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A Big New Way to Play Comes to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this Summer: Toy Story Land!

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (June 28, 2018) – It’s a joy-filled, toy-filled world as only Disney can create, and it opens June 30, 2018. The new Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World Resort, inspired by Pixar Animation Studios’ Toy Story films, turns guests of all ages into “honorary toys” and allows them to PLAY BIG in the whimsical world of a child’s imagination.

In Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Woody, Jessie, Buzz Lightyear, Slinky Dog, Green Army Men and other fun-loving Toy Story characters come to life in the outdoor setting of Andy’s backyard. A world of toys surrounds guests: giant building blocks, Tinkertoys, yo-yos, board-game pieces, dominoes, Scrabble tiles, and even a giant roller coaster set. The entire land encourages the best playtime ever.

Toy Story Land includes two all-new attractions and a new entrance for an enduring favorite. Guests hop on Slinky Dog for a family-friendly roller coaster ride, take a spin with the little green Aliens from Pizza Planet and go for the high score in midway games populated by beloved Toy Story toys.

Toy Story Land also celebrates what defines entertainment for kids of all ages. Crayola crayons, a Rubik’s Cube, Cooties, and other toys and games pour on the nostalgia for park-goers – and fascinate young ones. With building blocks around every corner, there are lampposts shaped like Tinkertoys and benches built from Lincoln Logs and K’nex pieces. A balsa-wood glider, a Barrel of Monkeys, giant playing cards and jacks add to the visual tapestry of the new land.

Sheriff Woody, standing nearly 20 feet tall, welcomes all to Toy Story Land by jauntily leaning on a tall assemblage of colorful wooden blocks, tipping his wide-brimmed hat to guests while holding onto his trusty lasso.

“With set pieces, staging, attractions and experiences, Toy Story Land represents the best of Walt Disney Imagineering’s collaboration with our storytelling partners at Pixar Animation Studios,” said Bob Chapek, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products. “This new land will place guests inside the wondrous world of Woody, Buzz and their pals – and invite everyone to experience the joy of being a toy.”

Slinky Dog Dash

From his Dash & Dodge Mega Coaster Kit, Andy has assembled his roller coaster for maximum family fun. But instead of just using the roller coaster vehicle that came with the kit, Andy has put his Slinky Dog on the track. The result is a family-friendly thrill ride around the backyard that includes two launches. Tracks and supports in bright colors of red, orange, yellow and blue were snapped together according to Andy’s hand-drawn plans. Rex and Jessie helped by stringing lights above Andy’s stacked Jenga game pieces. To complete his creation, Andy picked everyone’s favorite floppy-eared dachshund with a stretching coil body – Slinky Dog – and dropped it onto the coaster track. Slinky Dog Dash is inspired by the delightful pooch spinoff of Slinky, the classic 1940s American toy. Riders of all ages delight as Slinky Dog bends and twists his coils around curves, over hills and down drops in the Slinky-est coaster ever. In each 18-passenger coaster train, riders zip around and above Toy Story Land, catching great vistas of all the new land has to offer. In a first for a Disney coaster, Slinky Dog Dash features a second launch at its midpoint as riders experience cool sound effects and spinning lights, darting through a series of rings on their way to the attraction’s finale featuring Wheezy, the squeaky penguin from the Toy Story films.

Alien Swirling Saucers

Brace yourself for out-of-this-world thrills, because the Aliens have powered up their flying saucers! Alien Swirling Saucers immerses guests in the playful world of Andy’s imagination. This galactic space toy is designed as a playset Andy won at the Pizza Planet restaurant. The adorable little green Aliens from Pixar Animation Studios’ Toy Story swirl about in toy rocket ships with guests in tow, while “The Claw” hangs overhead. Two sets of 11 saucer/rocket-ship pairings spin guests through a multi-colored galaxy to a raucous, energetic musical beat.

Toy Story Mania!

While Andy’s away, the toys will play! Toy Story Mania! – one of the most popular attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – receives a colorful all-new entrance. Evoking the fun in store, the entrance is actually the box Andy’s Toy Story Mania! game came in. Recently updated with a third track, the attraction allows even more guests to experience the carnival playset action, using virtual objects from baseballs to cream pies to hit targets in a variety of whimsical, fast-paced scenarios. To the highest scorer go the bragging rights!

