Jessie’s Trading Post Coming to Toy Story Land
Walt Disney World has announced “New Playset Fun Coming to Toy Story Land in 2022!” (their words) in the form of an addition at Hollywood Studios called Jessie’s Trading Post. This post will share the official announcement, details, and what else is on the horizon for DHS.
Here’s the official introduction from Disney: “Yee-haw, attention all honorary toys! After enjoying a rollicking ride through Toy Story Mania!, you will soon be treated to a new experience that is filled to the brim with fun.”
The backstory of this store is that Andy discovered Jessie’s Trading Post playset tucked away in the attic, and is bringing it downstairs to set up shop–full of the coolest toys and finest souvenirs handpicked by the rootinest, tootinest cowgirl.
In addition to this, Walt Disney World is currently constructing what appears to be a covered seating area at Woody’s Lunch Box. Thus far, an awning has been erected towards the back corner of the outdoor counter service restaurant, which should provide cover to a portion of the small seating area.
That is, assuming the incomplete structure isn’t actually Jessie’s Trading Post. Nothing would surprise me at this point.
Walt Disney World also provided an update on Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant: “Also coming in 2022 to Andy’s backyard is the previously announced Roundup Rodeo BBQ restaurant! In this unique, fun, family-friendly dining experience, guests will enjoy delicious barbecue fare while surrounded by a kaleidoscope of toys, games, and playsets that Andy has brought together to create his one-of-a-kind rodeo.
“Stepping into the lobby and waiting area, guests experience first-hand what it feels like to be one of Andy’s honorary toys, before progressing into two larger dining room spaces where Andy’s rodeo takes place. Here, the rodeo will be in full swing, with western town and train station playsets mixing with surprising, playful details, like some fan-favorite Pixar characters as they’ve never been seen before!”
As a refresher, Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant will be themed to a backyard barbecue with Andy and his toys inviting guests to participate in fun. Andy has cut and taped three cardboard boxes together to create a new rodeo arena using some of his favorite toys, games, and play sets.
Once inside, you’ll be surrounded by all of the rodeo festivities in-action as well as western town and train station play sets. And you just might spot some of your favorite Pixar characters scattered around the restaurant in the form of toys and game pieces including a toy version of Jessie riding on the back of a Trixie pull-toy and unique toy versions of Bo Peep and her sheep, all who appear to be performing in the rodeo together.
You may recall that Walt Disney World announced the Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant would open in 2020. However, that announcement was made a few months before the closure of the parks, and even then didn’t have an opening month or season attached to it. Our expectation at the time was that it would debut close to the Christmas 2020 season given visible construction and the pace of work at that time.
Since reopening, there has been intermittent progress on Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant. Walt Disney Imagineering filed a few permits for the interior with addresses that would match the location, and progress could be observed on the roof of the warehouse that’ll house the restaurant. It’s been fairly slow-going, though.
At this point, the concrete ‘warehouse’ for Toy Story Land’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant is finished and has been for months. We’ve observed occasional work on the exterior and construction crews around the project, but it’s impossible to ascertain the location’s actual progress since it’s literally a window-less warehouse.
In case you haven’t seen it, this new table service restaurant will be located to the right of what’s currently the entrance of Toy Story Land, behind the giant Woody figure and land’s marquee (you can see construction walls in the photo above). Previously, this area was home to two backstage production bungalows. These facilities were relocated with a new structure built to house Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant.
In terms of commentary, let’s start with clarification that Jessie’s Trading Post is a store and not a play area. The official announcement is confusing in this regard, using the term “playset” multiple times but “store” or “retail” zero times.
I don’t know why Disney feels the need to get so cutesy with its announcements to the point that clarity suffers. It’s a store.
Beyond that, all of these additions to Toy Story Land are good to see but, frankly, overdue. It’s no secret that Toy Story Land was a victim of budget cuts; that much is obvious when comparing the original concept art (above) released when the land was announced versus a later update.
