Opening in December 1990, The Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure was a sprawling, immersive playground attraction located in the Streets of America section of Disney-MGM Studios. Inspired by the surprise hit 1989 film directed by Joe Johnston, the playground was designed to make guests—especially kids—feel as though they’d been shrunk to the size of an ant and dropped into the Szalinski family’s backyard.
The set was themed as a “hot set” movie location, complete with a theater-style façade and oversized props that mimicked the film’s iconic backyard scenes. Guests could climb, crawl, and splash their way through:
- 30-foot-tall blades of grass, made from flexible tubing that swayed in the breeze
- A giant Kodak film canister slide, which doubled as a nod to the attraction’s sponsor
- Rideable ants, modeled after the film’s friendly insect sidekick
- A spider web maze with climbing ropes
- A 52-foot-long leaky garden hose, spraying mist across a soft play surface
- 40-foot-tall bumblebees, perched above the play area
- A giant dog nose that sniffed and sprayed water
- Oversized snacks like a scale-model Oatmeal Creme Pie, giant Cheerios, and a Play-Doh can
The playground was built using the same soft-surface materials later used in The Boneyard at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and it quickly became a favorite for families looking to let kids burn off energy in a themed, shaded environment. Originally part of the Studio Backlot Tour, the area was opened to pedestrians in 1991, allowing guests to explore freely without needing to board a tram.
Though it remained popular for over 25 years, the attraction closed in early April 2016, alongside Lights, Motors, Action!, Streets of America, and several shops and restaurants, to make way for the construction of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The final day of operation was April 2, 2016, marking the end of an era for one of the park’s most tactile and photogenic experiences.
🎬 What Remains and Where It Went
- The Kodak slide and ant sculptures were dismantled and stored backstage temporarily, though none were repurposed for future attractions.
- The Play-Doh can and giant Cheerios were rumored to have been offered to collectors through Mouse Surplus, though no confirmed sales have surfaced.
