Five years ago today, Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang set up their carnival games on Paradise Pier at Toy Story Midway Mania! in Disney California Adventure park. Just a few weeks earlier, Toy Story Midway Mania! opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Another Toy Story Mania! followed at Tokyo DisneySea in 2011, and since, guests from all over the world have come to compete with friends and family for the highest score. You probably have your favorite game, but do you know the story behind this attraction? Thanks to the creative minds at Walt Disney Imagineering, I can share the story behind the attraction with you. Let’s get started before Andy gets back!

The “Toy Story” gang was intrigued by the latest game in to Andy’s collection, “Toy Story Midway Games Play Set.” Everyone worked together to assemble the cardboard set pieces and game booths, and before they knew it, Andy’s room was transformed into a colorful maze of midway games. And when guests enter the attraction, they are invited to come along and play as honorary toys.

Sheriff Woody has asked each toy to host one of the games for their guests. Hamm and Buttercup host the egg toss, which is appropriately called “Hamm & Eggs.” Rex and Trixie brave a prehistoric volcano for the balloon-popping game, “Rex & Trixie’s Dino Darts.” Next up, Sarge takes control and commands us to “break those plates” in the “Green Army Men Shoot Camp.” Then it’s to infinity and beyond in “Buzz Lightyear’s Flying Tossers,” where guests toss rings around the Little Green Men and other space-themed objects. “Woody’s Rootin’ Tootin’ Shootin’ Gallery” is the last game on the midway adventure, based on Woody’s hit TV show, “Woody’s Roundup.” But wait, there’s more! Jessie leads us to the Gold Mine for the “bonus round-up” and one last dynamite blast of fun! But of course, no midway would be complete without the prize booth. Before you leave Andy’s room, the “Toy Story” gang congratulates you and reveals your scores.

Like any kid’s room, Andy’s room is piled high games and toys. Next time you’re racking up the points, take a look around for some of the items scattered throughout by the Imagineers who designed the attraction, such as:

• Games: Twister, Walt Disney’s Adventureland Game, Candyland
• Alphabet blocks: What do some of them spell?
• Other favorites like Play Doh, Mr. Potato Head coloring book, Crayola Crayon box

One last tidbit for you Toy Story Midway Mania! fans. Once you’ve exited the carnival tram (which was included in the playset, of course) and climb up the stairs, take a look over the railing in the next room on your way out. This is the office of Andy’s aunt, who runs the shop downstairs. On the rug inside is a toy-scale model of the very “Toy Story Midway Games Play Set” you just experienced in Andy’s room!

Tagged: DCA, DLR

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Resort

Just back from a whirlwind trip through Napa Valley and Sonoma Vineyards, California Grill Chef Brian Piasecki and general manager Michael Scheifler went in search of the best of the best for the soon-to-open California Grill.

“We visited 15 wineries in five days,” says Scheifler. “It was a whirlwind, but we came home with some great new discoveries.” Like Tres Sabores, a small, organic vineyard in Napa where they discovered a delicious zinfandel. And Heitz Cellars, where they are bottling magnums of chardonnay just for California Grill – it’s resting in the bottles now and won’t be ready until fall, says Scheifler.

“We’ll offer club service, where we will bring the magnum to the table to pour by the glass, a really fun presentation” he says.

The new display case is a showstopper as guests exit the elevator to the 15th floor, with 1,600 bottles on display in an onstage, climate-controlled, state-of-the-art cabinet. In all there will be about 250 wines on the list, and out of those, 72 percent will be from California. Another 22 percent is Old World wines and 5 percent New World wines.

“We’ll have something for every palate,” says Scheifler, “from a first-growth Bordeaux to a boutique wine from Oregon or South Africa.”

There will be 80 wines by the glass, up from 50 on the previous wine menu. And sommeliers will be there to help you select a pairing, with more than 20 on staff.

Scheifler is just as excited about the expanded sake program to pair with the expanded sushi menu, with 10 varieties on the list, from a light, sparkling sake to “cask strength.” And craft beer is back, with eight brews on the new menu, mostly from California.

“We can’t wait to debut the new beverage lineup,” says Scheifler. “Drinks span from classic cocktails to wines you won’t find anywhere else, the beverages are a great complement to Chef Brian’s new menu.” Stay tuned for menu updates coming soon!

Tagged: Dining, WDW

Filed: Disney Dining, Hotels & Resorts, Walt Disney World Resort

Would you like to win a Disney Cruise Line vacation and help solve a Disney mystery? Then register now to enter the Catch Stitch! Sweepstakes.

In it, Stitch, the popular character from “Lilo and Stitch,” has escaped from the Oceaneer Lab and is loose aboard the Disney Fantasy cruise ship. Your challenge is to investigate clues and try to catch him before the ship leaves Castaway Cay. You can review evidence in this disappearance case, choose areas to investigate and check back the following day to see if your prediction was correct.

Tagged: DCL, Disney Fantasy

Filed: Disney Cruise Line