attraction is so successful that the queue always start outside the ride entrance. Without any doubt DLP Imagineers have learned from this and the queue area for Ratatouille should be designed for a longer queue, which means more theming before you board in Ratatouille vehicles, and this is generally good news.

As what will happen during the ride itself, and although the ride is of course inspired by Pixar's movie, as i told you in my article posted in July 2009 it should not be a dark ride which will follow the chronological order of the movie scenes (like Snow White or Pinnochio rides)...but i can tell you that WDS guests should be immersed in some of the movie key scenes.

I told you at the opening that works already began and it's right. And i'm not talking only of the path leading to the Ratatouille area but about the ride location which will be behind the costuming building where until recently stand trees, part of a little wood. As you will see on the pictures below posted recently on the Disney Central Plaza forum most of the trees have been cut and by the end of the summer - or 2010 last quarter - foundations works should begin.







The last question is of course the opening date. As i told you above this 20th Anniversary is the one of the first park but the WDS are such a problem that DLP's second gate have the E-Ticket ride priority. Mind you, it doesn't mean necessarily that the ride will open in April 2012 (i remind you that April 12 is the park's opening anniversary date). Just like they did for the 15th Anniversary when Tower of Terror opened only in December 2007 and not April, the Ratatouille dark ride might open later. Why that you ask? Well, it's mainly an accountancy trick: Disneyland Paris fiscal year always ends in September. Which means that an attraction which opens after September 30th, 2012, will be counted in the 2013 budget and fiscal year. Of course, as it always take two years to build a big E-Ticket part of the budget is spent before the opening of the attraction, but probably a big part - and i'm talking here about WDI's invoice to DLP - is probably paid when the attraction is complete, which by the way would be logical. With an opening at the end of 2012 instead of April 2012 most of the budget will be count in DLP's 2013 fiscal year instead of 2012 fiscal year. And, as there is probably new parade or shows also envisioned for the 20th, not to mention other projects like the big World of Disney store, all of them having a cost, it might have some sense on an accountancy point of view to delay a bit Ratatouille's opening to have a big part of the attraction cost counted on the 2013 budget and fiscal year. My guess is that Ratatouille might open late 2012 if not in April 2013 to boost again the 20th Anniversary celebration. In this case, may be Star Tours 2 might open in 2012 as its cost will be much less expensive than the Ratatouille ride and as it is also difficult to consider a 20th Anniversary without no new attraction at all. But i sincerely hope DLP fans will not have to wait that long if we don't want them to become hysterical!


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

Pictures: copyright Disney, Disney Central Plaza

All my thanks to Disney Central Plaza for some of the pictures.

DLP 20th Anniversary : All about Ratatouille dark ride, Star Tours 2 , and more !

With less than two years before Disneyland Paris 20th Anniversary it's time for a new update about DLP's future. In two words, here is the program: no Little Mermaid ride - may be and hopefully it will come later, Star Tours 2 most probably coming at Discoveryland, and the highly awaited Ratatouille dark ride is, as we will see, "double confirmed" although not yet officially.

Two words about Star Tours 2, first. Although there is no signs that Star Tours 2 is on schedule for Discoveryland i still put my bets on it mainly because it's pure logic: there is not one good reason that the park won't have it in a very near future. The ride definitely needs a new version to boost the attendance, the cost won't be too high for something which will be almost a new attraction, and it's the less expensive choice for DLP's management for a new ride in the park to celebrate the 20th Anniversary. And we must remember that it's Disneyland Paris park 20th Anniversary - not the one of the Walt Disney Studios. However, as we saw during the 15th, at DLP the Anniversary party don't last only one year but generally at least two. It's a marketing trick to keep guests coming at the park to enjoy what is supposed to be a big Anniversary party and generally it works well. Which means what? It means that Star Tours 2 could be very well scheduled as a "20th Anniversary" attraction not opening in 2012 but...in 2013, which will be already DLP's 21th Anniversary but "officially" always the 20th Anniversary celebration, if you see what i mean.

