With all the hullabaloo about Toy Story Land happening, everyone is hoping to get chosen and scooped up by The Claw, or fulfilling childhood dreams of riding a Slinky Dog along an Erector Set roller coaster. No? Only me? Well, the point is, all the attention is going to the new kids on the block, and many seem to be forgetting about our old friend, the Toy Story attraction that started it all in Hollywood Studios — it is very storyline appropriate, to be honest. We got a couple of new toys, and left our old one behind.
Not me. Not this girl, whose daughter now plays with 30-year-old Barbies in addition to her own. Nobody left behind. That’s why today we’re heading to the Toy Story OG — Toy Story Midway Mania.
On that note, did you know it’s actually no longer Toy Story Midway Mania? It’s actually just Toy Story Mania. It’s going to take me a while to get used to. Might not happen. Just a warning.
This is the ride my family always calls Toy Story, so that’s what we’re going to go with. As you might expect with this ride, when you walk into the queue, you are shrunken down to the size of a toy so you can play. Now, if you’re like me, sale is a big deal to you. I like things realistic and plausible. So, I’m here to reassure you, it’s legit. According to an Imagineer who worked on the Toy Story Land project, when you head into these attractions, you are not the size of Woody or Jessie or Buzz. Instead, you are one of the little green army men. Keep that in mind when you compare yourself to the other toys. Boom. Totally works.
Anyway, as we head into the queue, look around to take in all of the nostalgic toys and games used to create the winding path toward the carnival games. You’ll catch boxes as well as game pieces, and if you look close you might even notice some crayon scribbles from Andy and his little sister. Continue on and you’ll make your way to a sign that instructs you to take a pair of 3-D glasses. These fancy little yellow guys will be what helps you really get into the games. Once you’ve finally made your way through the queue, you’ll see the vehicles. Big, yellow, and reminiscent of a wild mouse-style roller coaster car, these vehicles have two sides that accommodate two players each. Don’t worry if you end up sitting backward when you first sit down. The vehicles spin and twirl as you go.
As soon as you sit, put on your glasses and take hold of the gun ahead of you. We’re about to head to the most frantic carnival midway you’ve ever seen.
The ride brings you down several long hallways, spinning and sliding as you go. Every now and then you’ll stop and a screen ahead of you displays a different game. Hold the gun with one hand, and use the other to pull the little ball on the back. This will activate a variety of game effects, depending on which game you’re playing. Throw darts at balloons. Toss pies. Shoot at targets. Try to break dishes. Go as fast as you can, because you’ll soon be zooming to your next destination. Be sure to sit back. The vehicle can move quickly, and I’ve hit the back of my head on more than one occasion because I was a touch too enthusiastic about my carnival game.
When you’ve gone through all the games, check the screen in front of you. It will display how many points you earned, and what cute little virtual prize you won. It’s like a stuffed animal for your heart.
This ride is an all-time favorite, and one we scramble to get a FastPass for each trip. It will stay this way, even with the new experiences. I’m still driven to beat Bubba’s score. Probably not going to happen. But, it’s Disney World. Dreams come true here.
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Taryn was born and raised, and still lives in Richmond, Virginia. Neither she nor her husband ever had the opportunity to visit Walt Disney World when they were children, but when their daughter Avalon came along, they decided she was not going to follow in their footsteps. They brought Avalon for the first time when she was 3 and have been hooked ever since. Now along with Taryn’s mother and equally Disney-loving older brother, they go “home” at least once a year, and by the time she is staring longingly at Cinderella Castle from the ferry on their last night, Taryn is well on her way to planning the next trip. As a group consisting of two adults with Asperger’s, including one who is also vegan, a very accommodating husband, an only child, a senior, and a service dog, they are a pretty special family, but Taryn is excited to show that the World really is The Most Magical Place on Earth and that there is a place there for everyone. When she isn’t thinking about her next Disney adventure and trying to come up with a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party costume that will beat her Oozma Kappa nerd look, she is a professional blogger and novelist, but Taryn also likes to indulge her Disney passion on her Etsy shop It’s Better in Vinyl.
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