A frustrating week at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has finally taken a turn for the better.
Slinky Dog Dash is running again.
The popular Toy Story Land roller coaster reopened on Thursday, September 3, after remaining unavailable for three consecutive days.
Instead of another morning staring at a closed attraction, guests arriving for Early Theme Park Entry were able to ride Slinky Dog Dash. Around 8:55 a.m., Disney was posting a wait of approximately 35 minutes.
It's a major turnaround from what guests encountered just 24 hours earlier.
An Ordinary Closure Became Something Much Bigger
The trouble with Slinky Dog Dash didn't begin with three consecutive days of closure.
The coaster experienced hours of downtime on the Friday and Saturday before it eventually stopped operating altogether.
Slinky Dog Dash then remained closed for the entire day on August 31.
September 1 brought more of the same.
By September 2, the coaster had officially entered its third consecutive day without operating, and Disney still hadn't announced when guests could expect it to return.
That's when another development added to the mystery.
A Slinky Dog Dash ride vehicle was spotted stopped around the second launch. An electrical panel was also open nearby.
The scene created plenty of questions about whether crews were dealing with an electrical or control-system problem.
Disney, however, never confirmed a cause.
That's an important difference between what was observed and what is actually known. The open panel and stopped vehicle may have been connected to the shutdown, but Disney hasn't publicly said what caused the attraction to remain unavailable.
Then Thursday morning arrived, and the situation changed completely.
Slinky Dog Dash reopened.
Why This Wasn't Just Another Closed Ride
Losing any major Disney attraction can affect a guest's plans. Losing Slinky Dog Dash for several days can have a much wider impact.
The coaster is one of Hollywood Studios' most popular rides.
Slinky Dog Dash also occupies an interesting place within the attraction lineup because it appeals to such a broad audience. It's a roller coaster, but its family-oriented design makes it approachable for guests who may not want something as intense as Tower of Terror or Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets.
That popularity means Slinky Dog Dash absorbs a considerable amount of demand every day.
Take it away, and those guests don't leave Hollywood Studios.
They find another ride.
Toy Story Mania! becomes an obvious alternative. Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway can attract families looking for another major experience. Other visitors may head toward Galaxy's Edge or Sunset Boulevard.
Over several days, that lost capacity becomes increasingly important.
Slinky Dog Dash Restores Some Normalcy
Thursday's reopening should make Hollywood Studios considerably easier to navigate than it was during the three-day closure.
Slinky Dog Dash can once again absorb guests who otherwise would have entered queues elsewhere.
Toy Story Land also has all three of its rides available again.
Perhaps most importantly, guests don't have to completely rewrite their plans because one of the park's biggest attractions is missing.
There's still one unanswered question.
Disney hasn't explained what happened.
The stopped vehicle and nearby open electrical panel offered an interesting glimpse at what was happening during the shutdown, but they don't give us a confirmed cause.
For guests, that may matter considerably less now.
The coaster was unavailable for three complete days, stretching from August 31 through September 2. On September 3, it returned for Early Theme Park Entry.
After several days of uncertainty, Toy Story Land has its biggest ride back, and Hollywood Studios has regained a major piece of its attraction capacity.
For anyone who missed Slinky Dog Dash earlier this week, that's the update they've been waiting for.
