Toy Story Land Guide, Tips and Touring


Toy Story Land Guide, Tips and Touring Hollywood Studios 1

Welcome to Andy’s backyard! If you grew up watching the Toy Story films you’re going to love shrinking down to the size of a toy and exploring the new 11-acre Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s really cool taking a look back at the model to finally see it all come to life in person.

Everything is oversized and highly detailed from the used popsicle sticks and train tracks that make up benches; right down to the bolts of the slinky dog coaster. Toy Story Land looks great during the day but it also offers a much different vibe at night so it’s definitely worth experiencing both.

With a brand-new land, there are many new additions from rides to food to entertainment to changes made to existing attractions. So today I’ll give you a complete guide to the new land and discuss all of the new Toy Story Land rides attractions and experiences.

The 3 main attractions at Toy Story Land that we’ll cover here are:

  • Toy Story Mania
  • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Slinky Dog Dash

Characters of Toy Story Land

It wouldn’t be Toy Story Land without the characters from the movies. As soon as you approach you’re greeted by this 20-foot tall woody figure and he definitely towers over the land.
Just beyond Woody, you’ll also find Jessie and Rex and there’s also a giant 14-foot tall Buzz Lightyear statue in front of Alien Swirling Saucers. When you look at the model of Toy Story land it’s really deceiving how small Buzz looks, but in person, this figure is actually huge. Although the figures aren’t animatronics and don’t move, their voices still bring them to life.

The green army men used to be seen wandering Pixar place and they’re back in Toy Story Land, but now they actually talk. The green army men patrol the backyard interacting with guests and although they don’t formally have a meet and greet they will stop to sign autographs and take pictures. The green army men also provide some entertainment to Toy Story Land with one of the acts being the green army drum corps.

There’s also an interactive game of “Sarge Says” where Sarge leads the green army men through the land playing games and looking for new recruits. They definitely create a fun atmosphere in Toy Story Land. Now during extra magic hours in the morning, there’s a good chance you’ll get to see some characters like Jessie, Woody, and Buzz roaming the land while it’s not too busy. Then once the crowds pick up you can expect to find them doing meet-and-greets in the area.

Toy Story Mania

Toy Story Mania

The highly popular and competitive interactive 4D ride has officially dropped Midway from its name and has become just Toy Story Mania. Since about 2014 Disney stopped using Midway when referring to the ride even though the sign and Pixar place still read Midway mania.

But I have to say I really love the cardboard detail on this new marquee sign.  Even though the name slightly changed, the experience has remained the exact same although this would have been a perfect opportunity to introduce some new games. Going into Andy’s room to play with the Midway Games playset never fails to entertain and it’s always fun to see how many points you can actually rack up.

Alien Swirling Saucers

Alien Swirling Saucers

My biggest tip for the ride Alien Swirling Saucers would be to ride at night so you can get the full effect of the lighting. The queue sort of reminded me of the queue for Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom. But a good chunk of it is exposed to direct sun and it gets very hot in the queue. However, there are plenty of fans in the area as well as a water fountain.

In terms of the actual ride, this specific ride system was patented by Disney and is a unique take on the classic whip ride. It’s exactly like mater’s at Disney California Adventure and it’s honestly a lot of fun. The ride whips you from side to side as you travel between the four different carousels. Alien swirling saucers is a welcome family-friendly addition to the ride lineup at Hollywood studios.

Slinky Dog

Slinky Dog Dash

The newest coaster at Walt Disney World is Slinky Dog Dash. I think they did a really good job at making this coaster look like it’s made out of this toy coaster kit complete with the power booster, which looks really cool at night! Slinky Dog Dash is an exposed launch coaster but it’s not an off-the-shelf coaster. This layout which includes two launches were designed specifically for Disney and is an original ride. There’s nothing off-the-shelf about it aside from it being categorized as a roller coaster.

It’s an extremely smooth ride and in terms of intensity. I’d say the coaster is more intense than Barnstormer and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train but less intense than Big Thunder Mountain. It feels much faster than it looks but if you want a more intense experience definitely sit in the back and if you want a tamer experience then you’ll want to sit in the front. If you’re curious about the speed I’ve heard lead cast members toss around the number of a top speed of 40 miles an hour which apparently happens after the second drop.

I’ve also seen a lot of people ask about the seats and I can say that there’s a lot of room in them and they are similar in size to the seats on Expedition Everest. The Slinky Dog Dash cue has another large area that’s not covered but again there’s lots of fans and a water fountain to help cool you down.

There are tons of hidden secrets and easter eggs in the queue and in the land as well. Overall the ride is exactly what Hollywood Studios needed, a family-style thrill ride. A nice added touch was the Weazy animatronic and it’s the perfect way to end this Disney ride.

Woody's Lunch Box

Woody’s Lunchbox – Where To Eat At Toy Story Land

Serving breakfast and lunch Woody’s lunchbox is the new quick-service restaurant in Toy Story Land. I’ve gotta say this is probably one of the better quick-service restaurants at Hollywood Studios. Not only does the area look great with all the details, including the clever umbrellas and chairs, but the food is also delicious.

The downfall of Woody’s lunchbox in Toy Story Land is that the area is pretty open and exposed to the Sun and there are only two windows to order food. It is set up though for mobile ordering so that can help cut down on the waits though.

Toy Story Land Restrooms

Where To Rest In Toy Story Land

The restrooms in Toy Story Land are not themed as well as the tangled restrooms in Magic Kingdom, but they’re definitely themed. The area is built up with wooden blocks Scrabble pieces are used for the sign and giant cooties linger around the entrance. A nice little detail is the letter blocks that hold up the roof, they actually spell out boys on one side and girls on the other. This restroom area is one of the spots where you can find a water fountain as well.

Overall the land is extremely open and has very little trees to create shade so it does get very hot under the Florida Sun. Disney’s placed water stations along the pathways and there’s also been a temporary umbrella set up to create some more shade. It will be interesting though to see if these water stations and umbrellas become more permanent but my advice is to bring lots of water, sunscreen, and a hat when you explore Andy’s backyard.

Conclusion

We spent a fair amount of time in this land on our last trip, probably more than is warranted, but once you ride Slinky Dog it’s addictive and you end up riding several times. Toy Story land really makes you feel like a kid all over again and it’s a lot of fun regardless of your age.

If you’d like a first-hand tour of Toy Story Land then make sure to check out the video below. While you are here also check out our post about the best tips for Hollywood Studios as well before you leave.

Click here for more information about Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Heather

Heather Noyes, the visionary behind this website and a former Disney travel agent, has woven her lifelong passion for Disney into the fabric of her daily life. Nestled just 3 miles away through the enchanting trees lies Cinderella's Castle, a magical neighbor to Heather's everyday adventures. From her earliest days, Disney has captured her heart, and this enduring love has translated into the meticulous planning of numerous trips for her family, friends, and cherished clients, all destined for the enchanting realm of Walt Disney World.

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