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."
