SLINKY DOG DASH

Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World Resort lets guests at its Hollywood Studios theme park have a wonderful playtime pretending they are toys.  The area themed after the popular PIXAR animated movies is decorated by Disney Imagineers so that people feel like they are toy-sized and walking through the backyard of the boy whose collection of playthings are the main characters in the Toy Story films.  A highlight of Toy Story Land is its roller coaster that features one of those toys from the movies as the star of the attraction … SLINKY DOG.

Slinky Dog Dash is a roller coaster playset that you as an honorary toy can ride when visiting Andy's backyard. It was assembled by Andy from his Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster Kit with one big alteration. He 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. Remember, you are toy-sized and immersed among Andy's playthings while visiting Toy Story Land.

A Geek Daddy had the chance to ride Slinky Dog Dash during the Toy Story Land grand opening festivities and can say it is a very impressive ride.  Slinky Dog Dash is Disney World's first double launch roller coaster that incorporates a power booster so riders are shot off twice at different points on the track. When your Slinky Dog hits the midway point of the ride, the coaster stops, reverses a few yards, then shoots through multiple rings pulsing with sounds, spinners and flashing lights as it launches riders into the second act of the ride experience.



One of the really fun details about the ride is when approaching the boarding area you will notice Andy’s construction plans sketched out in Crayola crayon on notebook paper hung up to see. Glue bottles, empty toy boxes and stray coaster parts and pieces are also strewn all about the queue area. There are lots of great elements like these sprinkled all throughout Toy Story Land that are really exciting and entertaining to discover. Plus these touches help you feel as if you are a Toy Story toy yourself while exploring Andy's backyard.

My 9 year old twins were so excited to be some of the first kids to be able to ride the Slinky Dog Dash during a special pre-opening event.  They LOVED it !!!!  In fact, both of them agreed that this roller coaster is now their favorite ride at Disney World. High praise indeed! Especially from kids who really aren't much of roller coaster enthusiasts.

While the speed and swoops of Slinky Dog Dash will absolutely get some butterflies fluttering in your stomach it isn't a scary ride at all.  The Slinky Dog theme provides a light hearted, unintimidating vibe to the roller coaster. Most people who meet the ride's 38 inch height requirement should have a good time on it.

With that in mind,  Slinky Dog Dash has earned A Geek Daddy nod of approval because it is an excellent ride for parents and children to enjoy together for some family fun.  My wife and I took a ride on Slinky Dog Dash with our kids and everyone was all smiles throughout it.  That may have been the most memorable family moment of this Walt Disney World Resort trip.

As you are soaring around the track, keep an eye out for Toy Story details surrounding the roller coaster.  For example, Andy built the Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster Kit around his Jenga game set. As the coaster swoops around, you'll notice Rex, the toy dinosaur, is precariously perched atop the unstable Jenga stack. He is trying to decorate a toy block city Andy also within the roller coaster's course by stringing up colored Christmas lights. A daunting task when you’re a dinosaur with short front arms but fortunately you will also see Jessie comes to his rescue helping to untangle and set up the lighting. By the way these lights actually illuminate Slinky Dog Dash at night and it is an impressive experience to ride the roller coaster when it is aglow in the dark.

Andy has also placed a special treat for his coaster’s finale. Wheezy, the squeaky toy penguin from the Toy Story films, serenades coaster riders with a rendition of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” This Audio-Animatronics figure of Wheezy created especially for Slinky Dog Dash is unique among all the Disney Parks located around the world. Completing the scene is a backdrop that includes a remote control car box, a Pick-Up Snakes game cannister and toy wooden blocks spelling out F-U-N – along with a towering book, Mr. Pricklepants’ “Songs for Singing,” compiled by the huggable hedgehog from Toy Story 3.

To wrap up, the Slinky Dog Dash at Toy Story Land in my opinion is the ultimate family-friendly roller coaster because it will delight kids + kids-at-heart. It has the speed and twists to be exhilarating yet isn't frightening. One of the smoothest riding roller coasters you'll find anywhere!

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!!!