TOY STORY LAND: Woody, Buzz, and Andy’s other childhood toy pals are finally getting a Land of their own at Walt Disney World Resort!

On June 30, 2018, Guests to Disney’s Hollywood Studios will virtually shrink to the size of a toy as they enter 11 acres of Andy’s toy-filled backyard! Here we will join Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and all their pals from the Disney·Pixar TOY STORY films for a play date straight from Andy’s imagination. And the fun will last long after the Tinker Toy lights come on.

The TOY STORY movies are some of my favorite Disney film productions of all time! The first one came out in 1995, when my oldest child was just an infant. We later purchased it on VHS. Kyle would watch it over and over and over without tiring of its story line. I never tired of it either! In the film, we meet Sheriff Woody, a pull-string cowboy doll based on the fictitious 1950s TV show, Woody’s Roundup. He’s been Andy’s favorite toy for as long as anyone can remember. When a fancy new Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger doll comes along and competes for Andy’s affection, jealousy gets the better of the lawman. His attempt to knock Buzz out of Andy’s sight goes awry, and the two end up lost. A true camaraderie develops as they make their way home to the boy’s waiting hands.

Kyle and I were both a bit anxious when TOY STORY 2 debuted in 1999. Sometimes sequels don’t have the same entertainment value as the original, but TS2 did not let us down. It cleverly brought in Woody’s back story and at the same time introduced endearing new characters. The second film finds Buzz and his posse on a mission to rescue the toy-napped Woody. It turns out Woody is a collector’s item and is almost convinced by his TV-show mates to be sold with them to a museum. The rescuers remind Woody of Andy’s love and need for him, and they return home with Jesse and Bullseye in tow.

When the third [and what we thought would be the final] installment, TOY STORY 3, released to theaters in 2012, we didn’t worry about its success or failure. We worried what would happen to Woody, Buzz, and all our favorite toy friends when Andy left for college. In TS3, we find Andy all grown up and ready to leave for college. The toys are packed up but mistakenly get donated to a daycare center instead of being stored in the attic. It’s up to Woody to restore their faith in Andy’s love for them, and they launch a near disastrous escape. The movie evokes excitement, tension, joy, misery, anxiety, and tears. Yes, tears. I cried with compassion for old friends as they said good-bye to their favorite boy, and I cried with longing and nostalgia for those moments of my kids’ childhood that are now memories. A fourth installment, TOY STORY 4, was slated for a June 2017 release, but production will not be complete until 2019.

TOY STORY is one of the best selling feature-length animations of all time.

It’s not wonder, since the TOY STORY, um, story confirms something we’ve all suspected: toys really are alive! They move and talk, even play, when humans aren’t around. I have to admit this newfound insight has made it nearly impossible for me to sort through my kids’ toybox without feeling guilty about donating ones that are no longer played with. Well, beginning June 30, the toys will no longer be shy, and I can’t wait to play along with them in Andy’s backyard! Some of the attractions and experiences Guests will encounter at the brand new Toy Story Land are Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster, Alien Swirling Saucers, and Sarge and the Green Army Men Drum Corps. Watch the blog for more information as Opening Day approaches!

 

Today’s Takeaway:
The TOY STORY 3 Blu-ray Combo Pack is “Buzzing with hours of exclusive bonus features, including an interactive trivia game and the Pixar short film DAY & NIGHT.” Also in the bonus features are the Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: the Science of Adventure, which takes kids into the study of space, astronauts, and NASA.

In 2009, Disney’s very own Space Ranger, Buzz Lightyear, spent 15 months–that’s 450 days!–aboard the International Space Station. While on the station, Buzz supported NASA’s education outreach program–STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)–by creating a series of fun educational activities, demonstrations, and exhibits. Today, visit the NASA Kids’ Club and learn all sorts of astronomical facts and information, play online games, download Apps, podcasts, and e-books,  and more!

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Astronautics, Aeronautics
SKILL LEVEL: Elementary

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