Toy Story Land Opens

by Janet Jonus

Toy Story Land Opens at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios

Come out and play with Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang from Pixar’s Toy Story Movies in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

“Experience the joy of being a toy.” As you walk past the 20 foot tall Woody and enter Andy’s Backyard you become an “honorary toy” because everything around you is oversized. Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Ham, Rex, the Green Army Men (a FamilyFunFavorite), Slinky Dog, and other characters from the Toy Story movies come to life and entertain you as you walk around giant Tinker Toys, Rubik’s Cubes, board games, dominoes, Crayola crayons and toys that are tossed around the new rides and attractions. The benches are made from Lincoln Logs and K’nex and the streetlights are pieces of TinkerToys. The Slinky Dog Dash coaster flies around the backyard to the delight of guests young and old. The Aliens from toy story pilot rocket ships with you inside of them. Walk through the giant Toy Story Mania game box in an all new entrance to the Disney classic. When hunger strikes you can head on over to Woody’s Lunch Box for re-imagined childhood classics.

Andy built Slinky Dog Dash with his Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster Kit. Climb aboard a Slinky Dog Dash train and hold on as Slinky zips around and above Toy Story Land. Look out for Rex on top of a shaky stack of giant Jenga blocks. Mid-way through the ride, the coaster suddenly stops and backs up on the tracks before it is launched again into a series of drops and camelback humps. The exhilarating ride ends with Wheezy, the Toy Story Penguin serenading guests as the Slinky Dog comes back into the station. Slinky Dog Dash has a ride height requirement of 38 inches. Wait times have been around two plus hours during the day since Toy Story Land opened on June 30th. Evening wait times have been around 45-60 minutes with a big drop-off in wait times after 800PM.

Andy won an Alien Swirling Saucers Playset at Pizza Planet and he set it up in his backyard. Guests enter the ride through Buzz Lightyear’s Space Command. Buzz himself greets guests. As they wait their turn on the ride, guests can control the special effects around them. Just across a Construx gantry, the lovable aliens from the movies welcome guests aboard their spaceships. Guests whirl around a pizza-inspired space station, Planet Pepperonia, and through the Pizza Planet galaxy and over colorful toys and a giant rubber ball. If you still need that perfect picture there is an oversized stationery Alien waiting near the exit. The Alien Swirling Saucers is a spinning ride. Those averse to spinning can watch the action from gantries around the Playset. Alien Swirling Saucers has a minimum height of 32 inches. Wait times during the day have been around 60-90 minutes. Wait times after 800PM have been around 30 minutes.

Toy Story Mania! has been updated too. The new entrance is actually the box Andy’s Toy Story Mania Game came in. Guests get to play a variety of carnival-style shooting games. The highest score gets bragging rights. The popular Hollywood Studios ride has had wait times of one to two hours during the day and 45 minutes in the evening. There is no height restriction.

Woody’s Lunch Box is Toy Story Land’s official restaurant. The quick service dining choices include a three cheese grilled cheese, BBQ Beef Brisket, Totchos (loaded tater tots), “Lunch Box Tarts” (handmade pop tarts), and a FamilyFun favorite – the S’more French Toast Breakfast Sandwich. Tables are made from TinkerToys. Toys, a huge Thermos, and Sarge, the Green Army Commander all make an appearance in the colorful dining room. Woody’s Lunch Box is open all day and accepts the Disney Dining Pass. There have been wait times of up to 30 minutes to eat at Woody’s Lunch Box at lunch and dinner with no waiting times earlier and later in the day.

Woody Buzz, Jessie, and their friends make regular appearances throughout the day for pictures and autographs. The Green Army Drum Corps entertains guests. Sarge and the Green Army patrol play games with guests and whip them into shape during “boot camp”.

Toy Story Land has two new merchandise shops with exclusive merchandise only available on-site.

Toy Story Land covers 11 acres at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Once you have gone through the entrance to Hollywood Studios head up Hollywood Boulevard towards the Chinese Theater. The entrance to Toy Story Lane is next to Pixar Place.

Disney World is open daily. Hollywood Studios is accessible by bus and boat. The parking lot has been reported as full early in the day since the opening of Toy Story Land. Guests are encouraged to use the Disney Transportation system.

For more information on Hollywood Studios check here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/hollywood-studios/

To plan your Disney Vacations check here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/