Disney shared a sneak peek of the first two Toy Story characters, Jessie and Rex, being installed earlier this week in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The photos and videos released by Disney show the two larger-than-life figures positioned around the Slinky Dog Dash Coaster in the new land. Both characters were lifted in by cranes and perched on top of towers of blocks that rise up around the coaster track.
According to their storyline, Rex and Jessie decided to help Andy decided to help Andy build a roller coaster using his Mega Coaster Play Kit by stringing up the lights on towers of blocks. Rex got himself tangled up in the lights, but Jessie is nearby to help out.
The Slinky Dog Dash attraction’s coaster train was officially unveiled by Disney today – National Slinky Day.
Slinky Dog Dash is one of two major attractions coming to Toy Story Land, a 12-acre expansion that’s set to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Summer 2018. In Toy Story Land, guests will shrink to the size of a toy and explore the world of Andy’s backyard on two fun family attractions – Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers.
The first Slinky Dog Dash ride vehicle makes its way to Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Slinky Dog Dash is a brand-new family coaster that is part of the all-new Toy Story Land opening summer 2018. Inspired by the playful dachshund spinoff of Slinky¨, the classic American toy, Slinky¨ Dog Dash will send riders dipping, dodging and dashing around turns and drops that Andy has created to stretch Slinky¨ and his coils to the max. (Steven Diaz, photographer)
Slinky Dog Dash is a family coaster themed as if Andy built it in his backyard using his Mega Coaster Play Kit and some of his other favorite toys. The attraction’s ride vehicles, inspired by the character of Slinky in the film, will send riders dipping, dodging and dashing around turns and drops Andy has created to stretch Slinky’s coils to the max.
Disney also released a fun video of the toys “unveiling” the new coaster trains:
Disney also released some “normal” video of the train arriving, as well as interviews with two Imagineers working on the project:
The second attraction, Alien Swirling Saucers, is designed as a toy play set that Andy got from Pizza Planet, inspired by the first “Toy Story” film. Aliens are flying around in their toy flying saucers and trying to capture your rocket toy vehicle using “The Claw.”
The Slinky Dog Dash will be the headlining attraction in Toy Story Land when it opens next Summer at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but today, we’re getting our first look at the physical coaster trains for the ride.
The above leaked photo reveals pieces of one of the Slinky Dog trains being delivered to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney is expected to release official images this week once they are loaded onto the track at the ride. Until then, we’ll just have to settle for this somewhat blurry phone pic…
Today, Disney had an exciting milestone to share with us straight from the Toy Story Land construction site at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The final piece of track was recently installed on Slinky Dog Dash, a family coaster that will debut as one of the land’s two new attractions when Toy Story Land opens in summer 2018.
AT D23 EXPO 2017, DISNEY PARKS CHAIRMAN BOB CHAPEK ANNOUNCES SUMMER 2018 OPENING OF TOY STORY LAND — During D23 Expo 2017, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek announces the summer 2018 opening of Toy Story Land at DisneyÕs Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort.
Walt Disney Imagineering just shared this photo, which was snapped just as the final piece of red track was lowered into place.
Current progress on the station for Slinky Dog Dash
In Toy Story Land, guests will shrink to the size of a toy and explore the world of Andy’s backyard. Fitting with the theme, Slinky Dog Dash will appear to be a coaster track that Andy has built all over his backyard using his Mega Coaster Play Kit – as well as some of his other favorite toys.
Toy Story Land opens Summer 2018 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
We once again take to the skies to give you the best view possible of the ongoing expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Things are actually starting to get exciting over on the Toy Story Land area as structures are beginning to rise, meanwhile, Star Wars Land remains mostly a dirt pile. (Click images for larger res if you are into that kind of thing)
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
This side of the park is a disaster currently, and guests can really see this if they come in through the World Drive entrance to the park. A new car entrance and a parking lot expansion rounds out the construction you can see beyond the current borders of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Here you can see guest vehicles entering what’s left of that entrance, while just behind the fence, land clearing continues.
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Here we see the one set of facades remaining from the Streets of America.
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
The billboard is the only sign of what was the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids playground area.
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Some temporary trees were rolled into the PIXAR Place area as otherwise the view beyond the walls would be nothing but blue skies.
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
This road going through the middle of the site likely separates the Star Wars and Toy Story Lands.
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
I’m kind of amazed at the one tree and small piece of concrete still standing from the Premiere Theater area…
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
They are beginning to carve out space for the attractions.
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Aerial View of Construction at Hollywood Studios, Latest Progress on Toy Story & Star Wars Lands
Disney recently released the above concept art for the Star Wars land at Hollywood Studios, which matches the shape of the site above pretty well if you turn it around (as our photos are looking from what will be the backside).
We now focus our view over towards the Toy Story Land area.
That square is the extent of Toy Story Land, minus the eventual new entrance that will cross into the Toy Story Midway Mania attraction just across that road.
You can already make out the main thoroughfare of Toy Story Land, although it is just a dirt path winding down the center of the above photo.
This big concrete box is most definitely part of the Slinky Dog Dash attraction, as it can bee seen behind the buildings of the load station in the concept art for Toy Story Land (included below). The attraction features a launch of a moderate speed and this box will likely hold the mechanics that can make that launch happen. The foundations for the Alien Swirling Saucers ride system are in place below that site. It seems this land is racing ahead, possibly not as far off as we once imagined.
It’s nice to finally start to see things that are recognizable after so many months of prep work. You can almost envision what this area will look like now if you compare it to the concept art.
We also have a video flyover of the site to share with you:
Of course, we will continue to keep you in the loop as work progresses on all facets of the massive expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Stay tuned for more!