Step into the whimsical world of toys and imagination at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World Resort with Toy Story Mania, a captivating and interactive attraction that brings the beloved characters from Pixar’s Toy Story films to life. This thrilling ride is a must-visit for guests of all ages seeking a fun-filled adventure.
From the moment you enter the queue for Toy Story Mania, you’re enveloped in the charm of Andy’s room. The ride’s design and décor are meticulously crafted to make you feel like a toy-sized visitor, with oversized board games, building blocks, and even a larger-than-life Mr. Potato Head animatronic figure entertaining you while you wait.
Toy Story Mania is more than just a ride; it’s a game that allows you to put your skills to the test in a series of entertaining and challenging carnival-style games. As you board your ride vehicle, equipped with a spring-action shooter, you’ll embark on a 4D journey through various themed game booths hosted by Toy Story characters such as Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the Little Green Aliens.
Each game booth features different challenges and targets, including ring toss, plate breaking, and darts. Using your spring-action shooter, you’ll take aim at the interactive screens in front of you, trying to rack up the highest score possible. The games are not only fun but also competitive, making Toy Story Mania an exciting experience for friends and family to enjoy together.
The attraction’s vivid and colorful visuals, along with its 4D effects like air blasts and vibrations, make you feel like you’re truly immersed in the Toy Story universe. The attention to detail and creativity in the game design enhance the overall experience.
One of the great things about Toy Story Mania is its accessibility. The games are suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities, making it an attraction that everyone in the family can enjoy. Whether you’re a competitive gamer or just looking for a lighthearted and entertaining experience, Toy Story Mania has something to offer.
In conclusion, Toy Story Mania at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a delightful and interactive attraction that lets you step into the playful world of Pixar’s Toy Story. With its immersive theming, entertaining games, and accessibility for all ages, it’s a must-visit for anyone looking to add a touch of whimsy and fun to their Disney experience. So grab your spring-action shooter and get ready for a memorable adventure with Woody, Buzz, and the gang. It’s playtime in Andy’s room, and you’re invited!
Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort are the best family-friendly destinations. The Most Magical Place on Earth and the Happiest Place on Earth, respectively, each Resort is full of memories to be made.
Unfortunately, not all memories made at a Disney Park are positive ones…
Disneyland Resort’s Disney California Adventure is home to Pixar Pier. This area includes Toy Story Midway Mania, an attraction starring beloved characters such as Buzz Lightyear, Sheriff Woody, and more.
The attraction can be described as the ultimate carnival game, as Guests don 3D carnival game goggles and shoot at virtual targets. The ride vehicles feature enough room for Guests to lean back and rest their heads against them.
The ride vehicles also zip Guests around, spinning and twirling around Andy’s Room.
This attraction and area are so popular similar areas have been erected in Walt Disney World. Hollywood Studios’ Toy Story Land houses Toy Story Mania, a very similar attraction.
Toy Story Midway Mania is so fun, it’s hard to imagine the magic being ruined while waiting in line…Except for this.
A fan on Reddit asked everyone to share the worst thing they’d ever seen at Disney, and this answer definitely delivered…
Although there is very little area for lice to thrive on this attraction (no carpet or other upholstery), sitting in the same seat as a lice-infested stranger is still an icky thought. It’s enough to make you itch just reading it! The next time you plan a visit to Disney with the entire family, give everyone a lice check just in case…
It’s important to note that Cast Members do all they can to keep Guests as safe as possible. But unfortunately, some things are just out of their hands.
I LOVE Hollywood Studios!!! Some of my favorite shows, rides, and restaurants are there. Plus, with the addition of Toy Story Land and, soon to be open, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, I am literally salivating to get back to WDW to see the new attractions. This park has some of the more unique attractions that you don’t necessarily associate with being Disney.
A lot of people have a negative opinion of this park when comparing it to Magic Kingdom or Epcot. It does not have the typical Disney nostalgic feeling. It does not have a heavy variety of rides like the Magic Kingdom. It does not have the plethora of the dining options of Epcot. However, what it does have are a combination of attractions, shows, and dining options that balance the park perfectly.
Since visiting for the first time in 2010, Hollywood Studios has underwent a tremendous amount of change. Some of these were necessary to accommodate the changes that needed to be made to enhance the park, some are a little bit harder to get over.
While the addition of the “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away” is a decent stage show that recognizes the characters of the movie franchise, and the March of the First Order is a neat thing to witness down the streets of HS, they still do not take the place of Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat, that was a staple of the Hollywood Studios landscape.
