Slinky Dog Dash is a family launched steel roller coaster located in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. It opened on June 30, 2018, as one of two headline attractions in the newly debuted Toy Story Land expansion, casting riders as toys taking a spin on a coaster Andy built from his ‘Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster Kit.’
The coaster is the product of two teams working together: a German roller coaster manufacturer that engineered and built the hardware, and Disney’s in-house creative studio that designed the story, theming, and overall attraction. Below is exactly who built Slinky Dog Dash, how the two companies divided the work, and everything else worth knowing before you ride.
Quick Answer
Slinky Dog Dash was built by Mack Rides, a German roller coaster manufacturer, which engineered and fabricated the steel track, trains, and dual LSM launch system. Walt Disney Imagineering designed the ride’s story, theming, and attraction concept, then collaborated with Mack Rides to integrate the hardware into Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Who Built Slinky Dog Dash?
Slinky Dog Dash’s physical ride system — the steel track, the five-car trains, and the two linear synchronous motor (LSM) launches — was manufactured by Mack Rides GmbH & Co KG, a long-established German ride manufacturer based in Waldkirch. Mack built the coaster as a custom launch-coaster model, and the attraction marked one of Mack’s higher-profile U.S. installations, following its growing reputation for smooth, family-friendly LSM launch systems used on coasters at parks worldwide.
The creative side came from Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), Disney’s internal team of designers, engineers, and show directors responsible for every Disney theme park attraction’s story and guest experience. WDI conceived the premise of Slinky Dog Dash as a backyard coaster built by Andy from a toy construction kit, designed the oversized Tinkertoys, crayons, and building-block scenery that make guests feel toy-sized, and created the show elements — including Wheezy the Penguin, the first-ever audio-animatronic figure of the Toy Story character — that bookend the ride.
In practice, this is the same division of labor Disney uses on most of its coasters: Imagineering designs the concept, story, and theming, then partners with an outside manufacturer to engineer the track, trains, and launch or lift system to spec. For Slinky Dog Dash, construction on the track structure wrapped up in mid-to-late 2017, with the completed trains arriving shortly after, ahead of the ride’s June 30, 2018 grand opening (a soft opening ran one day earlier, on June 29, 2018).
The Ride Experience
Slinky Dog Dash begins deceptively gently, rolling out of the launch station and building anticipation before the first LSM launch surges the train forward. The layout threads through a series of low airtime hills — perfectly suited for families — before a second launch pushes riders into a swooping helix and final straightaway. Throughout the course, giant Tinkertoys, oversized crayons, and larger-than-life building blocks line the track, selling the illusion that guests have shrunk to toy scale inside Andy’s sunny backyard.
At a top speed of about 40 mph and a maximum height of roughly 50 feet, the coaster hits a sweet spot that draws in younger riders while still delivering genuine airtime moments adults appreciate. The 2-minute-plus runtime is generous for a family coaster, and the dual-launch structure gives the ride a satisfying two-act rhythm rarely found at this intensity level. The ride concludes with a serenade from Wheezy the Penguin, perched on the final brake run for a memorable send-off.
Toy Story Land and the Bigger Picture
Slinky Dog Dash serves as the anchor attraction of Toy Story Land, an 11-acre expansion that debuted alongside the coaster in June 2018. The land immerses guests entirely in Andy’s world, with enormous building blocks, Lincoln Logs, and board-game pieces forming the scenery. The design commitment extends to the coaster itself: the ride vehicle is styled as Slinky Dog, complete with a coiled spring body that visually ‘stretches’ across the train cars.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios invested heavily in making Toy Story Land feel cohesive, and Slinky Dog Dash reflects that attention to detail. From the queue’s hand-drawn blueprints depicting Andy’s coaster plans to Wheezy’s showstopping finale performance, every element reinforces the narrative that Mack Rides’ engineering was built to support. The attraction quickly became one of the most popular at the park, consistently drawing long standby waits and high Lightning Lane demand since opening day.
Slinky Dog Dash Stats at a Glance
Park: Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Toy Story Land), Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Manufacturer: Mack Rides. Designer: Walt Disney Imagineering. Opened: June 30, 2018. Height: about 50 ft (15 m). Top Speed: 40 mph (64 km/h). Length: about 2,789 ft. Launches: 2 (LSM). Inversions: 0. Height Requirement: 38 in (97 cm). Trains: five cars each, seating up to 18 riders per train.
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Slinky Dog Dash FAQs
Who built Slinky Dog Dash?
Mack Rides, a German roller coaster manufacturer, built Slinky Dog Dash’s track, trains, and launch system. Walt Disney Imagineering designed the ride’s story and theming and worked with Mack Rides to bring the attraction to life.
Is Mack Rides the same company that designed the ride’s theme?
No. Mack Rides is the engineering and manufacturing company that built the physical coaster. The story, characters, and theming — including Andy’s backyard concept and Wheezy the Penguin — were designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney’s in-house creative and engineering studio.
What launch technology does Slinky Dog Dash use?
The coaster uses two linear synchronous motor (LSM) launches, an electromagnetic propulsion system that accelerates the train without a traditional chain lift hill.
When did Slinky Dog Dash open?
Slinky Dog Dash officially opened on June 30, 2018, as part of the grand opening of Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. A soft opening occurred one day earlier, on June 29, 2018.
How scary is Slinky Dog Dash?
Slinky Dog Dash is classified as a family coaster. It reaches 40 mph and has two launches, but no inversions and a modest height. Most families with children meeting the 38-inch height requirement handle it comfortably, though the launches may surprise first-timers.
How long is the ride?
The course runs about 2,789 feet, giving Slinky Dog Dash a runtime of just over two minutes — generous for a family-oriented coaster.
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