A Look at Disneyland's Newest Ride, Toy Story Midway Mania

Enduring a heat wave, and wave of overweight mid-westerners, I embarked on a journey to Disney’s California Adventure for the sneak preview of their “Toy Story Midway Mania" ride.

Let me preface this by saying, I hate Disneyland.

I hate the high prices, I hate the happy music, and I hate the abundance of tourists who don’t watch their children. But I will quiet my rants of enforcing the morning after pill for the time being.

The only way I usually engage in a Disney activity is if 1) I don’t pay for it, 2) Nightmare Before Christmas is going on in the Haunted Mansion or 3) I don’t pay for it. Yes, I mentioned that twice.

Like the previous Toy Story ride in the Disneyland Park, this one is more of a game than a ride. You have a slingshot type weapon on the front of your cart that is activated through a rope that you pull. Your cart spins and twirls until you reach a screen. This screen (which I tried to take pictures of but failed because the screen is made for 3-D glasses and not regular eyes) is themed in a Toy Story setting reflecting each of the different characters.

Multiple targets fill the screens, and your objective is to shoot as many of those targets, each worth different point amounts, before time runs out. This happens about four times until you reach the end. Upon completion, are you given a score and allowed to shoot confetti all over the place. Yay!

As boring as this sounds, it’s actually quite amusing and fun. It was so fun that I rode it a second time. Though California Adventure doesn’t have a whole lot to offer, this will definitely trick millions of people into spending an obscene amount of money to see it.

Disney officials, not feeling as generous as they were with the Buzz Lightyear ride, don’t offer a picture at the end, which is my only complaint. Like the rest of the attractions in the Disneyland Theme park, you're dumped into a gift shop filled with cute little souvenirs once it's over. And I’m sure Disney will make a killing there after the ride opens officially on June 17th.

View a photo slideshow of the ride here.