Video tour of Hollywood Boulevard
Posted by raptor1982 on Wednesday, January 30 2008

Hollywood Blvd: Before and After
Posted by raptor1982 on Tuesday, December 11 2007

A quick comparison between 2 photos from the new Hollywood Boulevard in 2007 and the same location in 2004.

What would you put on the back of a Hollywood facade?
Posted by raptor1982 on Monday, November 19 2007

The Franklin Department Store façade, located to the far right of the Boulevard, received some interesting decorations on the back. Since it's now enclosing the Art of Disney Animation queue, Imagineers opted to integrate the bare wall into the design of that Toon Studio attraction.

Several drawings from famous Disney characters (of which Mulan could be recognized from a distance) are now painted in the same style as the Art of Disney attraction's own queue line!

Lights! Camera! Signs?!
Posted by raptor1982 on Monday, November 19 2007

A look at several of the recently added signs on Hollywood Blvd.

From left to right: La Terrasse, Deluxe Talent Agency, Franklin Department Store & its Souvenire sign, the large Hollywood Realty advert and finally actual traffic signs!

For more photos of the rest of the Blvd. go here!

Gone Hollywood revealed!
Posted by raptor1982 on Thursday, November 8 2007

Scaffolding in front of the Gone Hollywood façade started coming down the past 2 days, revealing a stunning themed building. White supports tell us that a large vertical sign is coming soon to enhance the Hollywood theme even more!

Lighting posts everywhere!
Posted by raptor1982 on Thursday, November 8 2007

Construction workers have rushed in a whole bunch of different lighting posts at the Hollywood Studio area. Large posts had already been installed along side the palmtrees, but smaller light fixtures have now been added at the base of those poles.

Similar posts as the ones in the external Tower of Terror queue line were being installed behind the Hollywood Buildings. And to conclude, bare poles had been installed as well in front of the buildings, awaiting their light fixture.

Our camera also snapped a themed lighting rig which will light up the "Los Feliz Hotel" 2D set.

Hollywood placemaking photos!
Posted by raptor1982 on Friday, November 2 2007

Light posts have been added to the Boulevard along side the artificial palm trees and signs have been added to one of the buildings (Gower books and music) and the new information booth.

New construction photos from Hollywood Studio.
Posted by raptor1982 on Monday, October 22 2007

Fresh photos from the Hollywood Studio placemaking project!

See more photos here!

Hooray for Hollywood!
Posted by raptor1982 on Sunday, October 14 2007

The Hollywood Hills backdrop, one of the most anticipated features of the new Hollywood Boulevard, has been installed. It replaces the old Studio Tram Tour poster which was towering above the attraction's entrance since 2002.

Hollywood Studio construction photos
Posted by raptor1982 on Sunday, October 7 2007

Lots of fresh photos from the Hollywood Studio project. The Hollywood Hills over the Tunnel near the Tram Tour has nearly been finished and more signs have been added to the 2D buildings.

» Hollywood Studio construction photos

El Capitan... in Paris!
Posted by raptor1982 on Thursday, September 6 2007

The famous Disney Theatre comes to Walt Disney Studios Park in the form of one of the Hollywood Blvd. façades.

The faux building will be attached to the larger Hollywood First Bank Tower and already bears the large "El Capitan" sign.
The sign will be decorated by neons and lit at night, at least according to Grandmath on our magicforum.

Hollywood Blvd. construction photos
Posted by raptor1982 on Saturday, September 1 2007

Our WDSfans photographer snapped a bunch of fresh Hollywood Blvd. construction photos today.

The Hollywood First Bank façade's main tower is finished, work has started on the side building. The Hollywood Tunnel was receiving attention as well today from construction workers, same goes for the Gone Hollywood façade right next to the Art of Disney Animation.

The buildings in front of Tower of Terror are advancing quite well. The building on the far left is being painted red and dark orange and the buildings in the middle are now receiving the base plates for the future theming.

More photos at Photos Magiques, here.

