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 façade 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 façade 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 façade, 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 façade.  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.