The weird thing about living in Orlando is it’s actually pretty easy to miss the big events unless they fall on my regular days off. Saturdays are my Mondays, so unless I go out of my way to take the day off, I’m usually at work. I didn’t get to see Pandora until it had been open almost a month, because I was so busy at the time, but I was determined not to let that happen with Toy Story Land. As soon as they announced the official opening, I circled the date on my calendar and put in my request.
The night before I packed my camera with both lens, a couple of fuel rods, and everything else I might need to sit for a few hours, waiting for the park to open. I put Duffy in his Sherriff Woody outfit, and Gelantoni in the Buzz Lightyear outfit. It was a little too big since he’s smaller than Duffy, but he’s adorable anyway.
I had my alarm set ridiculously early, because I remember the night of the first Villains Unleashed in 2013, when I sat in traffic for two hours, and never made it to the park. I still overslept a little and left the house later than planned. I was passing the exit for Disney Springs when Jay called me, saying the park was already open, according to social media. I was shocked, but I arrived to find out he was right. I rolled straight through bag check and into the park. I headed behind the Chinese Theater to find the line for Slinky Dog Dash already reaching the front of the land. I kept going. I actually had no intention of riding the rides. All I wanted were pictures!
I found the restrooms, and pulled my camera out to take pictures of the Scrabble tiles. My lens instantly fogged up with the humidity, and then my viewfinder too. By the time I got the viewfinder clear, the lens had fogged up again. Oh boy.
I made my way around taking pictures of everything. Toy Story Land is absolutely gorgeous, and there are so many clever hidden details. Andy’s footprints have already been all over the internet since media day, but the benches are made of Popsicle sticks and dominoes, and everything is constructed out of blocks. The whole concept of Toy Story Land is that you’re in Andy’s Backyard, and everything there is something that Andy made.
I went to the front of Slinky Dog Dash to take pictures of the entrance. I’ll get pictures of the queue someday, when it’s not a three hour wait.
I love going to the parks anytime, and I don’t mind going by myself. It’s fun. I do not love trying to juggle a camera and a bear at the same time, with only two hands. I was struggling to get a picture of Duffy in front of Slinky, and a custodial worker named Erin came swooping to my rescue.
There were Photopass Photographers spread throughout Toy Story Land, but the spots they were in didn’t make a ton of sense to me and the way they were doing the lines seemed random. They would randomly cut the lines off, and there was no word on when they’d be back. I’m used to this with characters, but I’ve never seen it done with strictly Photopass. They also weren’t in what I felt what was the best photo opportunity in Toy Story Land (in front of the new Toy Story Midway Mania queue), but they were taking photos in front of the line for Slinky Dog Dash. So, you could get this beautiful coaster, with a ton of people in the photo, between you and it. Oh well. I’m sure they’ll get the kinks worked out.
I went over to the big statue of Buzz Lightyear by Alien Swirling Saucers, and couldn’t even hold Gelatoni far enough away, to get him in focus for some reason. I spent about fifteen minutes trying to find someone friendly enough to help me, but none of the guests around me would even make eye contact. I finally caught a coordinator who was on his way somewhere, and got him to stop a minute, to hold Gelatoni for me. He offered to take a picture of me with Gelatoni, and I explained, “No, I just want the cat and the statue.” He was nice, but very confused. After I got my photo, a Cast Member walked up to him. As I walked away, I heard her tell him, “I’m so glad that was the first thing I saw today.”
I made my way back to the Slinky Dog Dash entrance for a few more pictures. I don’t think Duffy and Gelatoni are quite tall enough to ride!
I wandered a bit more and looked at the merchandise carts. I love the detail on them; I think they’re brilliant. Then I stood in line for a photo with the Toy Story Land sign, for a good half hour, which I didn’t really mind. I got to see the Green Army Men Corp walk by with their drums, and I counted at least three service puppies going by.
After my Toy Story Land sign photo, I took one more pass through the land, with my big lens instead of the I had been using, for some better detail in the shots. It was just getting more and more crowded, and I knew that my photo adventures would get less fun as the day went on. I headed out, with a quick stop for the Toy Story Land frame. I got really good at taking photo frame pictures with Duffy at Animal Kingdom’s 20th Anniversary, but it’s a little harder with two of them!
The line for Slinky Dog Dash now reached the Chinese Theater, and they were beginning to limit access to Toy Story Land at all, in controlled waves. I went to scope the line to meet Buzz and Woody, since I already had Duffy and Gelatoni in the right outfits, but it was an hour, and I decided to pass.
I made a stop at Villains in Vogue to check out the merchandise, and then headed out. It wasn’t even noon yet, but I had done everything I needed to do! I’m a little sad there weren’t opening day buttons, but I’ll get over it.
I think Toy Story Land is something Hollywood Studios desperately needed. It’s a fun, happy land that’s going to be great for the whole family. It’s cute and bright and colorful, which are not words I would usually associate with Hollywood Studios. I love how everything is put together.
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I’m really excited for the retheming of Toy Story Midway Mania, and how it’s incorporated in the land. Supposedly they’re going to be getting rid of the original entrance, and I’m curious if they’re going to relocate the character spot for Buzz and Woody somewhere else.
Some Toy Story Land Fun Facts:
- The idea behind the new retheming of Toy Story Midway Mania queue is that Andy used the box in order to make a house for the game.
- Alien Swirling Saucers is a toy set Andy won from Pizza Planet. It is the same type of ride as Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree in California Adventure.
- Woody’s Lunch Box is actually Andy’s lunch box and thermos. He then set it up as a food spot for the toys.
- If you look closely at the Buzz Lightyear box on top of Alien Swirling Saucers while you’re on Slinky Dog Dash, you’ll see the information for Buzz listed on the back!
- Also, from the top of Slinky Dog Dash, you’ll have a great view of Galaxy’s Edge. Sit on the right side for the best look!
- Slinky Dog Dash is one of two entirely outdoor roller coasters at Walt Disney World. The other one is the Barnstormer. (Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Expedition Everest, and Big Thunder Mountain all have indoor portions.)
- Slinky Dog Dash has a photo on it, but you must be wearing an active Magic Band to receive the photo, like on Pirates of the Caribbean and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
- This is actually the FOURTH Toy Story Land that Disney has built. The original is in Walt Disney Studios in France. Hong Kong’s debuted in 2011, and Disneyland Shanghai’s opened earlier this year.
- There is a hidden Rapunzel reference! The sun emblem from Tangled can be seen on some of the blocks in the Land.
- Slinky’s tail on Slinky Dog Dash moves and if you sit in the back seat you can hear it!
What part of Toy Story Land are the most excited about?
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