Toy Story land opened in Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World on April 26, 2018.
Our youngest’s birthday is April 23. And so, we booked our vacation that year to celebrate. Ultimately, we missed the opening of Toy Story land by a day. It was odd to be so close to something like that and miss it.
We could see over the fence into Andy’s Backyard. From there we could see the wooden blocks and Woody and Rex. And also, if memory serves, Jessie.
But we couldn’t ride Alien Swirling Saucers, we couldn’t explore the new land.
Today, we’re approaching the fifth anniversary of the opening of Toy Story land. In that time, the overhaul of Hollywood Studios, including Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, has been one of the most dramatic in Disney Parks’ history.
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What is the Slinky Dog Dash?
The Slinky Dog Dash is a kid-friendly roller coaster in classic style with a couple of cool innovations.
The ride is based on the popular Slinky Dog toys, which were spring-tailed spinoffs of Slinky, the iconic American toy from the 1940s. In fact, by the time I was a kid in the 1970s, I had the earworm commercial theme song burned into my memory forever.
Listen here at your own peril.
I grew up going to some of the great coaster parks of the Midwest like Cedar Point and King’s Island. I cut my coaster teeth, not on their monsters, but on some of the classics. For example, I rode the long, wooden coasters that relied on speed and a few camel humpbacks to provide a thrill.
A lot of modern kids’ coasters, like Goofy’s Barnstormer or Flight of the Hippogriff, are short, twisty affairs designed not to take up too much space. I like a coaster that can let its legs out and run a little.
I wouldn’t go so far as to call the Slinky Dog Dash a long ride, but compared to the other kids’ coasters, it’s got a little more length of track to work with.
What are the innovations?
The Slinky Dog Dash is a dual-launch coaster.
At the start, instead of the traditional roller coaster slow build into a ride launch, the Dash uses slinky dog’s coils to hit the ground running, so to speak.
After a dash around the track, the ride stops where Slinky can be stretched back out for a power booster and sets up a second launch at about the midway point.
The second act of the ride experience takes you over some camelback humps and around, eventually, back to the start.
What’s the theming?
Well, it’s Toy Story so you’re in Andy’s world. In the queue, you’ll see some of the things important to him, like notebook paper, glue bottles and the occasional Crayola crayon.
The ride itself is basically, Andy got a new toy – the Dodge mega build-your-own-coaster play kit set featuring the mighty Rex. You see Andy’s plans for his new creation and stray coaster parts.
Andy brings some of his favorite toys to enhance his coaster creation. You’ll see Jessie, wooden blocks that spell F-U-N and Rubik’s Cube.
You’ll also hear the velvety tones of the audio-animatronics figure of Wheezy, the squeaky toy penguin, as you ride the double launch coaster among the empty toy boxes.
It’s all bright colors as you become part of the world of the “Toy Story” films.
The attraction’s ride vehicles are set within the coils of Andy’s favorite Slinky Dog toy and America’s new favorite floppy-eared dachshund.
Is Slinky Dog roller coaster scary?
No. The only way I could see the Slinky Dog Dash being considered scary is if it’s a kid’s first roller coaster ride.
It is quite quick but the drops are mild and there are no inversions.
Is Slinky Dog worth riding?
Yes. It’s a fun little family-friendly coaster. It’s not the most thrilling coaster in the Disney franchise, but it’s good for all ages. The long wait times can be a little excessive but it’s certainly worth riding. It’s a fun experience.
Read Also: What’s new on the Revenge of the Mummy ride, is it scary?
How fast does the Slinky Dog roller coaster go?
The Slinky Dog coaster goes up to 40 mph. For comparison, the other coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Rock ‘N Roller Coaster, goes about 57 mph.
Does the Slinky Dog Dash have a Lightning Lane?
Yes. The Slinky Dog Dash has a Lightning Lane entrance offered through the Disney Genie+ service. However, it does not have an Individual Lightning Lane.
That means if you purchase the Genie + service, you can make reservations to skip the line at Slinky Dog Dash if you can get them.
Read Also: Lightning Lane vs Genie Plus at Disney, what’s the difference?
If I buy the Genie+ service, should I make the Slinky Dog Dash one of my choices?
Probably. Disney says the average person who purchases the Genie+ gets to use two or three Lightning Lanes over the course of the day.
In my experience, the wait times for the Slinky Dog Dash are pretty long, so there’s good value in using a Lightning Lane here if you can get it. Plus it tends to sell out availability quickly.
Personally, I would prioritize my Genie+ Lightning Lanes at Hollywood Studios thusly:
1. Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run: Great ride, but usually has a long wait. It’s the top pick for Lightning Lanes.
2. Slinky Dog Dash: This is a great fun ride, but I don’t think it’s a better ride than Toy Story Mania or Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. The queue is less guest friendly and both of those other rides, in my experience, will have shorter wait times. Especially early in the day.
3. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: This is a great ride that would be a jewel of many other theme parks. The wait times are usually manageable and also the line seems to move quickly.
4. Toy Story Mania: A great ride. But if you’re able to target it early, you can get in and out without having to use a Lightning Lane.
When is the best time to ride Slinky Dog Dash?
The ride is fun any time you can get on. Be weather aware because the Florida weather can shut the ride down, but it’s a whole other experience if you ride at night.
Andy has enhanced his creation with some Christmas lights that make the whole thing really shine.
Are there any Easter eggs?
Dozens. For example, you’ll learn the origins of many of Andy (and Bonnie’s) favorite toys.
This includes Mr. Pricklepants, the huggable hedgehog, who first joined the Toy Story crew as one of Bonnie’s toys in the third movie.
What are the requirements to ride?
The height requirement is that guests must be 38 inches or taller. Guests in wheelchairs must be able to transfer to the ride vehicle.
Guests under 7 must be accompanied by someone 14 or older.
Have you ridden Slinky Dog Dash? What did you think? Let us know in the comments.
