Disney’s Hollywood Studios is nearing the opening of a new snack stand in Toy Story Land, with recent construction progress suggesting the project may debut in just a few weeks. Queue markers shaped like movie popcorn boxes have been installed in front of the kiosk, indicating that Disney has moved from basic construction to the operational planning phase, which typically precedes public openings.
This new snack stand will be the first food location added to Toy Story Land since the Roundup Rodeo BBQ opened several years ago, addressing ongoing guest complaints about the limited snack options in the area.
Recent construction near the entrance to Galaxy’s Edge suggests that the project is nearing completion. The concrete work around the kiosk appears to be finished, and crew members are now focused on equipment installation and final preparations. A blank menu board structure has been in place for weeks, indicating that Disney has not yet finalized or announced the food and beverage offerings.
The project timeline extends back to October, when the popcorn box-shaped kiosk structure was first installed. The roughly two-month construction period from installation to current queue marker implementation aligns with typical Disney timelines for food and beverage projects of this scope. However, Walt Disney World has announced no official opening date.
Filling a Dining Gap
Toy Story Land opened in the summer of 2018, featuring Woody’s Lunch Box as its only food service location. This quick-service spot offers breakfast items, sandwiches, and specialty beverages, but guests must order at the counter and wait for their food to be prepared. Several years later, Roundup Rodeo BBQ was added, introducing table-service dining with barbecue offerings in a themed environment that requires advance reservations.
However, there has still been a lack of convenient grab-and-go snack options for guests looking for quick purchases without the wait times associated with counter-service or sit-down meals. This absence has been particularly noticeable during peak attendance periods, when both existing dining locations in Toy Story Land experience long waits, while guests seeking simple snacks, such as popcorn or ice cream, have no options within the land.
The new snack stand aims to fill this service gap by providing point-of-sale capabilities for quick transactions, similar to those found in snack kiosks throughout Disney theme parks. The theming of the popcorn box suggests that popcorn will be one of the offerings, although the blank menu board means that additional items remain unconfirmed.
Strategic Location and Guest Flow
Disney positioned the new snack stand near the transition point between Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, capturing foot traffic from guests moving between the two highly trafficked themed areas. This placement ensures consistent customer flow throughout operating hours rather than relying solely on guests already within Toy Story Land to generate sales.
The location also serves operational purposes by distributing food and beverage capacity more evenly throughout this section of Hollywood Studios. Concentrating all Toy Story Land dining at Woody’s Lunch Box and Roundup Rodeo BBQ created bottlenecks during busy periods. Adding a third location with a different service style helps balance demand across multiple points of sale.
Construction Timeline for Toy Story Land
The installation of queue markers marks a key construction milestone, indicating that guest flow patterns are finalized and preparations for service are underway. The steel markers, placed between decorative hedges, show that operational planning is complete.
The finished concrete work signifies that foundational construction is done, allowing for subsequent work on buildings and equipment installation. The absence of recent concrete activity indicates the project has moved beyond early phases.
Crew activity inside the construction area suggests ongoing work on hidden elements, such as food preparation equipment installation, utility connections, point-of-sale systems, and preparations for health department inspections needed for opening.
Timeline Projections
Based on the observed construction progress and typical Disney project timelines, the opening could potentially occur before the end of the year or in 2026. The progression from October installation to December queue marker implementation suggests a two- to three-month construction window, which would place completion in late December or early January, assuming no unexpected delays.
However, multiple factors could extend this timeline. Equipment delivery delays, inspection complications, staffing challenges related to hiring and training Cast Members, or strategic decisions by Disney about optimal opening timing could push the debut beyond what construction progress alone might suggest. Without official announcements, any projected timeline remains speculation based on visible indicators rather than confirmed information.
Industry Context
The addition reflects the broader Disney strategy of continuously enhancing the guest experience through improvements to existing lands, rather than focusing solely on new attractions. Food and beverage expansion represents a relatively lower-cost enhancement compared to attraction development but addresses guest satisfaction and generates revenue.
Toy Story Land’s limited dining options have been noted in guest feedback since opening, with comparisons to Galaxy’s Edge next door, which features multiple food and beverage locations, including Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, Oga’s Cantina, Milk Stand, and Kat Saka’s Kettle. Providing Toy Story Land with additional dining variety brings it closer to parity with newer themed areas.
Looking Ahead for Toy Story Land
The new Toy Story Land snack stand represents a modest but meaningful enhancement to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. When it opens, whether in the coming weeks or later in 2026, it will provide convenient snack options that have been absent. For Disney, it represents additional revenue-generating capacity during peak periods. For guests, it means more convenient access to quick snacks without leaving Toy Story Land or committing to more substantial dining experiences.