Woody’s Lunch Box

When it’s time for on-the-go refreshments, Woody’s Lunch Box serves tasty meals and old-fashioned soda floats from a walk-up window in a setting surrounded by Andy’s favorite toys and a giant vintage thermos. Order a grilled three-cheese sandwich, grab a seat under festooned lighting at a Tinkertoy table and take in the scene. You’ll even spot Sarge, the Green Army Men leader, in a tower on the lookout for Andy. Woody’s Lunch Box features Mini Babybel cheese – the Official Snack Cheese of Walt Disney World Resort. Babybel’s famous cheese wheel also provides inspiration for fun chairs and tables nearby.

Two merchandise locations – a toy camper and toy dump truck – offer shoppers logo merchandise, must-have collectibles and unique gifts sure to become long-lasting memories of their time in Toy Story Land. Special items sure to become guest favorites are small scale replica toys of the attraction vehicles, a Slinky Dog that can be a tabletop toy or double as a fashionable accessory, and colorful headbands sprouting an Alien or Slinky Dog himself.

To add to the fun, Woody, Jessie, Buzz and their pals appear throughout the land. The Green Army Drum Corps creates a playfully percussive rhythm, and Sarge and the Green Army Patrol march through the land, playing games with guests in a fun and interactive boot camp – ten-hut!

Toy Story Land is part of a multi-year reimagining of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the largest expansion in the theme park’s history. Next year will see the premiere of the all-new, 14-acre Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This new land will allow guests to visit Black Spire Outpost, a remote trading port on the edge of wild space, where Star Wars characters and their stories come to life – and where guests will find themselves in the middle of the action. Also coming in 2019 is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. The first Mickey-themed ride-through attraction in Disney Parks history will feature new technology, dazzling visual effects and mind-boggling transformations that put guests in the wacky and unpredictable world of a Mickey Mouse cartoon short. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is transforming into a place where everyone can play together and experience their own adventures in the immersive worlds of their cinematic imagination

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Entertainment

WATCH: FNN News Podcast en Español, Tuesdays at 6:30pm EST

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ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Tuesdays at 6:30 PM, Florida National News’ Spanish-language platform, FNN News Podcast en Español, kicks off 2026 with powerful conversations on the issues that matter most to our Spanish-speaking communities in Florida and beyond.
Hosted by Monica Hoyos, Javier Garcia, Maria del Carmen Rodriguez, and Rosarito Jordan, the podcast dives into today’s hottest topics—news, politics, community issues, culture, business, and stories that impact our everyday lives.
This podcast is more than a show—it’s a community forum. Our mission is to inform, empower, and elevate Latino voices, creating a trusted space where perspectives are heard, questions are asked, and solutions are explored together.
We want to hear from you.
Community leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates, creatives, and everyday changemakers are invited to join the conversation and be a guest on the show. Your voice matters, and your story can inspire others.
Expect more in 2026—more dialogue, more representation, deeper conversations, and a stronger connection to the communities we serve.
– FNN News Podcast en Español
– Tuesdays | 6:30 PM
– Your voice. Your community. Your news.
FNN SPAINSH
Los martes a las 6:30 p. m., la plataforma en español de Florida National News, FNN News Podcast en Español, da inicio al 2026 con conversaciones poderosas sobre los temas que más importan a nuestras comunidades hispanohablantes en Florida y más allá.
Conducido por Mónica Hoyos, Javier García, María del Carmen Rodríguez y Rosarito Jordan, el podcast aborda los temas más relevantes del momento, incluyendo noticias, política, asuntos comunitarios, cultura, negocios y las historias que impactan nuestra vida diaria.
Este podcast es más que un programa: es un foro comunitario. Nuestra misión es informar, empoderar y elevar las voces latinas, creando un espacio confiable donde se escuchan las perspectivas, se plantean preguntas y se construyen soluciones en conjunto.
Queremos escucharte.
Líderes comunitarios, empresarios, defensores, creativos y agentes de cambio están invitados a sumarse a la conversación y ser invitados especiales del programa. Tu voz importa y tu historia puede inspirar a otros.
Espera más en este 2026: más diálogo, más representación, conversaciones más profundas y una conexión más fuerte con las comunidades a las que servimos.
– FNN News Podcast en Español
– Martes | 6:30 p. m.
– Tu voz. Tu comunidad. Tus noticias.