Even at the time, some of those cutbacks made little sense for a land that would be built in Florida…or in a theme park, anywhere. No shade? No air-conditioning? Dining capacity for about 37 people?! No gift shop?!?!
These new additions should help address all of those issues, but you’ve really gotta wonder what led to so many perplexing decisions in the first place. (The lack of dining and retail, in particular, is confusing given that both directly generate revenue.)
From a guest perspective, Toy Story Land is pretty miserable during the summer heat or daily rain showers. Giving guests even a temporary reprieve from the sun or storms in a place that isn’t the restrooms will be nice. All of this was totally avoidable, though.
Otherwise, about my only thought is, “why not have an elaborately themed Pizza Planet?!” and I’m guessing the answer to that is storytelling consistency. My retort to that response would be: “who cares.” Seriously, it’s not like Toy Story Land is the pinnacle of themed design. Beyond that, it would be pretty easy to concoct a storytelling contrivance to explain away the presence of Pizza Planet in “Andy’s Backyard,” if Imagineering truly felt the need.
To the extent that it succeeds, Toy Story Land does so because it’s lighthearted and whimsical fun. Being so beholden to “story” that Imagineering ignores the very obvious, very low-hanging fruit that is Pizza Planet just seems self-defeating. But then again, so did “saving” a little bit of money by not building shade, a gift shop, or more dining capacity in the first place. So what do I know!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about the addition of a gift shop or table service restaurant to Toy Story Land? Do you agree or disagree with our thoughts? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Thank you for clarifying Jessie’s was a store, I 100% thought it was going to be a playground based on Disneys announcement.
Just finished our trip here and as my wife has said this park is worthless for our daughter under 38” because of the limited rides!! It would be nice if they added a few more littles rides and/or at least have shows open during the early morning hours to allow the small kids to do something!! I think it’s time for Rock-n-Rollacoaster to be reimagined as it seems so out of place at DHS!! It would be nice if the rumor mill were true and they added another avenue connecting Toy Story Land with the Rock-N-Rollacoaster whether it be Incredibles and/or Marvel, but in all DHS is lacking in rides, especially for the little ones.
My daughter is a huge Toy Story fan and I wish the land were a little more…something. A Pizza Planet, with arcade games, would be awesome and Disney would make so much money. They wouldn’t even have to sell pizza. Sell food of any kind, call it Pizza Planet, and let all of us spend all our money on the arcade. C’mon, it’s an easy win. Of course a character meal inside a place called “Pizza Planet” would also be amazing, but maybe I’m just griping because I would die of starvation before eating BBQ. What I would personally love would be a play area – like the Boneyard at AK or the water spray area at MK – which I think would thematically make sense and is badly needed at HS with so few rides for young kids but such huge draws for the older kids. Let them wait in line for Star Wars while a parent watches the young ones play at Toy Story Land, a win for all. When I first saw “playset” I thought OMG THEY ARE REALLY DOING IT but noooo….a store. Better than nothing, I guess.
What really surprised me is that they have never incorporated the build your own potato head they had at Disney springs. That was such a fun experience. A big gift shift with a/c is a big missed opportunity in my opinion.
We love Toy Story land because we love Toy Story. But there are so many easy wins. That gift shop at the end of Toy Story Mania is terrible. The outdoor kiosks have as much stuff. What an opportunity missed to have a huge Al’s Toy Barn with every Toy story piece of merchandise you can imagine. And no pizza planet is a crime. Woody’s lunch box is fine but adding two more restaurants would not be too much.
Amanda,
When we first went on the Disney Cruise Line around 2010, they had a Toy Story Musical that was performed on the ship. It was awesome. It was set for the viewpoint as a toy. Disney should dust off this musical and introduce it to the Toy Story gang.
Tom – Any links to articles or explainers on the history of Toy Story Land vs Cars Land?
I just got back from DLand and California Adventure the kids absolutely loved Cars Land. I heard rumors that Toy Story land in DWorld was at point going to be Cars Land but the later Cars movie bombed compared to Toy Story and they made the switch.
