Toy Story Land expansion announced for Disney's Hollywood Studios

[lazyboy97o]

Slinky Dog Dash is a different animal from Screamin' altogether. The Toy Story theme is honestly so secondary and serves no real purpose. The backstory of the entire area feels so contrived and overdone that it's almost sad to me at this point. We're in Andy's backyard and he's conveniently playing with toys that look like theme park rides. It's always the same thing with these Toy Story lands and it always comes out terribly and cheap looking. Andy never owned a coaster playset (to my knowledge), and he certainly never had one that used his Slinky Dog as a car. It feels very forced and unnatural. Especially now that virtually all of the themeing that it at least did have seems to have been removed from the budget, not to mention the one thing that was meant to hide the majority of the track.

Andy is apparently a kid who owns a midway game playset. It just makes the whole Slinky Dog coaster thing there even odder. While Slinky Dog does have a backstory explanation, the characters function is ultimately own of themed decor and not themed experience. The character is there to differentiate the coaster by making a reference.

Looks like TSL is moving along pretty quick. Is it possible it could be done ahead of schedule say late spring/early summer 2018?

Late spring/early summer is the expected opened. That wouldn't be early.

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Andy is apparently a kid who owns a midway game playset. It just makes the whole Slinky Dog coaster thing there even odder. While Slinky Dog does have a backstory explanation, the characters function is ultimately own of themed decor and not themed experience. The character is there to differentiate the coaster by making a reference.


Late spring/early summer is the expected opened. That wouldn't be early.

Thank you so much for this post. This is what I've been trying to express but I couldn't put it into words for some reason. It's the themed design equivalent of carving an eagle head into a coaster car and saying that it's themed to a forest. This area just has no real sense of story to me.

Why is Andy playing with his midway set at the same time as his Buzz Lightyear little green men playset? All of which he's decided to set up next to his western village and Al's Toy Barn playsets. Thankfully, he also brought his roller coaster toy. Unfortunately he has to use poor Slinky Dog as the car because the actual toy coaster car is... missing? Who knows. And my goodness, why is this child always using these indoor toys in the backyard? Andy is a strange one apparently.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

I agree with you and it would be easy to move over. They have room for something so small.

But we will get a stroller parking lot instead.

Right!
One would think that by just taking the empty Pirates of the Caribbean attraction getting a few more vehicles they could easily incorporate Buzz Lightyears Astroblasters but alas they probably would rather use that space for premium stroller parking!

 

[Goofyernmost]

Thank you so much for this post. This is what I've been trying to express but I couldn't put it into words for some reason. It's the themed design equivalent of carving an eagle head into a coaster car and saying that it's themed to a forest. This area just has no real sense of story to me.

Why is Andy playing with his midway set at the same time as his Buzz Lightyear little green men playset? All of which he's decided to set up next to his western village and Al's Toy Barn playsets. Thankfully, he also brought his roller coaster toy. Unfortunately he has to use poor Slinky Dog as the car because the actual toy coaster car is... missing? Who knows. And my goodness, why is this child always using these indoor toys in the backyard? Andy is a strange one apparently.

You apparently have no children or you wouldn't find anything unusual about that at all.

 

[No Name]

Thank you so much for this post. This is what I've been trying to express but I couldn't put it into words for some reason. It's the themed design equivalent of carving an eagle head into a coaster car and saying that it's themed to a forest. This area just has no real sense of story to me.

Why is Andy playing with his midway set at the same time as his Buzz Lightyear little green men playset? All of which he's decided to set up next to his western village and Al's Toy Barn playsets. Thankfully, he also brought his roller coaster toy. Unfortunately he has to use poor Slinky Dog as the car because the actual toy coaster car is... missing? Who knows. And my goodness, why is this child always using these indoor toys in the backyard? Andy is a strange one apparently.

Well, he had a second thought and decided not to take out his Al's Toy Barn and Western Village playsets. Does that make you feel better?

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Well, he had a second thought and decided not to take out his Al's Toy Barn and Western Village playsets. Does that make you feel better?

I completely forgot about that. And no. No, it doesn't.

So what was already a relatively cheap addition to a park desperately in need of quality attractions was cheapened even further.

I used to be so forgiving of this company, but I find myself moving more and more towards the doom and gloom side sometimes. I still think they do a great deal of good work (Pandora especially), but then decisions like this just make me scratch my head.

There just doesn't seem to be any sort of long term unifying plan for this park, and I shudder to think of what will become of Epcot within the next ten years.

It is acceptable to love something and still be critical of its faults.

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Perfect for the context. Concept team deserves a bonus.

This post alone should prove to everybody that I'm right on this one. If JT disagrees with me, I'm obviously on the right side.

 

[No Name]

I don't like to overthink the land. It's a relatively unthemed bare-steel coaster and a variation of The Whip, themed to Toy Story. Is it kind of cheap? Yes. But I like that we're getting a coaster instead of all "flat rides" like the other Toy Story Lands have. I think the land as a whole will add some kinetics to a park in which almost all of the rides are completely indoors. People say DHS feels a little dead... this is one reason why.

This post alone should prove to everybody that I'm right on this one. If JT disagrees with me, I'm obviously on the right side.

Well I don't think you can be right or wrong on something that's your opinion.

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

I don't like to overthink the land. It's a relatively unthemed bare-steel coaster and a variation of The Whip, themed to Toy Story characters. Is it kind of cheap? Yes. But I like that we're getting a coaster instead of all "flat rides" like the other Toy Story Lands have. I think it will add some kinetics to a park in which almost all of the rides are completely indoors.

