HKDL Update : Toy Story Land Exclusive Report - Part One

Thanks to a good friend living in Hong Kong i have an exclusive report with dozens of pictures of the new Toy Story Land which is opening officially November 18. Last Friday you saw the HKDL official pictures but today we will have a look to the new land in details and specially at what are the new elements which don't exist in the WDS version.

In fact, and although the three main rides have a similar theming, as we will see there is many decor elements which are new in the HKDL Toy Story Land version. For each picture showing something that doesn't exist at the WDS version i will put a big "NEW" in the caption.

There we go, and above you have a picture of the entrance. But before HKDL guests arrive to this entrance there is a little path going from Fantasyland to Toy Story Land which probably help to separate enough the new land to avoid visual intrusion of TSL high structures. All the big bamboos help to hide them and also give the feeling that Andy's toys are "in Andy's garden".







On the left of the entrance, and it's the first NEW element, there is the giant Woody. In case you wonder why they didn't put the giant Buzz Lightyear as they did at the WDS TSL, i remind you that HKDL already have a giant Buzz in Tomorrowland at the entrance of the Buzz Lightyear attraction.









Also NEW and on the right at the entrance this giant Tinkertoy construction set box. It's a pretty smart idea to have put this at the entrance as Tinkertoy is a child toy well known in the U.S but chances are that it is less known in Hong Kong. So it will help HKDL guests to understand from where are inspired the "Tinkertoy" decor elements of Toy Story Land.





Also NEW the Crayola crayons visual used on the backstage door. Note the "Andy" letters on it.



First attraction on the left is the Slinky Dog Spin ride, and most of the theming is the same than at the WDS TSL but the Slinky Dog sign at the entrance stands here on its own.













Also NEW, and a good idea, this Slinky Dog Barking Pass!



Close to the Lincoln Logs of Slinky Dog Spin ride is located Rex and as i've said in my previous update the kids here can't climb on it.





Totally NEW, and it looks great, the Jessie's Snack Round-Up! It will be smart to put one similar at WDS Toy Story Land...











Next to it, and also NEW, the giant flower umbrellas. HKDL guests can sit under them to eat what they've just bought at Jessie's Snack Round-Up.







Also NEW the Woody's Roundup Card Game area.





Not so far from is the blue monkey barrel which also exist at the WDS, but as in HKDL it is not used as a second exit, it is smaller and apparently it's also used as a character photo location with Woody and Jessie.





Definitely NEW the Moon Patrol ice cream cart!





Taking about ice cream, the cup of this frozen yogurt - HKDL guests can choose many different toppings - is cool and NEW.



Totally NEW is this "street animatronic" moving inside Toy Story Land. Kids love to play with it by turning the different parts.



Oh-Kay, that's the end of the part one, don't miss the part two coming in my next article as there will be plenty of others "new" TSL decor elements to discover!

All Pictures: copyright Disney and more


Don't miss the new HKDL Wallpapers HD App for iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch!
Direct iTunes link HERE!

HKDL Update : Toy Story Land - First Videos

Toy Story Land will open at Hong Kong Disneyland in ten days but, thanks to soft openings, the first videos begin to appear on Youtube. As you will see the rides are so perfectly similar to the ones at DLP WDS that, if the cameras were not showing a larger view of the land, it would be impossible to say in which park you are. Let's have a look anyway, and the two first videos show the Parachute Drop in which you can also see in the background a bit of the works on the other lands opening next year and in 2013 .







This next one shows a bit of each of the three Toy Story Land rides, and it seems that the young chinese who filmed it had a lot of fun.




Another onride video, showing the Slinky Dog Spin ride.




And last but not least, this next video had an editing with iMovie a bit more professional and looks like a trailer for the new land.




All my thanks to michael20183, TheLCCAPP, gilbert23059 and porcupine666.


Don't miss the new HKDL Wallpapers HD App for iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch!
Direct iTunes link HERE!

HKDL Update : Full Toy Story Land Report !

Hong Kong Disneyland Toy Story Land will open on November 18 and the park just released the very first pictures of the new land, this time totally finished! Considering that Toy story Land also exist at the Walt Disney Studios it will be interesting to see if there is anything new in the HKDL version. And, although the three rides remain the same, yes, there is some changes, beginning by the giant Woody - picture above - at the entrance of the land, instead of the giant Buzz Lightyear at the WDS.

The next picture shows the Slinky Dog Spin ride, which looks identical to the one at the WDS except the rooftop of the queue line on the bottom right which don't exist at the WDS.



A first view of the land shot from Toy Soldier Parachute Drop ride, with RC Racer in the background. Note on the bottom left the giant "flower parasols" which are new in this HKDL version.



On the next picture, the Toy Soldier Boot Camp, just in front of Rex. Sarge and his Soldiers are looking for new recruits. HKDL guests can earn their stripes through a series of fun challenges at this Toy Soldier Boot Camp to test if they have what it takes to become a real Toy Soldier.



Talking about Rex, there is apparently another entrance to the land, the "Rex Entrance" - through which HKDL guests will probably enter when the two other lands currently built will finally open. It's a good idea to use Rex for this entrance as HKDL guests and young children won't be able to climb on him which should avoid to HKDL TSL the problems that they had at the WDS version with kids damaging Rex.



The next picture was shot high in the 27-meter tall U-shaped RC Racer, and you'll see a big part of the land in the background.



Now, what you will see on the next two pictures is unique to the HKDL TSL version and doesn't exist at the WDS. The first one is Jessie's Snack Round-Up, and HKDL guests can swing by Jessie’s Snack Roundup to get their fixins. Lots of healthy and fresh treats are available here, including pizza cones and frozen yogurt. May be they could bring this Jessie's Snack Round-Up at the WDS? Why not put it where the RC Racer car was before and now removed because kids were falling from it, they probably have the room available and it will make a nice themed snack in the center of the land, which is missing at WDS TSL.



...and the next one is Andy's Engine where over 50 new Toy Story Land-inspired gifts await HKDL guests. From toys and apparel to character-inspired creations, guests will surely find something to remember their TSL experience.



Let's end with another picture shot from Toy Soldier Parachute Drop, with Andrew Kam, HKDL Managing Director on the center.



I know that some of my reader don't like the TSL concept whether it's at the WDS or anywhere else, but personally i like it a lot. And it seems that HKDL Imagineers did a pretty good job here, too, at HKDL. Toy Story Land is opening November 18 and if you plan to go at HKDL, don't miss it!

Let's end with an official video showing the preparation of the land!




Pictures and Video: copyright Disney - HKDL


Don't miss the new HKDL Wallpapers HD App for iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch!
Direct iTunes link HERE!

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