Alien Swirling Saucers Lilypad’s Jams Opens Sept 25

Toy Story Land is about to sound completely different. Disney has confirmed that Alien Swirling Saucers: Lilypad’s Jams debuts Friday, September 25 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, bringing a new character, a new soundtrack, a new name, and new interactive entertainment to one of the land’s three attractions.

This is the payoff for those Walt Disney Imagineering permits fans spotted earlier. The ride itself isn’t changing. What’s changing is everything you hear and see around it, and it’s all tied to Toy Story 5.

If you’re visiting Hollywood Studios this fall, here’s what’s new, what the music sounds like, and why you might want to hang around the ride even if you’re not getting on it.

Quick Summary

• Opens: Friday, September 25, 2026 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• New name: Alien Swirling Saucers: Lilypad’s Jams
• New character: Lilypad, a frog-shaped smart tablet from Toy Story 5, serving as the attraction’s DJ
• New soundtrack: Recorded in Nashville, mixing reimagined Toy Story songs with brand-new originals
• New interactive moments: Games and videos hosted by Lilypad for guests in the backyard area
• Related: Toy Story 5 arrives on Disney+ on September 23

What Is Alien Swirling Saucers: Lilypad’s Jams?

The headline is Lilypad. She’s a frog-shaped smart tablet character from Toy Story 5, and she’s been installed as the attraction’s new DJ. The ride’s name changes to match: Alien Swirling Saucers: Lilypad’s Jams.

The premise fits the attraction perfectly. Alien Swirling Saucers has always been framed as a toy playset Andy won at the Pizza Planet arcade, with the aliens spinning you around under a giant rocket toy. Adding a DJ to that playset is a small idea that makes the whole area feel more alive.

The New Soundtrack

The music is the biggest change, and Disney didn’t cut corners. The new soundtrack was recorded in Nashville and spans pop, country, EDM, and alt-rock. It mixes reimagined versions of Toy Story classics with original songs written specifically for the attraction.

Reimagined tracks include:

• “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”
• “We Belong Together”
• “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away”

New originals include:

• “Pizza Planet Promo”
• “Spin It Back, Lilypad”

Imagineering was clear about the tone they were going for.

“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,” said Thomas Niederhiser, Senior Creative Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering.

“Collaborating with our partners at Pixar Animation Studios to write for these characters and expand their stories is just pure joy,” said Geoff Line, Senior Story Lead at Walt Disney Imagineering. “We played with these toys as kids. Now we get to play with them as Imagineers. It doesn’t get better than that.”

Why a New Soundtrack Matters Here

Alien Swirling Saucers is a short ride. You’re on it for well under two minutes, and the ride motion hasn’t changed in years. Music is the cheapest, fastest way to make a repeat ride feel new, and swapping in multiple tracks gives the attraction something it never had: a reason to ride more than once in a trip.

Lilypad Entertains the Backyard Too

Here’s the part planners should care about. Lilypad doesn’t only perform for riders. She also entertains guests standing in the Toy Story Land backyard area who aren’t on the attraction at all.

Between tracks, she hypes up songs and hosts interactive moments. You can:

• Guess which toy Lilypad is doodling on her drawing app
• Help unscramble puzzles
• Watch “home videos” she’s recorded of Toy Story characters

That’s genuinely useful if you’re traveling with a group that splits up. One adult can wait with a stroller or a kid who doesn’t want to spin, and still have something to do instead of standing in the sun staring at a phone.

How to Plan Around It

A few practical notes for your Hollywood Studios day:

• Expect crowds during opening weekend. A debut on a Friday means the land will be busier than usual that first weekend
• Ride early or late. Toy Story Land’s attractions draw their longest lines mid-morning through early afternoon
• Height requirement: Alien Swirling Saucers requires guests to be 32 inches or taller, which makes it one of the more toddler-friendly rides in the park
• Watch for the toy-story tie-in timing. Toy Story 5 lands on Disney+ on September 23, two days before the attraction update opens

If you want to see Lilypad before she’s fully running, she’s already been installed in the backyard area. She isn’t powered up yet, so the screen is currently showing a static image.

Is It Worth Going Out of Your Way For?

If you’re already going to Hollywood Studios, absolutely. It costs you nothing extra and it’s a noticeable upgrade to an area that has felt static for a while.

If you’re deciding between parks, this alone isn’t a reason to switch your plans. It’s a refresh of an existing attraction, not a new one. The real value is for families with young kids who spend a lot of time in Toy Story Land anyway.

The Bottom Line

Alien Swirling Saucers: Lilypad’s Jams opens September 25 with a new DJ character, a Nashville-recorded soundtrack blending Toy Story classics with new originals, and interactive entertainment that works whether or not you’re riding.

Plan a Toy Story Land stop on your next Hollywood Studios day, get there early, and let the kids play along with Lilypad between rides. It’s a small change that makes the land feel a lot more fun.

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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!