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Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios brings the beloved Toy Story franchise to life. Guests are shrunk down to the size of a toy to explore Andy’s backyard, which is filled with larger-than-life versions of iconic playthings.
Opened on June 30, 2018, Toy Story Land expanded Disney’s Hollywood Studios with an immersive new 11-acre area to delight families and fans of the franchise. It features characters, attractions, shopping, and dining straight from the beloved Pixar films.
Location, Map, and What’s Included
Toy Story Land is located in the southwest corner of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, next to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Here is a map showing the location of Toy Story Land’s attractions, dining, and shopping.
Toy Story Land includes three main attractions:
There are also character meet-and-greets with Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and Green Army Men.
For dining, Woody’s Lunch Box offers quick-service meals and old-fashioned soda floats. And the all-new Roundup Rodeo BBQ table-service restaurant opened on March 23, 2023.
Shopping is available at Jessie’s Trading Post for Toy Story souvenirs and toys.
History and Development
The idea for Toy Story Lands came after Toy Story Midway Mania! debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2008.
Its popularity led Disney to develop Toy Story-themed lands at other parks worldwide. Toy Story Playland opened at Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris in 2010. And in 2011, Hong Kong Disneyland opened their version. For the Orlando park, Bob Chapek announced plans for Toy Story Land at the 2015 D23 Expo. After three years of construction, Toy Story Land officially opened in the summer of 2018.
Disney Imagineers worked closely with Pixar artists and animators to bring the land to life. Every detail was carefully designed to make guests feel like they have been shrunk down to the size of a toy.
Toy Story Land Rides
Toy Story Land’s rides are designed to be family-friendly and appeal to guests of all ages.
Slinky Dog Dash
Slinky Dog Dash is a family-friendly roller coaster ride located at the entrance of Toy Story Land. The story goes that Andy used his Mega Coaster Play Kit to build a roller coaster for Slinky Dog to zip around his backyard.
The ride features sharp turns, small drops, and speeds up to 40 mph. Its bright color scheme and playful theming make Slinky Dog Dash an exciting experience for thrill-seekers of all ages.
Alien Swirling Saucers
Inspired by the famous Claw and vending machine aliens from Pizza Planet, Alien Swirling Saucers is a spinning ride designed as a toy playset from Pizza Planet. Guests board one of 11 flying saucers while aliens swirl around in their own spacecraft above.
The ride vehicles twist, turn, and spin around the multi-colored track, reaching speeds up to 30 mph. Alien Swirling Saucers is an exciting family ride with appeal for younger kids enamored with the cute green aliens.
Toy Story Mania!
A fan favorite since 2008, Toy Story Mania received an expansion and new entrance as part of Toy Story Land. The interactive 4D attraction allows guests to play classic carnival midway games from inside Andy’s room.
Toy Story Mania combines physical sets and media to create an immersive, screen-based ride. Guests wear 3D glasses aboard spinning vehicles to experience games like ring toss, egg throw, and balloon pop. It’s competitive fun for all ages with no height requirement.
Thematic Design and Immersion
Toy Story Land fully surrounds visitors with the sense they have been shrunk to the size of a toy. Giant building blocks, game boards, dominos, and other playthings litter Andy’s backyard. Landmarks like a giant Woody, towering Jenga tower, and the entrance archway tower over guests.
Everything is oversized from a toy’s perspective, including a giant Pixar ball, building block archway, Scrabble tiles, and even a Bingo roller. Across the land, common household items like Tinkertoys, Christmas lights, and soda caps take on new meaning at a toy’s scale. At night, 1,000 feet of string lights criss-cross overhead like a kid’s bedroom.
The land’s creators aimed to make it feel like a toy playset come to life. The bright, playful colors and fun details around every corner reinforce guests’ imaginations. It creates a truly immersive world based on the Toy Story films.
What Characters Are in Toy Story Land?
Popular Toy Story characters can be met around Toy Story Land
- Woody & Jessie meet guests several times daily near the land’s entrance
- Buzz Lightyear appears for photos across from Toy Story Mania!
- Green Army Men stage interactive boot camp shows and meet kids throughout the land
Kids can join the Green Army Men for their “Sarge Says” interactive boot camp shows. And character dining may be added at Roundup Rodeo BBQ in the future.
Toy Story Land Restaurants
There are two different restaurants in Toy Story Land. One is a quick-service restaurant and another is a recently added sit-down restaurant.
Woody’s Lunch Box
Woody’s Lunch Box is a walk-up Quick Service window serving American comfort food, snacks, and old-fashioned soda floats. The eatery is themed to a vintage Woody-themed lunch box propped open with a Thermos. Menu highlights include grilled cheese sandwiches, totchos, brisket melts, and Mini Babybel snacks.
Families appreciate the variety of lunch and dinner options to refuel before heading back to the rides. And the theming transports guests straight into a page of Andy’s life, making it a fun, innovative dining option for Toy Story fans.
Woody’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Roundup Rodeo BBQ is Toy Story Land’s new table service restaurant, themed to one of Andy’s western playsets. Guests dine among rodeo toys and playsets while enjoying barbecue family-style meals for lunch and dinner. Menu items include smoked brisket, ribs, pulled pork, corn bread, baked beans, and more.
The restaurant’s colorful, toy-filled environment provides a uniquely themed dining experience for families. Between the food and decor, Roundup Rodeo BBQ fully captures the playful spirit of Toy Story Land.