New Hollywood Blvd. concept art!
Posted by raptor1982 on Wednesday, August 29 2007

A new concept art was posted to the French Disney Central Plaza message board today, which shows the Hollywood Blvd. project in the most accurate way so far.
Besides the Tower of Terror, other buildings can be recognized, like the Off the Page façade, Hollywood & Vine, Hollywood First National Bank and other buildings from the Disney California Park's Hollywood Pictures Backlot.

Pay attention to some of the details, like the new information board located on the foreground and the La Terrasse sign right next to the Off the Page façade.

Hollywood Blvd. model
Posted by raptor1982 on Monday, August 20 2007

Disney Central Plaza, the most popular message board for French DLRP fans, has yet another scoop. Members Mouetto and G-Force managed to get a screenshot from the German Disney Parade television show online. The screenshot shows a scale model of the one and only Hollywood Boulevard, currently under construction in front and next to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Raising a skyscraper!
Posted by raptor1982 on Friday, August 17 2007

Magicforum member Japper has send us in two excellent and exiting photos from the theming of the Hollywood First National Bank façade. The metal frame for the building was erected a couple of months ago, but the actual theming only started yesterday. Unlike previous reports on several message boards, the plates are three dimensional and the windows are made of shiny plastic.

Another magicforum member, Arno-hh, managed to get a photo through a crack in the construction fences and was delighted to show off a photo of the lower part of the building with even more details painted on the façade and a non-functional door.

Another photo by Japper shows the deconstruction of the Studio Tram Tour sign. The movie-poster sign will soon be replaced by a Hollywood-hills backdrop.

Many thanks to Japper for sending his photos. Also thanks to Arno-hh for posting his photos on the magicforum.

Hollywood Blvd. construction photos
Posted by raptor1982 on Monday, August 13 2007

The latest construction photos from the Hollywood Blvd. placemaking project.

Hollywood theming keeps on coming!
Posted by raptor1982 on Wednesday, July 25 2007

More and more details are popping up on the Hollywood façades. Frequent visitor STS has send us in a recent photo from today revealing some nice touches to the first building on the left.

Theming Hollywood!
Posted by raptor1982 on Monday, July 23 2007

The building in front of Tower of Terror are receiving the first layers of theming.

Pictures by Photos Magiques.

Hollywood Blvd. photo update
Posted by raptor1982 on Tuesday, July 17 2007

Photos Magiques captured these photos past weekend from the Hollywood Blvd. construction work. Two themed rooftops have been added to the two buildings on the side of Tower of Terror and the metal structure to hold the Hollywood Tunnel has been erected in front of the Studio Tram Tour entrance.

More photos at the recently renewed Photos Magiques.

A look at the future Hollywood Blvd.
Posted by raptor1982 on Thursday, July 5 2007

Grandmath, admin at Disney Central Plaza Forum, has put together a photo montage from the several façades that will be used for the Hollywood Blvd. in front of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. All buildings are near exact copies of buildings at Disney California Adventure park.
Please note once again that there will be no shops or restaurants located inside, they will all be décors, with the exception a few windows selling food and beverages, thus replacing the Studio Catering Co. trucks.

Hollywood placemaking update
Posted by raptor1982 on Friday, June 8 2007

Moderator Flor has send in another photo from the Hollywood placemaking project. It shows that the metal structures in front of the Tower have received even more metal bars, hinting that the actual theming isn't that far away anymore.

Gone Hollywood goes vertical (UPDATED)
Posted by raptor1982 on Wednesday, June 6 2007

Flor, magicforum moderator, has send us in a photo from a metal structure that has been installed on the other side of Tower of Terror. This is the first piece of many to come to puzzle together the "Gone Hollywood" façade, a fake boutique that will hide the queue line from Art of Disney Animation.

Many thanks to Flor.

UPDATE: Additional photo added.

The ever growing town of Hollywood
Posted by raptor1982 on Monday, June 4 2007

Metal metal structures have gone vertical since our last update on the Hollywood placemaking. Details are starting to reveal, with structures being installed that will house chimneys, bows, billboards and windows.

