Hey, Disney friends. Well, it looks like Andyās backyard is getting a new resident, and this one has me scratching my head just a little. Starting September 25th, Lilypad, the newest character from Disney and Pixarās Toy Story 5, will be joining Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear at Alien Swirling Saucers in Toy Story Land at Disneyās Hollywood Studios. Sheās a frog-shaped smart tablet, and sheāll be taking on the role of DJ as the attraction gets a new soundtrack called ‘Lilypadās Jams.’ Now, I am always interested when Disney adds something new to an existing land, and I love seeing Imagineers find ways to keep older attractions feeling fresh. But this one has me asking a rather simple question: does Lilypad actually belong in Andyās backyard? For me, that has always been the charm of Toy Story Land. We are supposed to feel like weāve been shrunk down to toy size and dropped into Andyās world, surrounded by Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Rex, the Aliens, and all those familiar toys weāve known for decades. So introducing a character who is, quite literally, a smart tablet feels like a rather noticeable departure from that wholesome world of play we once celebrated.
Beginning September 25th, Alien Swirling Saucers will become ‘Alien Swirling Saucers: Lilypadās Jams,’ with Lilypad remixing Toy Story classics and new music. Lilypad wonāt just be heard while youāre spinning around with the Aliens either. Sheāll also interact with guests outside the attraction, introducing songs, offering puzzles, drawing through her app, and showing ‘home videos’ of some of our favorite Toy Story characters. So, clearly, Disney has put thought into making her part of the experience rather than simply placing a new character in the land, but honestly, none of it feels like it fits in this space.
In fairness, I can absolutely see the storytelling logic here. Toy Story 5 is exploring a very modern idea, with Lilypad representing technology and the changing relationship children have with screens and devices. In that context, she isnāt a completely random addition. In fact, the new music and interactive elements could be a lot of fun, though Iām not terribly keen to hear new versions of classic Toy Story songs while spinning around with the Aliens; I like the originals. But I do wonder whether every new character needs to become part of an established land right away. Toy Story Land has always felt wonderfully rooted in the physical world of toys and imaginative play, and there are so many longtime characters who could have stepped into this role while still feeling completely at home in Andyās backyard.
This is where my sentimental Disney side really starts talking. I grew up with these characters through so many different stages of my life, and one of the things I love about Toy Story is that sense of timelessness. The toys may change, the technology may change, and generations may come and go, but the friendships between Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the gang remain at the heart of the story. And honestly, that makes Lilypad feel a little strange to me. One of the great things about a family Disney vacation today is getting everyone away from their phones and tablets for a while. We ride together, laugh together, talk, make memories, and actually spend time with the people we came with. So putting a character who is essentially a smart device into the middle of Andyās backyard, complete with an app, digital puzzles, and technology-themed entertainment, feels like a slightly odd message. I know that is part of the point of the new story, but I canāt help wondering if there was another way to tell it.
Maybe Iāll see Lilypad in person and completely change my mind. That has happened before, and Iām always happy to admit it when Disney surprises me. But right now, this feels like a bit of a swing and a miss. Between the question of whether a smart tablet really belongs in Andyās backyard at all and the message this particular character brings with her, I find myself wishing this highlight position had gone to someone who has been part of the Toy Story family for a little longer. Even an interactive Forky could have been a better choice, representing creativity and resilience rather than tech. New doesnāt always have to mean better, and sometimes the most magical choice is the one that reminds us why we fell in love with these characters in the first place.
