A new toy is joining the backyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and she is bringing the music with her. Starting Friday, September 25, Lilypad from Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5 arrives at Alien Swirling Saucers in Toy Story Land, and the attraction is getting a fresh name to match: Alien Swirling Saucers: Lilypad’s Jams. Here is what you can look forward to when you visit, whether you plan to ride or just stop by to listen.
Meet Lilypad, the Backyard’s New DJ
Lilypad is a spirited, frog-shaped smart tablet with a simple mission: connect friends and bring toys together. She joins familiar faces like Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear, and she uses her tech to run the show as the DJ behind the attraction’s new soundtrack.
With Lilypad on the turntables, she connects to the internet to remix and mash up tunes across a range of music styles. The result is a lineup that keeps the ride feeling lively and gives you a reason to come back for another spin.
A Soundtrack Recorded in Nashville
The team wanted to approach the music from a new angle. To build the new music, Imagineers headed to Nashville and worked with a group of skilled musicians. The soundtrack hops across genres, moving between pop, country, EDM, and alt-rock to keep things varied.
We wanted to think about the music in a completely new way, taking beloved songs from the Toy Story films, and create catchy new original songs, that are singable, sincere and a little cheesy, as one is about Pizza Planet.
Thomas Niederhiser, Senior Creative Producer at Walt Disney ImagineeringFamiliar Songs, Reimagined
Part of the appeal is hearing music you already know in a new light. The soundtrack reimagines several classics from the Toy Story films and gives them a swirling energy suited to the attraction.
The reworked lineup includes:
- “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”
- “We Belong Together”
- “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away”
These songs have long been tied to the journeys of the characters fans have followed for years, and the updated versions add a new spin while keeping the heart of the originals.
Brand-New Original Songs
Alongside the remixes, the attraction introduces songs written just for this experience. Two additions stand out. “Pizza Planet Promo” serves as the in-story theme song for the beloved pizza arcade, and “Spin It Back, Lilypad” is a tribute to the newest toy in the backyard.
Collaborating with our partners at Pixar Animation Studios to write for these characters and expand their stories is just pure joy. We played with these toys as kids. Now we get to play with them as Imagineers. It doesn’t get better than that.
Geoff Line, Senior Story Lead at Walt Disney ImagineeringFun Even If You Do Not Ride
You do not have to board Alien Swirling Saucers to join the party. Lilypad is DJing for everyone in the backyard, so guests can take part from offboard as well.
While she works through her playlist, DJ Lily hypes up tracks, introduces songs, and offers entertainment between tunes. You can sing along, try to guess which toy she is doodling on her drawing app, help her unscramble puzzles, and watch “home videos” she has recorded of some of your favorite Toy Story pals. It adds up to a reason to linger in the area, even between rides.
How It Ties Into Toy Story 5
The arrival of Lilypad lines up with the release of Toy Story 5, which brings a new chapter to a series that first debuted in 1995. The film introduces the character to audiences and gives her a reason to show up in the backyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
If you want the full context before your visit, Toy Story 5 begins streaming on Disney+ on September 23, two days ahead of the attraction update.
Conclusion
Alien Swirling Saucers: Lilypad’s Jams gives Toy Story Land fans a fresh reason to visit, with remixed classics, original songs, and interactive fun that works whether or not you ride. With Lilypad taking over as DJ starting September 25 and Toy Story 5 streaming on Disney+ from September 23, late September is shaping up to be a good time to plan a stop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and hear the new soundtrack for yourself.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
