Disney Hollywood Studios’ Toy Story Land was created to give kids and adults alike, the opportunity to become a toy for a day. When you step into Toy Story Land in Florida, you step into Andy’s backyard, and become a toy, like Woody, Jessie and Buzz.
History: How Andy’s Backyard Was Created
Before there was the Disney Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge, the park was all about the production of movies. In fact, some movies and tv shows were filmed in sound stages at the park.
The park even featured an onsite animation studio. In fact, Mulan, Lilo and Stitch, and Brother Bear were all created inside the park.
In the past, MGM Studios (now Disney Hollywood Studios,) featured only a few rides, with the main attraction being a backlot tour, which took guests behind the scenes of movie production and sets.
Over time, filming and producing shows, movies, and animated films at the park became too costly and impractical. The backlot tours, and behind the scenes activities became less popular and more difficult to keep up to date and relevant, and Disney needed to make some changes.
Disney desperately needed some family friendly attractions inside of the park, so the Disney Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land was created.
At the time Toy Story Land in Florida was announced, there were previous versions opened, and or underway in other Disney parks across the globe.
What Did Disney Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land Replace?
Prior to Disney Hollywood Studios’ Toy Story Land, the area it now occupies was used for sound stages, staff buildings, and pieces of the original backlot tour.
Over time, the backlot tour became smaller and smaller, occupying minimal space behind the Streets of America. All of these backstage tour areas and sound stages were removed to make way for both Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Toy Story Land.
Click here to see a map of the park on opening day.
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Disney Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land Rides
Disney Hollywood Studios’ Toy Story Land is home to three unique, and very different rides: Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania, and Alien Swirling Saucers.
Slinky Dog Dash
Slinky Dog Dash is easily the most exciting ride inside of Toy Story Land Florida. This coaster is perfect for all ages, as long as you are over 38” tall. This makes it the perfect first coaster for kids.
In Slinky Dog Dash, you hop aboard Slinky himself, and journey through a homemade toy coaster that Andy built in the backyard. The coaster has two launches (both much slower than the one in Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster,) and some mild hills and dips.
Toy Story Mania
Toy Story Mania was the first ride of Disney Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land. In fact, it was opened years before the land come into existence and had access from a different section of the park. Guests now enter the ride through Toy Story Land.
Toy Story Mania is part 3D ride experience, part carnival game. In the ride, you compete with members of your vehicle group for points. You score these points by playing the various virtual carnival style games with the characters of Toy Story. This ride is fun for all ages.
Alien Swirling Saucers
Alien Swirling Saucers is a mild, yet amusing swirling ride. Guests board spaceships piloted by the Toy Story aliens, and spin around.
The cars constantly change tracks, resulting in a thrilling and unexpected pattern.
Dining in Toy Story Land Florida
Disney Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land has a few places to grab a bite to eat. While none of the food offerings inside the land are revolutionary, they do offer food that is delicious, with options for even the picky eaters.
Woody’s Lunch Box
Woody’s Lunch Box is the quick service restaurant in Toy Story Land Florida, serving up American classics. The Lunch Box serves up homemade “pop tarts,” called Lunch Box Tarts.
Additionally, you can order up breakfast bowls of tater tots, eggs, gravy and optional meats. Lunch and dinner options include sandwiches and grilled cheese, and “totchos:” tater tot nachos.
Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Rode Roundup BBQ inside of Disney Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land is the restaurant Andy’s toys would create if they could. Obviously, the restaurant serves up BBQ, and has some fun perks and theming.
The menu set up is a little unusual, but gives you the option to try lots of different foods. First, you’ll get a salad sampler with 3 different salads, then you’ll choose between a platter of meat BBQ or a platter of plant based BBQ, and then pick 4 sides for the table, and one dessert per person.
For the full menu, click here.
Shopping in Andy’s Backyard
Most of the shopping inside of Disney Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land is done with kiosks. There are a couple kiosks scattered about that sell toys, and souvenirs, which change based on the season, and current merch available.
The only store is located at the end of Toy Story Mania: Jessie’s Trading Post. Here, you can purchase Toy Story merch, toys, and outfits.
