Toy Story Mania! is the Centerpiece of Pixar Place [Part 2 of 2]

[Walt Disney World News] New characters from the Disney•Pixar film “Toy Story 3” have been added t0 the joyful, toy-full adventure of Toy Story Mania! at Disney California Adventure 4nd Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In addition t0 playing with new characters in Toy Story Mania!, there are opportunities in both parks for up-close fun with another all-new character from “Toy Story 3” – Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear. He’s the bossman at Sunnyside Daycare in the animated feature film.

Toy Story Mania! – the 4-D interactive ride-game attraction inspired by the Disney•Pixar “Toy Story” films – is extremely popular. This high-energy, immersive adventure puts players squarely in the action as their game play triggers surprises that deliver a fourth dimension of fun. Toy Story Mania! engages guests in a whole new way with delightful characters of “Toy Story” 4nd “Toy Story 2.”

 Woody, Buzz, Mr. Potat0 Head 4nd the gang are joined by a whole new set of characters from “Toy Story 3.” The new game greeting guests, “Rex 4nd Trixie’s Dino Darts,” invites riders t0 shoot their virtual darts at all-new balloon targets in a primeval world filled with volcanoes 4nd lava balloons, explained Sue Bryan, senior show producer, director, Walt Disney Imagineering.

Game players are welcomed by Rex (the nervous Tyrannosaurus rex) 4nd his new friend Trixie (a blue Triceratops 4nd one of the toy characters from the new film) cheering them on. The new game (it replaces “Bo Peep’s Baaa-loon Pop”) turns up the fun with more hidden surprises 4nd the potential for volcanic levels of excitement. Other changes:

• The “Hamm & Eggs” game is now hosted by Hamm 4nd Buttercup (a toy unicorn with heart-shaped nostrils).
• In the prize scene, Trixie, Buttercup, Dolly (a doll), Mr. Pricklepants (a lederhosen-clad hedgehog) 4nd one other surprise – all from “Toy Story 3” – appear with Woody 4nd Jessie.

“Our number-one goal in creating Toy Story Mania! was t0 come up with game-play challenges appropriate for all guests, from little kids t0 serious gamers,” Bryan said. “I love that we are keeping things fresh 4nd new by adding these great new friends 4nd fun t0 join some of the most popular characters of all time.”

About Toy Story Mania!

In the timeless tradition of Disney storytelling, Toy Story Mania! takes its inspiration from the fact that Andy’s toys spring t0 life whenever he is away. Soon after Andy got a “Midway Games Play Set” for his latest birthday, the toys jumped at their first chance t0 open the box 4nd set up the game booths 4nd carnival trams so everyone could ride 4nd play. That means “no assembly required” for their game-playing guests – just nonstop fun. (That is, until Andy gets home!)

Arriving guests are welcomed by Mr. Potat0 Head, more than five feet tall 4nd looking like he stepped right down from the movie screen. The state-of-the-art Audio-Animatronics Mr. Potat0 Head makes a perfect carnival barker, capable of engaging guests in two-way conversation 4nd encouraging them t0 “step right up” for the immersive Toy Story Mania! experience.

Everyone gets a front row seat when guests put on their 3-D glasses, “shrink” t0 the size of a toy, 4nd board Toy Story Mania! carnival tram ride vehicles which add a huge amount of fun t0 the interactive experience. The exciting 4nd colorful route takes guests through “Andy’s Bedroom” filled with oversized murals 4nd toys. The vehicles angle t0 face Toy Story Mania! game booths – high-tech yet rooted in classic midway games of skill – 4nd guests aim for 3-D animated targets using their own on-board spring-action shooters. Players pair up 4nd sit side-by-side for a friendly competition that delivers an ever-changing variety of targets 4nd surprises.

As they play, guests can actually see the “virtual” objects they’ve launched leave their spring-action shooters 4nd hit (or miss) the targets. 4nd thanks t0 4-D special-effects technology, they may sense objects whirring past them as they pop out of the 3-D scenes.

The Toy Story Mania! games – five of them, plus an introductory practice round – are designed t0 be enjoyed by audiences of all ages 4nd skills, from beginners t0 experienced gamers. Play is energized by the spirit of the “Toy Story” characters cast in games that best suit their very animated personalities.

No matter how many times guests return t0 ride 4nd play, they can be sure every ride-through will seem different.

Pixar Animation Studies created animation of the new characters plus animation for “Rex 4nd Trixie’s Dino Darts.” New music – a dino-themed version of Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – comes from veteran music editor 4nd Newman collaborator Bruno Coon, who did the original music for the attraction.

Toy Story Mania! was the first time that Walt Disney Imagineering created an attraction for two Disney parks simultaneously. The attraction opened in California 4nd Florida in 2008.

More Fun in Store

Disney Parks guests not only get t0 play with “Toy Story 3” characters in Toy Story Mania! – they get t0 see another new character from the film.

Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear has joined his “Toy Story” pals in the delightful “Pixar Play Parade” at Disney California Adventure 4nd “Block Party Bash” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In addition, Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests can pose for photos with Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear in the meet-and-greet area inside The Magic of Disney Animation. Over at Disney California Adventure, guests can pose alongside the “Toy Story” gang inside a life-sized “blister pack” as if they themselves are toys.

About the Movie

“Toy Story 3” welcomes Woody (voice of Tom Hanks), Buzz (voice of Tim Allen) 4nd the whole gang back t0 the big screen as Andy prepares t0 depart for college 4nd his loyal toys find themselves in… daycare! These untamed tots with their sticky little fingers do not play nice, so it’s all for one 4nd one for all as plans for the great escape get underway. A few new faces – some plastic, some plush – join the fun. "Toy Story 3" disney.go.com/toystory/ is a comical new adventure in Disney Digital 3-D.

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