If you’ve been plotting your rope drop like a theme park ninja—timed to perfection, speed-walking past the masses, and eyeing Slinky Dog Dash like it’s the last piece of pizza—well… Disney just hit you with a plot twist.
As of this week, the path to Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios has officially changed for Early Entry. And if you don’t know where to go, your whole plan might fall apart before you even scan your MagicBand.
New Checkpoint, New Headache?
Previously, guests using Early Entry could head into Toy Story Land through the familiar entrance near Pixar Plaza. Easy. Familiar. Efficient. But starting now, Disney has redirected that entrance. If you want to be among the first to race through Slinky Dog Dash, you’ll need to head to Animation Courtyard—right under the big arch at the front of the park.
Sounds fine, right? Well, here’s the kicker: non-resort guests won’t even be allowed into Animation Courtyard until regular park hours. Translation? If you’re not staying at a Disney resort, your rope drop dreams for Toy Story Land just hit a snag.
What’s Going On?
So why the sudden change? Disney’s kicking off its “Cool Kid Summer” programming, which turns Animation Courtyard into a party zone—with a DJ, family games, and enough energy to rival a cup of Joffrey’s coffee. To make space for the festivities (and avoid total chaos), Disney decided to funnel Early Entry Toy Story Land traffic through that area.
It’s not a park-wide shift, though. If you’re heading for Rise of the Resistance, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, or Tower of Terror, your usual routes are still open. This update is all about controlling the flow into Andy’s backyard.
Morning Strategy, Upended
This change may not seem like a big deal, but let’s be honest—it’s a rope drop bombshell. If you’re not in the know, you could end up in the wrong place, losing valuable time while the line for Slinky Dog Dash shoots up to “abandon all hope” levels.
So here’s the move: if Toy Story Land is your top priority, set that alarm clock even earlier and bee-line it to Animation Courtyard if you’ve got Early Entry privileges. If you don’t? You might want to consider a different ride to start your day—or invest in Lightning Lane access to avoid the stress entirely.
In the ever-changing world of Disney logistics, it pays to stay sharp. Rope drop isn’t for the faint of heart—and now, it just got a little trickier.
