top of page
00:00 / 05:32
Guests venturing through Questland towards Dragon’s Lair may notice a few odd, shaped peaks peering just over the castle in the distance. Entering Jungle of Pixels from this direction these peaks come into full view moments later when Yoshi’s Island is laid out before them.
​
Tucked in slightly behind Dragon’s Lair to leave DK Mountain as the main focal point of the land, Yoshi’s Island is 3 acres of fun that is sure to be a hit with families with children and those young at heart. Taking its cue from Disneysea’s Mermaid Lagoon, Yoshi’s Island offers a fully enclosed experience with the façade and guest facing area masked with landscape and décor to mimic the Yoshis home world. Crossing a bridge off the main path after entering the Jungle of Pixels leads to a small plaza area at the base of the island and the entrance ahead.
​
Inside, guests are treated to 3 low key attractions, dining, shopping and a kid all-time favorite play pit. Imagineers will bring the outside in with the work on Yoshi’s as once inside, there’s 365 days of sunlight thanks to the sky-blue hue of the walls and ceiling aided by some well-placed lighting. Complete with Yoshi’s hut, pathways, and forested areas, Yoshi’s Island offers even the little ones to live their digital adventure, no matter the New York weather.
Odyssey Carousel
Replacing the Yoshis in the aptly named Yoshi Carousel in Questland guests will be able to "capture", in other words board, various creatures from the Super Mario franchise in the new Odyssey Carousel. A selection of ride vehicles include Pokios, Cheep Cheeps, Tropical Wigglers, Glydons, Ty-Foos, and even Plessie; the bench option will be a warp pipe.
Yoshi's Story
Join the Yoshi clan on their quest to save the Super Happy Tree's fruit which was stolen by the not so sinister, but definitely mean and Kamek. Along the way expect to take in scenic sights of Yoshi Island, encounter mischievous fiends, and make new friends along the journey in Yoshi's Story!
Queue
Approaching Yoshi's Story guests will see a hastily thrown together archway made of bamboo and tapa cloth. The sign displays the rides name in a colorful and cartoonish font while below is the wait time for the ride. After passing under the archway guests meander through a small "tropical" garden made of cardboard and felt plants.
After winding through the "foliage" guests enter the Yoshi Hut where a bunch of Yoshi live. Throughout the treehouse large storybooks lie open, and inside are illustrations based on Yoshi's New Island and descriptions of various things on the island. These storybooks will usually have short one or two sentences giving guests a quick background on Yoshis, the Super Happy Tree, Poochy, mischievous ne'er-do-wells, and Kamek. On the walls are various photos of the Yoshis enjoying life on the island, and as an easter egg to Yoshi's Island DS the Yoshis are seen with a bunch of baby forms of classic characters from the Mario universe. These babies include Mario, Luigi, Wario, Peach, Daisy, and even DK!
Continuing in the Yoshi Hut guests will find various Yoshi nests where the Yoshis sleep in. Some nests contain Yoshi eggs of a certain color, and above each nest will be the handprint of the Yoshi that lives in it that corresponds with its color. Guests eventually reach the balcony of the Yoshi Hut. Here is where guests can step into a grass woven basket carried by storks, and go on their aerial tour of Yoshi's Island. Behind the ride vehicles is a large mural depicting the jungles on Yoshi Island with various Yoshis and other inhabitants displayed in the mural wandering through the jungle.
Ride System
The ride will be an aerial dark ride like Peter Pan's Flight with the cranes carrying straps for the baskets in their beaks and on their feet. The loading area will have a moving walkway to allow for a constant inflow of loading guests as the ride vehicles will constantly be coming in like in Peter Pan's Flight. Throughout the ride guests can expect figures with a limited range of motion, sets, screens, and even projections to bring to life Yoshi's Story while keeping it in line with Fantasyland dark rides. Unless otherwise stated many of the characters will be figures.
Ride Through
Scene 1: Happy Times at the Village
Flying out of the balcony of Yoshi Hut the storks carry guests over Yoshi Village. Below guests will be able to spot various Yoshis partaking in activities. A pink and black Yoshi are seen fishing in a pond, and the black Yoshi is seen moving his fishing rod up and down which has a small Cheep Cheep hooked on. Underneath a tree is a yellow Yoshi sleeping contently as she is rolled up in a cute position. Not so far away a teetering log has a white and purple Yoshi seesawing back and forth letting out some Yoshi yells of fun. Finally as guests are about to be flown into the jungle a red, green, and blue Yoshi are seen bobbing their heads as they sing the Yoshi Theme from Yoshi's Story. The green Yoshi even waves at guests as they fly off.
Scene 2: The Sad Super Happy Tree
Flying deeper into the jungle guests are surrounded in foliage. The storks will fly around in a circle around the Super Happy Tree. However, the Super Happy Tree is actually super sad! As the heart shape fruit moves side to side a projection of its face has a very sad demeanor that pouts and frowns. In the far off background, through a screen, Kamek's tower is seen with him flying on broom with all the fruit magically floating behind him. The Super Happy Tree will occasionally telepathically speak to guests. The tree has various sayings to give repeat riders something new to hear, but also to account for the fact there is a constant stream of vehicles. Typically guests will hear two of three of the tree's lines before flying away.