I agree that ours is probably going to be better, but I can't possibly look at things like Pandora and then justify additions like this. The bar for Toy Story-themed lands wasn't very high, so being better than the others isn't necessarily a large accomplishment.

I don't think just "good enough" should ever be acceptable for a Disney theme park, and I'm tired of having to mentally justify some of the decisions being made by the current management team.

There are just so many ways that family rides could have been added to this park that didn't have to be another Andy's backyard situation. To my knowledge, there were several other possibilities that could have been built instead and they chose the cheaper route.

Well I don't think you can be right or wrong on something that's your opinion.

No, trust me on this. The opposite stance from JT is nearly always the right stance.

 

[jt04]

I agree that ours is probably going to be better, but I can't possibly look at things like Pandora and then justify additions like this. The bar for Toy Story-themed lands wasn't very high, so being better than the others isn't necessarily a large accomplishment.

I don't think just "good enough" should ever be acceptable for a Disney theme park, and I'm tired of having to mentally justify some of the decisions being made by the current management team.

There are just so many ways that family rides could have been added to this park that didn't have to be another Andy's backyard situation. To my knowledge, there were several other possibilities that could have been built instead and they chose the cheaper route.



No, trust me on this. The opposite stance from JT is nearly always the right stance.

In your subjective opinion. IMO.

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

In your subjective opinion. IMO.

You're a good sport. I'll give you that.

I think I'd miss you if you ever left. I imagine others would too, though they may not realize it.

 

[HMF]

Well, he had a second thought and decided not to take out his Al's Toy Barn and Western Village playsets. Does that make you feel better?

I will say losing those two things does strengthen the Andy's Backyard concept. As contrived as that premise is.

 

[Kman101]

Heaven forbid there's a suspension of belief in a theme park! Lol. I'm done defending the land because minds have been made up. But I don't think it's a step backwards for the park. The coaster and whip ride flesh out the park.

I guess I just view it differently. It fills a need. It's not about my personal likes or dislikes. I've said before the space of the land could be put to better use. I think bare coasters aren't that exciting. I've said I'm disappointed they cut the Roundup area and other theming. But the hand wringing about this land is a bit over done. It's just my opinion. Not telling anyone that they can't express their opinion. I hope the land surprises people when it opens.

I'd have preferred a fleshed out Pixar Place instead of this land but we aren't getting that.

 

[Kman101]

I will say losing those two things does strengthen the Andy's Backyard concept. As contrived as that premise is.

Why are people saying it's "contrived" because it's looked at as a cheap and creatively lazy land?

We can put ourselves in all sorts of lands this company gives us but everyone can't imagine going into Andys backyard? It's called suspension of belief. Though I'm sure lazyboy has a post ready to go telling me otherwise.

I've said my piece on the land lol. I'll move on. People have predetermined it's cheap, lazy and awful

 

[HMF]

Why are people saying it's "contrived" because it's looked at as a cheap and creatively lazy land?

We can put ourselves in all sorts of lands this company gives us but everyone can't imagine going into Andys backyard? It's called suspension of belief. Though I'm sure lazyboy has a post ready to go telling me otherwise.

I've said my piece on the land lol. I'll move on. People have predetermined it's cheap, lazy and awful

There is a limit to suspension of disbelief. Walt himself called it the "Plausible Impossible".

 

[Kman101]

There is a limit to suspension of disbelief. Walt himself called it the "Plausible Impossible".

I guess there's a limit but I just don't see it the same way. I've pointed out it's flaws and wish it were a Pixar Place instead but I don't think it's going to be so bad. Or it could suck in person. We shall see. I wish people had a bit more of an open mind. I see it as giving the park some needed attractions and less about how plastic or cheap it may look. Doesn't make anyone wrong or right

 

[Dan Deesnee]

Some of the replies on here are downright baffling. We're trying to figure out why Andy set these toys up in this way??? Okay well then how about Fantasy Land. Why is Mine Train right next to The 100 Acre Wood? How did these worlds get right next to each other? Was it Sorcerer Mickey fooling around again?

The only real concern that I think is valid at this stage is how the budget did indeed appear to be cut. The slinky coaster isn't done so we have no real idea what the final product will look like or how well the land will be themed. Concept art is just that, a concept, not a photograph from the future showing us precisely what it will look like.

I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt here and hoping for the best but everyone is entitled to their opinion.

 

[Kman101]

Some of the replies on here are downright baffling. We're trying to figure out why Andy set these toys up in this way??? Okay well then how about Fantasy Land. Why is Mine Train right next to The 100 Acre Wood? How did these worlds get right next to each other? Was it Sorcerer Mickey fooling around again?

The only real concern that I think is valid at this stage is how the budget did indeed appear to be cut. The slinky coaster isn't done so we have no real idea what the final product will look like or how well the land will be themed. Concept art is just that, a concept, not a photograph from the future showing us precisely what it will look like.

I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt here and hoping for the best but everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Yep.

So we can justify other things but not this because we've predetermined it's cheap and lazy and or they don't like the IP

 

[HMF]

I guess there's a limit but I just don't see it the same way. I've pointed out it's flaws and wish it were a Pixar Place instead but I don't think it's going to be so bad. Or it could suck in person. We shall see. I wish people had a bit more of an open mind. I see it as giving the park some needed attractions and less about how plastic or cheap it may look. Doesn't make anyone wrong or right

I am going to try to go in with an open mind too but I have a bad feeling.

 

[Kman101]

I am going to try to go in with an open mind too but I have a bad feeling.

I'm not exactly thrilled by it either and have my concerns. I'm really trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. I very well could be completely underwhelmed by the finished product. I try really hard not to put expectations on things, especially with this company as they've let me down quite a bit. I think a lot of the criticism towards the land is fair for the most part.