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Howdy, partner! If you've got an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World, it's time to saddle up for your visit to Toy Story Land. Be prepared to feel like a toy yourself as you walk around the land where everything is oversized. There is so much to see and explore ... and who doesn't LOVE "Toy Story!?!"
Our guide to Toy Story Land at Disney World offers the full scoop on what to expect, including the three rides and how to plan for Disney Genie attraction selections. We've also got plenty of tips, since it's one of the more hoppin' parts of Hollywood Studios. The opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge has helped even out the crowds a bit, but Toy Story Land is still as popular as ever. Remember that you'll need a valid park pass reservation to enter Hollywood Studios and visit Andy's backyard. So, as our pal Woody would say, let's get this wagon train a-movin'!
The Buzz-Eyed View of Toy Story Land at Disney World
Toy Story Land is based, of course, on the hit Disney/Pixar franchise, starring Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the whole gang!
Upon entering Toy Story Land, you'll be shrunk down to the size of a toy and surrounded by a toy-filled landscape, complete with your favorite characters. You're free to roam among all of Andy's toys, including a flying saucer toy set, a lunch box and so much more. In fact, there are more than 400 toys in Andy's backyard!
We are absolutely obsessed with Toy Story Land's theming. It's all we dreamed of and more! Leap and I were filled with nostalgia upon seeing replicas of our childhood toys (and even some of Tad and Lily's). There are a million details to comment on, but we'll let you experience the surprise for yourself and just point out our highlights: The Christmas lights knotted around giant drinking straws and #2 pencils, and the fences made of K'nex. Just like Pandora, visiting at night is a must and will offer a completely different, extra magical experience.
Toy Story Land Rides
Slinky Dog Dash
Andy has set up his Mega Coaster Play Kit and is taking Slinky Dog (and you!) along for the ride through Toy Story Land on Slinky Dog Dash. This coaster is adorned with faux holiday lights, oversized building blocks and cowgirl Jessie herself. Little (er, big) fun fact: The Slinky Dog Dash track and support columns weigh almost as much as 125,000 gallons of milk!
Be sure to admire the lighting and sound effects of the ride ... the track changes color as Slinky crosses it, and he even says "Woo!" as you're heading down the first hill, among other endless details throughout. We don't want to spoil the ending, but the "Grand Finale" of Slinky Dog Dash is the cherry on top of an already fun, feel-good ride. If possible, avoid front row on this ride (shocking, I know!) for ultimate views — otherwise, you'll see the back of Slinky's head the entire time.
You can get a good look at Toy Story Land and learn a lot about Slinky Dog Dash when you watch our latest YouTube video! Leap points out so many toadally cool hidden details.
This is a very mild, classic coaster — no corkscrews or loops here! If your tadpoles can handle rides such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, they'll enjoy Slinky Dog Dash. The main difference here is that it appears much more coaster-like (since Andy built it out of a toy roller coaster set in his backyard, duh!) than most coasters at Disney World and might frighten little tadpoles like Lily at first. The good news is that there are tons of cute details throughout to keep little ones entertained as they soar through the toys. There are just a couple of mild bunny hops (after which, a ride photo will capture your face as you curve down the final hill). Other than that, there is one "big" hill, which is the one you'll see as you enter Toy Story Land across from Toy Story Mania.
Slinky Dog Dash has the Frog Family's general consensus of being one of our favorite rides in all of Walt Disney World. Not only is the ride itself smooth and enjoyable with the type of hills that just make you giggle, but there are gorgeous, fun visuals throughout the entire thing that will WOW you from start to finish. We waited two hours the first time we rode it, and between how unique and amusing the queue is and how entertaining the ride itself is, we were not disappointed.
Oh, and one last thing! Take a close listen to the safety spiel over the speakers right before you board the train ... it makes a cute reference to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!
Toy Story Mania!
Most of us already know Toy Story Mania!, which has been around for about a decade now at Hollywood Studios. This arcade-style game takes you through a series of 3D virtual carnival games, complete with your favorite characters cheering you along. We especially love the queue for this ride, adorned with oversized board game boxes, books and more. Thanks to the recent addition of a third track, there is more availability and lower waits for this popular ride! Oh, and be sure to chat with Mr. Potato Head on your way in ... he's interactive and will want to say hello!
