Toy Story Midway Mania Modifications Coming June 18 for TS3...

[HydroGuy]

I found this info on MiceChat in

Disney's California Adventure Project Tracker IX

New games for Toy Story Midway Mania!, based on Toy Story 3

Details: Blue Sky Disney reported on March 8 that Toy Story Midway Mania! would receive a new lineup of games themed after the upcoming Toy Story 3 film.
Project Status: The attraction will likely close briefly as the new game software is loaded and tested prior to opening.
Open Date: Toy Story 3 opens in theaters June 18; the new games will likely open on or around that date.
​

Note:

This will be one more reason for the AP holders to crowd into DCA and DLR in late June before the July 3 summer blockout happens. For more info see "Understanding AP Blockouts and Impact on Crowds" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2365983

If you follow the Blue Sky link above you can find this:

Midway Mania has been a huge success for Imagineering, but believe it or not, there has always been more planned for the attraction. Its design has allowed for short down times where the software is updated so that new/different games can be played. Unlike the Haunted Mansion, this ride could literally be down for days, not weeks and then back up again with completely new fun for guest to enjoy.

It's been know that WDI had plans for a Halloween theme and a Christmas theme for the attraction since it's conception. One thing you may not know, but when all the dialog was recorded for Mr. Potato Head, there were tons of tracks put down for thing for him to say. Contrary to the small amount of conversation he has with the guest, there is treasure trove of punchlines, one liners and corny jokes that will/could keep him going for a decade. Like what? Did you know there were Christmas songs recorded for the spud to bout out to guest in line during the holidays? And although there was no holiday layover for the last two year, there are plans for one in the coming future.

Come this summer, there will be something else though. When a new Toy Story film comes out on June 18th there will be an exciting surprise waiting for those in line to ride the attraction. New games. That's right, when you go inside to ride Mania after TS3 opens there will be whole new games to enjoy. The Imagineers have created a whole new collection of things to shoot with those pull string cannons for you to enjoy. It's also a way for Disney to test the strength's of the old games and see which ones fans like and which ones could just go away. There are no plans yet as to when they'll go away. It depends on how long those lines grow and how much time guest have to wait before a decision will be made to return the attraction to its original games. Should they prove popular, it could be quite sometime before you see them return.

 

[kyirish25]

Nothing like keeping a new attraction fresh and updated! Can't wait to see the new games.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Very cool!!! I hope they still have the new games for when we visit in October! Or maybe Halloween themed games then!!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Neat! We'll check it out when we visit early July!

 

[Sherry E]

Well, I am alternately excited and dismayed.

First of all - YAY! for changing it up a bit in TSMM (even though the ride itself it still new), and I am excited to play the new games This means they may have to the change up the line queue a bit as well, as there are signs/posters all throughout it showing us what games we are going to be playing, but my dismay comes because....

...This means that the line for TSMM - which was finally starting to become a little bit manageable, averaging about 30-40 minutes lately (though it moved quickly), as opposed to what it was when it opened in 2008 - will likely become highly daunting and crazy again.

Also, just when I was finally getting used to the 'old' games (again, only 2 years old at this point) and improving my score, now I have to get used to a whole new set of games? Sigh. Oh well, at least this will knock my two friends' scores down a bit (I call them the Toy Story Titans because they always beat eveyone in our group) as they try to get used to the new stuff!! Muahahahahahahaha!!!

But oh well...what can you do? It should be fun.

 

[fayt19]

I like that they're changing it up. That's cool. I don't like that I haven't gotten to do the original yet! Oh well.

 

[jnjusoioa]

I am excited that they will be changing the games too!!! I finally was able to ride TSM when in WDW this past Dec. so it will be amazing to ride it again in DLR and play the new game. I know that I had read somewhere that Mr. Potato Head actually has Christmas songs in him somewhere, so that would be cool to see this year too, they were actually going to theme it for Christmas, etc. Would be cool. Either way, I am just jumping out of my skin for Toy Story 3, these movies are by far my favorite movies of all time, they are just so amzing. This one with the new additions and the daycare just looks cool, I am hoping they make some new characters for the parks and lots of new merchandise, some in adult sizes too, and for sure some plush. I am hoping that this is not the end of them, I am thinking that they could still do one more, Andy as an adult and passing the toys down, that would be cool. IMO.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We will be there that day! Another reason to dread to crowds on my trip!!!

