ALIEN SWIRLING SAUCERS

Have yourself some Pizza Planet themed fun on the ALIEN SWIRLING SAUCERS ride within the Toy Story Land area of Walt Disney World Resort's Hollywood Studios theme park. This swirl-and-whirl ride revolves around the quirky aliens that originally called the claw game machine in the arcade at Pizza Planet restaurant home before joining up with Buzz Lightyear, Woody and the rest of Andy's collection of toys in the Toy Story movies.  Jump in a toy rocket ship piloted by one of those three-eyed green aliens for a fun spin.



On your way over to ALIEN SWIRLING SAUCERS, take a moment to get a picture with the giant Buzz Lightyear action figure standing on a pile of building blocks that is watching over the ride's entrance.  It makes a great backdrop for photos! Then make your way into the ride queue by passing between two robot guards that look just like the ones portrayed flanking the restaurant entrance to Pizza Planet in the original Toy Story movie.

Take some time to enjoy the details of the scenery while going through the ride queue area.  Look around and you may see army men 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 while visiting this area of Hollywood Studios. The layout is meant to make you feel like you are a toy's height surrounded by other playthings that are your size like army men, building blocks and popular characters from the Toy Story movies.  Be on guard because it looks like Andy just dropped his toy ray gun and could be stomping by again soon!

As you approach the ALIEN SWIRLING SAUCERS the queue area has the vibe of being inside Star Command.  You'll feel like you are in the Buzz Lightyear aisle at Al's Toy Barn.  Your surroundings aren't just decorative either.  Push buttons, turn dials, and toggle switches to activate audio and visual special effects while waiting your turn to ride a swirling saucer.

Eventually you will be directed to one of two ride spaces.  Each of the two spaces has 11 "flying saucers" though it is important to note this ride is more like the Magic Kingdom's Tea Cups ride then Dumbo … the rocket ships never actually lift off the ground.  Each saucer holds 1 to 3 riders along with your Toy Story Land alien pilot. There are a total of 22 saucers that can be swirling around at the same time between the two launch spaces.

If you plan on waiting for someone to get off the ride be aware there are a number of possible exit points depending on which ride space someone ends up in and where a saucer comes to rest after its flight.  So it is important to keep an eye out on multiple exit points.  Fortunately there is an accessible public viewing area between the two spots providing a nice vantage point to keep an eye on riders while they being swirled around as well as to see where they get off.

With “The Claw” dangling overhead, climb aboard a rocket ship and hover in Pizza Planet’s version of “deep-dish space” for an out-of-this-world saucer whirl to a techno beat version of the Toy Story  movies musical theme. People don't have any control of the speed or direction of their saucers, so just sit back and enjoy the ride.  In comparison to other Disney World attractions, ALIEN SWIRLING SAUCERS could be described as a mild version of the Tea Cups since riders can't increase the velocity of their spinning beyond preset limits.

 It is an enjoyable ride that will get your adrenalin raised but won't stir up your stomach too much. I rode ALIEN SWIRLING SAUCERS six times with my kids and three times by myself during the Toy Story Land grand opening festivities.  It was a blast and from my children's enjoyment of the experience as well as all the fun I had, ALIEN SWIRLING SAUCERS has earned A Geek Daddy nod of approval.

Taking a spin on ALIEN SWIRLING SAUCERS shouldn't be a big deal for most people as long as someone doesn't have severe back or heart problems, isn't pregnant, doesn't easily suffer from motion sickness, and is over the 32 inch height requirement.  It is not going to send you to infinity and beyond but WHOO-WEE you'll have a good time riding it! If you get the chance, take a whirl at night when the ride is lit up like the rave party bathtub scene from the Pixar Toy Story Toons short film "Partysaurus Rex."

TOY STORY LAND

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!

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

SLINKY DOG DASH

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!

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!

BACKYARD GUIDE

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

ANDY'S FOOTPRINTS

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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