Alien Swirling Saucers
Think of an intergalactic, extra fun take on Mad Tea Party, and there you have Alien Swirling Saucers. Andy won a flying saucer playset at Pizza Planet, where the aliens spin your toy rocket into space. You might just get chosen by "the claaaaaaaaw."
Hold on tight! This ride does whip you around a bit, but it won't leave you feeling dizzy like the teacups. There are two "sides" to this ride — similar to Space Mountain — but which side you get won't make any difference in your experience, so don't fret! The ride vehicles swirl in something similar to a figure-eight pattern around the pizza planet (literally, there are planets that appear to be covered in cheese and toppings) and there are a few sharp turns along the way. After all, those crazy green aliens are guiding you! If you've ridden Mater's Junkyard Jamboree at Disney's California Adventure, this ride setup is very similar.
This is a super fun ride, but we don't recommend waiting more than 30 to 45 minutes unless you have alien-obsessed tadpoles in tow (but we promise, it will be worth seeing their thrilled faces as the galaxy lights mesmerize them!). While the ride itself is a blast, most of the magic is simply found in the scenery that can be observed from the outside.
Toy Story Land with Disney Genie
With the addition of Disney Genie, guests have the option of paying $15 a day per person to skip the standby queue and enter via the Lightning Lane. You can book arrival times throughout the day for shows and attractions, including all three Toy Story Land rides. With Slinky Dog Dash still being very popular, we recommend booking your selection early in the morning. Even booking early could mean the next available time isn't until late afternoon. If the arrival window is later in the day, you can wait two hours and then book another ride. If not purchasing Genie+, we recommend prioritizing Slinky Dog Dash either first thing in the morning or at park close.
It is a lot easier to get a Lightning Lane selection for Toy Story Mania, and we recommend using it for this attraction to cut down on waiting in lines. We don't necessarily recommend using up one of your slots for Alien Swirling Saucers, as waits are normally low. It's perfect for riding while waiting for another Lightning Lane selection time to start.
Toy Story Land Special Events
In the past, Disney has offered two special events that provided exclusive access to Toy Story Land. As of right now, neither of them have scheduled dates, but we'll update here if either of them come back in the future!
Disney offered Early Morning Magic exclusively to Toy Story Land on select mornings, allowing over an hour of VIP time in Toy Story Land before the park officially opened. Early Morning Magic also included breakfast at Backlot Express. Character meet-and-greets were quite popular with the early morning crowd — meeting Woody and Jessie was the longest line we waited in!
Even if you're not interested in the event, it's important to factor in Early Morning Magic (if and when it's available again) if you are planning on rope-dropping the park. Having these extra crowds in early affected the value in arriving at park opening. We thought Early Morning Magic was only worth it if you or your tadpoles are die-hard "Toy Story" fans and don’t like waiting in long lines (we easily hopped on each ride within five minutes or less).
Another special access event was Disney After Hours. This separately ticketed event allowed party-goers to stay in the park from 7 p.m. to either midnight or 12:30 a.m. on select nights. You could also get free unlimited ice cream, popcorn and select beverages. If you'd rather rope drop or take advantage of Extra Magic Hours, take note of when these events occur, as this usually mean more park-goers later in the evening.
Seeing Toy Story Characters
Disney World Toy Story Land wouldn't be complete without being able to interact with the films' beloved characters. Currently, the Toy Story gang joins the Pixar Pals Motorcade, which randomly hoppens throughout the day. You can see Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the Green Army Patrol make their way through the park. For more details about current character sightings, check out our Hollywood Studios reopening guide.
Before COVID-19 Woody, Buzz and Jessie greeted guests and joined in on the fun on a daily basis. We usually caught Buzz near the entrance, just beyond the large Woody statue in front of Slinky Dog Dash. Jessie and Woody often met together outside of the adorable new Toy Story Mania entrance. It makes a perfect backdrop for family photos ... with or without characters!
Don't forget about the brave soldiers who protect Andy's backyard! Pre-COVID-19, green army men (and women too!) would roam around the area ready to chat and take photos. A group of them often marched to the beat of their drums through the land. While this isn't the standard character meet-and-greet, it was definitely worth taking the time to interact with these toys!
