Wednesday, July 11, 2018

TOY STORY LAND

Woody Statue

It was an amazing experience to be able to participate in the grand opening festivities for Toy Story Land at Walt Disney Word Resort's Hollywood Studios theme park.  A Geek Daddy received a behind-the-scenes tour, attended an on-site media gala, witnessed the official unveiling ceremony of Toy Story Land, and my children had a chance to be some of the first kids to ride the rides during a special preview event. From my impressions of Toy Story Land, I'm sure it is going to be delighting a lot of kids and kids-at-heart who stop by to play in Andy's backyard.



Disney Imagineers have designed the space so that people feel like they've stepped into the backyard of the boy whose collection of playthings are the main characters in the Toy Story movies.  You're not walking into Andy's backyard as an ordinary person though, but rather are taking on the role of an "honorary toy."  The surroundings have been shaped specifically to make visitors feel as if they are toy-size themselves.  Walk through a barrel of monkeys to have the best playtime ever!

Barrel of Monkeys


Inside Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World Resort's Hollywood Studios theme park see the world from a toy's perspective.  Walk among a balsa wood airplane, building blocks, board game pieces, and K'nex creations that are your size.  There are lamp posts shaped like Tinkertoys, benches built from Lincoln Logs, and signs that look they are written in crayon on pieces of paper and taped up. While walking around meet up with costumed characters from the Toy Story movies including Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and Woody to get an autograph, hug or photograph with them.

Restrooms


Green Army Men are everywhere in Toy Story Land.  While Andy's away the toys will play. Costumed toy soldiers interact with guests as they wander around on patrol.  Be prepared to be challenged to participate in some of Sarge's interactive bootcamp challenges. Ten-hut!

army men


You'll also notice army men situated on the lookout throughout Toy Story Land. They are keeping guard to make sure no human interlopers discover that toys come alive when people aren't looking.  Remember … you are an honorary toy playing in Andy's backyard after all.  Disney is striving to immerse their guests into the whimsical world of a child's imagination when visiting Toy Story Land.

Disney World

Three rides are incorporated into Toy Story Land that are sure to provide a rootin' tootin' good time! Alien Swirling Saucers, Slinky Dog Dash and Toy Story Mania provide a good mix of rides that is sure to be appealing to families for being entertaining but not too intense so everyone from young children to teens to grandma and grandpa can have fun enjoying them.

ALIEN SWIRLING SAUCERS
Disney World Rides

Who wants to take a spin on a flying saucer? The green three-eyed aliens from Toy Story have powered up their rocket ships and want to take you for a whirl! Based upon a playset Andy won at the Pizza Planet restaurant, an alien will swirl around piloting a spacecraft with you in tow while “The Claw” hangs overhead. There are two riding space areas with 11 saucer/rocket-ship pairings in each to spin riders through a multi-colored galaxy accompanied by a raucous, energetic musical beat.

Alien Swirling Saucers



SLINKY DOG DASH
roller coaster

From his Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster Kit, Andy has assembled this roller coaster. Its tracks and supports are bright colors of red, orange, yellow and blue snapped together according to Andy’s hand-drawn plans. Rex and Jessie helped by stringing lights above Andy’s stacked Jenga game pieces. To complete his creation, Andy picked everyone’s favorite floppy-eared dachshund with a stretching coil body – Slinky Dog – and dropped it onto the coaster track to use as the roller coaster vehicle instead of the one that came with the kit.

Slinky Dog Dash is inspired by the delightful pooch spinoff of Slinky, the classic 1940s American toy. While racing around the track, Slinky Dog bends and twists his coils around curves, over hills and down drops in the Slinkyest coaster ever.  In a first for a Disney coaster, there is a second launch at the midpoint of Slinky Dog Dash that has riders experience cool sound effects and spinning lights while darting through a series of rings on their way to the attraction’s finale featuring a serenade by Wheezy, the squeaky penguin from the Toy Story films.



TOY STORY MANIA!
Disney World

Already one of the most popular attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Toy Story Mania has received a colorful all-new entrance within the interior of Toy Story Land. The new entrance is actually the box Andy’s Toy Story Mania! game came in. A third track has been added to the attraction so even more guests can experience the carnival playset action, using virtual objects from baseballs to cream pies to hit targets in a variety of whimsical, fast-paced scenarios. To the highest scorer go the bragging rights!

Hollywood Studios

BACKYARD GUIDE


Here are a few things to look out for while exploring Toy Story Land:

ANDY'S FOOTPRINTS

toy story land

The little boy whose toys you are playing with may not be around at the moment, but he's left his mark on the backyard.  Keep an eye out and you may just come across one of his sneaker prints on the ground. What size shoe do you think this is?

