Disney's Hollywood Studios
 "Toy Story Mania" is the coolest, newest attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It's a fantastic, fun ride that is not to be missed.
As you approach the brick building where Toy Story Mania is housed, there's a chain of "Barrel of Monkeys" figures strewn over the walkway.
You walk in and you're reduced to toy size. The queue is loaded with an amazing assortment of nostalgic toys, including a giant Scrabble board overhead. While waiting to get on a ride is rarely fun, you find yourself pointing and saying "look at that! I had that when I was a kid!"
There's a familiar character from the Toy Story movies who serves as a "Carnival Barker" over the queue. It's Mr. Potato Head and he interacts with guests, cracking jokes and occassionally having a body part pop loose. Another example of making the wait a lot more tolerable.
After going through the main part of the queue, you head up a flight of stairs. You next grab a pair of 3-D glasses and get ready to enter the ride vehicle.
Each car takes 4 guests. What's unique is that you're sitting back to back, with a tall partition between you. Once you're on your way, you'll be facing your own set of targets while whoever is behind you is facing the opposite way and shooting at their own targets. It really is the same as having two completely independent vehicles combined into one.
You have a toy cannon that fires via a pull string. You take aim at the targets at the game booths you encounter along the way. Cheering you on will be Woody, Buzz, Bo Peep, Hamm and the Green Army Men. Find a hidden target and you'll rack up even more points as you compete for the highest score. The targets and weapons vary. What's even more fun is feeling the rush of air as you pop balloons at one of the game booths. This ride is all about the details and not a single one was overlooked.
The one thing that made me a bit apprehensive was the "spin" action of the cars you're in. I was with my husband who is my "ride test dummy" and gets queasy just looking at the Mad Tea Cup Party. As we completed one set of targets we "spun" over to the next set. This isn't wild, crazy going in circles, just a turnaround. At the end, when it does "spin" several times, it is so s-l-o-w there's zero impact from the rotation. I'm happy to say that my man had no problem at all and was anxious to try it again.
Speaking of my guy, as we were exiting he pointed out the back of the giant "Golden Book" as we were passing it. As I said earlier, there are tons of childhood memories that you'll enjoy along the way.
We rode it during the "soft opening" phase when there was absolutely no wait and we walked straight on. (The ride even smelled new with that scent of plastic you get when you open a toy package.) I can tell you this, now that it's "officially open" this is going to be insanely busy. Not only is it for all ages/heights unlike the more popular Hollywood Studios attractions, it's fun for everyone.
GET TO THE PARK EARLY AND GET A FAST PASS!! The allotment of those little slips of paper is definitely going to run out and I predict that the 'standby' wait time will consistently be at least an hour. (Think Soarin' and you get an idea of how popular this one will be.)
"Toy Story Mania" replaced the former "Who Wants to be a Millionaire - Play It" attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios and is also located at Disneyland's Paradise Pier.
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