ORLANDO, Fla. – Kids were first introduced to Sheriff Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Pizza Planet 23 years ago when “Toy Story” premiered in theaters. Now they can step into an actual world of toys at Disney’s Toy Story Land.
The new land set across 11 acres at the Hollywood Studios Park is a colorful, sprawling trail dotted with oversized building blocks, characters from the films like Slinky Dog and Rex, and a cantina where you eat inside a lunch box.
Everything has a “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” vibe, except with toys instead of insects.
It’s nostalgic for those whose first new Disney movie was Toy Story and grew up with main character Andy as he navigated growing out of his childhood relics.
Walt Disney World opens Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios
When Andy went to college, we all went to college or left home. And the Toy Story movies may have given us a few more reasons to take our beloved toys with us, or at least not throw them away.
A nearly 20-foot tall Sheriff Woody greets you when you walk down the building-block lined street at the entrance to Toy Story Land.
In the land that expanded Pixar Place you can take Slinky Dog for a stretched-out roller coaster ride. It’s not too scary, not too kiddish.
The ride is built to feel like Andy assembled it from a boxed toy set. The boarding area feels like you’re in a cardboard box and there’s a rough crayon blueprint sketch of the path of the ride.
As your sling-shot around, you’ll see Cowgirl Jesse and Rex keeping watch over building blocks.
If you want to spin to infinity and beyond, Buzz Lightyear is the space ranger standing guard over the Alien Swirling Saucers.
The is a bit like Alice’s spinning teacups in Magic Kingdom, but with those cute green aliens, the toys of Toy Story rescued from Pizza Planet.
Toy Story Land is set to open Saturday at Hollywood Studios.
Before the opening to the public, the park has a dedication ceremony at 10:55 a.m. ET Friday.
The existing Toy Story Mania, one of Disney World's best rides, will be annexed into Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The new area aims to capture a similar sense of whimsy and offer the detailed place-making found in the Imagineers' ode to another Pixar property, Cars Land at Disney California Adventure.
The conceit will be that, upon entering Andy's yard, visitors will shrink down to the size of Mr. Potato Head, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of his toys. The land represents a major component of the resort's overhaul of Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which is set to open next year at the park (as well as at Disneyland in California), will be a highly anticipated addition. CEO Bob Iger has said that the evolving park would likely be getting a name change.
USA TODAY contributed to this story.
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