Five Things to Know About Slinky Dog Dash

Ever since Slinky Dog Dash opened, it’s been one of the most popular attractions at Disney Hollywood Studios. Inspired by the Toy Story movie franchise, it’s one of the more family-friendly coasters you’ll find at Disney World. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun! Read on to learn more about Slinky Dog Dash…but if you’re the kind who prefers the tail to wag the dog, here’s your shortcut to the whys, whats, and wheres of this attraction.

1. The queue can be paws-itively long – but fun, too!

Toy Story Land is built so you experience it from a toy’s viewpoint. Everything is larger than life, and the queue for Slinky Dog Dash is no different. The main portion is built to look as if Andy made it from the boxes of the Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster kit, with other pieces of his toys and games supplementing the attraction. Then he used Slinky Dog himself as the train!

There’s plenty to look at as you move through on your way to board (check out the Easter Eggs below), but the line can be pretty long. To help keep guests entertained while in line, the Disney Parks Play app has a game for families to play. One last word: the whole queue is outdoors, and even though part of it is covered, if you’re in the uncovered portion, you could get pretty hot. (We sure did…)

2. You’ll Go! Go! Go! twice with a double launch!

Before you board, Slinky Dog Dash can look as if it’s going to be a truly intense experience. The track is elevated, without scenery or props or mountains or anything on either side of it at its highest points. But surprise!’

It’s a gentle ride, with turns, dips, and hills providing the excitement and a top speed of 40 mph. No inversions or loops here (Andy wasn’t sure how to build those out of his toy chest, I guess). And no free-falls, either. If you’re familiar with other coasters at Disney World, the intensity is something like the Barnstormer or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in the Magic Kingdom – and not nearly as rough as Big Thunder Mountain.

There’s a unique experience to be had here: Slinky Dog Dash is the only double-launch coaster at Disney World. What does that mean, exactly? As you approach the second part of your ride, your train stops at the Power Booster Station, and Slinky Dog tells you to “Hold on!” Your train then backs up to get ready to launch again!

The second half of the ride has a different feel from the first. Dave Minichiello, then the Executive Creative Director of Walt Disney Imagineering, said: “The first half of the ride is many swirls, turns, and dips, and after the second launch comes a drop and camelback humps — as if you were playing with a Slinky Dog toy.”

3. The tale of this tail’s creation.

Slinky Dog Dash was announced along with Toy Story Land at the August 2015 D23 Expo. Slinky Dog Dash was described as a family-friendly roller coaster that would take guests on a “thrilling, toy-filled adventure” throughout the new land on the back of Slinky Dog.

Building the ride began that year, and the track layout was finished on August 1, 2017, with test runs beginning in September. Slinky Dog Dash opened with Toy Story Land on June 30, 2018. Since then, there have been no major upgrades, but the tails on the ride vehicles were briefly removed for safety adjustments between January 3, 2019, and February 27, 2019.

There were a few design changes along the way. It seems that the initial concept art for the ride included going through a sort of tunnel that Andy had dug, but when new art was shown in April 2016, the entire ride was shown above ground.

4. Yes, this dog hunts – for Easter eggs!

At Slinky Dog Dash, the Imagineers have hidden LOTS of Easter eggs and insider secrets for your enjoyment. There are even some Hidden Mickeys for those who know where to look.

⭐ Check the back of the “Wait Time” sign. It looks like Andy used his dog Buster’s dog tag to make the sign.

⭐ The Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster Kit box at the ride’s end has a UPC Barcode on it: 2319861011971. Break the numbers into two groups, and you get 231986 and 1011971. Read the first number as 2/3/1986 – the day Pixar Animation Studios was founded. The second number is 10/1/1971, the official opening date of the Magic Kingdom.

⭐ Underneath that UPC barcode, it says the Coaster Kit was “Made in Emeryville, CA.” That’s where Pixar Studios is based.

⭐ The price tag on the box that Rex originally came in has the numbers 11 and 22; the price is $19.95. Read together, that’s 11/22/1995, the day the first Toy Story feature was released.

⭐ Hidden Mickeys? The loading area features a mural of Andy’s sketch for the ride, made with pages torn from a spiral notebook. Look at the clouds in the upper right-hand corner.

5. The Nuts and Bolts.

Slinky Dog Dash is in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Since it’s an outdoor attraction, it shuts down in heavy rain and if there’s severe weather or lightning in the area. Much of the queue is exposed to the elements, and even the portion of the queue that’s covered isn’t enclosed. And it can get hot! While there are umbrellas to provide shade, there aren’t enough to accommodate everyone in line. So if you’re visiting in hot weather, plan accordingly.

There are four trains, with five cars each; each car holds a total of four passengers in two rows of two. Each rider has their own height-adjustable lap bar with grips to hold onto, and there’s a small, raised plastic “hump” between the two passengers to help prevent sliding into each other around the curves. There’s a pouch in front of each seat where guests can store their stuff during the ride.

To ride, guests must transfer to a wheelchair, then to the ride vehicle. Service animals are not permitted. The height requirement is just 38 inches, making this one of the most family-friendly coasters at Disney World. And as with all rides that have a height requirement, Slinky Dog Dash offers Rider Switch. Expectant mothers should not ride Slinky Dog Dash. Also, guests with a fear of heights should be aware of the attraction’s elevated track.

Slinky Dog Dash remains the most popular ride in all of Toy Story Land, regularly posting waits of an hour or more even on days with lower crowds. It’s open for Early Theme Park Entry, and a significant chunk of Early Entry guests will head to Slinky Dog first thing. To reduce your wait time in line, it’s best to visit early in the day or near park closing time. You can also purchase Lightning Lane Entry with a Multi Pass or Premier Pass, but know that Slinky Dog reservations are in very high demand.

The Bottom Line.

We rate Slinky Dog Dash as not-to-be-missed. As a milder coaster, it’s suitable for almost every member of the family. And even those who aren’t fans of the Toy Story franchise will find this ride worth the time it takes to hop on board.

What’s your experience with Slinky Dog Dash? One time is enough, or must-do every visit? Let us know in the comments below.

(Originally published August 17, 2023. Last updated/republished October 22, 2025.)