So here are my top 5 reasons why Hollywood Studios is my favorite Disney park.
The ShowsI
I believe Hollywood Studios has the best combination of shows of any park at WDW. While the park does not have the ride attractions of some of the other parks, although with the additions of Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge that changes, every one of the shows there is an enjoyable time.
The “Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular” is my favorite show to visit each trip to Hollywood Studios. Between the pyrotechnics, the choreography of the stunts and the comedic spots during the course of the show itself, this show takes the audience inside some of the best scenes from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (which, btw, is the best movie of the franchise, in my humble opinion).
Another show that I enjoy visiting is “For the First Time in Forever; A Frozen Sing-along Celebration”. I know what you are thinking, but no. I do not sing along. This is a fun show for the kids to sing along to all of the frozen songs but also get a hilarious history lesson from the official Royal Historians of Arendelle.
“Beauty and The Beast – Live on Stage” brings the classic tale to life in the open-air Theater of the Stars on Sunset Boulevard. This broadway-style show has been giving audiences a shortened version of the Disney movie since the park opened in 1989.
Beauty and The Beast
In “Muppetvision 3D”, you are treated to a 3D show that is more than just that. There are different times where the screen becomes just a piece of the overall theater and the theater itself comes to life, with Statler and Waldorf doing their typical heckling from the booth above and a cannon shot from the screen to the back revealing bricks and a hole in the back wall of the theater.
The Rides
While Hollywood Studios does not have as many rides as the Magic Kingdom, the rides that it does have are all worth riding.T
The “Twilight Zone Tower of Terror” and I have a love/hate relationship. I am not a huge fan of these types of rides that simply take you up and drop you several times, but this is different. The whole theme of the ride is fantastic. The back story, the look, the feel, the drama, the suspense of not knowing when it will drop, to wondering how many times it will drop (it drops a different amount each time) all works to make this one of the best rides at WDW.
Rock n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is another must when on a trip to WDW. From the speed on the initial launch from 0-57 mph in 2.8 secs, to the awesome soundtrack, this ride is literally a blast. Riders will experience a 5G start, and travel through 3 inversions while flying past bright neon road signs.T
Toy Story Mania has been the one ride at Hollywood Studios that seems to always have long wait times and is the one ride at HS that a fastpass makes a huge difference. This 3D shooter ride is one of the more technologically sophisticated attractions ever developed by Disney Imagineers.
This ride puts 2 people head to head, competing in 6 mini games ranging from tossing pies, darts, eggs, baseballs, rings, and suction cup type arrows. This game is so much fun and, for me, blows away another toy story shooter ride in Magic Kingdom. Always a great family adventure (and maybe a little competition)
Fantasmic
While this could have been added in the Shows category, doing that to Fantasmic would simply not do it justice.
This night-time multimedia event features fireworks, lasers, lighting effects, and music. It stars Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice from Fantasia as he fights the forces of evil.
Mickey invokes the characters and spirits of favorite Disney classics such as Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Aladdin, Pinocchio, The Lion King, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Tarzan and more.
The show takes a dark turn when the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs appears and gathers classic villains like Ursula, Cruella de Vil, Scar, Frollo, Jafar and a larger-than-life Maleficent, to turn Mickey’s dreams into a nightmare. Mickey must fight back the villains with all of the magic in his arsenal.
This 30 minute show might be the highlight of your HS visit and you will, no doubt, walk away amazed.
New Additions
Disney has put a lot of time, fortune, and imagineering into Hollywood Studios in recent years with the 2 newest additions of Toy Story Land and the new, yet to debut, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, as well as new attractions such as Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy.
Toy Story Land transports you into Andy’s backyard where you feel like the size of one of Andy’s toys. This new section which opened in June of 2018 features new rides in Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers, as well as the aforementioned Toy Story Mania. It also gives HS a counter-service restaurant in Woody’s Lunch Box. You may also see the Green Army Men Drum Corp or be made an honorary Green Army Man by participating in the Green Army Men Boot Camp.
Galaxy’s Edge opens in August of 2019. It will introduce 2 new ride attractions, a new restaurant, and transport a person into the worlds of Star Wars. I will refrain from speaking on this too much except to say, I cant wait for this to open.
Me in My Element
50’s Prime Time Cafe
This is my favorite restaurant in all of WDW. This meal has the feel of being in the 1950’s “every family kitchen”. The waiters/waitresses treat you as if you are a guest at their dinner table and must display appropriate manners or be punished for various things. The food is also pretty terrific. Give this place a try and allow the staff to put you in the middle of their show and you will walk away full from food and fun.
