Early Morning Magic – Toy Story Land, Orlando

My favourite park from our trip to Orlando was Hollywood Studios. Most people say Magic Kingdom, and whilst it’s always great to see the Castle and to grab those silky shots on Main Street there was just something about Hollywood Studios that made me want to go back again and again. We devoted two whole days to visiting this park, we could have gone back for a third. Which is why I would recommend Early Morning Magic at Toy Story Land.

For me it had everything; so immersive, epic rides, character meets we hadn’t seen before. If you have your heart set on riding the new attractions over at Toy Story Land but you’re worried the masses of people might keep you from the fun, Early Morning Magic – Toy Story Land might be for you.

Of all the parks I felt Hollywood Studios was the most accessible, the most fun, quick to access from the parking lot, had something for all the family with great dining experiences and our favourite snack! This park for me is the one that holds the biggest memories. With some of the best photos on our Memory Maker. Some might disagree but for me this is the park you’ll want to go back to again and again.

So, if you’re wondering YES I would recommend paying the additional cost to fully experience Toy Story Land. As we stayed offsite we didn’t have access to the added benefit of early morning magic hours nor did we manage to book a fast-pass for Slinky Dog Dash. Is that even possible? And as this is still an incredibly popular area of the park to visit we didn’t want to run the risk of not being able to experience it as it’s best. At best we saw the standby line for Slinky Dog Dash at 120 minutes.

 

 

 

How to book Early Magic Hours at Toy Story Land

When we started to plan our itinerary we very quickly realised that to make the most of our time in Hollywood Studios we would need to book certain extras. Early Morning Magic at Toy Story Land was one of those. We visited late April 2019. This special event can be booked online or via telephone, admission is available for $79 per adult (ages 10 and older) and $69 per child (ages 3 to 9). Please note: regular theme park admission is also required.

We monitored the availability for weeks, initially there were no spots and at the point one came available we very quickly rang and booked. I would recommend not hesitating. We also found calling was the best option.

As they say in Andy’s world, you’ll be able to play BIG before the park opens. And honestly, having seen the park at it’s quietest and busiest you won’t regret it. Look at how quiet the park is. Walking down Hollywood Boulevard when it looked like this was one of my top 10 favourite moments from our trip. Note: Due to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opening I believe this event is currently on hold or in limited supply.

 

 

What is included in Early Morning Magic at Toy Story Land?

All of the magic. You have priority access from 7:30 am until 9:00 am – you can stay in the area after 9:00 am however you will be amongst general admission. We were surprised to see folk only just entering the area after 8:00 am which seemed like a huge waste. Especially given the price.

So, what is included? All of the fun. Priority access to Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers and Toy Story Mania! You will also be able to meet Buzz, Woody and Jessie with less crowds. Since the release of Toy Story 4 I believe you can now meet Bo Peep. How exciting.

And lastly breakfast. The food was great, there was so much choice. There is a wide selection, both cooked and continental  and as breakfast is served from 7:00 am until 10:00 am there is plenty of time to eat. We actually had two breakfasts which i’ll tell you more about in a little bit.

 

 

 

How to plan your morning at Toy Story Land

This is the important part. Are you ready?

We arrived at the entrance to Hollywood Studios for 6:50 am. Our time slot was 7:30 am however having been to another event we knew that we would be allowed entry to the park around 7:00 am. We were given separate ID bands. As you cannot access Toy Story Land until 7:30 am I would first recommend that you head to the Backlot Express where breakfast is served. We chose to have a light breakfast with a takeaway coffee and milk for George. Knowing that we would be back for the hot breakfast options before it closed at 10:00 am.

And now the fun begins. We were ready and waiting at the entrance of Toy Story Land for 7:30 am. Be ready to immerse yourself in the fun. To play in Andy’s backyard. We made our way to Slinky Dog Dash and then Toy Story Mania. And to be honest went back and forth until 9:00 am. We never waited more than 5 minutes. Sadly the Alien Swirling Saucers ride wasn’t open due to a fault however the cast members were really helpful and gave us a fast-pass to come back during the day. Note: only on asking did we receive the fast passes.

Character meets. The queue for Woody & Jessie was around 30 mins so if this is a priority for you I would head straight to the meeting point to the right of Toy Story Mania for 7:30 am. Oddly Buzz never had a queue so I would visit him as you are coming to the end of your time – so around 8:45 am.

9:00 am – 9:30 am we were determined to fit in a couple of rides in Hollywood Studios before the crowds built up. We would recommend Tower of Terror, Rock n Roller Coaster, or Star Tours. Star Tours is right near to Backlot Express so perfect for fitting in a second breakfast! We did just that. We arrived at 9:30 am and all enjoyed a variety of cooked breakfasts. The joy of this booking is that it has an all you can eat vibe. All whilst talking about the fun from our morning in Toy Story Land.

 

 

 

What else can you do at Toy Story Land during Early Morning Magic?

We enjoyed finding the Instagram Walls with no crowds as well as soaking up the atmosphere. There are so many cute, fun and quirky areas to explore. This park has been designed so well. Nothing has been missed. Be sure to look around you. To stop and look up and don’t forget to pay attention to the scripting and drawings on the walls as you queue for both Slinky Dog Dash and Toy Story Mania. The themeing is incredible. Be warned though you don’t see as much when in the fast pass line. Sad I know.

You really are in Andy’s bedroom and backyard. Enjoy it whilst it’s quiet. And then there’s the Green Army Patrol near to Woody’s Lunch Box. If you catch them at the right time you will be able to join in with the fun. Just another example of being truly immersed in the Disney Magic. Don’t forget to grab a snack at Woody’s lunchbox, again the themeing here is incredible.

We also grabbed a few photos on our memory maker with Buzz as well as at the infamous entrance to the land where Woody welcomes you. The photographers are free from crowds so really have fun with you. Be sure to grab these before the park opens to general admission as this area is quite literally swamped.

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Is booking Early Morning Hours worth it?

Yes. Yes. Yes. The lower crowd numbers means you get to really experience Toy Story Land. During regular park hours it can be so crowded, more than you can ever imagine. You just cannot appreciate the detailing, but during Early Morning Hours you’re able to truly immerse yourself into the magic. And like me, photograph it.

So, if like us and Toy Story Land is a huge part of your trip to Disney World or if you only have a short amount of time then this special event is a must. With queue times at an all time low, we rode Slinky Dog five times. Yes five times. We rode Toy Story Mania several times, with minimal wait and lots of excitement. When we returned to ride Aliens Swirling Saucers wait times were beyond 60, 90 and 120 minutes. For that reason alone it is worth the investment.

One of the slogans for Toy Story Land is ‘Adventures for Kids and Grown-Ups Alike’ – they were absolutely right and gosh you won’t be disappointed.

 

 

 

If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World then you might want to read my Tips For Booking Fastpasses or my Florida Style Diary and if you love Instagram you might want to read my post dedicated to the Instagram Walls at Walt Disney World.