Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (A Resorts Gal Guide)
“There’s a snake in my boot!” Can you hear Woody’s voice as someone pulls his string, and he lets out a programmed statement? You’re sure to hear that phrase and many more when you visit Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This endearing land has become a classic with popular rides, elaborate theming to Andy’s backyard and unique dining options.
This guide will discuss everything you need to know to plan a visit to Toy Story Land. We’ll review attractions, characters, and dining options. So right this way, partners! It’s time for a rootin’ tootin’ shootin’ roundup of everything you need to know about Toy Story Land for your Walt Disney World vacation.
Toy Story Land is truly the most adorable addition to the Disney Parks. The vibrant land features primary colors that pop in the sunshine and glow after nightfall. And I promise, there will be plenty of little green aliens.
You might even see a green army man here or there. Speaking of green army men, Toy Story Land is actually Andy’s backyard. Guests are invited to shrink down to the size of a toy and consider themselves an honorary toy while visiting!
Toy Story Land has two separate entrances. The main entrance is around the corner from Walt Disney Presents and the former Pixar Place. That’s where you’ll run into Woody leaning up against the Toy Story Land sign. A second entrance connects Galaxy’s Edge to Toy Story Land. This entrance is near Alien Swirling Saucers and the restroom area for the land.
As mentioned above, the idea is that you have stepped into Andy’s backyard. You can expect to see classic toys, including a Rubik’s cube, a Tinkertoy set, a Slinky, and more in the backyard. Oh, and there are little green army men everywhere. If it’s not too crowded, you might even notice Andy’s footprint stamped into the concrete. However, while there are many references from the Toy Story movies, there are a few things you won’t find. For instance, there’s no Pizza Planet or Al’s Toy Barn.
Toy Story Land Attractions
The land is home to three attractions: Toy Story Midway Mania, Slinky Dog Dash, and Alien Swirling Saucers. Two restaurants are also available. Woody’s Lunch Box is a quick-service location that opened with the land. A few years later, Roundup Rode BBQ opened, a table service restaurant that requires reservations.
Slinky Dog Dash
Slinky Dog Dash is a fan-favorite roller coaster and headliner attraction. This ride has stolen the hearts of many park-goers with its fun-theming and gentle tickle-your-tummy drops. His little wagging tail and elongated Slinky body are so cute! You might remember that Slinky Dog was one of Andy’s toys in the movies.
Andy has built a track for Slinky in the backyard from a Mega Coaster Play Kit. You’ll probably notice some of the extra pieces lying around the queue. I never anticipated loving this attraction as much as I do. When the concept was first introduced to the parks, I only assumed it would be a gentle kiddie coaster similar to Barnstormer at Magic Kingdom. But the ride quickly became not only a personal favorite but a fan-favorite attraction. It is regularly among the highest wait time attractions at Walt Disney World.
Expect gentle drops and scenic views of the surrounding theme park in the distance. Slinky goes through one section on the right-hand side before pausing in the middle. Then he soars back up the tracks before encountering three small hills back to back. You really can’t help but smile or laugh while riding.
Toward the end, you will encounter Wheezy offering a rendition of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” He even has a Partly Cloudy book providing him with more shade than you will probably ever find in Toy Story Land.
Slinky Dog Dash is a Tier 1 Category Lightning Lane selection with the Multi Pass option.
Related: Disney World Lightning Lanes Guide
If Slinky Dog Dash is a top priority for your family, I recommend riding it first thing in the morning or last in the evening. This attraction is almost always our first choice when selecting Lightning Lanes.
While the land is child-friendly, you’ll want to know that this roller coaster requires a height of 38″. Cast members check the height of guests near the entrance, and we’ve often witnessed them re-checking anyone of questionable height at the boarding area. So make sure smaller children meet the mark before getting in line.
Related: Slinky Dog Dash Review
Toy Story Mania
Toy Story Mania is the original Toy Story-themed ride at Hollywood Studios. When Toy Story Land was being built, Imagineers designed a new ride entrance so the attraction didn’t have to be relocated. It’s a gentle spinning ride to some degree with 3D effects and a gaming system. This ride does not have a height requirement.
Toy Story Midway Mania has a Lightning Lane and is considered a Tier 2 Multi Pass selection.
