Woody Is Out as Disney Gives Jessie His Theme Park Spot

Woody is no longer the only sheriff in town.

Disney has spent decades positioning Woody (Tom Hanks) as the emotional center of the Toy Story franchise. From his rivalry with Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) to his final decision in Toy Story 4 (2019), the cowboy has traditionally driven the series’ biggest moments.

That hierarchy changed with Toy Story 5 (2026), which arrived in theaters last month. The latest Pixar sequel shifts the spotlight toward Jessie (Joan Cusack), giving the yodeling cowgirl a more prominent role than ever before.

This time, Jessie leads the toys as they confront Lilypad, a frog-shaped tablet voiced by Greta Lee. Their struggle centers on helping Bonnie (Scarlett Spears) connect with other children while technology increasingly competes for her attention.

Woody and Buzz remain part of the story, but both characters have moved into supporting roles. The change has been significant enough to fuel questions about whether the franchise still needs its longtime male leads at the center of every installment.

Jessie Moves to the Front of the Franchise

Woody was initially left out of Toy Story 5 altogether. Director Andrew Stanton reportedly developed an early version without the cowboy to determine whether the movie could work independently of the character who launched the franchise in 1995.

The filmmakers ultimately concluded that Woody remained essential. Without him, the story reportedly lacked its emotional core and felt incomplete, prompting the creative team to restore the character before the movie entered its final form.

Even so, Jessie has continued to dominate the film’s promotional campaign. Posters, merchandise, trailers, and character appearances have increasingly presented her as the new face of the franchise rather than simply another member of Andy and Bonnie’s toy collections.

That shift has now extended beyond movie theaters and into Disney’s theme parks.

This week, Disneyland Paris removed Woody from his regular character meeting location and installed Jessie in his place.

“📍Jessie has now replaced Woody at Animation Celebration”

Jessie is now appearing at Animation Celebration in World Premiere Plaza, an area inside Disney Adventure World. The character is scheduled to meet guests daily from 12:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

The change gives Jessie a permanent place in an area previously associated with Woody. Disney has not announced whether the cowboy will eventually return to the location or whether the replacement is intended to remain in place indefinitely.

Woody Still Has a Presence at Disneyland Paris

Woody has not disappeared from the resort completely. Disneyland Paris continues to offer several attractions, shows, and experiences based on Pixar’s Toy Story movies across its two theme parks.

Toy Story Playland remains one of the franchise’s largest dedicated areas. Located inside Disney Adventure World, the oversized backyard setting includes RC Racer, Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, and Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin.

Guests can also find enormous statues of characters including Buzz Lightyear and Rex throughout the land. The exaggerated scale is designed to make visitors feel as though they have been reduced to the size of one of Andy’s toys.

Over at Disneyland Park, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast continues to operate in Discoveryland. The interactive dark ride allows guests to fire laser cannons at targets while helping Buzz defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg.

Woody, Jessie, and Buzz also appear in Disney Stars on Parade. However, some costumed performers have recently been removed from performances when extreme heat makes outdoor appearances unsafe.

The franchise is additionally featured in TOGETHER: A Pixar Musical Adventure, a stage production at Disney Adventure World. The show includes characters and music from several Pixar films, including Toy Story.

The production is scheduled to pause performances from August 3 through September 30, 2026. Disneyland Paris has described the closure as a planned break rather than a permanent removal.

Disney is also using Toy Story 5 to anchor a limited-time resort celebration running through September 30. The event includes special character encounters, themed food, exclusive merchandise, collectibles, and a hunt for hidden Pizza Planet trucks.

Those offerings leave open the possibility that Woody will appear elsewhere during the celebration, even though Jessie has claimed his former regular meeting spot.

Would you rather meet Jessie or Woody at Disney?