Slinky Dog Dash in Toy Story Land: What You Need to Know

Toy Story Land opened for some serious playtime on June 30, 2018. The land itself has been a huge hit with guests, but the one attraction that everyone is talking about is the new family-friendly coaster, Slinky Dog Dash! This coaster was a surprise in that it is a bit more intense than most expected, but it’s just a very fun ride. Read on to learn more about this fun coaster, and with our recommendations, the best experience on this attraction.

1 – Andy’s Backyard

When entering Toy Story Land, you’ll be shrunk down to the size of a toy and enter Andy’s backyard. As honorary toys, we’ll get an incredibly fun experience thanks to Andy’s active imagination. One of his creations puts his toys inside Slinky Dog’s coils as the lovable pooch twists and turns around the track. Andy used the Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster Play Kit to assemble this speedy toy, and we get to ride it!

“As Toy Story Land welcomes our guests – as toys – into Andy’s backyard, Slinky Dog Dash invites them into Andy’s imagination,” said Phil Holmes, Vice President of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. “What Andy has dreamed up will deliver nonstop coaster fun for all ages.”

2 – Coaster Theming

Andy’s idea for his double-launch coaster – a Disney first – was to pick everyone’s favorite floppy-eared dachshund with the stretching coil body – Slinky Dog – to send guests around the track. The attraction’s ride vehicles are spring-tailed spinoffs of Slinky, the iconic American toy from the 1940s. Track and supports for the coaster are done up in bright colors of red, orange, yellow, and blue. You’ll also discover Lincoln Logs and colorful wooden blocks supporting the tracks.

In one hilarious scene, the coaster swoops around blocks Andy stacked around his Jenga game. Rex, the toy dinosaur, is precariously perched atop the unstable Jenga stack trying to decorate the toy block city by stringing up colored Christmas lights – a daunting task when you’re a dinosaur with short front arms! Jessie comes to his rescue, working to untangle Rex’s dino-sized predicament.

3 – Colorful Queue Area

Guests approaching the ride launch see Andy’s plans sketched out in Crayola crayon on notebook paper. Glue bottles, empty toy boxes, and stray coaster parts and pieces are strewn about – Andy’s pet project was clearly a work in progress when he was called away.

In the regular standby queue, you’ll likely have time to look around and see many of the fun things Imagineers have created to keep the queue interesting with the long waits. There are also fans and water fountains for the hot summer days to keep cool. Andy was so thoughtful in that regard!

4 – Take a Ride on Slinky Dog

The coaster is a fast-loading coaster, and the wait times have averaged anywhere from 1-2 hours. Cast Members do an excellent job keeping things moving. The coaster ride itself is about 2 minutes long.

In the first section of the coaster, you’ll launch out pretty quickly and get an excellent view of the land, Toy Story Midway Mania, and the Tower of Terror off in the distance.

Andy also tricked out his coaster creation with a power booster. When Slinky Dog Dash hits its midway point, the coaster stops, reverses a few yards, then shoots through multiple rings pulsing with sounds, spinners, and flashing lights to launch riders into the second act of the ride experience.

“The first half of the ride is many swirls, turns, and dips, and after the second launch comes a drop and camelback humps – as if you were playing with a Slinky Dog toy,” explained Dave Minichiello, Executive Creative Director of Walt Disney Imagineering. After the second launch, you’ll also be treated to a great birds-eye view of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!

5 – Wheezy Finale

Andy saved one last surprise for his coaster’s finale: Wheezy, the squeaky toy penguin from the Toy Story films, breaks into a rendition of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” Created especially for Slinky Dog Dash, the Audio-Animatronics figure of Wheezy is unique among Disney Parks globally. Toys and toy packaging complete the scene, including a Rubik’s Cube, a game canister for Pick-Up Snakes and toy wooden blocks spelling out F-U-N – all against the backdrop of a towering book, Mr. Pricklepants’ “Songs for Singing,” compiled by the huggable hedgehog from “Toy Story 3.”

6 – Disney Genie+

Disney Genie+ is one of the ways you can pay to access the new Lightning Lane (formerly FastPass), which lets you “skip the line.” Slinky Dog Dash is one of twelve Genie+ attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This costs anywhere from $15-$39 per day, per person. Much like the original FastPass system, you can only book one Lightning Lane attraction at a time. At 7 am on the day of your visit within the My Disney Experience App, you’ll book your first return window at one of the attractions below. After that, you can make one selection at a time based on availability. Also, note that you can only use the Lightning Lane for each attraction on the list one time. You will not be allowed to book another return window for an attraction you’ve already used for Lightning Lane that day.

If you plan to purchase Disney Genie+ for your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, be ready to book your first return window for Slinky Dog Dash right at 7:00 am. The attraction is extremely popular, and Lightning Lane access for this attraction regularly fills to capacity early in the morning. Once full, even if you purchased Genie+, you will not be able to book a return window, so set those alarms!

7 – Overall Thoughts and Recommendations

This rollercoaster is simply a whole lot of fun. During construction, this coaster was often compared to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom. Most assumed it would be on that level of intensity. To the delight of many guests, it is more slightly more intense than Mine Train, mostly due to its slightly faster speed and the fact that you do get quite high in the air—at least compared to Mine Train. We do find it less intense than Big Thunder Mountain because it does not whip you around as much. It’s a very smooth ride. Children need to be at least 38 inches to ride this attraction. If they have enjoyed Mine Train, they will likely love this coaster! Also, be sure to visit Toy Story Land at night! The land is an entirely different experience at night, and riding Slinky Dog Dash at night is even more fun than during the day!

8 – Slinky Dog Dash: At a Glance 

• Type of attraction: Family-friendly roller coaster, first at Disney Parks with a second mid-ride launch
• Track type: Steel
• Number of passengers per train: 18
• Height restrictions: 38 inches
• Disney Genie+: Yes