Related: Toy Story Mania Ride Review
Most of the queue for Toy Story Mania is indoors. So, if you are in Toy Story Land and it begins to rain, this is usually the quickest place to seek shelter. Orlando experiences a lot of rain during the hotter months, especially in the late afternoon. So, keep this one in your back pocket if the skies start to cloud up during your visit. It is also the perfect attraction to experience during the hottest portion of the day.
As far as the best time to ride, we have good luck experiencing this attraction at the end of the evening. Usually, you can get in line about one hour before the park closes for lower-than-average wait times. If you are touring the parks later in the evening, try the following:
On a 9:00 p.m. close, ride Toy Story Mania via standby at around 8:00 p.m. Then, if time permits, get in line before the park closes for Slinky Dog Dash. As long as you enter the queue before the park closes, you can ride that attraction and exit the park after completion.
Alien Swirling Saucers
Our last stop is Buzz Lightyear’s Alien Swirling Saucers. This attraction spins, but it spins in more of a hoisting motion than an actual direct spin. This attraction was modeled after Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree in Cars Land at Disneyland.
If you’ve ever ridden Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, you’ll know what to expect. This attraction kind of throws you out in your alien vehicle and then pulls you back in as it moves you around the floor of the ride. Each alien car is positioned around a central element like a claw. So, you work your way around each element as you move across the entirety of the ride floor throughout the experience. Alien Swirling Saucers has a 32″ height requirement.
This attraction is a Tier 2 category Lightning Lane with the Multi Pass option.
Part of the queue for Swirling Saucers is covered, and you can see going into the line if you will be in the exterior or interior section in the event of rain. Just like Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers will close in the event of inclement weather. But this attraction continues to operate during light rain. The ride portion of Swirling Saucers is in a covered area. However, you will meet the outdoor elements again as soon as you exit.
Above, you can see your alien vehicle driver positioned (almost rickshaw-like) in front of you. This little guy will pull you around the floor. Warning: there will be a lot of “Oohs” and “Ahhs.” He will do everything he can to prevent you from becoming a victim of the claw.
Here is a little better view.
Related: Alien Swirling Saucers at Hollywood Studios
Toy Story Land Rides Rules
When it comes to planning your time in Toy Story Land, you’ll want to consider a few things ahead of time. For instance, most of the attractions are geared toward small children and often have long lines. Sometimes, children (and even adults) will have difficulty remaining patient throughout the wait. Therefore, it’s essential to have a plan to keep children entertained during the wait.
Additionally, sometimes nature calls in the wake of very long lines. See a cast member for a restroom pass so you can secure your place in line in the event of an emergency restroom break. Disney also requires that all guests ages seven years or younger be accompanied by a guest 14 years or older on rides. The exact wording on their site is:
“Children should be supervised. Guests under age 14 must be accompanied by a Guest age 14 or older to enter a theme park or water park. To board an attraction, children under age 7 must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.“
For example, I encountered this a while ago when my niece was 6, and my son was 13. At the time, I felt my son was responsible enough to escort my niece on some rides like the Teacups or Barnstormer. My idea was to stand at the exit waiting for them. However, they were both shy of the age requirement to ride together (without me). Cast members do an excellent job of noticing parties of children and will ask them their ages upon entry or at the ride load. When my niece visited with us the following year, they were both eligible to experience some attractions together while I waited.
As already mentioned, in the event of lightning, some attractions will close. However, if there is light rain, most will stay open. Even with a poncho, you will end up fairly soaked if the skies decide to open up mid-ride. Ask me how I know this.
Toy Story Land Meet and Greets
A few characters from the movies meet in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The three typical characters that meet daily are Sheriff Woody, Cowgirl Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear. Woody and Jesse meet guests near the entrance of Toy Story Mania. On this visit, we waited over 30 minutes to meet the pair. They usually meet for 20 minutes or so at a time and then take small five-minute breaks. So if you see them leave while you’re waiting, stay put. They will return shortly, and you will get to meet them.
Related: Meet Woody and Jessie at Disney World
Buzz Lightyear meets across the walkway from Roundup Rodeo BBQ. His meet-and-greet is on the left after you enter Toy Story Land from the main entrance.
Related: Meet Buzz Lightyear at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
It’s important to mention that all of the character meet-and-greets in Toy Story Land are outside. So they will abruptly end in the event of rain or other inclement weather. The lines for these character meet-and-greets are also in direct sun. So we recommend getting these meet-and-greets out of the way earlier in the day if they are important to you. Times for each meet-and-greet are listed in the My Disney Experience app. You will need to check the exact time on the day of your visit.
