Last week we recounted my epic ride on the mythical Slinky Dog. Today we’re going back to Toy Story Land, but with something otherworldly in mind. Tucked in the back corner, near the adorably-themed restrooms and a nice open area where we witnessed the Army Men going through a drum practice and a bit of boot camp, is a ride I didn’t know what to think about when I first heard about it. Could it be like Mad Tea Party just with saucers instead of teacups? Could it be like the Scrambler, for those Virginians who know what I’m talking about? Could it be a new version of a hoverboard-type ride a la Luigi? I didn’t know.
Now I do.
No to all of them.
Of course, I’m talking about Alien Swirling Saucers, and it was a delightful little surprise in my day. It’s not that I was dreading riding it. I was actually excited to hang out with the adorable little green dudes. I just didn’t know what to think about it, or really what to expect. Hubby is not a fan of things that swirl around, so he was a bit apprehensive heading into this. We had an escape plan in place where if he watched a few rounds of the ride from the queue and decided he wasn’t up for it, he’d just duck out before getting on and it would be just for me and the little one.
We arrived at the queue, of course sans Fastpass. But that wasn’t that big of a deal. The line was surprisingly short at about 30 minutes. This queue isn’t nearly as enthralling as the one for Slinky Dog, but there are still very cute elements. The very high grass, tall fence, and strategic placing of toys really gets you into the feeling of being in the backyard. Listen closely and you’ll hear the sound of birds and insects that make you feel even smaller and more immersed in the experience.
Once you weave your way through the ride, you get to a fork in the road. Here a Cast Member will direct you to one of two bays to await your turn on the spin. This is where I really started to realize there was something going on I wasn’t expecting. I thought the ride just put you in a little car with an alien friend and twirled you around a central point with a few swishes and swerves thrown in for good measure. Oh, not so.
When it was our turn, we were pleased to hear the Cast Member directing guests to which saucer to get on rather than just opening the floodgates and letting everyone scramble for whatever one they could find. It was a much smoother loading experience that way. Once inside, we latched our seatbelt, held on, and were ready for our trip around Pizza Planet. Literally. Pay attention to the details of the figures on the ride floor.
Now the fun begins. The saucers start spinning, and you are, in fact, going around in a circle around a central point, with a few swishes and swerves thrown in. But then you notice another saucer coming right at you. Just before it seems you’re going to get too close, you are suddenly in another position on the floor. What happened??
It turns out you are not just going around a circle in your own section of the floor. You get a spin around all sections as the rotating platforms in the floor jump you amongst themselves, constantly keeping you changing position. This not only made the experience more exciting, but it took some of the dizzying edge off of the twirling part, so even the hubs enjoyed it.
This was a really fun surprise. We didn’t get chosen by The Claw, but there’s always next time.
Next time — getting swirly with the aliens!
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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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What is “The Claw”? What happens if you’re chosen? Where does it drop you?