Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is about to drop the beat! The land’s flat ride, Alien Swirling Saucers, is getting an all new soundtrack via a character from Toy Story 5. Lilypad, the movie’s screen time character, will now be serving as DJ for the attraction. Let’s get to the news before we add our commentary to the end of this post.

Imagineers are adding new magic to Alien Swirling Saucers in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting Friday, September 25. Lilypad from the latest Disney-Pixar film, Toy Story 5, is coming to the backyard alongside Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear. Lilypad is a spirited, frog-shaped smart tablet on a mission to connect friends, and she’s using her tech to bring toys together for an all-new soundtrack to Alien Swirling Saucers: Lilypad’s Jams!

With DJ Lilypad on the 1s and 2s, this fresh new lineup features reimagined Toy Story classics and brand-new songs written just for this attraction. Lilypad is the maestro behind the music, connecting to the internet to remix and mashup different tunes from a variety of music styles and genres.

To record this new soundtrack, Imagineers took to Nashville, working with world-class musicians, hopping across genres such as pop, country, EDM, and alt-rock. “We wanted to think about the music in a completely new way—taking beloved songs from the Toy Story films, and create catchy new original songs, that are singable, sincere and a little cheesy, as one is about Pizza Planet,” said Thomas Niederhiser, Senior Creative Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering.

The Toy Story films are known for iconic songs that bring audiences into the journeys and stories of their favorite characters. We’re excited to reimagine some of these most beloved tunes—like “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” “We Belong Together,” and “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away”—and infuse them with a new swirling energy just for this attraction.

In addition to remixing classic Toy Story favorites that you know and love, we’re thrilled to build upon the films with brand-new songs, like the deep crust cut “Pizza Planet Promo,” the in-story theme song of everyone’s favorite pizza arcade, and “Spin It Back, Lilypad,” a tribute to the newest toy in the backyard.

“Collaborating with our partners at Pixar Animation Studios to write for these characters and expand their stories is just pure joy,” said Geoff Line, Senior Story Lead at Walt Disney Imagineering. “We played with these toys as kids. Now we get to play with them as Imagineers. It doesn’t get better than that.” And with Lilypad as DJ, plenty of favorite toys, like ‘Partysaurus Rex,’ are sure to get more airtime—err, playtime.

But you don’t have to go for a swirl to join the party! Lilypad is DJing for all honorary toys in the backyard, whether or not you’re riding Alien Swirling Saucers. Offboard, guests can sing along as DJ Lily hypes and introduces tracks from her playlist and provides a variety of entertainment between tunes. Try to guess which toy she’s doodling on her drawing app, help her unscramble puzzles, and even watch “home videos” she’s recorded of some of your favorite Toy Story pals.

Commentary

It appears that Walt Disney World and Alien Swirling Saucers are going after that Happy Ride with Baymax energy! The Tokyo Disneyland attraction that uses the same ride system has been known for drawing crowds, dance parties, and excitement ever since it opened in 2020. Cast Members and guests know different dances to go along with the original songs and the ride has a life of its own, especially once the sun sets.

After seeing the huge success of that ride and the relative lack of success at Alien Swirling Saucers, it makes sense to try to give the WDW ride a shot in the arm. Even the Cars Land version of this ride system in California (Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree) is far more successful than the Hollywood Studios edition, thanks to the unique soundtrack and leaning into the goofiness of Mater’s character.

Adding Lilypad and a variety of songs should cure some of Alien Swirling Saucers blandness. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the ride, it’s just forgettable and feels a little cheap compared to the other versions I mentioned. Having remixed Toy Story tracks along with a few original songs should only make the attraction better.

The DJ Lilypad interactive prop should only help the land too. I’m not expecting this experience to be something groundbreaking but it’s another small positive change that Walt Disney World has been having so much success with lately.

I am interested in how far they can stretch this song idea. I’ve never dreamed of hearing an energetic, pulse pounding version of “When Somebody Loved Me” until I head this announcement. That’s all I can think about now. Hopefully Walt Disney World does the right thing and adds the dubstep beat behind Sarah McLachlan’s silky vocals.

Jokes aside, I don’t think Walt Disney World will be able to replicate the Happy Ride with Baymax energy seen Tokyo Disneyland. Frankly, I’m not sure they want to make it that much of a craze. As fun (and funny) as that experience is, it can also be a logistical headache. Once you factor in that the guest demographic for Tokyo Disney Resort is far different than Walt Disney World, I just don’t see this becoming an overnight sensation.

It doesn’t need to be that. I think an original soundtrack, with a little bit of story behind it, should be a nice plussing to Alien Swirling Saucers. We’re excited to see the new version debut!

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