Name a more iconic section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and we bet you’ll struggle not saying Toy Story Land!

And we wouldn’t blame you! Who doesn’t love the thought of being shrunk down to the size of a toy and tromping through Andy’s backyard with your favorites like Woody, Slinky Dog, and the rest? Now, theming perfection aside, there is this trend that we’ve noticed with this land at Hollywood Studios in particular, and with so many expansion projects around the corner, we’re concerned it might spread to Disney’s other parks too!

As we were saying, if you’ve been to Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ve probably noticed something that’s less than ideal. Sure, it’s colorful, whimsical, and packed with fan-favorite characters, but it’s also seriously lacking in some key areas (i.e. shade, seating, and space to breathe in general.)

You can’t miss it. As much as we love the oversized toys and nostalgic vibes, it’s hard to ignore the land’s tight squeeze and lack of shade. So, we’re wondering, “What’s up with this trend, and is Disney going to repeat these mistakes in future expansions like Villains Land and Pueblo Esperanza?”

The Toy Story Land Dilemma: It’s Packed But Also Lacking

Let’s start with Toy Story Land. When Disney opened this section in Hollywood Studios in 2018, we all were thrilled. The whole area makes you feel like you’ve shrunk down to the size of a toy and entered Andy’s backyard. Despite its immersive design, there’s one big issue. It’s tiny.

The land was crammed into a small footprint, meaning Disney had to make some tough calls. The result? Minimal seating, sparse shade, and a layout that feels congested, especially when crowds swell.

If you’ve ever tried to find a spot to rest while munching on your Totchos, you know exactly what we mean. Not to mention, in the Florida heat, the lack of trees or large shaded areas makes walking around this land feel like a sun-baked trek through Andy’s toy box.

So, what’s the deal with Disney squeezing such an anticipated land into a small space? Well, real estate is at a premium in Hollywood Studios, and Disney had to make some sacrifices to fit in Toy Story Land alongside other its planned expansions, like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

That brings us to the big question: “Will Disney this trend continue in its other parks?”

What About Villains Land and Pueblo Esperanza?

As we’re sure you’ve noticed with all the recent announcements from this year’s D23 event, Disney’s not done with new lands just yet. Over the next few years, they’re planning to introduce some major expansions at Disney World: Villains Land at Magic Kingdom and Pueblo Esperanza at Animal Kingdom.

Will these lands face the same space constraints and design oversights as Toy Story Land? Let’s hope not.

About Villains Land, if the concept art is to be believed, it’s going to be a huge expansion tucked behind Big Thunder Mountain. If Disney sticks to its word, this new land could feature much more space than Toy Story Land, which should give them room to spread out and avoid the cramped feeling.

Plus, Villains Land is should have a darker, moodier atmosphere, which practically begs for shaded areas and more places to sit. We’re thinking gothic castles, spooky forests, and plenty of villainous hideaways. At the end of the day, we’ll definitely take more seating and more shade.

As for Pueblo Esperanza at Animal Kingdom, this land is supposed to be inspired by the culture and environment of Latin America.

Given that Animal Kingdom is already lush with vegetation and themed to different natural landscapes, we’re hoping Disney will lean into that with plenty of greenery and shade structures to keep the area cool and comfortable. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for better seating, too!

DinoLand is fairly spacious right now, so we’re hoping this new land will have that same feel.

Lessons Learned?

Hopefully, Disney has learned from the Toy Story Land situation. Villains Land and Pueblo Esperanza are some huge opportunities for Disney to step up its game, especially when it comes to guest comfort. With more room to work with, and all the feedback from the Toy Story Land experience, we should expect more thoughtful design choices in these upcoming lands.

But hey, if nothing else, at least we can always count on those Totchos even if we have to eat them standing up.

Those are just some of our thoughts, but what do you think? Has Disney learned its lesson, or are we going see to even more crowded and shade-less lands in the future? Let us know what you think down in the comments below. For more Disney news, keep following DFB!

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Do you think Disney learned its lesson, or are we going see to even more crowded and shade-less lands in the future? Let us know in the comments!