Slinky Dog Dash In Hollywood Studio’s Toy Story Land

Last week my kids and I were able to ride Slinky Dog Dash in Toy Story Land. After our experience (which was, in a word, AWESOME), there are some things that would be helpful to share with you. Originally we had planned to spend the day at EPCOT, but around lunchtime, the wait time for Slinky Dog Dash was hovering around 70 minutes. Just over an hour? For a brand new ride? We had to take advantage of that! We hopped on the Friendship and hoped for the best. Here’s what you should know…

1. The Line Moves Quickly

By the time we got through Hollywood Studios’ security and made our way over to Toy Story Land, the wait time for Slinky Dog Dash had crept up to 80 minutes. Still not bad, considering some older rides still see those wait times (or higher!) regularly. We got into the line that was snaking its way well past the normal entrance–which was to be expected, of course. Cast members were standing by to help direct the crowds to where the line ended, and there were numerous umbrellas set up along the pathway to protect people from the sun. Plus, even though it is long and probably will be for a while, the line moves quickly. Somehow this helps, doesn’t it? It seems like if we’re constantly moving and making progress, the time goes faster.

2. You Need the Play App

The new Play Disney Parks Moblie App is a long-line lifesaver! While we waited for Slinky Dog Dash, we were able to play Andy’s Boardgame Blast, a game on a single device for two to five players. Y’all—whoever came up with this game is a genius. Though our family was working together as a team to earn points in the board game, each player got a chance actually to do the activity individually. For example, player one would do a maze challenge, then they would be prompted to pass the device to play two to do the same maze challenge. So there was no crowding around or fighting about who got to press buttons. Everyone knew their turn was coming. Plus, the game mixes up the order, too, so player one is not always the first player. Other challenges included taking photos and “dressing them up” with silly stickers, crazy bowling, and more.

3. Check Out the Queue Design

To conserve battery power, we didn’t play Andy’s Boardgame Blast the entire time. We also passed time by playing our normal waiting games (we love to play Disney Twenty Questions) and just enjoying the theming within the queue. Now, Slinky Dog Dash can’t really be classified as an interactive queue, such as the likes of Seven Dwarves Mine Train or Winnie the Pooh. But there is a lot to see and enjoy. Turns out Andy is the “designer” behind Slinky Dog Dash, so it was fun to see “his” creative plans as we wound our way through the cattle crossings.

4. It’s A Two Person Ride

Like, for real, only two people can sit in each row. In any other ride besides Barnstormer, you’re usually allowed to ride one adult with two small children. But in Slinky Dog Dash, each seat has its own adjustable lap bar rather than one that stretches the length of the row. Therefore, you must ride only two in a row. This may not be a problem for most parties, but since I was the only adult with four kids ages eleven and under, we had to get creative. If your group is in a similar situation, don’t fear. We teamed up with another group with an extra adult, and the cast member sat us all together. Problem solved! But still, it’s good to be aware.

5. It’s Amazing

You guys. It’s so fun. Exclamations of “That was awesome!” and “TOTALLY worth the wait!” and “Oh my gosh, that was so fun!” formed a chorus among us and all the other riders around. It’s fast, and the ride is super smooth. It makes you laugh and scream all at the same time. It’s got unexpected elements and pauses to build anticipation. It’s just so good. Three cheers for Slinky Dog Dash!

Have you gotten a chance to ride Slinky Dog Dash in Hollywood Studios yet? What did you think? And if you haven’t—tell us when you plan to go! We’d love to hear from you in our interactive Facebook group.

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