On a very hot day in June, my son and I ventured to the opening of Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios. We were lucky enough to join a VIP tour with some friends to ensure we got on all the rides.
I have some great info for you on Toy Story Land and on VIP Tours so that you may decide it you’d like to do one too!
VIP Tours- You can hire a VIP tour guide for your group through the signature services department or by calling your travel agent. We can add a tour to your package if you like! You will get your VIP guide for 7 consecutive hours. Pricing varies but hovers around $500 an hour. The best way to do a VIP tour is to join with a group of friends and pay “per person”. A group is 10 people or less. This means on the day of our tour we paid $350 per guest. It turned out to be a great value and I plan to do the same for Star Wars Land Opening.
Your VIP guide will pick you up at a pre-determined location and drive you to the backstage area of whichever park you choose first. Ticket and bag check is performed back stage. You are escorted in a large van all day and never enter the parks through the public areas.
Our guide was Tom, a Disney wonder and extremely knowledgeable. Ask your guide tons of questions as this is a great way to get tips, tricks and insider info.
Our day began in Toy Story Land where Tom brought us through the fastpass lines for Slinky Dog Dash (7 minute wait for us compared to almost 5 hours for stand by) Alien Swirling Saucers, and Toy Story Mania. We got some great Toy Story hacks from Tom as well! Since these are your tier one attractions for fastpass, you will want to use your fastpass for Slinky Dog. Try to plan your Hollywood Studios day towards the end of your trip to get a good time for this. Slinky Dog is pretty much the perfect ride. It incorporates great story elements, its fun, thrilling and light-hearted with excellent character presence as well! Keep in mind this is no kiddie coaster. It moves at a pretty good clip and takes on some decent hills and valleys.
Check out this video some of my friends on our tour did of our ride on Slinky Dog!
Keep an eye out for details throughout the park. Check out this price tag on this “rex box” in the Slinky Dog queue…it pays homage to the day the original Toy Story was released.
The benches are Popsicle sticks and train tracks, the stores are set in toy campers, tinker toys help keep the lights up, and many things are constructed with boxes the products came in. This is all because “Toy Story Land” is taking place in Andy’s Back Yard. It is a theme park that he has built and staged. When you enter the land, you too are a toy. Cast members will refer to you as “Toys”. It is so creative and fun! As night approaches the Christmas lights come on and the entire land has an amazing glow; especially Slinky Dog!
My advice is to go to Toy Story Land at night to avoid crowds. Waits for the rides were plummeting about 40 minutes before park closing. Get in about 2 hours before park closing and enjoy a meal at Woody’s Lunch Box (we love the three cheese sandwich!) then head over to Toy Story Mania, followed by Aliens and then Slinky Dog Dash.
During our VIP Tour we visited all 4 parks and rode all the new rides twice! It was so worth it and I encourage you to try a VIP tour! To book please email Jess@pixievacations.com