Toy Story Land Dining Options
Woody's Lunch Box
Not only does this quick-service dining location have impeccable theming (counter-service through Andy's Woody-themed lunch box), but there is also an unbelievable selection of food. The breakfast highlight is a Breakfast Bowl, which is a hearty portion of potato barrels (aka tater tots) smothered in smoked brisket country gravy, scrambled eggs and green onions.
As for lunch and dinner, the grilled cheese has my stamp of approval, and the BBQ Brisket Melt is Leap's new fave! The best part? I literally couldn't finish my sandwich ... which means portion sizes are generous. I'll be going halfsies with Tad moving forward. AND with each sandwich, you get your choice of a side of macaroni salad, tomato basil soup or potato barrels. All of these options are delish!
There is also a "Totchos" bowl, which is much bigger in real life than we imagined based on photos. This chili-cheese-tater-tot masterpiece is easily a whole meal's worth of food. We can't forget about the raspberry and chocolate-hazelnut Lunch Box tarts, which are like a craftier, cuter take on a Pop-Tart. Keep an eye out for seasonal flavors! We're so hoppy about this delicious, budget-friendly spot. Just be sure to have a member of your squad hold a table while you wait in line for food, and admire every little detail of Woody's Lunch Box! (Spoiler alert: The windows are little Tupperware containers ... just one of many ADORABLE details to keep an eye out for.)
Mama and papa frogs, get ready! Woody's Lunch Box is serving up alcoholic beverages, offering Grown-Up's Lemonade and a great beer and cider selection, including one of Leap's faves: Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Hard Cider. You'll be able to grab your favorite Joffrey's coffee here, as well. Be warned: The Grown-Up's Lemonade has a very sweet taste that will remind you of a melted cherry popsicle ... only give it a whirl if you've got a candy obsession, like me! (And even if you don't try it, check out the cute tap it's served out of, made from toy blocks.)
Tadpoles have plenty of drink options too! They can choose from apple or orange juice, milk (low-fat or chocolate) or the usual soft-drink products. Or even better, kick it up a notch and sip on a root beer float.
Nowadays, you'll want to use mobile ordering to eat at Woody's Lunch Box. Fair warning, it's a hoppin' spot, so we recommend placing an order at the beginning of your day, rather than waiting until you're ready to eat!
Roundup Rodeo BBQ — Table-Service Restaurant Coming Soon
We are hoppy to hear that Toy Story Land will be getting its own table-service restaurant, Roundup Rodeo BBQ! The story behind it is that Andy has set up a new play area — a rodeo!— with three cardboard boxes cut and taped together and some of his favorite toys and games. With a western-themed atmosphere, this immersive restaurant will have toys, games and playsets scattered around, including toy versions of Jessie riding on the back of a Trixie pull-toy and Bo Peep and her sheep performing in the rodeo together. It does not yet have an official opening date, but stayed tuned because it will debut sometime soon! We’ll keep you updated, as always!
Toy Story Land Touring Strategy
Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios is a must-visit for many park-goers. For this reason, you'll want to have some plan of when you want to enjoy this themed land!
- If Slinky Dog Dash is a priority, either ride it first thing in the morning (especially if using early entry for hotel resort guests) or at night as wait times are typically lower. Also consider purchasing Genie+, which includes all three Toy Story Land rides.
- Woody's Lunchbox is very popular and mobile ordering ahead of time is highly recommended. If wanting to eat during prime meal times, select your designated time slot a few hours in advance.
- With a lack of shade, Toy Story Land can be very hot in those Florida summers. We recommend focusing on the land in the morning or evening. Either way, make sure you walk back through the land at night!
- Use our park plans and our Orlando Planning App. They both include step-by-step plans for the park and general when-to-visit information for each ride.
We've already hopped through every inch of this fun, immersive area, and can't wait to come back for more! Slinky Dog Dash is our new fave Disney coaster ... what are you most excited to check out? Snag your discounted tickets now to start planning your trip to visit Woody and the gang!
Related: Planning a Day at Disney's Hollywood Studios? Here's What You Need to Know About This Popular Park
Hoppy planning!
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