More details are now also known about the two buildings that will go between Art of Disney Animation and Tower of Terror. An announcement board outside of the Walt Disney Studios Park mentions that the final hight of these faux buidlings will be 19 meters high! According to Grandmath the building on the left will represent the "First National Bank" and the building on the right most possibly a recreation of the Hollywood Broadway Building.

Second Hollywood Boulevard tower rises!
Posted by Anthony on Tuesday, May 15 2007

Or should that be a third tower on Hollywood Boulevard?

Whilst the steel frame of the first building on the park's new Hollywood Boulevard continues to grow ever higher and closer to its 'Off the Page' inspiration, we're excited to announce today that a second building framework has just risen - quite literally - into the sky.

Our host raptor1982 sends the following photo via cameraphone from the magic, showing the impressive size of this framework on the left of La Terrasse. As the nearest part of the current street set development to Production Courtyard, opposite CinéMagique and the corner of Disney Studio 1, it's clear that this project will affect more than just its own environment.

Expect more photos, in the usual high-quality, later today or tomorrow!

Hollywood Boulevard concept art!
Posted by raptor1982 on Monday, April 2 2007

Here it is! The first concept art for the Hollywood Blvd. to hit the internet, exclusively at WDSfans.com! This wonderful piece of artwork by Walt Disney Imagineering shows the Hollywood Tower Hotel surrounded by a bunch of Hollywood-styled buildings.
The current Tram Tour station has been covered up by a large Hollywood Hills backdrop and La Terrasse seems to be non-existing.

But insiders insist that this won't be the actual Boulevard currently under construction. A slight different version has been thought up with similar buildings as can be found at Disney's California Adventure park. A concept art for this version exists as well (and was seen by yours truly) and looks even more impressive.

Hollywood's Curious Labyrinth
Posted by raptor1982 on Sunday, February 4 2007

Not only more fences have been placed on the future Hollywood Boulevard, preparatory work has also started as trees are carefully being removed for future use on a different location.

Additional photos at Photos Magiques.

Fences everywhere!
Posted by raptor1982 on Thursday, January 25 2007

Construction fences are currently arising all over Production Courtyard.

The La Terrasse area has been complete walled in as well as the Studio Tram Tour loading area forcing guests to enter the attraction on the old Fast Pass machines side.

Photos by J°o°el.

Hollywood Boulevard details
Posted by raptor1982 on Thursday, January 11 2007

Details about the Hollywood Boulevard have been presented by Imagineers at the Cast-Member Rendez-Vous event.

The actual boulevard will not be build in the same style as the Hollywood Blvd. at Disney-MGM Studios (think Main Street USA with stores located in the buildings), but more like the New York streetsets from the same park (faux sets).

A description by La Roquine on Disney Central Plaza sheds some light on this highly anticipated project.
There'll be a collection of several different styled buildings like skyscrapers, a Mediterranean building, turrets on each side of Tower of Terror and a tunnel in front of the Hollywood Hills (replacing the current Studio Tram Tour poster).

Following map (based on La Roquine's own map) shows where each set building will be located.

A tunnel at the end of the Blvd?
Posted by raptor1982 on Wednesday, January 10 2007

La Roquine comes up with new information regarding the planned Hollywood Boulevard next to Tower of Terror.

The backdrop covering the Studio Tram Tour station would apparently be some sort of tunnel like the one in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The tunnel would lead to both the Studio Tram Tour and the Toon Studio area.

A similar tunnel has been painted on the large Hollywood painting inside Disney Studio 1. (see photo).

Digging for Hollywood
Posted by Anthony on Friday, January 5 2007

That California legend - digging for gold. And now, a new Parisian legend - digging for Hollywood! Raptor1982 reports live from the Studios that the trees along the path between Disney Studio 1 and Studio Tram Tour have been dug out, ready for removal to allow the upcoming place-making project to go ahead.

This would therefore seem to confirm the earlier rumours of the project beginning next week, and hint that the work will be fairly substantial - remodelling the entire area rather than just building sets around it.

