A First Look at the Walt Disney Studios Paris,

A First Look at the Walt Disney Studios Paris
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Rock 'N' Roller Coaster

Back Lot
Any visitor to the Disney-MGM Studios in Florida or DCA with recognise a few of the attractions. Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster Featuring Aerosmith will debut in the south-east of the park. However, conspicuously absent from the exterior facade will be the giant red guitar. Instead a huge articulated lorry will feature the band’s image. Additionally, the rumour is that the attraction itself will feature a slightly different story and on-board soundtrack. This has not been confirmed, but is possible as the WDI team at DLP has always been conscious of the fact that a great number of nationalities and languages are endemic at the park. Take Phantom Manor. The attraction has no substitute for Paul Frees commentary and the ride is lacking in coherency due to the lack of narration.

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The Stunt Show

The Imagineers are most proud of the two other attractions on the Backlot. The first is a unique collaboration between WDI and Remy Julienne , Europe’s premier stunt co-ordinator. The show is similar in size to that of the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular in Florida, but is built around a Mediterranean fishing village to add to the European flavour of the park. Naturally, the show will feature huge explosions and there is the promise that the audience will get wet. The show is called “Moteurs...Action!” and will be a huge success.

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The Stunt Show

The second is the Amazing Special Effects warehouse that will house the Armageddon attraction. The actual interior show elements of this attraction are being kept firmly under wraps, but expect an experience one step more advanced than that of Universal’s rather tame Backdraft attraction. The scene is likely to be that of Harry Stamper (the Bruce Willis character) and his crew on the asteroid attempting to split it into two, thus throwing the big hunk of rock off of its trajectory and save mankind. Paul Osterhout, Vice President Executive Producer for WDI-Paris is confident that the attraction is the “Park’s big surprise package”. This may be fueled by persistent rumours that this attraction is destined for both DCA and the Studios in Florida.

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Animation

Animation Courtyard
In addition, the park will feature an Animation Courtyard section with a giant Sorcerer’s Apprentice hat as the cornerstone of the square. The area will feature three attractions - Les Tapis Volants, Animagique and the Magic of Animation. The latter is more akin to the Animation attraction at Disney's California Adventure with hands-on interactive displays and mini-attractions rather than the walking tour in Florida. The displays will demonstrate the various stages of bringing animated characters to life through development, ink & paint, animation and special effects.

Animagique will be unique to the park and feature a musical tour of Disney animation conducted by Mickey and Donald. Very little other information is available but the show is believed to celebrate the encounter between animation and imagination. Finally, Les Tapis Volants may not have a name familiar to Disney fans, but the attraction will be familiar to anyone who has visited WDW’s Magic Kingdom since late May. This attraction is a clone of the Magic Carpets of Aladdin that has appeared in Adventureland recently. Aladdin has always been a very popular movie in Europe with DLP having a unique walk-through attraction that features a series of windows with animated displays, very similar to the ones guests encounter surrounding the Emporium, and WDI were keen to use the Genie and Aladdin to good effect in the new park. The attraction is tentatively called Flying Carpets over Agrabah in Paris and as of yet, the ride mechanism has not been installed. Rumour persists that the Genie will have a more prominent role in the Paris version, but this is unconfirmed.