My points is, Toy Story is the better and more loved movie franchise, but the level of detail and layout of Cars Land is far superior and is a highlight of California Adventure. At HS, I feel like Toy Story Land is a more of a space filler and totally a bummer to walk through during hot or rainy weather like you mentioned. I love in-depth pieces that explore these decisions and the lasting effects, good or bad. Cars Land is a must for any loves of the Cars movies!!
My understanding is that Cars Land for DHS was a done deal–greenlit and ready to be announced, but plans were axed due to the total cost of the DHS overhaul. I’ve heard that from a couple of credible sources and think it’s the most likely scenario.
(It’s probably obvious, but the budget for Cars Land was significantly higher than that for TSL.)
I feel what’s missing is some type of interactive non ride experience. Maybe a pizza planet would have covered that but also an actual play scape in Andy’s back yard or some type of covered show even outside. Basically a place for parents to sit down and young kids to get all their wiggles out. I don’t get how you have a toy story land but don’t have that.
I wish Disney would upgrade their other Toy Story Lands. The links Dog spinner is stupid and should be ripped out of every part. There is the perfect spot to install a Toy Story Mania in Hong Kong and Slinky Dog Dash would fit beautifully in Shanghai and Paris. Of course, better food service would be ideal in any of the parks.
I for one care very much about thematic consistency. But all that means is a bit of creativity. Put Pizza Planet just outside of the current land, or via a path that makes it very much a different area, or heck just put it in a different part of DHS. It’s possible to do without compromising on theme.
I think the low hanging fruit for Disney in regards to Toy Story Land is to have several smaller props/set pieces that they can randomly put out every morning in order to facilitate the idea that the land is being played with and therefore never ( within the constraints of budget and time) the same place twice.
I feel okay that there is no pizza planet as previous versions have failed and also Disney’s pizza is terrible. I think the obvious low hanging fruit is making this character dining as they’ve already described it as the toys inviting everyone over for dinner. There’s serious demand for characters!
Agreed about character dining, but why not both? Pizza Planet character meal with AYCE table service-caliber pizza with a range of options, similar to what Goofy’s Kitchen does at Disneyland.
Also, there’s nothing to say that the Pizza Planet concept needs to be as bad as Disney’s past attempts at it. They’ve all been bad because they’ve been phoned in, not because the idea itself is inherently flawed.
I’m excited about a new restaurant in Toy Story Land. There needs to be a nice place to sit down an relax in that area. It’s a very long walk from Galaxies Edge to the Walt Disney History/Theater. There is no place to duck in.
I ageee get it’s making Pizza Planet as cool as in the movie. I’ve always been shocked and frankly, disappointed that they are using the name for such a boring place to eat.
whenever we go next, my bbq cravings will likely be covered by flame tree and regal eagle. assuming there isn’t some earth-shattering new menu must-have item, or if this secretly becomes a character meal, i think we’ll pass. the decor leaves a lot to be desired imagination-wise, and sadly and unsurprisingly looks cheap from the renderings.
I personally have low expectations for the restaurant; my expectation is that it’ll be unambitious because Disney knows there’s a huge audience for all things Toy Story, and it’ll easily book up even if it’s underwhelming.
Would love to be proven wrong, though!
Toy Story land is so brutal that I have pretty much only enjoyed it at a brisk pace moving between Galaxy’s Edge and the main courtyard. I’ve not once stopped there to appreciate the theming or to relax. I don’t really enjoy rides where I have to compete with people, so both of the attractions are pretty much no-goes for me as well (as Slinky is not worth waiting more than 30 mins for, and scoring it via Genie+ can be a hassle.) I’m curious to see if these new ‘story element’ additions will actually look good, or be more blank walls with cardboard cutouts. If they do manage, then I might finally give the land a chance…
I’m guessing the latter (cardboard cutouts), but I’m hoping for the latter.
Too bad they aren’t just revisiting the original concept art, adding the old west style town at the entrance.