This is Why We Love Disney's Toy Story Land

[x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 45px 0px 45px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/4″ style=”padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 1px; “][x_text class=”center-text “]Photo credit: D. Gans for VRAI Magazine[/x_text][/x_column][x_column bg_color=”” type=”3/4″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text]With the opening of the Toy Story 4 movie this weekend, it only seemed appropriate to kick off our Disney World Tips and Travel series by highlighting Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida. While it’s been almost a year now since opening at the end of June in 2018, this new land within Hollywood Studios remains extremely popular. Its family-friendly Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster always has extremely long wait times and securing a FastPass+ ticket can be a challenge since everyone wants to ride it.

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During our recent trip to Disney World this past April, the only way I was able to ride Slinky Dog Dash was by doing a rope drop. Now if you’re not familiar with the rope drop process, then watch our “rope drop” video. Aside from Slinky Dog Dash, there are two other rides within Toy Story Land: Alien Swirling Saucers and Toy Story Mania which I’ll get to in a bit. But for now, let’s talk about what makes this area very popular.

If you’ve seen the charming Toy Story movie series, then it’s an easy one to explain. But if not, imagine being shrunk down to the size of a toy and finding yourself in Andy’s backyard in an amusement park created by Andy (Andy is the “child star” in the movie series). The toys are the star of this land and Andy’s vivid imagination is what brings this all together. The entire land is vibrant and colorful. You’ll find nostalgia around every corner with toys that we all played with as kids. And don’t worry, there’s a nostalgic toy for everyone of all ages. The details and theming, what Disney is a pro at doing, are everywhere. Once you get past the giant Woody statue that welcomes you at the entrance, see the roller coaster with Slinky Dog racing around, start looking everywhere else at all the small details. There’s something bound to captivate and remind you of childhood.

Now back to the three rides in this land. For most people who love roller coasters, Slinky Dog Dash is a winner with its smooth ride and two launches, not to mention the fact that there’s a giant dog head at the front and a springy tail behind the last coaster car. For me, someone who’s not a roller coaster fan at all, I gave it a chance and rode it just for the experience. You’ll see it all in our Toy Story Land video. While it goes by fast, the second launch and the familiar song at the end give it that something extra. If you don’t have a FastPass+ ticket and don’t do rope drop, then expect to be standing in a long queue well over an hour depending on day and time of year. There are umbrellas in the line area outside of the main attraction space, but bring along that hat and sunscreen just to be safe–finding shade is the one issue in this land.

The next ride I experienced was Toy Story Mania. While this ride isn’t new, it’s actually been around for several years, I still knew very little about it and had no expectations for this ride; it completely took me by surprise. It began with the theming throughout the queue, the giant Etch A Sketch and the always entertaining animatronic of Mr. Potato Head was just so much fun. Once you get into the actual ride car, you’re paired off into your seats (vehicles hold four people in total, back-to-back) and then you’re off in a 3D shooting arcade . The ride is extensive, it moves you through various screens and stages and you’re engaged throughout as you try to get the highest shooting score–this is definitely one for every competitive soul out there. And then once over, you walk through a long outdoor and lush exit themed with so many “Instagrammable” moments. Don’t forget to look up along the way–monkeys, that’s all I’m going to say. This ride was so much fun that we had to ride it twice.

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The final ride in this land is Alien Swirling Saucers. While I was looking forward to this ride the most, it was actually the most disappointing in my opinion. The ride is relatively quick and the basics are that your saucer is pulled by the three-eyed alien driver and you gently whip around in various figure eight configurations. Watch our video and see exactly what I mean. This ride is one where I personally wouldn’t wait more than 15 minutes at the most in line. It’s cute with the alien characters, the giant claw and the music, but that’s about it.

When hunger call while in Toy Story Land, then head on over to Woody’s Lunch Box. I had the chance to experience this extremely creative setting for breakfast. The food was fine, but what stood out for me was the entire setting of a giant lunch box turned on its side, held open with a giant thermos and used as a venue to serve quick service meals. Genius!

Experiencing Toy Story Land by day is wonderful, but coming back after the sun sets and when the lights strung all throughout the land are all turned on, Toy Story Land simply becomes magical. It’s definitely worth experiencing at night to get a different perspective so make sure you save time to go back and see it again.

While Toy Story Mania is my favorite ride in this land, at the end of the day, it’s the creativity and the immersion into the movie story. It’s the toys and items from childhood that surround you at every turn–the giant “Cootie”, Elmer’s Glue bottle, the green army men marching around, the colorful Tinkertoys erected throughout the land, and Jenga blocks towering amidst the tracks of Slinky Dog Dash–there is just so much to see and delight visitors of all ages.

For your next trip to Disney World and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, definitely add this land to your list of must-see/do attractions. It’s a great land for the entire family! And besides, it will be right next to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge when that new land opens at the end of August 2019.

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