Whether Star Tours 2 will come or not one thing is sure: the awaited Ratatouille attraction will be THE 20th Anniversary E-Ticket ride. And this time, folks, there is no more doubts about it. Only a worldwide financial break down could have some effect on DLP's management decision to build the ride. The budget - translate: the money needed to build the ride - was approved by the banks early this year and, more important, works have began on the location that DLP Imagineers reserved for this future attraction.

We're going to talk about this but first let's have a look to what we know now for sure about the ride itself. And i'm not talking about rumors here. By the way, the Disney Central Plaza forum - DLP's fans biggest forum - did recently a pretty good résumé of what is non-officially confirmed and it matches perfectly with what i've learned from my own other sources.

As i told you in a previous article the attraction cost should be between 130 and 150 $M which is indeed pretty expensive and there is good reasons for that, i mean good technological reasons: the Ratatouille dark ride will use WDI latest high technology with trackless vehicles thanks to the same LPS technology that Imagineers used on the Winnie the Pooh ride at TDL or in the future and awaited Mystic Manor at HKDL. But there is more as WDS guests will have to wear 3D glasses to enjoy the 3D projection effects that DLP imagineers have designed for the ride. And some of them should be really amazing. Recently an external manufacturer designing a huge steel dome for the ride unintentionally revealed that the dome will be used for projection effect in the Ratatouille dark ride. For sure the 3D scene inside this hemispherical dome should be a pretty immersive experience - see picture below. A trackless 3D ride with projection effects? For some of you it may sounds like the Spiderman ride at IOA and it's interesting to note that part of the technology for the Spidey ride was supposedly brought to Universal years ago by a former WDI Imagineer...no need to say that WDI was not happy...



But the Ratatouille ride at DLP's Walt Disney Studios will be more than a sophisticated ride. In fact it's a whole Parisian area that will be build. From a typical parisian path starting on the right of Toy Story Playland - yes, the big boxes that DLP fans recently noticed with the word "Ratatouille" on the top are full of artifacts to theme this path which will be lay with cobblestones like the one you still can walk on in some of Paris streets. And when WDS guests will arrive in the Ratatouille area they will find not only the attraction itself but a shop, a small plaza, probably a Paris backdrop painting and even eventually rest-rooms all themed in a perfect parisian style. A restaurant would be perfectly logical in a Ratatouille area but nothing is confirmed yet on that one.



Talking about parisian style the queue area of the attraction should be perfectly themed as the queue line decor will put the guests on the rooftops of Paris with breathtaking height feeling, thanks to forced perspective. At least that's how it was envisioned by Imagineers one year ago and if WDI Imagineers didn't changed their plans for the queue decor - which sometime happen to reduce the costs - it should be a perfect introduction to the ride. An interesting fact about the queue area is that it will be designed for a pretty long queue. Don't panic, it doesn't mean that you'll have to wait hours before boarding in the vehicle, but Imagineers who always know how successful will be an attraction can estimate how long the queue might be and theme the queue area on this appraisal. To give you an idea, the queue of WDS Crush Coaster was designed for a 45 minutes queue but the attraction is so successful that the queue always start outside the ride entrance. Without any doubt DLP Imagineers have learned from this and the queue area for Ratatouille should be designed for a longer queue, which means more theming before you board in Ratatouille vehicles, and this is generally good news.

As what will happen during the ride itself, and although the ride is of course inspired by Pixar's movie, as i told you in my article posted in July 2009 it should not be a dark ride which will follow the chronological order of the movie scenes (like Snow White or Pinnochio rides)...but i can tell you that WDS guests should be immersed in some of the movie key scenes.

I told you at the opening that works already began and it's right. And i'm not talking only of the path leading to the Ratatouille area but about the ride location which will be behind the costuming building where until recently stand trees, part of a little wood. As you will see on the pictures below posted recently on the Disney Central Plaza forum most of the trees have been cut and by the end of the summer - or 2010 last quarter - foundations works should begin.