Production Courtyard Placemaking starting this week?
Posted by raptor1982 on Thursday, January 4 2007

Exciting news comes from member HTH2004 on Disney Central Plaza forum, saying that the placemaking project for Production Courtyard will start on the 9th January with the addition of lots of extra construction fences either side of the boulevard and around the Studio Tram Tour station. (see graphic)

The placemaking project includes the addition of additional greenery and faux Hollywood-style buildings, forming a mini-Hollywood Boulevard leading to the Studio Tram Tour Station. This area should be finished by May 2007, then followed by new fences near Armageddon as the attraction is "further integrated" (we can assume more greenery etc.)

Other news related to the placemaking project comes from Grandmath on the same French forum. According to him there will be 23 Hollywood-style (palm) trees planted around Tower of Terror and La Terrasse. Large fake palm trees will also be added in front of the Tower to increase the forced perspective. The real life versions of these trees can't be used due to the cold climatic environment during the winter months at Marne-la-Vallée.

A bigger Street than expected?
Posted by raptor1982 on Friday, December 8 2006

The Street Set, as reported a few weeks ago on WDS Fans, appears to be bigger than expected. That if we may believe "Soundtracker" on the Micechat forums:

This time, the Imagineers are going to focus on the area surrounding the Tower Of Terror, by installing a new Hollywood street set!The new set will run the length of the miniature boulevard, from the entrance of the Art of Animation building and La Terrace food court, right the way to the Studio Tram Tour station. The station will be hidden behind a large false perspective screen, a little like the one found at the end of the Hollywood Pictures Backlot street in the California Adventure park.The new street will also extend to cover the front of La Terrace, leading into the circular plaza of the Production Courtyard. If all goes well and extra funds are assigned, we might even see extra facades being erected opposite the Rendezvous Des Stars restaurant. (As detailed in one of Peter Bell's articles.)The facades should be in place for the end of next year/early 2008, and look set to totally transform the aspect of the Studios park! I for one can't wait!

As you know how it goes with rumours and the internet... we'll just have to wait and see!

Photo: Hollywood Pictures Backlot at Disney's California Adventure. Photo by J°o°el.

"Hollywood Studios" coming to Paris?
Posted by Anthony on Tuesday, June 13 2006

Peter Bell's intriguing new MiceAge article brings news not just about Toon Studios, but also the upcoming Production Courtyard makeover for the opening of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Whilst details on the exact changes and additions to the area are still sketchy, Bell does suggest one very viable rumour that the entire area could be renamed "Hollywood Studios" once the improvements are complete.

Image from MiceAge.

Disney has used the "Hollywood Studios" nametag recently to create a new sub-area of it's Hollywood Pictures Backlot land at Disney's California Adventure, and this new rumour about the name being transferred to Paris has quite a bit of weight behind it. With Animation Courtyard next door being renamed "Toon Studios", the new name would balance the naming of the parks lands as well as reinforce the theme and setting of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror's Hollywood Tower Hotel. It could also draw together the current attractions into a more clearly defined theme.

As for what that theme will become once the "placemaking project" is complete, Bell suggests two options. The first would simply see "Hollywood Studios" become an expansion of the Tower of Terror forecourt, with palm trees, an ornamental fountain, art deco touches and extra seating. A brand new rumour, however, is that more radical plans could see Production Courtyard "transformed into a New York street set, with building facades erected around its circumference. Guests would not be able to see the attractions immediately, but would gain access by stepping through the sets into a faux backstage area. The attraction buildings themselves would receive some extra dressing to make them appear more like working sound stages."

He goes on to comment that the sets would feature "an art deco feel, liberal amounts of neon, and plenty of fine detailing. If successful, the street set could even be extended beyond the Courtyard, starting at the exit to Studio 1 and running all the way to the Tram Tour station."

It is important to remember, however, that no decision has currently been made as to the direction the Production Courtyard retheme will take. The suggestion of a "Hollywood Studios" rename, though, seems a very likely option, whatever the final design choice.

You can discuss all of these new rumours right now on our forum.