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Central Florida News

“Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker” Brings Diversity and Magic to Orlando’s Holiday Stage

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ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN ARTS & CULTURE)Orlando Community Arts, Inc. proudly presents “Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker,” an original adaptation of the classic Nutcracker story written by Beverly Page, published author and executive producer. This vibrant holiday production brings the magic of the season to life while celebrating the cultural diversity that defines Central Florida.

Audiences are invited to join Clare on a magical journey through her enchanting dream, traveling alongside the Chocolate Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy around the world — from Africa and Asia to the Caribbean, India, and beyond — before reaching the dazzling Kingdom of Toys.

Described as soulful, bold, colorful, exciting, lively, and delightful, “Clare and the Chocolate Nutcracker” offers an unforgettable holiday experience for the entire family — filled with music, dance, and cultural storytelling that capture the heart of the season.

About Steglich Ross and Associates

Steglich Ross and Associates, based in Apopka, Florida, are premier experts in crafting and executing large-scale events that elevate brands and inspire audiences. The firm specializes in festival planning, marketing strategy, brand development, and creative web design, offering personalized solutions that help clients connect with their communities in meaningful ways.

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Entertainment

Jeffery Lorenzo Williams: Defying Limits and Redefining Possibility

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Source: Jeffery Williams

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS)When you hear the word “disability,” it’s easy to imagine limits, restrictions, and barriers. But for Jeffery Lorenzo Williams, those words have no place in his vocabulary. Paralyzed at 13, Williams identifies as a person of determination — a term that reflects strength and capability, not limitation. His life has become a masterclass in turning adversity into empowerment, proving that the most powerful movement begins in the mind.

During an exclusive interview with FNN News, Williams reflected on the event that changed his life and the mindset that carried him forward.

“I never focused on what I couldn’t do,” Williams said. “I focused on what I could and I just kept moving forward.”

That perspective has shaped a career defined by reinvention. Today, Williams is an accomplished New York City real estate broker, motivational author, pilot, and footwear designer. Each title tells part of the same story — one of perseverance, creativity, and purpose.

Through his footwear brand JLorenzo’s, Williams designs adaptive sneakers that merge fashion with motivation. His collections feature empowering inscriptions such as “Be somebody nobody thought you could be.” He laughs as he recalls me being his first customer. “Each inscription represents walking not just physically, but walking in purpose,” he said.

His work has not only built a stylish, inclusive brand but has also redefined what representation in fashion can look like. Earlier this year, Williams brought that message to Daniel’s Leather’s Inclusive Fashion Show during New York Fashion Week 2025, joining nearly 40 wheelchair-using models, including Ms. Wheelchair America 2026, Latavia Sturdivant. The event was more than a showcase — it was a celebration of visibility and empowerment. “The energy was incredible,” Williams said. “It wasn’t about being different, it was about being seen.”

Kareen Kennedy wearing her JLorenzos in 2019

Beyond fashion, Williams takes his passion for breaking barriers to the skies. As a licensed pilot, he flies glider planes, something he calls the ultimate expression of freedom.

“Flying gives me freedom,” he said. “It’s proof that even when life grounds you, you can still soar.”

His memoir, “My Feet Are Off the Ground: Turning Tragedy Into Triumph,” chronicles his remarkable journey from paralysis to success. Proceeds from the book fund nursing scholarships, extending his lifelong commitment to giving back. Looking ahead, Williams plans to bring his story to new audiences through a documentary and a stage play, with his son, Jeff Jr., potentially portraying him on screen.

Photo Courtesy of Jeffery Williams

When asked if he would change his past, Williams paused thoughtfully before answering.

“Of course, I’d love to walk,” he said. “But if I hadn’t gone through what I did, I wouldn’t have been able to touch and change lives the way I have. That’s worth more than anything.”

Jeffery Lorenzo Williams doesn’t just live with determination — he embodies it. Through his work, his story, and his example, he continues to challenge the world’s perception of ability. His life is a vivid reminder that real barriers often exist only where others place them, and that courage, when paired with purpose, can truly move mountain.

In a world quick to define people by their obstacles, Jeffery Lorenzo Williams is a compelling reminder that true limitation exists only where we allow it.

_________________________________________________________________

Kareen Kennedy is the Assistant Editor for Florida National News
kareen.kennedy@floridanationalnews.com

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