Disney World Finally Listens, Saves Countless Guests From Heatstroke

Walt Disney World Resort has officially made a long-awaited change to Woody’s Lunch Box, the Quick Service dining location in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Woody’s Lunch Box opened alongside the rest of Toy Story Land on June 30, 2018. Disney’s Hollywood Studios was actually the fourth Disney park to add the Toy Story (1995) themed area, following Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland. It features three attractions: Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers, and Toy Story Mania!, which was retrofitted into the land after ten years in the Pixar Place area.

In the early days of Walt Disney World Resort’s Toy Story Land, complaints piled up fast. Although its family-friendly attractions were incredibly popular, many Disney Park guests lamented the lack of shaded and indoor areas throughout the new land, especially in the oppressive Central Florida heat. Only Toy Story Mania!, its gift shop, and the Toy Story Land bathrooms were indoors.

In 2019, Walt Disney World Resort announced that it would add an indoor Table Service dining location to Toy Story Land: Roundup Rodeo BBQ. Like many Disney construction projects, COVID-19 delayed the restaurant’s opening, but it eventually welcomed its first guests in March 2023.

But this didn’t solve the shade problem for guests who preferred a Quick Service meal from Woody’s Lunch Box, which serves “Lunch Box tart” pastries, tater tots, and other fan favorites for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In the summer, it’s not uncommon to see families carry their meals from Woody’s Lunch Box out of Toy Story Land and into indoor Quick Service locations in other parts of the theme park, like the ABC Commissary.

Although some cynical Disney Parks fans might say Walt Disney World Resort never listens to guests, it appears that this time, they did. In recent months, the My Disney Experience app has warned guests about limited seating at Woody’s Lunch Box as crews worked on improving the seating area. Overflow seating was available near the Toy Story Land entrance to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

As of February 17, 2025, shading structures have officially arrived at Woody’s Lunch Box. According to BlogMickey, Disney has removed the Galaxy’s Edge overflow seating and revealed a shading structure around the K’nex tower. Scaffolding remains around the shading structure as crews connect the electricity, suggesting that they may add fans or lighting.

There’s still plenty of non-shaded seating at Woody’s Lunch Box. As work continues, whether Walt Disney World Resort plans to cover the walk-up restaurant’s seating area fully remains unclear.

Have you eaten at Woody’s Lunch Box? Share your review with Disney Dining in the comments!