Walt Disney World Officially Makes Changes To Beloved ‘Toy Story’ Ride After 8 Years

The holiday season is officially making its way into Walt Disney World, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios has welcomed a festive change to one of its popular family attractions.

While Christmas decorations are beginning to appear throughout the resort, Disney isn’t stopping at wreaths, garlands, and holiday displays. The company is also bringing seasonal entertainment to attractions that guests already know and love.

This year, one Toy Story Land attraction is getting a noticeable holiday makeover, complete with new music and a familiar character taking charge of the festivities.

The updated experience officially debuted on November 4, giving visitors another reason to explore Disney’s Hollywood Studios during the Christmas season.

And for guests who have enjoyed this attraction’s previous holiday offerings, Disney has made some significant changes for 2026.

Alien Swirling Saucers Officially Opens With Holiday Overlay

Alien Swirling Saucers at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is officially operating with its seasonal holiday overlay.

Located inside Toy Story Land, Alien Swirling Saucers invites guests to climb aboard colorful rocket ships piloted by the little green aliens from Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story (1995).

Throughout the experience, the aliens take riders on a spinning adventure as their spaceships move around the attraction’s colorful ride area.

The family-friendly experience has become a familiar part of Toy Story Land since the themed area opened in 2018. Although it doesn’t offer the same thrills as nearby Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers gives families another opportunity to enjoy the world of Andy’s toys.

Now, Disney has added some Christmas cheer to the experience.

According to WDW News Today, the attraction’s holiday soundtrack has received a complete update for 2026, introducing four seasonal songs that play while guests ride.

The updated music will remain part of the attraction from November 4 through January 6.

That gives families visiting Disney World during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the beginning of the new year an opportunity to experience the seasonal version.

However, the holiday soundtrack isn’t simply a repeat of what Disney has offered in previous years.

Disney Introduces Four Holiday Songs for 2026

One of the biggest changes to Alien Swirling Saucers this Christmas is the music.

Disney has introduced four holiday songs that play throughout the attraction, creating a different experience from the one guests enjoyed earlier this fall.

The updated soundtrack features the following songs, which play in a rotating sequence:

• “Toyland”
• “Swirling, Swirling, Saucers”
• “Joy to the Swirl”
• “Deck the Halls”

Although Christmas music isn’t entirely new to Alien Swirling Saucers, this year’s selection represents a major change.

Previously, the attraction featured just two seasonal songs: “Up on the Housetop” and “Deck the Halls.”

For 2026, Disney has removed “Up on the Housetop” from the holiday lineup and introduced three other songs.

Even “Deck the Halls” sounds different this year, as Disney has created a new rendition rather than bringing back the previous recording.

The result is a refreshed holiday experience that longtime visitors may immediately notice.

Of course, the attraction itself still operates as usual. Guests continue to enjoy the same spinning ride experience, but the music gives the adventure a more festive atmosphere.

For families who visit Walt Disney World every Christmas, these smaller seasonal changes can make familiar attractions feel a little different.

And Disney has made another important adjustment that affects the entire ride experience.

Disney World Completely Replaces Alien Swirling Saucers Soundtrack

In previous holiday seasons, Alien Swirling Saucers mixed its Christmas songs with the attraction’s regular soundtrack.

That meant guests weren’t necessarily guaranteed to hear holiday music during their ride.

Depending on when they boarded, they could experience either a seasonal song or one of the attraction’s usual musical selections.

Disney has changed that approach for 2026.

Instead of alternating between Christmas songs and the regular soundtrack, the attraction now plays only its four holiday selections.

This means every ride features seasonal music throughout the holiday overlay’s scheduled run.

The change also temporarily replaces another soundtrack update that Disney introduced just a few months ago.

In September 2026, Alien Swirling Saucers received new music alongside the arrival of Lilypad, a character connected to Pixar’s upcoming Toy Story 5 (2027).

Lilypad became the attraction’s DJ, introducing a new element to the ride’s entertainment.