The last question is of course the opening date. As i told you above this 20th Anniversary is the one of the first park but the WDS are such a problem that DLP's second gate have the E-Ticket ride priority. Mind you, it doesn't mean necessarily that the ride will open in April 2012 (i remind you that April 12 is the park's opening anniversary date). Just like they did for the 15th Anniversary when Tower of Terror opened only in December 2007 and not April, the Ratatouille dark ride might open later. Why that you ask? Well, it's mainly an accountancy trick: Disneyland Paris fiscal year always ends in September. Which means that an attraction which opens after September 30th, 2012, will be counted in the 2013 budget and fiscal year. Of course, as it always take two years to build a big E-Ticket part of the budget is spent before the opening of the attraction, but probably a big part - and i'm talking here about WDI's invoice to DLP - is probably paid when the attraction is complete, which by the way would be logical. With an opening at the end of 2012 instead of April 2012 most of the budget will be count in DLP's 2013 fiscal year instead of 2012 fiscal year. And, as there is probably new parade or shows also envisioned for the 20th, not to mention other projects like the big World of Disney store, all of them having a cost, it might have some sense on an accountancy point of view to delay a bit Ratatouille's opening to have a big part of the attraction cost counted on the 2013 budget and fiscal year. My guess is that Ratatouille might open late 2012 if not in April 2013 to boost again the 20th Anniversary celebration. In this case, may be Star Tours 2 might open in 2012 as its cost will be much less expensive than the Ratatouille ride and as it is also difficult to consider a 20th Anniversary without no new attraction at all. But i sincerely hope DLP fans will not have to wait that long if we don't want them to become hysterical!


Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat

Pictures: copyright Disney, Disney Central Plaza

All my thanks to Disney Central Plaza for some of the pictures.

DLP Update : A look at Disneyland Paris future

As promised, we will have a look today at Disneyland Paris future. Recently, two DLP fans web sites - Disneytheque and DLRP Today - did articles about it and since then all DLP forums keep talking about it. Although all is not wrong in the Disneytheque article the one from DLRP Today seems to be more accurate. You can have a look at them HERE and HERE.

Toy Story Playland or Toy Story Mania?

This year, in June or July, the new Toy Story Playland will open at the Walt Disney Studios with what will be, basically, three carnival rides themed on the Toy Story theme. There is no doubt that WDI Imagineers will do a great and probably enjoyable theming on this little land and DLP fans will be happy to have three new rides at the WDS, but they will be a little bit less happy when they will know that, at exactly the same location, Toy Story Mania was also envisioned to be build.



Considering the financial situation of the park and the huge price difference between Toy Story Playland and Toy Story Mania nobody needs to be a genius to understand that once again it's the budget price which had the final word. Although i'm sure that young kids will enjoy Toy Story Playland rides we must not forget that all three will be outdoor attractions and when we see the incredibly freezing temperatures we have this winter in Paris we can wonder if Toy Story Playland was finally the right choice for the guests.

Ratatouille, 20th anniversary attraction?

Disneyland Paris 20 th anniversary will be in two years from now and of course the biggest DLP fan question remains the same: what will be the 20th anniversary attraction? Since months everyone wonder which one between the Ratatouille and Little Mermaid dark rides will be the next E-Ticket and i'm sorry to say that, if no announcement have been done it's probably because nothing yet is totally sure.

As usual it's all about money and although 2009 guests attendance was good, last year financial results were not fantastic. So, what is doing the park when they need to build a E-Ticket attraction and don't necessarily have the money for? Well, they do exactly like we do when we want to buy a new home or a new car, they go to see their bank and ask if they can borrow some money! They did a financial plan which was sent recently to the banks, and now everybody - including us - is waiting for its approval and the funds which will come with it. It will take probably some months to have the bank's answer but the park still have some time before the works must begin to make sure that a new E-Ticket will open on time in April 2012.



However, considering that almost two years are generally needed for this kind of attraction, next June will probably be the dead line to begin the works. And, depending where these will be, DLP fans will know immediately - even with no official announcement - what is the final choice. I'm still betting on the Ratatouille dark ride not only for reasons explained in one of my previous article but mostly because the attraction is now on WDI schedule. Historically, when an attraction appear on the WDI schedule it means that the attraction has received the green light from the park. So, if you have to bet on one attraction as the next DLRP E-Ticket, i think you can put your bets on the Ratatouille dark ride. And for more infos about the ride itself, have a look to my previous article HERE.

