New Toy Story Land Shows Disney Isn't Playing With Theme Park Competitors
Skift Take
Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida should become more of a destination in its own right with the addition of Toy Story Land. Will that help ease the crowds at other parks — and keep guests staying at Disney longer?
Disney's next big expansion places visitors in the middle of a beloved film franchise — which is a sentence that can apply to many of the entertainment giant's projects these days.
And there are many: Disney's capital expenditures this year are expected to total about $4.6 billion, up from $3.6 billion in 2017. Of that, $3.2 billion went to parks and resorts last year, underscoring the escalating competition among theme park owners.
The latest addition is Toy Story Land, an 11-acre, three-ride area packed with oversized building blocks, construction sets, Christmas lights, green army men, and famous toys, including Woody, Slinky Dog, and Buzz Lightyear. It officially opens Saturday, but Disney held a media preview Thursday.
Set in the character Andy's backyard, the land is designed to make visitors feel like they are fellow toys playing while their owner is away. (In typical Disney attention to detail, Andy's giant footprints can be spotted on the ground throughout the land.)
"You're shrunk down to the size of a Green Army man, joined with all your favorite characters from the Toy Story franchise and able to walk through this land in a toy's shoes," said Ivan Chan, project manager with Walt Disney Imagineering. "It's just giving you that experience that kids have always imagined, of being able to interac
