The Slinky Dog Dash coaster! No, we aren’t on it.
Previously on Midlife Crisis Crossover:
Each year Anne and I take one (1) road trip to a different part of the United States and see attractions, wonders, and events we didn’t have back home. One thing we rarely do is fly. We’d much rather drive than be flown unless we absolutely have to…or are given some pretty sweet incentives to do so. Fast-forward to December 2022 and a most unexpected opportunity: The Powers That Be at Anne’s rather large place of employment recognized her and several other employees nationwide for outstanding achievements in the field of excellence. Their grand prize was a Disney World vacation! We could at last announce to friends and family, “THE GOLDENS ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!”
For Anne it was officially, legally a business trip. Much of the time, she’d have to work…
…except for a single day to do whatever we wanted in Disney World vicinity, whether it was riding rides or just wandering around them. Other options included Disney Springs or just wallowing at the Grand Floridian’s spa facility. Some options were more tempting than others.
We’d dallied for so long in Galaxy’s Edge that everyplace else in Hollywood Studios had crowded up in the meantime. We next sauntered north to Toy Story Land, Star Wars’ next-door neighbor geographically and corporate-family-wise. Much of the area is for the kiddos, but grown-ups have options, too. After escaping the First Order and piloting the Millennium Falcon our inner whirligiggish sens-o-meters were at max capacity for a while. We middle-agers were plenty entertained walking around this alt-universe showcase of what Andy’s bedroom might’ve looked like at worm’s-eye-view if he’d been jointly cloned from Frank Lloyd Wright and Pee-Wee Herman.
We loved the designs of the rides, the buildings, the statues, the muchness of it all. We were intoxicated with that long-lost sensation we used to get every time Pixar made a new film.
Welcome to Toy Story Land! Just like the films, guests can see how many trademarked products they recognize from their youths.
Tinkertoy constructs were everywhere. For some reason, so were giant Christmas lights.
All around the Slinky Dog Dash, our old friends make themselves at home. Bonus points for the Jenga set.
This isn’t from the Ants in the Pants game I had as a preschooler, but it’ll do.
2-D versions of the characters appear sparingly.
Even their RESTROOMS (11 points!) looked wild.
Buzz Lightyear, Star Command! On duty by the bumper cars.
One of the LGM and the CLAAAAAW.
Sheriff Woody keeps an eye out at the other entrance.
Green Army men, hard at work on expanding Andy’s territory.
One soldier gets into the spirit of Christmas-in-March.
The R. Lee Ermey tribute continues with cast members as a marching toy-army band.. God bless those who serve, swelter and swing!
To be continued!
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Midlife Crisis Crossover! 