What about Soarin' ?

Since Walt Disney Studios opening the room to build a Soarin' attraction was kept. the good news is not only that the room is still available but also that the park is still considering to build it......someday. The new "Soarin' over the World" movie is expected to begin in 2013 at Disney's California Adventure and i really think that the main reason why Soarin' is not built yet at the WDS is simply because the new movie is not yet available. DCA and Epcot will probably have it first and then, with a bit of luck (and money!) the ride may come to the WDS. However, all this didn't stop WDI Imagineers to work on the design of the building facade - i remind you that WDS location for Soarin' is in Production Courtyard between the Cinemagique and Stitch live! buildings - and from what i've been told the facade will be beautiful, with an art-deco style just like the buildings nearby. You can find more details about the "Soarin' over the World" movie in the article i did some months ago HERE.

Anything new in 2011 ?

2010 will see the opening of Toy Story Playland - with also the New Generation Festival - but what about 2011? Well, considering that the next year will be the 20th anniversary we can expect that the park will save its money for the big event. However something highly expected will open in theatres in 2011: the new Pirates of Caribbean movie.

It's time to remember that Disneyland Paris is now the only park which didn't "update" the attraction with the Jack Sparrow / Barbosa audio-animatronics. Considering the huge success of the first trilogy and the low budget of this update i was surprised they didn't do it before... until i thought they may envision to do it later. 2011 could be a perfect date for this POTC update and would be a good way to have something new in the park for a low amount of money. We'll see if it'll be the case.




Star Tours 2 at Discoveryland

Star Tours 2 will open next year at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios and the big question is: when will it come to DLP Discoveryland? I think there is litlle doubt that Star Tours 2 will open at Discoveryland - not only because the attraction really needs an update but also because the budget of this new version won't be excessive - but the only question is when? In the Disneytheque article they announce it for 2013 and they may be right on this one. As the park did with the 2007 15th anniversary which has ended early 2009 (!) the 2012 20th anniversary will probably run through 2013 and a Star Tours 2 opening on that year would be a good way to expand the "birthday party". However we must not forget that 2012 is the 20th anniversary of the Disneyland Park (and not the Walt Disney Studios) and so it would be legitimate that DLP Magic Kingdom have a new attraction on that year. We'll see what happen.



As for the attraction itself - read my previous article for more details about what has been "unofficially" announced - one thing is sure: Star Tours 2 will have not only the new podrace 3D movie presented last September by Jay Rasulo at the D23 Expo, but several different movies - i would say probably four different movies. And this will be a good thing, specially when we think that we've spent the last 20 years with the same ride movie! Until now, Star Tours was probably the only travel agency of the universe offering only one destination!

However, don't expect each movie to be totally different as what will change in each of them will probably be only the "middle" part - the opening and the end of each movie should be the same. Which by the way is logical as our Starspeeder will be supposed to lift off each time from the same base. But, of course, the guest will have a different experience with each movie.



And what about the pre-show, you ask? Well, the biggest elements of the pre-show like the real-size Starspeeder and 3CPO - will remain but you can expect a re-design of some elements. The big Starspeeder in the first room of the pre-show will have a slightly new design on his front as well as the big screen next to it - the one announcing Star Tours destinations - where we can expect a incredibly high-definition screen, and more. Changes will also occur in the second room - the Droid room - and inside the Starspeeder simulators Captain Rex will have a totally different design which is a really good idea as its current style looks more like a robot escaped from the 1979's "Black Hole" movie...

I've also heard that the queue may be interactive and that ,depending of your choice, you will be sent to a Star Tours destination or another. Although i think it would be a good idea it may be difficult to put in place, not to mention the additional budget for this interactivity. As i don't have confirmation on this interactive queue, please consider it for now only as a "rumor".

New Convention Hotel and Disney Village.