However, with Christmas approaching, Disney has temporarily replaced that music with the holiday soundtrack.

For visitors who experienced Alien Swirling Saucers earlier this year, the difference should be easy to recognize.

Rather than hearing the music introduced in September, guests will now experience the attraction with Christmas songs throughout the ride.

And Lilypad is still part of the experience.

Toy Story 5 Character Takes Over the Holiday Entertainment

Disney’s recent changes to Alien Swirling Saucers aren’t limited to the music.

Lilypad, the character introduced as the attraction’s DJ in September, is continuing her role during the Christmas season.

The character is connected to Toy Story 5 (2027), the upcoming Pixar sequel that will bring Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and other familiar toys back to the big screen.

At Alien Swirling Saucers, Lilypad serves as the DJ and provides entertainment beyond the actual ride.

She also displays games for visitors outside the attraction, adding another interactive element to the Toy Story Land experience.

Now, she’s taking on a festive responsibility.

During the holiday overlay, Lilypad plays the new Christmas songs for people passing by the attraction.

That means visitors don’t necessarily have to board Alien Swirling Saucers to hear some of the updated seasonal entertainment.

Guests walking through the area can also enjoy the holiday soundtrack as they explore Toy Story Land.

It’s a relatively small addition, but it connects the attraction’s recent changes with Disney World’s larger Christmas celebration.

The holiday soundtrack also gives Disney another opportunity to introduce visitors to Lilypad ahead of the next Toy Storymovie.

And with the character already established as the attraction’s DJ, the seasonal music fits naturally into her role.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Continues Its Christmas Transformation

The return of Alien Swirling Saucers’ holiday overlay comes as Disney’s Hollywood Studios continues preparing for one of the busiest stretches of the year.

Christmas is an important season at Walt Disney World, and the resort traditionally transforms its theme parks with seasonal decorations, entertainment, and special experiences.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is no exception.

Throughout the holiday season, visitors can enjoy festive touches across the park, from Christmas decorations along Hollywood Boulevard to seasonal entertainment in other themed areas.

Toy Story Land offers a particularly playful setting for holiday decorations because everything is designed to make visitors feel as though they’ve shrunk to the size of a toy.

Adding Christmas music to Alien Swirling Saucers gives the area another seasonal touch without requiring Disney to completely redesign the attraction.

It also provides something that regular visitors may appreciate.

Families who have ridden Alien Swirling Saucers dozens of times can return during the holidays and experience a different soundtrack.

While the ride’s movements and overall experience remain the same, the seasonal music changes the atmosphere.

And because Disney has replaced the regular soundtrack entirely, guests won’t have to rely on luck to hear a Christmas song.

How Long Will Alien Swirling Saucers’ Holiday Overlay Remain Open?

Disney has confirmed that the 2026 holiday soundtrack will play at Alien Swirling Saucers from November 4 through January 6.

That gives guests more than two months to experience the seasonal version of the attraction.

Importantly, this isn’t a separate ticketed experience.

Alien Swirling Saucers remains a regular attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, meaning guests with valid theme park admission can enjoy the holiday overlay without purchasing an additional Christmas event ticket.

Of course, regular park admission requirements still apply, and visitors should expect crowds to increase as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach.

Families hoping to experience the attraction should also remember that ride wait times can change throughout the day.

For visitors who want to hear the new music, however, there’s no need to wait until Christmas week.

The holiday overlay is already operating as of November 4.

Disney has not announced whether this exact soundtrack will return in future holiday seasons, so guests interested in hearing the four-song lineup should plan to experience it during this year’s celebration.

For now, the little green aliens are officially getting into the Christmas spirit, and Alien Swirling Saucers has become another place where visitors can enjoy some extra holiday cheer at Walt Disney World.

With new songs, a returning DJ, and a fully seasonal soundtrack, Disney has given this familiar Toy Story Land attraction a fresh reason for families to climb aboard before the holidays come to an end.