A new Toy Story Land update at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will bring Lilypad from Toy Story 5 into Alien Swirling Saucers. The change creates a disconnect as the themed area is supposed to be Andy’s backyard.
Disney Parks announced the update on September 16, 2026. Lilypad will join Alien Swirling Saucers beginning September 25. The frog-shaped smart tablet will also provide the attraction with a new soundtrack called “Lilypad’s Jams.”
Disney says the new soundtrack will combine reworked songs from the Toy Story films with original songs created for the attraction. Lilypad will also appear outside the attraction as a DJ and interact with guests through games, drawings and videos featuring other Toy Story characters.
The addition raises a timeline question because Toy Story Land has a specific setting. Disney continues to describe the land as Andy’s backyard. Lilypad, however, comes from the later story of Bonnie and her toys in Toy Story 5, years after Andy goes to college.
Andy’s Backyard
Disney’s described and themed Toy Story Land as Andy’s backyard. The backyard setting dates to the land’s opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2018. Disney designed the area around the idea that guests become toy-sized visitors in Andy’s play environment.
The attractions reinforce that premise. Slinky Dog Dash takes guests through the backyard, while Toy Story Mania! is located inside Andy’s room. The land also includes Alien Swirling Saucers, Woody’s Lunch Box, Roundup Rodeo BBQ and character encounters.
Slinky Dog Dash at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – YouTube, 4K WDW
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Disney has not announced that this setting will change as part of the latest update.
Instead, the company says Lilypad will join Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear “in the backyard.” That wording keeps the new character within the existing Toy Story Land environment. However, fans have been quick to note that Lilypad is Bonnie’s toy, years after Andy was a child.
A Later Part of the Story
Lilypad belongs to a different point in the Toy Story timeline.
Pixar describes her as a frog-shaped smart tablet that becomes Bonnie’s new favorite. She offers Bonnie a way to connect with friends through a service called “The Pond.” The character becomes part of the conflict between traditional toys and technology in Toy Story 5.
Bonnie is 8 years old in the film. That places Lilypad firmly within Bonnie’s childhood rather than Andy’s.
Andy prepares to leave for college two movies prior in Toy Story 3, while Bonnie is introduced as a young child at Sunnyside Daycare. Pixar identifies Bonnie as 4 years old in that film.
A screenshot from the Toy Story 5 Teaser Trailer – YouTube, Pixar
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Not only is Lilypad another child’s toy, but she did not come out till around the time Andy graduated college.
What Is Changing at Alien Swirling Saucers?
The change involves more than placing a new character in the area.
Disney says Lilypad will become the DJ behind “Lilypad’s Jams,” a new soundtrack for Alien Swirling Saucers. The music will include reworked versions of songs from the Toy Story films. Disney specifically lists “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” “We Belong Together” and “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away.”
The attraction will also receive new original songs. Disney lists “Pizza Planet Promo” and “Spin It Back, Lilypad” among the new tracks.
Image inside Alien Swirling Saucers at Disney’s Hollwood Studios – YouTube, Sharp Productions
Disney says Imagineers worked with musicians in Nashville to record the new soundtrack. The project draws from several musical styles, including pop, country, EDM and alternative rock.
Lilypad will also have an off-ride role. Disney says she will interact with guests in the backyard between songs. Activities will include guessing which toy she is drawing, solving puzzles and watching videos she has recorded of other Toy Story characters.
The changes begin September 25, 2026.
Wrong Time, Wrong Size
There is one other problem with Lilypad. On top of her placement being anachronistic and another child’s toy, the addition will be too small thematically.
Guests, in essence, are the size of Andy’s army men. In fact, Cast Members dressed as these green toys sometimes walk through the area with their drums. Andy’s other toys, such Woody and Buzz, tower over guests.
Lilypad is joining the backyard in full DJ mode with all-new music for Alien Swirling Saucers at Hollywood Studios 🎶 pic.twitter.com/825LCKAcsH
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) September 16, 2026
A Lilypad device that was kept to scale would need to be at least 20 feet tall, perhaps larger. Although we don’t have the dimensions to the upcoming addition, the concept art does not suggest such a large device.Instead
Anachronistic Storytelling
Many guests have already pointed out that Lilypad does not belong in Andy’s backyard. The change feels like another corporate decision to keep Disney’s newest movie characters, and therefore merchandise, in guest’s minds. Even if that means poor or disjointed storytelling in the parks.
It just seems odd to put a tablet screen in a kid’s 90s-era backyard. Maybe Toy Story 5’s core tension is coming to life, yet another screen taking over imagination. This time, the imagination of the Imagineers.
What do you think of Lilypad joining Andy’s backyard? Is this poor foresight on Disney’s Imagineers, or are we making too much of the addition? Sound off and let us know your thoughts.