Both Disneytheque and DLRP Today articles talked about the future Convention centre and hotel, but i think it's DLRP Today which announced the right location - see DLRP Today map below. This Convention centre and hotel project exist since many years but for the theme of the new hotel, nothing has been announced yet. But considering its location close to the Walt Disney Studios it won't be a surprise if WDI Imagineers choose an art-deco style which will fit perfectly with the WDS buildings style nearby. I, personally, love the art-deco style and nothing could make me more happy than to have a new hotel with the style of the Ambassador Hotel at TDL or the Hollywood Hotel at HKDL. The convention centre and hotel are supposed to open before 2015 and have an investment of 100 M Euros.



In a previous article i told you that the park is also working on an expansion of the Disneyland Hotel, and it's still in the plans. When it will have the green light this new wing which will be build on the hotel parking lot will be a kind-of boutique hotel with its own restaurant and swimming pool and room prices as high as the one of the DLH Castle Club. They were looking for an opening on the 20th anniversary but i cannot confirm you that this will be the case.

As for the Disney Village we're still waiting for the long rumoured changes beginning by the World of Disney shop which will be build in front of the Gaumont Theatres. Once the World of Disney will be open many of the others shops - beginning by the Disney Store - will definitely change but so many different concepts were envisioned since the last two years that i prefer to don't announce you anything before they are really sure. The only thing which is sure for now is that big changes will happen soon to the Disney Village.

A Night Show for the Walt Disney Studios?

Recently i saw on french forums a rumor talking about a lake that should be build behind WDS Hollywood Blvd and Tower of Terror. Well, DLP fans will be happy to learn that more than a simple rumor it's a real project. The Walt Disney Studios generally close each day around 7 p.m, mainly (but not only) because the park don't have a night show. So, the plan is to build a lake which will host not Fantasmic! but the World of Color show - yes, the same one opening in April at DCA.

Why World of Color instead of Fantasmic!, you ask? Well once it is built the World of Color show need less cast-members, so the operation cost won't be as high as Fantasmic! Still, DLP executives are probably waiting to know more about the maintenance cost of World of Color at DCA and then, eventually, and if the funds are available, World of Color will come to the WDS. As this is a long term project, don't expect it before at least 2015. But it's a good news that Imagineers are working on a WDS night show as the park really need one

O-kay, that's all for today. Always remember that DLP choices may change depending of the financial results and funds available or not. Each of my DLP updates are a "picture" of the situation at the time i post it. Next DLP update won't be before some months, the needed time to have confirmed infos and not simple rumors.

In the meantime make sure to check the special offer about the great Disneyland Paris book if you don't own it yet! You will find it right HERE.

Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat

Pictures: copyright Disney, Lucas Film and DLRP Today.

" New Generation Festival " will be Disneyland Paris Theme in 2010

Disneyland Paris released visuals showing what will be the next resort theme in 2010. It's called "New Generation Festival" and if you're wondering what "new" generation they're talking about, the characters on the pictures - Tiana, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Sully, Ratatouille, Lightning McQueen, etc... - should make it perfectly clear.

Also, it's interesting to note that Ratatouille have its own illustration as i remind you that the Ratatouille dark ride is supposed to be DLRP 20th anniversary attraction at WDS.











All pictures: copyright Disney

Remy Audio-Animatronic at Epcot's Chefs de France Restaurant

The little Remy Audio-Animatronic is now at Epcot's Chefs de France restaurant where you'll be able to meet him for the next six months. Here is two Youtube videos of this little show.





This little Remy Audio-animatroni was also at the Walt Disney Studios last year, and here is a video of Remy at the "Rendez-vous des Stars" restaurant. The show seems to be a bit different as Remy is "dancing" a bit on Edith Piaf's famous theme "La Vie en Rose".



The two first Youtube videos are from Jeff Lange who is also selling very good WDW Dvd's. You can find them HERE.

The WDS Remy's video was shoot by DlrpMagic, have also a look at their web site HERE

PIcture: Copyright Disney-Pixar

Youtube videos: copyright Jeff Lange and DlrpMagic

Will the future WDS Ratatouille attraction use a GPS ride system, or a " LPS " system, or something else...