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Characters at Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land
Toy Story Land Florida has some of the most unique character experiences outside of Galaxy’s Edge. The Green Army Drum Corps parade around Andy’s backyard playing lively drum music while encouraging kids to dance to it.
Woody, Buzz, and Jessie all can be seen here, and are available for pictures and meet and greets.
Nighttime Shows and Fireworks in Disney Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land
There are no nighttime shows or fireworks specifically inside of Toy Story Land Florida, but the land is illuminated at night. All the extra-large Christmas lights strung about the land light up, and Slinky Dog Dash is bright against the night sky.
Nighttime activities inside Toy Story Land are limited to keep the focus on Fantasmic!, the nighttime light, fireworks, water, and character show that takes place well behind the Beauty and the Beast stage.
In the show, you witness a dream of Mickey’s where he battles good and evil. The show features beloved Disney characters and ends with a stunning and immersive battle between Mickey and a dragon.
Strategies for Visiting Disney Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land
The main strategy for visiting Toy Story Land Florida is to arrive at the parks early, and with a plan. Your plan will vary greatly depending on whether you have Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass.
Doing Toy Story Land without Using the Lightning Lane
If you plan to tackle Disney Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land without Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass, we recommend getting up early and utilizing Early Theme Park Entry. If you are staying at a Disney World resort, you’ll be able to enter the park 30 minutes prior to opening.
If you are able to be one of the first people in the park, head directly to Slinky Dog Dash, and ride it first. Then ride Toy Story Mania, and Alien Swirling Saucers.
If you are early enough, you’ll be able to accomplish all of this before the park officially opens. We use this strategy often, and then reward ourselves with breakfast at Woody’s Lunch Box.
If you find yourself a bit behind the crowd during Early Theme Park Entry, we recommend doing Toy Story Mania, and Alien Swirling Saucers first, while the large crowd heads to Slinky.
After accomplishing these with zero wait, then head over to Slinky, once the initial rush is over, but before the park officially opens to avoid those new crowds.
Toy Story Land Florida with Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass
If you do decide to purchase Multi Pass or Single Pass for your day in Disney Hollywood Studios and Toy Story Land, this will change your strategy a bit.
For one thing, you will want to make your first Multi Pass reservation exactly at 7 am. Make this one for Slinky Dog Dash, at the earliest return time you can. (If you need help understanding all things Lightning Lane, click here.)
If you plan to experience attractions outside Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios, we recommend you arrive for Early Entry. Otherwise, arrive at opening and head toward Toy Story Mania. You can ride this a few times if you’d like, and also stop at Jessie’s store on your way out to shop. Then head over to Alien Swirling Saucers.
Hopefully by now, it is time for your Slinky Dog Dash Lightning Lane reservation. If so, join the Lightning Lane. If not, feel free to fill in your time with shopping, dining, or rides in other lands.
Disney Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land Florida Fun Facts
With Disney Hollywood Studios Toy Story Land, Imagineers worked hard to bring a land for toys to life. Inside the land you’ll find a lot of fun details and secrets.
- The large statues of Woody and Buzz will talk if you approach them. To see a video of this in action, check out our Instagram reel.
- The scale of the land was determined by the Green Army Men. All the other toys you see in the land are based on their size relative to a green army man toy, which is also the same size us guests are.
- The Alien Swirling Saucers ride was a toy Andy won at Pizza Planet, that is why it is found in his backyard.
- The set of Toy Story Land is assumed to be the one from the 2nd movie.
- All the benches in the land are made from objects a kid could use to create them: popsicle sticks, dominoes, etc.
- Toy Story Land covers approximately 11 acres.
- There are over 400 toy blocks around the land.
Disney Hollywood Studios’ Toy Story Land is the perfect place to bring kids, or to feel like a kid again. We love stepping inside and becoming a toy. The rides are fun for all ages, and Slinky Dog Dash offers a little thrill paired with humor.
We could spend all day in the land looking at all the details, creativity, and whimsy you would find in a land build for toys, by a child.