Bo Peep formerly met alongside Woody at Toy Story Land. However, her character meet was a limited-time offering when Toy Story 4 was released. We have also run into her at Disney After Hours at Hollywood Studios.
Related: Is Disney After Hours at Hollywood Studios Worth It?
Dining Options at Toy Story Land
Toy Story Land is home to two dining options, Woody’s Lunch Box and Roundup Rodeo BBQ.
Woody’s Lunch Box
Woody’s Lunch Box is an outdoor quick-service restaurant that serves grilled cheese, totchos, sandwiches, soup, and a tasty BBQ brisket melt.
Woody’s Lunch Box looks like a lunch box with a lid hanging overhead to protect the counter area.
One side of the lunch box lid is held up by a thermos. A couple of registers are available at the window.
Below is a photo of the lunch and dinner menu. Woody’s Lunch Box also offers a breakfast menu.
Unfortunately, seating is sparse at this outdoor eatery, with only a few shaded tables available. The theming is all very on-point, with the idea of it being in Andy’s backyard. However, with it being a backyard, it seems like there would have been an excellent opportunity for shade trees.
Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Roundup Rodeo BBQ is the newest addition to Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios. This table-service restaurant requires reservations and serves lunch and dinner. Unfortunately, the family-style barbecue joint is not a character dining experience—talk about missed opportunities. However, the restaurant continues with the larger-than-life theme of Toy Story Land. This time, you’re in Andy’s bedroom.
Additionally, you can expect a tremendous amount of food. We enjoyed brisket, chicken, ribs, and sausage on our first visit. And that’s not counting all the sides!
Related: Roundup Rodeo BBQ Review
Toy Story Land at Night
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of our favorite parks to enjoy in the evening. We really insist on visiting both Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge at nighttime. As the day turns to dusk, both lands take on an entirely different look and feel.
It’s a completely different experience from the loud primary colors that pop during the day. The glow is perfection. Slinky Dog Dash also has a fun look after sunset. Even the little “Hang On!” pause and “Go!” lights up in fun colors as you blast off again!
Just look at Jessie and Rex stringing up lights in Andy’s backyard. Pause here on your visit to listen to the vocals as Slinky Dog dashes by them.
For reference, here are two similar pictures. The photo above shows how the lights glow in the evening. Below is the same spot during the daytime.
If you are working on a general layout of your touring plan, I recommend starting with Toy Story Land closer to the park opening. Then, come through this area again anytime after sunset in coordination with touring Galaxy’s Edge in the evening.
Green Army Men in Toy Story Land
Toy Story Land doesn’t have too much in the form of entertainment except for the Green Army Men. They march through the land at various places throughout the day and stop to perform an act. Here is a video of the Green Army Men at Toy Story Land.
Their times are listed in the entertainment section of the My Disney Experience app.
Additionally, Andy has scattered green army men all over his backyard. Be on the lookout for them! Below, one appears to be covertly moving a snack from Woody’s Lunch Box.
I always think this one mocks us for staring at our phones. No one remembers that phones were meant to be communication devices.
Restrooms in Toy Story Land
Because I am a mom and completely understand that when your kid says they have to go, it’s usually last minute. So, I thought I would throw in the restroom location. Toy Story Land has one restroom, and it’s relatively easy to locate. They are past Woody’s Lunch Box on the left-hand side, right before the exit that heads into Galaxy’s Edge.
Final Thoughts
We hope this guide helped you get an idea of what’s available in Toy Story Land and plan your time. It’s such a fun land, especially after dark! Unfortunately, you won’t find too much shade from the sun during the day or shelter from the rain, for that matter. So make sure to tour with these items in mind and adjust your plans properly if needed. Remember, Toy Story Mania is going to be your closest place to seek interior shelter if it were to start raining sporadically!
For more information on planning a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you might enjoy:
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Ride Guide
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Ride Guide
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Ride Guide
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Ride Guide
Additionally, we specialize in providing reviews of Disney World Resorts. You might enjoy staying at a resort near Hollywood Studios. The following hotels are within walking distance of the park.
- Disney’s Beach Club Review
- Disney’s Yacht Club Review
- Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Review
- Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Review
In the Comments
So, are you looking forward to planning a visit to Disney World’s Toy Story Land? What is your favorite ride here? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