Since i've mentioned it in a previous post, everybody is talking about the future Ratatouille attraction for the Walt Disney Studios . Some days later the excellent Lauphing place.com web site released more infos about it, and in the forums everybody look excited about this future WDS addition.

One of the reason is because of the trackless technique that will be use. The Ratatouille attraction is supposed to use the same system that WDI imagineers used for the Winnie the Pooh attraction in Tokyo. Which, for everybody is an attraction using GPS. But is it really the case? I mean, is the TDL Winnie the Pooh attraction REALLY using a GPS system to control the vehicles?

May be not, if we believe this well informed Wikipedia article about the attraction. Here is what they say:

Although track-based traditional dark rides based on Pooh do exist at Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, and the Magic Kingdom, Pooh's Hunny Hunt is a different attraction entirely and is exclusive to Tokyo Disneyland.

Vehicle

The ride vehicles are fashioned to resemble honey pots; though these pots have wheels, they are completely hidden, giving the pots the appearance of "gliding" across the show scene's floors. Traditionally, dark ride vehicles are guided along an easily-visible track, and move at a (more or less) constant speed. The Pooh's Hunny Hunt vehicles have no visible means of guidance and appear to move through the attraction independently. Wildly stopping, starting, reversing direction, and even spinning, giving the ride its trademark whimsical and dreamlike visuals.

Track

This 'trackless' ride system is achieved not by GPS, as widely rumored, but by a custom LPS (local positioning system). The patented system works by directional data being relayed from a master control computer directly to each individual honey pot car through a complicated matrix embedded within the actual floor tiles. Every few seconds, the master computer generates a random path and ‘steers’ the honey pot in real-time, so as the cars roll through the ride the vehicles are, in fact, being told where to go. Because this system is in real-time, they can maneuver accordingly in just fractions of a second. This also allows for spontaneous yet synchronized ‘honey pot choreography’ with groups of honey pots (as many as 8 in a single show scene) appearing to ‘dance’ with the others, often timed with ‘beats’ in the music. Due to limitless variations possible, each journey through the attraction is unique.

Other LPS Uses

Aquatopia (at Tokyo DisneySea just next door) is the only other ride in the world to use this groundbreaking ride technology. It is unknown if this ride system will ever be built outside of Tokyo, although a ride based on Disney's Beauty and the Beast using the LPS system (teacups instead of honey pots) was designed by WDI before Hunny Hunt, yet still remains unbuilt. Pooh's Hunny Hunt has been rumored at having a budget of around $130 million, although this cost included the development and testing of the never-before-built LPS ride system.

So, we've learned something: no GPS, but LPS , and this is what should be use in the Ratatouille attraction........although another rumor is saying that WDI was recently investigating a trackless system used by a company at an amusement park in Oregon or Washington or somewhere around there. The Imagineers seems to look for a trackless system without the headaches and expenses that the TDL Pooh attraction has...

If the imagineers finally choose a new system, let's hope that it will work as well as the LPS one they've used at TDL and TDS. Pleeease, no cheap version on this awaited attraction......

So, which system will be finally use by WDI imagineers in the Ratatouille attraction? I'm afraid we will have to wait for the opening to get the answer!

Photo: copyright Disney-Pixar

Disneyland Paris update - Summer at the Magic Kingdom, Ratatouille Audio-animatronic, and July 14 firework video !

First, for those of you who were not at DLP last night for the July 14 firework, here is a - new - Daily Motion video filmed by dlrp-team, and this one shows the whole firework. Please note that the firework begin after the first 50 seconds.

Disneyland Feux D'artifice 14 Juillet.
envoyé par dlrp-team

It's full summer at Disneyland Paris, and flowers are everywhere! On the esplanade between the Magic Kingdom and the Walt Disney Studios...



In Fantasia gardens...



And at the Disneyland Hotel and park's entrance



But something really odd happened on Town Square: One of the building located in front of the Story Book Store and formerly supposed to be a small "hotel" was repaint, and in front of it, instead of real flowers and tree as it was before, there is now....plastic flowers and false tree! Okay, the flowers are not really in plastic, but in cloth, fabric, etc...but at the end the result is the same...it's not real flowers.




