Disney lovers can join Buzz, Woody and the gang from “Toy Story” in mischievous antics as they careen their way through midway games on the ride Toy Story Mania, which opened June 17.
A combination video game, 3D experience and dark ride, Toy Story Mania turns riders into pint-sized toys inside a new midway game that movie character Andy got for his birthday. As with all Toy Story themes, when the family’s away, the toys will play.
Eight-person trams take you through the 5.5-minute ride playing traditional midway games with Disneyesque names such as Bo Peep’s Baa-loon Pop, Tossed in Space ring toss and Ham and Rex egg toss. The twist: It’s interactive. Pop the right balloon and there’s a spray of water. Break a plate and hear it shatter.
Every rider has a front row seat and a color-coded, pull-string-activated shooter. The characters even give you a chance to do a shooting test before the real fun begins. When the tram pauses at each game, the barker announces a countdown of time remaining to score. What could be easier?
Not so fast. While technology makes it almost impossible to not score, the scenes are busy with targets coming at you from different directions,sometimes unexpectedly. And those darn helicopters can be pretty elusive. There’s plenty of action. Every Toy Story character is said to make at least one appearance, though it’s hard to tell from just two times through the ride.
An onboard tram screen keeps track of each rider’s score,so your neighbors can see your score as well as their own (much to my dismay). Each tram’s scores are displayed at the end of the ride, along with high scores for the week.
Lines for Toy Story Mania are likely to be long. The Fast Pass system, which cuts down wait times for some rides, isn’t available for this one. While you’re waiting, the carnival barker, Mr. Potato Head with Don Rickles’ voice, entertains.
The ride is worth the wait. It’s entertaining for all ages and easy enough even for video game klutzes. But beware: If you try for accuracy over speed, or shoot for the middle instead of the fringes, you’re not likely to see your score among those who exceed 300,000 points.
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Sandi Cain
