Google Earth has (finally) updated its satellite image from Disneyland Resort Paris with a recent snapshot from October 2007. Toon Studio (with Cars Race Rally and Crush’s Coaster) is open and Tower of Terror is clearly present with the Hollywood Boulevard near completion.

It’s rumoured that DLRP will soon be presented on Google Earth by 3D buildings, similar to Walt Disney World who launched its virtual resort not so long ago..

Protective fences have finally been installed around the Luigi and Guido photo location outside of Cars Race Rally.

The photo location is part of the Toon Studio project to enhance the theming of the area. But it became so popular that guests started climbing the vehicles and so involuntary damaging these unique props. A temporary barrier was setup before without any result.

Imagineers have just recently installed the famous Route 66 sign at Cars Race Rally. The sign was always present on numorous concept arts for the attraction, but didn’t seem to have made it of the drawing board, up until our photographer visited the park today.

Another sign has been installed as well at the Luigi & Guido photo location, announcing the sale of “Lightyear tires”.

magicblog, the blog by Photos Magiques dedicated to Imagineering and Disneyland Resort Paris’ history, takes a closer look at the new Toon Backlot area, part of Toon Studio.

Did you know that the common theme of the backlot area is the large backdrops for each attraction? Find out more today at magicblog!

A stroll around Toon Backlot

Over just a few years, many changes have been made at the former Animation Courtyard. We’re comparing two photos from 2004 and 2007 to highlight the changes.

Other major change was the addition of the Toon Backlot area (the location where Crush’s Coaster and Cars Rally is build). The old location, visual from the Flying Carpets photo platform, was empty and really made the Walt Disney Studios Park feel like an empty carpark. But that has changed…

The information board on Disney Bros. Plaza has been updated with the new park plan and new signs for the attractions.

The new attractions have been added to the list, including The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror which is marked “Coming Soon”.

Additionally are the restaurants listed with a mentioning what type of restaurant it is.

We’ve uploaded a video to YouTube from the new Toon Studio Plaza at night!

Photos Magiques has a whole bunch of photos from the press event from past weekend at Walt Disney Studios Park. See the official inauguration by Karl Holz, tons of characters including the rare Mike from Monsters Inc, the Ratatouille characters and Toon Studio at night!

» Toon Studio press event photos at Photos Magiques

• This is first Disney park attraction based on the Disney•Pixar film, Cars.
• Guests will first see Luigi & Guido in front of the attraction. This is the first time these characters have been created in three-dimensions in a Disney Park.
• The Piston Cup will be on display in the middle of the rotunda, as guests enter. It is 25” high and 20” wide and gold plated.
• Guest will be immersed in Radiator Springs, created with dimensional movie sets that replicate the store fronts, shops, and neon signs of the little town off Route 66. They will see Flo’s V-8 Cafe, Luigi’s Casa Della Tires, and Ramone’s House of Body Art.
• There are 12 ride vehicles (some red, some blue and some aqua), whose design is inspired by the automobiles in Cars. The vehicles represent a new character created specifically for this attraction with the help of the Disney•Pixar – Cars design team.
• It took one year to design, sculpt and produce the Cars Race Rally ride vehicles.
• The setting of the attraction is Radiator Springs, just after the end of the film, Cars.
• A visitor’s center, sponsored by the Radiator Springs Chamber of Commerce has been set up to welcome travelers to Lightning McQueen’s Racing Headquarters and to show off the businesses and leading citizens of the town.
• In English, Mater, the tow truck, says his name is “Mater, like ta-mater without the “ta”. In French, since his joke would not translate, he says his name is “Martin. Like Aston Martin without the Aston.
• The music played during the Cars Quatre Roues Rallye is from two songs by Randy Newman featured in the film Cars – “Best Backward Driver” and “Doc Racing.” The songs were newly orchestrated for the ride by Jonathan Sacks.
• Clips from over 15 songs associated with cars, traveling or road adventures are played in the queue area for the attraction, including three that were featured in the film Cars – “Real Gone” sung by Sheryl Crow, “Life Is A Highway” performed by Rascal Flatts, and “Route 66” sung by Chuck Berry.
• Cars won the 2007 Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Film and was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film for the 2007 Academy Awards®. Randy Newman’s song “Our Town” was nominated for an Oscar® for Original Song and won the 2007 Grammy® Award for Best Song.

Magicforum moderator Flor has send us in some photos from a foggy Disneyland Resort Paris, showing the new signs that are popping up all over the resort telling guests how far away the distance is to the new attractions. The visuals used for both Crush’s Coaster as for Cars Race Rally are similar to the ones used for the brochures and marketing, but this time the actual ride vehicles have been blended in.

These boards have been spotted already near the Vinci parking lot, the resort’s parking lot and the main hub. It seems to be a smart move by the marketing team to attract more guests to the Walt Disney Studios Park since the park’s being skipped by a lot of visitors. A survey held some years ago revealed that not everyone on resort property was aware of the second gate, resulting in some hilarious answers as “Isn’t that a museum?”

We’ll soon find out if these new boards have affected the number of guests go by the Studios turnstiles…

More photos coming today.

Photos Magiques has been updated with a new set of photos from Cars Race Rally. Have a closer look on the great detailed queue line and façades!

» Go to the Cars Race Rally photos.