Fans have been *patiently* waiting since the announcement at the 2015 D23 Expo. On June 30th, 2018 Toy Story Land became a reality as Guests were welcomed into Andy’s backyard! As the new hot spot in Disney World, the crowds can be massive at times. So how do you manage to wrangle the kids while still having fun? I’ve got the Toy Story Land tips you need to survive!
*Disclosure: Disney World hosted my as part of the Toy Story Land Media Preview. I received complimentary tickets, hotel stay and media access to select events. All opinions are 100% my own.
Since the beginning, Toy Story has been part of our family. Sitting in the Hall D23 in 2015 I was giddy with excitement at the announcement of Toy Story Land. The artist renderings were incredible, but let me tell you the actual land is more than I expected. The Imagineers did a stellar job at bringing to life the movie franchise we love.
Everything You Want to Know About Toy Story Land
The 11 acre land includes the crowd favorite, Toy Story Mania along with two new highly anticipated rides – Alien Swirling Saucers and Slinky Dog Dash. With only two new rides, expect the wait times to be ridiculously long. Fastpass+ is going to be your best friend. You’ll want to take advantage of that 60 day booking window for onsite Guests!
Toy Story Land Fastpass strategy
Deciding the best way to use fastpasses for Toy Story Land can be challenging with all three rides being first tier and you’re only allowed to schedule one from that tier. This is where you’ll have to strategize to make the most of your FP+.
First Toy Story Land plan of action
- Schedule your one fastpass for Slinky Dog Dash
- Rope Drop Alien Swirling Saucer
- Hit Toy Story Mania after riding Alien Swirling Saucer
Optional Toy Story Land plan of action
- Schedule a Fastpass for Slinky Dog Dash
- Schedule a Fastpass for Alien Swirling Saucer for a different day
- Rope drop Toy Story Mania on either day
Pack for the heat
While there are a few umbrellas set up around, Toy Story Land overall has very little shade. Keep that in mind when packing your park bag. Here are a few of my favorite items to have in my Disney bag.
- Cooling towels
- Misters
- Hand held fans
- Sunblock
Dining Options – Woody’s Lunch Box
Woody’s Lunch Box is the only eatery in Toy Story Land, but it’s a good one. I’ve had a few of the menu items and they didn’t disappoint. The BBQ brisket melt is mouthwatering, especially when dipped into the tomato basil soup. And the chocolate-hazelnut poptart – Oh Em Gee! If you’re not a fan of bacon and chocolate, trust me when I say you won’t notice it. This is just a handheld bunch of deliciousness.
Now the bad – The picky kid options are lacking. My tweens wouldn’t eat anything at Woody’s Lunch Box, so make sure to check the menu before heading to Toy Story Land. I’d hate for you to get there and be disappointed with the lack of chicken nuggets.
Take pictures at the Toy Story Land Instagram walls
- Andy’s Wall
- Block Wall
- Checkerboard Wall
- Popsicle Wall
These are 4 Instagram walls in Toy Story Land.
Andy’s Wall is by far the easiest to find as it’s located at the very end of Toy Story Land past Alien Swirling Saucers. You past the block restrooms that is home to the Block Wall heading to Andy’s Wall, but it’s a little bit more hidden. It’s located on the left in between the men’s and women’s bathrooms.
The last two are not visible when in Toy Story Land. Checkerboard Wall and the Popsicle Wall are opposite of each other at the exit queue of Toy Story Mania.
Bonus Toy Story Land Walls – Toy Story Mania Wall and Alien Swirling Saucer Wall
Ok, so these haven’t hit the big time, but I think they are cute and fun. When walking in the Fastpass queue for Toy Story Mania there are 2 walls that are attached to each other. They feature the Toy Story gang playing the carnival games just like the ones in the ride.
There is also a few good ones inside Alien Swirling Saucers queue, but we didn’t get to that section during our time there.
Keep a look out for your favorite Toy Story characters
The famous Toy Story trio, Woody, Jessie and Buzz can be found in Toy Story Land. Their permanent meet & greet locations were undetermined at the writing of this post. But since Toy Story Land is fairly compact it isn’t hard to spot them when they are out meeting Guests.
What to expect from Slinky Dog Dash
This isn’t your average roller coaster. It’s not as jerky as some of the other Disney coasters, but still filled with thrills. The front and back see more of the action, while in my opinion the middle is calmer. It’s definitely a family friendly coaster, but if you have a non-coaster kid like I do this still may not be the one for them. My son took a chance and tried it, but from the first take off he was ready to get off.
OneMomsMess Tip: At the end listen to Wheezy and see if you hear a squeak or two.
How did Alien Swirling Saucers stack up
Before Toy Story Land was open we heard over and over again that Alien Swirling Saucers was just like Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree in Disney’s California Adventure. As former Disneyland regulars this excited us as we loved Mater!
OneMomsMess Tip: See how many pizza references you can find throughout the ride. I totally missed this theme the first time I rode it!
Well I’m here to tell you that while the ride is similar, it’s not the exact same. The big difference, besides the theming, is that the seats are much larger. This is great for those traveling with a party of 3 or pooh sized Guests. But it adds a whole new aspect to the ride as you’re slippin and slidin on the seat with each twist and turn. My son loved it and full on belly laughed each time we whipped around, but he was a little nervous as he kept slipping side to side.
Did they change Toy Story Mania
They relocated the entrance to inside Toy Story Land and added more of a carnival theme, but it’s still the same ride we all have grown to love.
The Fastpass queue is amazing and has so much to look at while your standing in line. My favorite part was the Peter Pan Viewmaster reel. It’s awesome!
Green Army Men Steal the Show
In full recruitment mode, the Green Army Men are scouting out the best toy soldiers around the land. From jumping through hoops to catching balls while spinning, they will put you to the test to make sure you can do the job!
The Green Army Men are down right spectacular. Showing off their musical talents, marching through the crowds, and recruiting worthy toys they are the ones to watch.
While the rides are a ton of fun and definitely should be at the top of your Must Dos – take time to wander around and take in all the little details of Toy Story Land. The Disney Imagineers outdid themselves on the details.
Toy Story Land is a fantastic addition to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and it is epic to see the joy light up the faces of both adults and kids alike.
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