Walt Disney World’s new Toy Story Land expansion sports three attractions, familiar characters – like Woody, Buzz, and Jessie – and plenty of food and merchandise based on the fan-favorite Pixar franchise. On top of these expected theme-park staples though, the 11-acre area, located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios park, also tells an original Toy Story tale.
Carefully crafted by Disney’s Imagineers, the expansion’s story doesn’t hit visitors over the head, but rather subtly immerses them in its universe. Whether guests are waiting to ride the Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster or simply strolling the park’s many pathways, they’ll discover obvious narrative nuggets – as well as less apparent Easter Eggs – that establish and shape the land’s story.
Here are eight awesome ways the park expands on the Toy Story universe, teaches us new things about its characters, and makes us feel like tiny playthings in Andy’s over-sized world.
A Whole New World
Toy Story Land isn’t directly based on any of the franchise’s movies or TV specials, but rather tells a brand new Toy Story tale. According to Roger Gould, Creative Director of the Theme Parks Group at Pixar Animation Studios, guests play a special role in the expansion’s story. “Basically you’re walking into Andy’s backyard, and you’re an honorary toy. That means you’re shrunk down to toy size, and you’re about the height of one of the green Army men.”
Everything is a Toy
Guests will no doubt feel tiny when standing next to Toy Story Land’s 20-foot tall Woody or snapping a selfie in front of a towering container of Tinker Toys, but the park’s also brimming with subtler touches that help sell the illusion. “Every object in the land is a toy,” says Gould. “So every bench, every light fixture, every garbage can, is a toy.” Observant guests will notice benches and fences made of giant Popsicle sticks – complete with sherbet-colored stains – as well as everything, from the land’s restrooms to its bridges and pathways, constructed from toy blocks, Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, and K’Nex pieces.
Meet Slinky Cat
In the universe-expanding world of Toy Story Land, Slinky Dog has lots of springy friends, all of which can be seen in the queue for the Slinky Dog Dash coaster. “We created a Slinky Dog coloring book, which never existed before,” explains Gould. “Jeff Paige, one of the original Toy Story designers, came up with the idea that there’s other Slinky animals, so look at the cover to see Slinky Birds, Slinky Worms, Slinky Butterflies, and Slinky Trees.” There’s even an adorable Slinky Cat for Slinky Dog to chase – or be chased by – on the giant books cover.
Ride Andy’s New Toys
Toy Story Land’s two brand new attractions, Alien Swirling Saucers and Slinky Dog Dash, are actually toys, too. According to the park’s narrative, Andy won the former at Pizza Planet, and set it up in his backyard to play with. Of course, with Andy gone, visitors are welcome to take a spin on the family-friendly ride. The latter though, required some additional assembly, as it’s a mash-up of Andy’s classic Slinky Dog toy and a Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster Kit. Pay close attention in the ride’s queue, and you’ll spy Andy’s crayon-scribbled schematics for the ride, the massive bottle of Elmer’s glue he used to stick it all together, and other bits and pieces he used to craft his Frankenstein-coaster creation.
Original Box Backstories
Another thing you’ll notice on Slinky Dog Dash is the packaging for many of Andy’s toys. Serving as walls and other infrastructure for the roller coaster, these include Slinky’s and Wheezy‘s original cardboard homes. The crooning penguin, named for its broken squeaker, is billed as “Squeaky Penguin Bath Toy” on his box, but Andy has adorably scribbled “Wheezy” on the package in bold green crayon.
One of Toy Story Land’s major attractions is the returning 4D, carnival-themed favorite, Toy Story Mania. While the popular ride remains largely the same, it’s also added a number of these backstory-evolving elements for characters. “You’re going to see the original packaging for Lenny, the binoculars from the film, and for Chuckles the clown, who we always see looking kind of sad. Of course, on the packaging, he looks happy,” says Gould.
Our favorite of all these character call-outs though is Rex‘s original packaging. Stamped with an Al’s Toy Barn price tag, the box features a ferocious-looking T-Rex and advertises the perpetually-worried prehistoric beast as “The most feared dinosaur of the Cretaceous Period.” Talk about false advertising.
Toy Tie-Ins
While fans get some extra insight into character backstories via the original boxes they came in, they also discover some of their favorite talking toys were popular enough to earn spin-off products. Given the affection for Slinky Dog, it’s no surprise he got his own dedicated storybook, but who would have expected Mr. Pricklepants to get his own tome? When exiting Slinky Dog Dash, however, you’ll find the lederhosen-wearing hedgehog on the front of his very own children’s book, titled “Songs for Singing.” Little Bo Beep similarly gets some cross-media love, with her own dedicated board game eagle-eyed patrons can spot in the detailed land.
Eat Lunch in a Lunch Box
Woody’s Lunch Box, the park’s snack counter, is literally a massive lunch box. The outdoor eatery’s awning – which is propped up by a towering thermos – serves as the classic lunch tin’s lid. Guests place their orders at windows – nestled inside the box’s interior – that are surrounded by enormous carrot and celery sticks, cookies that could choke King Kong, and animal crackers the size of actual animals. The menu is scrawled in Andy’s handwriting, and some of the chairs are crafted from over-sized wheels of Babybel cheese.
Play In-Progress
We’re not sure where Andy is in the park’s larger story, but he seems to have left in a hurry.
“He was just playing, setting up his Dash & Dodge coaster-kit, playing with his Pizza Planet Alien Swirling Saucer set, and all of his favorite toys,” explains Gould. “He was playing in his backyard, but has spontaneously left. So nothing is on a grid, nothing is aligned. It’s all wacky and kooky, and now the toys are there, alive, and ready to play with us.”
Andy’s speedy departure explains the many signs of in-progress play around the park, from green Army men spread throughout the land in mid-mission poses to Rex being precariously placed atop a towering stack of Jenga bricks. Those searching for Toy Story Land’s most subtle Easter Egg might even spot one of Andy’s gigantic footprints, probably made when he hastily hit the road to find fresh adventures.
