Recap of the Toy Story Land Holiday Overlay
We’ve seen the toys play outside in the summer, we’ve seen them star in their own Halloween special, but until this year, we’ve only had a glimpse of what Christmas looks like for Andy and his toys. It’s Christmas Day in the final scene of Toy Story, but that’s the only insight we’ve ever gotten on the toys’ Christmas traditions. It was certainly not enough! Let’s take a look at the Toy Story Land Holiday overlay!
This year saw both the opening of Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios AND the inaugural Holiday overlay that I’m sure will become a mainstay for the Land in future years. Similarly to how I felt ahead of my first-ever visit to Toy Story Land, I didn’t have the highest expectations for the Holiday theming….but I went in with my camera leading the way, so let’s see what I found!
Decorations Throughout the Land
Credit: Maria Salerno
Woody’s strategic placement at the entrance to Toy Story Land was no mistake, and neither was the placement of the very first hint of the holiday overlay! Woody’s adorable scarf was the first sign that Christmas had arrived in Andy’s backyard!
Credit: Maria Salerno
Slinky Dog Dash was strung with oversized bulb lights that immediately reminded me of the lights my grandfather hangs on his front bannister each Christmas. In fact, that’s the great thing about Toy Story Land– you really do feel like a kid when you’re there! You feel small and fully immersed in nostalgic decorations like the big bulbs and meet ups with the toys.
Character Meet and Greets
Credit: Maria Salerno
Until Toy Story Land opened, meeting my favorite Toy Story characters always felt strange. I could never put my finger on why, but meeting Buzz Lightyear at eye-level in Toy Story Land made the epiphany come: it was because I was a human, and Buzz was supposed to be a tiny toy! Now that I feel toy-sized, the character meet-ups feel extra special…especially when the characters are all decked out in their holiday best!
Alien Swirling Saucers
This visit was my first-ever spin on the Alien Swirling Saucers and in turn, my first-ever time riding with the Christmas soundtrack! As I waited for my turn in the ring, I listened to the Christmas music that was clearly delighting the guests on the attraction. I couldn’t wait for my turn, and I REALLY couldn’t wait to hear which Christmas song I’d get to ride along to!
I boarded a purple car and was ready to set off when the music began….and it was the farthest thing from a Christmas song. A very strangely upbeat version of Jesse’s sad anthem ‘When Somebody Loved Me’ is what played during my ride. I was disappointed in the song, and I was even more disappointed in the length of my ride. Their ‘holiday overlay’ of this attraction certainly fell short of expectations for me.
Woody’s Lunchbox
Credit: disneyfoodblog.com
The final piece of the Christmas in Toy Story Land puzzle was the special, limited time Christmas tart. The shortbread-esque dough and filing method remains aligned with the other tart flavors, but that’s where the similarities end!
Credit: disneyfoodblog.com
I can best describe the flavor as an apple pie fused with a puckering cranberry bite! The tart as a whole is certainly sweet, and the toasted marshmallow ‘acorn’ decoration drives home the feeling that all the ingredients in this adorably designed treat were found in Andy’s backyard!
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