Kids are going to love Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida.
The Hollywood Studios themed area has been designed to resemble Andy’s backyard. As you enter, you become one of the toys – the same size as a tiny green army man. Watch out for those, by the way, the cheeky green men can cause havoc around the land.
Toy Story World opened to the public on 30 June 2018. Family Travel entered the park for a media preview the day before opening.
And we loved what we saw.
The highlight of the park is the Slinky Dog Dash rollercoaster. Andy built the rollercoaster and placed Slinky Dog on top. The ride takes two minutes and covers rollers, twists, turns and hills. It is suitable for children but it has a few little surprises that will get your stomach moving.
About halfway through there’s a pause. Slinky is catching his breath, just waiting for the next acceleration. From the highest point you can see many of the other Hollywood Studios attractions including Tower of Terror and the construction of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge due to open in 2019. As the rollercoaster pulls into the station you’ll find Wheezing giving his best performance of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”.
A huge Buzz Lightyear looms over the Swirling Saucers Ride and his old box is visible on the top of the building. The Saucers ride is a gentle circling ride the little ones will love. It’s actually a game Andy won at Pizza Planet that has come to life in his backyard. Hop onto an alien saucer and spin around and around and around.
Toy Story saucers ride from Alison Godfrey on Vimeo.
Competitive families will love the Toy Story Mania ride, which was part of Hollywood Studios prior the opening of Toy Story Land, but has been given a new fun entrance. In the game, set inside the house, under Andy’s bed, participants enter a 3D world in swirling carriages. Each participant has a paint gun and gets to shoot down targets worth differing values. Watch out as the balloons swoosh towards your head. At the end of the ride, you find out which player on the ride scored the highest total. So far this month the top score is more than 500,000 points. Our best was 94,000.
What’s really lovely about this family-friendly park, just as it is with all the Disney attractions, is the attention to detail.
Huge footprints have been baked into the footpath and the Disney Imagineers have even worn cracks into the concrete to give the yard an aged look.
The benches are made from sucked paddle-pop sticks and the fences are made from connecting straws. Toys, pencils and games lay strewn around. Rex the Dinosaur can be seen teetering on a pile of Jenga Blocks. The food outlet is actually a tipped over lunch box and one wall near Toy Story Mania is a checkers board.
Toy Story Land is accessible. Wheelchair parking is provided and assistance is available on and off rides.
The Green Army Men are incredibly funny to watch. Take a look at this video and try not to laugh.
The park is expected to be incredibly busy shortly after opening. Regardless of the crowds, this is one magical experience you don’t want to miss. Maybe Andy grew out of his toys, but kids and grown-ups alike will love the exciting rides, funny characters and immersive attention to detail in Disney’s latest attraction.
Read more about Walt Disney World Orlando in these stories:
Flight of Passage is the best ride ever
Magic Kingdom will have your family enchanted
Travel allows you to get outside your bubble. It makes you realise there are other ways to do things, and that’s OK. Plus, I am a huge fan of skiing and for the best powder – you need to head overseas.