Once upon a time, there was a Pizza Planet at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s where PizzeRizzo is—ahem—once… stood in Grand Avenue. Granted, it was a half attempt, with some arcade games tossed in and the entire place feeling industrial more than space age. But there was a presence.
— Image source: Reddit
Now that we have Toy Story Land, which is incredibly lacking in indoor spaces, may I present a new “blue sky” idea?
I remember watching Toy Story for the first time, and wanting to visit a real life, film accurate Pizza Planet like nobody’s business. It’s an accurate yet almost-dreamlike depiction of a 90s-style arcade; a sci-fi version of a Chuck E. Cheese in its hey day. I can’t be the only grown up who still wants this in the parks!
You are cleared to enter. Welcome to Pizza Planet.
Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a colorful, charming “playground” of a land that expanded upon the success of Toy Story Mania! But, let’s be real: it’s due for an upgrade. While the land captures the joyful chaos of Andy’s backyard, guests have long pointed out the lack of indoor spaces, air conditioning, and a surprisingly glaring omission: a real, film-accurate Pizza Planet.
Yes, I know Roundup Rodeo BBQ recently opened. It’s great to finally have an indoor table-service restaurant in the land, especially one that’s themed to the Woody’s Roundup crew (more on that below). But Roundup Rodeo BBQ is a table service, reservation-heavy, and mostly meat-centric experience.
Sometimes all we want is some cheese pizza and a side caesar salad, you know? Okay, and maybe some well-themed arcade games...
So… why not give the people what they’ve been buying the shirts for? Pizza Planet isn’t just a nostalgic memory from the first Toy Story movie, it’s an institution. A galactic, arcade-filled pizzeria that’s been teased in merch –from Wal-Mart and Target, to countless Loungefly bags and Disney theme park products — and referenced across the parks for years. It’s time to stop teasing and make it real!
Pizza Planet reference at the now defunct PizzeRizzo:
A literal “pizza planet” can be seen on Alien Swirling Saucers:
What Pizza Planet Could & Should Be:
– Themed to the movie: Retro sci-fi decor, blinking alien signage, rocketship booths, and that grimy, 90s-style arcade vibe Andy loved. Maybe they could sell it as a life-size toy set replica of Pizza Planet to blend in with the “oversized” land?
– Functional arcade: Imagine playing the exact same games Andy (and Sid) did in the film, like Whack-A-Alien, Mission Control, Rocket Rides, and Planet Destroyer in a real working arcade. Heck, Disney could add in some of their own licensed arcade games and pinball machines, complete with Pixar-themed arcade prizes. They do it at Pixar Pier, why not on the east coast? Additionally, you know a themed instant-photo booth would pop off… or rather, blast off!
“All right, double prizes!”
– THE CLAWWWW: A giant alien claw machine where you can win Little Green Men plushies, maybe even dressed up in Pixar costumes!
– Real pizza, done well: Not flatbread. Not generic quick service “personal pizzas”. High-quality pizza slices with themed names, served fast and hot. Maybe even a sit-down section with spacey cocktails and glowing drinks. The to-go packaging is already done; just copy the designs from Toy Story:
— Image source: GifsOfWar
This indoor, themed eatery would not only encourage guest spending (something we know Disney is always after), but it would add much-needed capacity to the bottle-necked Toy Story Land, especially during peak holiday periods and the heat of summer.
Guests are already invested in the idea of Pizza Planet. They wear the merch. They get the reference. Now give them the space to eat in it!
If this doesn’t entice anyone to rally alongside me, might I suggest some other Toy Story Land expansion ideas? How about a dark ride themed to Woody’s Roundup or *gasp* a puppet show?! A stylized dark ride or animatronic stage show recreating scenes from Toy Story 2‘s canonical kiddy show would bring fresh storytelling and appeal to younger kids AND adults, all while offering shaded seating. Heck, how about a Woody’s Roundup Vault-style vintage merch collection?
Or a quiet, indoor play and chill area themed to Andy or Bonnie’s room could offer a sensory-friendly, climate-controlled space for families. What do you think?
Pizza Planet Could Be the Crown Jewel
With Mama Melrose’s permanent closure, therefore lacking quality, wood-fired pizza in the park, Disney has a clear opportunity to give Toy Story Land the expansion it deserves. A real, fully themed Pizza Planet wouldn’t just serve the food… it would serve nostalgia, interactivity, and most importantly, air-conditioning.
Pizza Planet is already in the hearts and minds of guests. It’s time to put it physically in the park –the right way– with arcade games, claw machines, and piping hot slices. After all, you’ve got a friend in… pizza.
Header image source: Pixar Wiki