 

[donmil723]

I wonder when it will close for updating. We will be there June 6-10!

 

[HydroGuy]

I wonder when it will close for updating. We will be there June 6-10!

If they do June 18 then I expect a few days before that. June 18 is a Friday, and June 16 and 17 are grad nights with short park hours. My bet would be June 16-17.

 

[Flitterific]

If they do June 18 then I expect a few days before that. June 18 is a Friday, and June 16 and 17 are grad nights with short park hours. My bet would be June 16-17.

I sure hope you are right, HydroGuy. DBF and I are going Memorial Day weekend and it would suck if TSMM closes then *keeping my fingers crossed*

By the way, thanks for the info. I look forward to playing the new games during our late July/early August trip I just hope the lines won't be that bad

 

[CrazyDuck]

They should be able to update the ride on the fly! Imagine if the boards were randomized so that every time you ride it you'd get different games to play... Now that would be something!!! It would however, defeat the purpose of the high score board... but hey I'm never in the running for that anyways!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I agree that they shouldn't have to take the ride down at all. Just get any programming bugs out after closing.

 

[pixarmom]

We just returned from WDW, and were able to get our pre-schooler on TSM twice per day by running there at rope drop, and then pulling FPs for later in the day when our older boys were repeating the big kid rides. Our pre-schooler was asking about what he calls "Huggy Bear" (translation: Lots o Huggin Bear) every time he was on TSM - so he will be very excited to see the updates at DL this summer!

But I understand DL's version does not have FP - any rumors that will change?

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

But I understand DL's version does not have FP - any rumors that will change?

Nope, I don't think there are plans for ANY new FPs.

 

[HydroGuy]

But I understand DL's version does not have FP - any rumors that will change?

Nope. No FP at DCA TSMM. Until recently they had single rider lines but those are gone too. Fortunately teh TSMM line at DCA is not as bad as the one at DHS. I was there at DHS the day TSMM opened June 2008. Wow, lots of people!

It is popular at DCA, but the DCA park does not draw as many folks as DHS and that is part if the issue.

 

[Eeee-va]

Great update; thanks!

At first I was disappointed that I'll be just missing the new games, but I'm not so great at the old ones so I suppose I shouldn't mind. Plus if it's not down for rehab during my trip (6/9 - 6/13) then the lines will be a lot shorter than they will on the 18th!

Do you think DHS will be getting the same upgrade for their summer promotion/etc.? Just curious.

As for the lines, I believe Fastpass tends to make standby lines longer, too (since people with Fastpass are "virtually" in line, so the physical line is only a small portion of the people who are actually "in" line). I think that's also part of why DCA's TSMM goes faster. I think it was 120 minutes when I went in summer June 2008 (no FP because we were at Epcot in the morning). We didn't do it!

 

[pixarmom]

Nope. No FP at DCA TSMM. Until recently they had single rider lines but those are gone too. Fortunately teh TSMM line at DCA is not as bad as the one at DHS. I was there at DHS the day TSMM opened June 2008. Wow, lots of people!

It is popular at DCA, but the DCA park does not draw as many folks as DHS and that is part if the issue.

Thanks so much - this is good news. DHS is our favorite park at WDW, so we are very excited to see DCA for the first time in August. We're staying at the GCH, so hopefully using that entrance at rope drop and going directly to TSMM will help reduce the wait time!

 

[donmil723]

If they do June 18 then I expect a few days before that. June 18 is a Friday, and June 16 and 17 are grad nights with short park hours. My bet would be June 16-17.

Thanks! I hope you're right. TSMM is one of our favorite rides at WDW.