Why this? Well, you see, the place is one of the "meet the characters" location, and now, not only the small building is not supposed to be anymore a "hotel", but much more the house of the characters. When they've finished their show, they climb the little stairs, open the blue door you can see on the right and go out through the building like if it was their home. Soooo, because it is now "supposed" to be the house of Mickey, Goofy, etc...who, as we know, are cartoon characters, they've put false flowers.
Do you see what i mean? If it don't make sense to you or if you find the "alibi" really poor, you're right. In fact they've tried to redesign a Main Street house in a kind of Toon Town house, using new colours on the facade and plastic flowers. Frankly it's not only stupid - if they've put real flowers the effect would have "work" exactly the same - but also it is such a poor idea that it's a long time i've seen something so cheap in the park. And, by the way, it's not even well done - i mean, it don't looks like a "characters house"!

If we except this, the rest of the park looks great, lot of people of course, and nothing new specially, but it's normal: summer is the high season for the parks, but the low season for the news, and don't expect new announcement before the fall.

However, at the Walt Disney Studios there is something new! No, it's not the fact that they've take out the big "Cars" billboard from the entrance of the Studio 1 or the fact that they are going to repaint the facade - they are currently putting a new billboard on the scaffoldings, a photo of the original facade which seems to indicate that the re-painting should take a while...



No, what is really new is a small Audio-Animatronic of Remy, the beloved rat character, Ratatouille's hero. He is appearing three times each day at the Rendez-vous des stars restaurant, and last week, it was also possible to see him at the Disneyland Hotel's California Grill restaurant. I've hesitate to call him an "Audio-Animatronic", because this robotic figure don't look as sophisticate as the new Wall-E AA. But there is mechanism inside, and we must not forget that it is always difficult to do small robotic figure - simply because there is not much room inside to put the mechanism...
I think the best is that you judge by yourself, and the two short videos below will give you a better idea of it - note that on the second one you must wait 30 seconds before you'll see Remy AA.







Okay, as you saw, it's not the Audio-Animatronic of the century, and the movements are - it's the least we can say - very limited. He don't move around on the tray, but he looks pretty realistic, which is good.

Let's talk about the future, now. Next year the Walt Disney Studios will have in the old Disney Channel building a "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage" for ( very ) young kids and a new parade. The park bought to the DHS the cars of the "Disney Stars and Motor Cars parade" and the WDS name of this new parade should be "Disney's Stars 'n' Cars Event".

The WDS is of course the park who need the most new attraction and theming, and it seems that the building of Soarin' is still under discussion. But a strong rumour announce the closing of the Armaggedon attraction. To be replace by what, you ask? Well, the same rumour was talking about a Narnia-Prince Caspian walk-through similar to the one at the DHS, and later - translate: when they will have the money - a real new attraction.

More interesting is this info from a Disney Central Plaza member who heard a group of imagineers talking about new theming ideas. They were standing in front of the Studio Tram Tour Station and said: "Guests will walk into that direction and see San Francisco". It's interesting, because one thing is sure: imagineers will definitely build new decors after the Hollywood sign, and it may very well look like this San Francisco decor built at the DHS some years ago...we'll see! More news when available!



As for the Magic Kingdom, no new attraction has been announced yet, and it's difficult to bet on one. I still think that Indiana Jones Adventure will be the best choice for the park's 20th anniversary but the maintenance cost and all the problem with the cars - at Anaheim only four of them are currently working - don't work in its favor...

I also think that the Little Mermaid attraction - similar to the one coming to DCA do have some chances. As you may know, they are going to build it simultaneously at WDW - simply because when you build the same attraction twice at the same time you do economies of scale, so why not build three instead of two? Also, let's not forget that the low dollar is a blessing for Disneyland Paris when they buy new attractions to Walt Disney Imagineering. It's the right time for the park to buy expensive attractions at a bargain price!

See you soon for a new DLP update!

Photos: copyright Disney, Alex Rosa and Alain Littaye

Youtube videos of Remy AA thanks to novastarbuzz and gochaton!

Daily Motion video of July 14 firework thanks to dlrp-team!