Haunted Toy Story Land: Halloween Overlay Ideas for Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Magic Kingdom has always been the main (or only) focus for Halloween décor at Walt Disney World. But what about the other parks? Each receives Christmas trees and decorations, but why no love for Halloween? From a local’s perspective, I enjoy seeing the parks change with the seasons (even if Florida doesn’t have seasons). To correct these shortcomings, I’m sharing my armchair Imagineering ideas for seasonal park overlays. First up, a location that is perfect for the Halloween treatment: Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios.

Learning from Cars Land’s Haul-O-Ween at Disney California Adventure

Cars Land’s Haul-O-Ween is the prime example of what a spooky overlay should be. It’s full of great Halloween puns, details, and décor. I love how well Halloween themes can be applied to the land’s car parts and machinery.

Haul-O-Ween’s concepts could be easily applied to Toy Story Land. In theory, it should be even easier to apply Halloween touches to toys. I’ve spent a lot of time studying Cars Land’s Halloween overlay thanks to all the artwork I’ve created based on it. There isn’t a corner of that land that doesn’t get themed in some capacity. I don’t think Toy Story Land needs that level of theming to be successful.

Haunted Toy Story Land: My Halloween overlay concept

I can picture stepping through the gates of Haunted Toy Story Land. Woody’s thrilled that Andy is celebrating Halloween with his toys. After Andy’s Halloween party, he’s left behind stickers and candy in the yard, and the toys are using them to decorate.

Guests will enter Haunted Toy Story Land and be greeted by pirate Woody, who’s swapped his cowboy hat for a tricorn. He also has an eye patch, a bandana, and a hook for a hand.

“Welcome to Andy’s haunted backyard. I be the captain of this here backyard. Happy Halloween, everyone, and if you’re riding Spooky Dog Dash, make sure to keep your hands, feet, and hooks inside the ride.”

Pirate Woody

Spooky ride overlays

As Woody mentioned, Slinky Dog Dash has become Spooky Dog Dash. Slinky, wrapped like a mummy, speeds down his track that has been decorated with even more lights and decorations. Wheezy, Mr. Mike, and Mr. Spell are also participating. Wheezy wears a skeleton costume while singing Monster Mash. Mr. Mike dons cool shades while Mr. Spell shows “Happy Halloween” on his screen.

Jessie has traded her cowgirl hat for a witchy one, and poor Rex decided to sprout devil horns and a tail. They’re helping place Halloween garlands and lights across the backyard.

Jessie: “Hey, Rex, maybe you should use your wings to help get these lights up?”
Rex: “No, I’m still afraid of heights. Ugh, if this is the trick part, when do I get the treat?”

Haunted Toy Story Midway Mania is the next overlay. Halloween stickers cover the entrance and queue. The biggest change is reserved for Mr. Potato Head, who is now dressed as Frankenstein. Let’s assume Mrs. Potato Head is the bride. The games could have a spooky overlay, as well. Instead of the usual darts and balls, riders can toss jack-o-lanterns and Halloween candy.

I also have a few ideas for the Pixar ball:

• Paint it with candy corn stripes…
• or have it sprout Tinker Toy spider legs and sticker eyes…
• or replace it (temporarily) with a giant pumpkin carved to look like the Pixar Ball

Alien Swirling Saucers-Ghost Galaxy should also be included. The updated name is a nod to Disneyland’s Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy overlay. We’ll swap the ride music for something spookier and put some ghost costumes on the aliens in the ride vehicles. Out front, Buzz Lightyear, dressed as a vampire, will sport hand-drawn fangs on his helmet.

Halloween restaurant ideas

Round Up Rodeo BooBQ will take over the land’s table-service restaurant. Halloween theming will be found inside and outside. Fun food items will also be included.

Woody’s Lunchbox is perfect for themed food and décor, where Andy’s Halloween treats have spilled out and are making a mess. The army men are trying to clean up a half-eaten chocolate bar, candy corn, and a monster cookie.

Spooky bathrooms, green cereal, and more

The Cooties restrooms could have their namesakes transformed into spiders. Or simply swap the colors for a Halloween color palette.

The Lass-O’s box could be swapped for a Halloween version of the cereal. Let’s have the chocolate cereal turn the milk green. Jessie, in her witch hat, can be hanging out with zombie critters and a were-bunny.

I’d love to see other décor around the land, like jack-o-lantern faces on the Tinker Toys and spooky faces on the blocks and dice. Andres, a former Cast Member, has some great ideas of his own. He recommends turning the land’s many popsicle sticks into tombstones and adding bed sheets and pillow cases as ghosts.

If that’s not enough, here’s some other random décor:

• Oversized Halloween bucket
• Witch finger
• Pumpkins with faces
• Reference to Sid’s toys
• Green pumpkins for aliens
• Cauldron
• Black cat
• Mrs. Nesbit hat
• Jack in the box
• Skull out of dice
• Cobwebs made of yarn
• Monster footprints
• Scary faces on the vehicle carts
• Halloween toys and candy on top of the trucks
• Monkeys in a barrel (barrel looks like a pumpkin, the monkeys are Halloween colors)
• Stickers and spooky faces on the Halloween checkered board
• Ghost and bats hanging from the lamp posts
• Spooky faces in the fence paneling

I know these are ambitious ideas. They’re probably not all realistic for a brief overlay, but it’s fun to be creative and think of the possibilities. I hope to spark some conversations and maybe change the value that overlays have in the parks. I know Walt Disney Imagineering would create something amazing if given the green light!

Thanks for reading! Next time, I’ll share my ideas for a Christmas overlay.