| The Toon Studio expansion project was first
confirmed in January 2005, with Crush’s Coaster highlighted as its key draw
right from the start. Construction didn’t begin until early 2006, however,
but once started the project took off at incredible momentum. This page aims
to chart the key construction milestones of this brand new Imagineering
project… 2002 to Early
2006
 2002 to Early 2006 The corner plot of Animation Courtyard sits
empty. 7th June 2005: Coloured balloons test the height of the Crush’s
Coaster showbuilding. 2nd September 2005: The parking lot of the
ImagiNations Costuming building is vacated. some early groundwork for drainage and electrical supply begins.
1st November 2005: The empty corner plot of Animation Courtyard. 28th
December 2005: The full construction area, with early groundwork preparing
drainage and electrical lines. March 2006
 17th March 2006 With the land prepared for work during January
2006 and the first foundations laid in February, the very first vertical
walls appear and the land inside the Coaster section of the attraction is
prepared for concrete. A huge crane appears at the site, similar to
the two already in place for the Tower of Terror. April 2006
 6th April 2006 A steel mesh is laid within the basin of the
Coaster section before being filled with concrete, providing a smooth, flat
base for the incoming spinning coaster track.
 8th April 2006 In just two days, much of the base framework of
the spinning coaster track arrives and the first track pieces are fitted
into place – the transfer track just before the lift hill and the final
break run. Foundations are also prepared for the front section of the
building, notably for the outside drop and rockwork.
 15th April 2006 Work on installing the track progresses
further, whilst walls and land are prepared around it. May 2006
 1st May 2006 The track is almost complete. The
horseshoe U-turn can be seen, whilst basin foundations for the track’s path
through the boarding area and dark ride section are moulded.
 20th May 2006 The track in the Coaster section of the
attraction is complete, with a black steel frame beginning to rise at the
far end of the construction, the framework of the eventual concrete Disney
Studio 5. June 2006
 10th June 2006 Black metal framework for the walls and roof of
Disney Studio 5 continues to spread along the length of the Coaster, whilst
foundations are finished in the dark-ride/boarding/outside drop section and
walls spring up at rapid pace. July 2006
 15th July 2006 With the walls of the front dark-ride and
station building complete, track for the outside drop arrives on-site and
the design of its passageway from inside the building can be seen (later
this will be hidden by wire mesh for the rockwork). The black
framework for the Coaster building is completed, with the coaster itself
still clearly visible inside.
 29th July 2006 Track for the outside drop is fixed in place
and completed, with the trough clearly visible (later, it will be almost
entirely hidden by the blue rockwork). Scaffolding fills each wall of
the Coaster building as the walls on each side grow to their full height. August 2006
 19th August 2006 The first pieces of metal framework and wire
mesh for the coral reef and rockwork around the front of the attraction are
fixed in place, surrounding the finished track. Scaffolding grows at
the front of Disney Studio 5, in preparation for the final front wall to be
put in place. September 2006
 9th September 2006 As the thick metal framework spreads further
across the fa�ade of the front building, the first sculpted rocks are
unveiled in front of the track area, currently with a light blue colouring.
Concrete sections now reach to almost the full height of the final Disney
Studio 5 behind. October 2006
 8th October 2006 The front fa�ade of Disney Studio 5 is moulded
and put in place, painted with a white base coat and given a number “5” in
Walt Disney Script font. The background of the number is painted
yellow, whilst the first signs of blue paint are visible at the entrance to
the building. One of the rocks in front of the attraction is the first
to be given its final full colouring of deep blue.
 31st October 2006 Disney Studio 5 now sports a healthy coat of
bright blue paint on two sides, with gutters attached and framework in place
for the canopy over the queue line. Advertisements are featured on
construction walls. November 2006
 3rd November 2006 Views from around the construction site, by day
and night. The soundstage is clearly visible from outside the park,
whilst inside the rockwork continues to gain a deeper shade of blue.
Finishing touches are put to the paintwork of the arched fa�ade, and blue
paint now spreads along the left-hand side of the building.
 5th November 2006 Construction in the early November fog.
 7th November 2006 Scaffolding is removed from the front of Disney
Studio 5, revealing the full, finished fa�ade. Work moves to the queue
area on the left of the building, whilst the rockwork continues to receive
detail and colour.
 15th November 2006 A stunning aerial view of the construction site
by Jollyroger on Disney Central Plaza forum shows the full state of progress
in mid-November 2006.
 26th November 2006 Foundations for paths and walls in the outside
queue area are laid mapping out the walkways, whilst the canopy gets a
corrugated metal roof and more planting gradually appears. Paint tests
continue outside, whilst walls inside the porch area have been prepared with
a white base coat. December 2006
 1st December 2006 A chance moment sees Kyoto from
DisneyMagicInteractive.com capture on camera the very first tests for the
colourful “fresque” of Crush and friends, which will eventually cover the
entire frontage of the lower building. The test disappeared again just
a few hours later. Also, concrete edges and foundations are laid for
the entrance and exit paths of the attraction, seen here with Imagineers and
construction workers.
 30th December 2006 Scaffolding is removed from the deep blue
rockwork, now fully coloured, whilst the planting areas around the
attraction begin to be filled with palms and tall, leafy trees resembling
undersea plantlife. Concrete curbs for the paths extend around the
rockwork at the front of the building. January 2007
 6th January 2007 The curved planters around the entrance and
exit paths are filled with many more palm trees, whilst the wall next to the
covered outdoor queue area receives a themed layer of plaster to prepare it
to become a fishing harbour wall. February 2007
 5th February 2007 The huge fresque covering the front of the
dark ride building, featuring Crush and several other turtles, is installed. March 2007
 5th March 2007 With the fresque installed, the side walls of
the dark ride building are finally painted blue. The guttering of the
coaster building has also been painted, and work continues on paths and
landscaping around the queue area. For more construction photos and all the
latest updates, see the Photos Magiques Construction Gallery. | 