Shopping in Toy Story Land
While small in size, Toy Story Land offers exclusive merchandise for devoted Pixar fans. Jessie’s Trading Post near the exit of Toy Story Mania stocks toys, plushes, apparel, and knick-knacks featuring Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and more. The shop’s playset theming fits right into the land’s toy-come-to-life environment.
Other merchandise carts around the land sell Toy Story toys, souvenirs, and keepsakes. Guests find specialty items like Alien and Little Green Men sippers, Slinky Dog headbands, Lightyear hats, exclusive pins and MagicBands, and much more. For Disney collectors and Toy Story lovers, it’s a toy box full of fun finds!
Guest Experiences and Reviews
Since opening in 2018, Toy Story Land has delighted guests of all ages as a whimsical, toy-filled escape from reality. Fans call it “an incredible experience” that “transports you right into the movie magic.” The land earns praise for family-friendly attractions suitable for small children and nostalgic adults alike.
Many describe Toy Story Land as a vibrant, colorful playground overflowing with childhood innocence and playful theming. Guests enjoy discovering small details that reinforce the imaginative premise. While some note the lack of shade, most agree Toy Story Land is a “must-do” for Disney and Toy Story fans.
Tips and Tricks for Visitors
Here are some tips to make the most of your Toy Story Land visit:
- Arrive early and head straight to Slinky Dog Dash first, when waits are shortest. Slinky Dog Dash is a great ride to use Genie+ on.
- If possible, try to finish Toy Story Land early in the day. Since there’s no shade and the lines can get extremely long, it can be a complete energy drainer if you visit around midday.
- Mobile order meals at Woody’s Lunch Box to avoid long queues during peak lunch and dinner times.
- Look for Hidden Mickeys and fun details like Christmas lights, Scrabble tiles, and toy soldiers throughout the land. Slinky Dog Dash has an incredible amount of detail that we’ll highlight in a future post.
- Meet characters like Buzz and Woody early or late in the day when it’s less crowded.
- Shop for exclusive Toy Story merchandise at Jessie’s Trading Post and other toy-themed carts.
- Come back at night when Toy Story Land transforms with vibrant, colorful lighting. It offers a whole new perspective after dark!
Special Events and Future Plans
Toy Story Land participates in special hard-ticket Disney World events like Disney After Hours. During these limited-capacity evenings, guests can experience quicker ride access and lower crowds in the land.
There are currently no confirmed updates for future expansions or changes coming to Toy Story Land. However, Disney rarely rests on its laurels and is always innovating new attractions and experiences. As the Toy Story franchise remains popular, fans continue speculating what could be next for Andy’s backyard.
Conclusion
With whimsical theming, family-friendly attractions, character interactions, and visual storytelling, Toy Story Land offers a one-of-a-kind Disney experience. It expands upon the nostalgic Toy Story franchise in a creative, immersive way rarely seen at other theme parks. Toy Story Land bottles up childhood imagination through an idealized backyard filled with playtime wonder.
For Disney park guests both young and old, it transports you into the film’s world to interact with Woody, Buzz, and the gang in a whole new adventure. Toy Story Land certainly earns its place among Disney World’s most imaginative, joy-filled lands inviting guests to play big!
FAQs
Toy Story Land is one of the biggest lands across the four parks, so you may still have more questions. Below, we aim to answer anything you may still have a question about.
How do I get to Toy Story Land using Disney transportation?
You can take the Disney Skyliner, bus, or boat transportation from Disney resort hotels. From Epcot and Hollywood Studios, walk or take a Friendship boat.
Does Toy Story Land have parking or drop-off zones?
No, it does not have dedicated parking. You must park at Hollywood Studios and walk or take internal transportation.
Is there disability/wheelchair access to Toy Story Land?
Yes, Toy Story Land was designed to comply with ADA guidelines. All attractions and walkways accommodate wheelchairs and ECV scooters.
What are the height restrictions for Slinky Dog Dash and other rides?
Slinky Dog Dash’s height requirement is 38 inches. Alien Swirling Saucers and Toy Story Mania have no height restrictions.
Do any Toy Story Land rides have safety harnesses or seatbelts?
Yes, Slinky Dog Dash has safety harnesses and seatbelts. The other rides use lap bars and seatbelts for restraint.
Is Toy Story Land suitable for toddlers or infants?
While there are no height requirements, some intense rides may not be suitable for infants. Several play areas cater well to toddlers though.
What are the average wait times for Toy Story Land rides?
Slinky Dog Dash averages 60-90 minutes. Toy Story Mania sees 45-70 minutes. Alien Swirling Saucers is 25-45 minutes usually.
When are wait times shortest for Toy Story Land?
Early morning right at rope drop generally has the lowest waits. Late evenings also see fewer crowds after fireworks/shows let out.
Can I use Genie+ on all Toy Story Land rides?
Yes, all 3 attractions offer Genie+ reservations to skip most of the standby queue.
Will Toy Story Land expand or add more rides in the future?
No confirmed updates, but rumors suggest a Roundup Rodeo spinner ride or a Bo Peep-themed attraction may come someday.
Are there plans for a Toy Story hotel or dining expansion?
Nothing officially announced, but fan speculation includes ideas like a Toy Story-themed resort hotel or a quick-service restaurant.
Does Toy Story Land offer special holiday events?
Yes! In the Christmas season, holiday decor and characters in seasonal outfits appear for festive photo ops.
What limited edition merchandise is only sold in Toy Story Land
Exclusive toys, plushes, MagicBands, pins, apparel, and more are only found in Toy Story Land gift shops.