Super Happy Tree: Please save my fruit!
Super Happy Tree: Hurry go stop that Kamek!
Super Happy Tree: Please get my fruit back!
Super Happy Tree: That fiendish magikoopa took everything!
Scene 3: Shy Guy Jungle
Flying deeper into the jungles of Yoshi Island the light gets darker as less light enters the thick canopy of the jungle. On both sides of the ride vehicle a Snift will pop up from the foliage and shoot a blast of air up to guests. The Snifts rise and fall between shots at guests back into the foliage. A pink Yoshi appears with an egg in their hand, and taking aim at some Fly Guys who have picked up a red Yoshi. Poles for raising and lowering the Fly Guys and Yoshi will be disguised in bamboo behind them.
A Crazee Dayzee appears singing a lullaby which has put a blue Yoshi to sleep, and another Crazee Dayzee is putting graffiti on their face. Deeper into the jungle Nipper Spores float and twirl around guests, and below a Nipper Plant has taken root in the branches while a black Yoshi is using his long tongue to reach it. The tongue moves forward and inward constantly.
Reaching the outskirts of the jungle castle ruins have begun to be introduced alluding to Kamek's tower. Blow Hard plants have taken root in the ruins, and will occasionally blowing a gust of air at ride vehicles. A sleeping Shy Guy is seen next to the lever that lowers the gate to Kamek's Tower, but due to his deep slumber Yoshis are allowed right in!
Scene 4: Kamek's Defeat
Flying into Kamek's Tower guests will pass by a screen cleverly hidden screens worked into the dungeon and its jail cells. A white Yoshi is shown chasing around Toadies carrying fruit from the Super Happy Tree. On the other side a purple Yoshi is seen ground pounding through the ceiling knocking out a Toadie, and then the Yoshi flutter jumps right back up out. Kamek flies in on his broom using his magic to repair the ceiling and unsquash the Toadie.
Entering Kamek's chamber a yellow Yoshi figure is seen having stolen Kamek's wand from him waving it around. Kamek faces the yellow Yoshi waving his arm in anger and in defeat. A green Yoshi carries a basket containing the fruit of the Super Happy tree, and gives guests a thumbs up for they have defeated Kamek. The storks fly out of the tower, and into the final scene.
Scene 5: Super Happy Times!
Entering a room similar to Scene 2 guests will be flown around the Super Happy Tree who now has fruit all over itself again along with a bright happy face. Around the trees base the Yoshis have gathered around sitting on rocks, standing and waving their hands, and some are clapping. Regardless of how they are set up the Yoshis have all gathered to sing the super happy Yoshi Theme from Yoshi's Story. Before entering the unload area a green Yoshi waves guests goodbye.
Tucked around one of the video game-like mounds within Yoshi’s Island sits Kamek’s Koopa Loopa. This junior coaster with a 30” height requirement offers the main “thrill” of the area and a great introduction for kids to coasters.
​
A long-time nemesis of the Yoshis and Mario and gang, Kamek has arrived at Yoshi’s Island with a small army of Koopas intent on causing all manner of havoc. Entering the queue area, guests will notice Koopa figures hiding in the cartoonish brush and foliage as they look for the Yoshis and their eggs. Winding through the short but delightful queue brings guests to the boarding station that resembles some of the hut structures from Yoshi’s Island.
​
The coaster itself is an 8-car configuration with 2 seats in each car. The head of the train is themed to look like Kamek, colored in blue like his robe, with his beak protruding from the front of the car. The remaining 7 cars are designed to resemble the Koopas’ distinctive shells as Yoshi leads them on.
​
Lasting a minute and seven seconds in duration and traveling 692 feet, the track follows several simple looping passes after taking the lift hill making for a small footprint. With its location inside of Yoshi’s Island, additional theming for the attraction will not require much effort due to the work already done with all the video game elements about. For the coaster itself, scattered about the ride will be various Yoshis dancing about and Koopa shells flipped over on their backs with the coaster flow mimicking this same defeat.
Rounding out Yoshi's Island is a quaint teacup ride inspired by hatched Yoshi shells entitled Yoshi Egg Scramble. Climb aboard and swirl around in a half cracked egg shell as you glide along and take in the views of the surrounding interior landscape design. But be careful not to look around too much as the guests in your party may decide to begin spinning the eggshells on this rollicking adventure.
Poochy's Playpit is a kiddie area to complete the Yoshi Island theme. Here Poochy and friends have jungle gym sets and interactive play areas where kids can roam through tunnels and down slides, and a place for parents to sit and watch their kids play throughout this area. Guests can also expect to find a meet and greet with the iconic green Yoshi here.
bottom of page