TOY STORY MANIA EXIT PATH

While leaving the Toy Story Mania ride take a good look around the outdoor path that leads back to the main Toy Story Land concourse.  You'll find some of the best examples of Disney Imagineering within Toy Story Land here.  The balsa wood plane is incredible to see up close!

balsa wood plane


REST ROOMS

Sometimes rest rooms can be hard to come across at an amusement park.  Not the case in Toy Story Land which has its own dedicated spacious rest room area. Look for the Cootie on the roof to find your way to them and the building blocks which spell out boys and girls to know which way to go.

bathrooms


SOUVENIRS

Keep an eye out for a toy camper and toy dump truck that serve as gift stands within Toy Story Land. Some of the items they sell include Slinky Dog headbands and small scale replica toys of the Alien Swirling Saucer vehicles which were my kids favorite souvenirs from this trip to Walt Disney World.  There is also a Buzz Lightyear shaped bubble blower that lights up so that the bubbles glow in the dark.

hollywood studios


SNACKS

Get quick service take-out meals from a food counter built into a vintage Woody themed lunch box that is propped open with a giant thermos. I'll give A Geek Daddy nod of approval to the BBQ Brisket Melt which features Texas-style smoked brisket garnished with cheddar, Monterey Jack, pickles, BBQ sauce on a garlic butter-grilled sourdough. For picky eater kids Woody's Lunchbox has a menu with grilled cheese or turkey sandwiches, both come with potato barrels and mandarin oranges. When it comes to beverages you can get a classic Barq's root beer float or a Mystic Portal Punch (PowerAde Mountain Berry Blast with flavors of lemon-lime and tangerine) as well as standard soda fountain drinks or water. For those 21+, there’s a Grown Up’s Lemonade with cherry vodka, Odwalla Lemonade, and black cherry purée available there too. Disney Dining Plan is accepted here.

woodys lunchbox


AFTER DARK

During the evening, Toy Story Land is aglow with color and music that gives the place a PARTYSAURUS REX vibe.  This place is fun to play at day or night!

toy story land


You  will have a ball at Toy Story Land!!!

toy story land

18 comments:

  1. This is such a perfect place to make fun with my kids. Very beautiful and enjoyable place, kids will surely love that place

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  2. That sounds like a fabulous trip! Have to admit I'm jealous :) I look forward to visiting Toy Story Land the next time I'm at WDW. I went in January this year so that may not be for a few more years, though.

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  3. A great place to visit with the kids. Tons of exciting and fun things to do for kids and adults alike.

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  4. That looks super fun! Hopefully we can check it out next time we head that way :)

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  5. I wasn't aware there were so many attractions! I think this is definitely an area in Disney that the kids will enjoy so much! Especially since Toy Story is such a hit with the kids.

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  6. Toy Story Land is indeed the stuff that childhood dreams are made of. What an immersive experience for kids and adults alike in the wonderful imaginary world of Disney.

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  7. Toy Story Land looks absolutely amazing!! I'm on the other coast so we usually go to Disneyland, but we're planning a trip to WDW- partly because of Toy Story Land!

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  8. We took a break from visiting Disney World because I am have waiting for new attractions like Toy Story land to open so it's on for us to take a trip! Love all your photos. The pixar ball is the best I think!!

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  9. I love Toy Story, so visiting Toy Story Land would be such an incredible experience. It's so bright and colorful!

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  10. I have to say, this is one of the best thematic installations Disney has done! They're so good with attention to detail.

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  11. This park looks so amazing! I loved the Toy Story movies when they first came out.

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  12. I haven't been to WDW in several years. This is one reason I want to get back asap, because our family loves Toy Story!!

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  13. I haven't been to Disney in such a long time! I think it's awesome that they have Toy Story attractions, it's one of the best movies I've seen from them and I just love the story.

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  14. That looks like so much fun. My daughters would love it there. We love Toy Story! I hope to see that someday!

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  15. I am such a Disney fan so I've been dying over the opening of Toy Story Land! I want to visit it so badly! I love all of the amazing Imagineering details . . . I can't wait to take a photo with the popsicle stick bench.

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  16. I am so envious right now. Both of my boys love Toy Story. I can't even show them this because they will want to jump in the car right now and go!

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  17. I've never been to Disney, but I think I would be more excited for Toy Story Land then they would be. I actually have a friend who just landed a job in Toy Story Land, which is pretty much a dream job if you ask me. Now I want to go!

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  18. I can't wait to check out Toy Story Land, sometimes I wish I lived in Florida just so I could go to Disney all the time! I bet the food is amazing!

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