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Credit: PixarAn original Toy Story (1995) character underwent a disturbing and quiet transformation at Walt Disney World Resort last week.
Pixar’s Toy Story franchise has entertained generations of fans for almost 30 years, with over four films and one more coming in 2026. The attraction is featured in several Walt Disney World Resort attractions, including Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin at the Magic Kingdom and the entire Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
But one of the attractions in Toy Story Land actually preceded the area’s creation. Toy Story Mania! opened in the Pixar Place area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2008, ten years before it would be retrofitted into Toy Story Land. The interactive 3-D attraction lets guests compete in digital carnival games alongside Buzzy, Woody, Jessie, and more of Andy’s gang.
Toy Story Mania! has long featured an interactive Mr. Potato Head animatronic in its queue. The character provides standard safety instructions, but thanks to some secret Disney magic, he also occasionally speaks with and looks at guests. Like many audio-animatronics of the late 2000s through the 2010s, Mr. Potato Head features projection-mapped, digital eyes.
The facial projection mapping animatronics often experience technical issues, from totally black to frozen faces, and Mr. Potato Head isn’t immune. Last week, Redditor u/fullmoon119 shared two photos of the audio-animatronic with disturbing red marks on his eyes, enhanced by the Disney Park guest’s digital glasses camera:
What happened to Mr. Tater?
The photos amassed hundreds of updates and comments from Disney Parks fans, many of whom were scarred by the animatronic malfunction.
“The first one looks like he needs some clear eyes drops,” u/ManeToys83 wrote. “The second one looks like he’s been fully possessed by the devil.”
“He’s been moonlighting at Five Nights At Freddy’s?” said u/Adventurous_Yak4952.
Most Disney Parks fans joked that Mr. Potato Head had consumed marijuana on the job.
“Looks like he smoked a little spud,” u/ratiod1 commented.
“Baked potato,” u/DillingerGetawayCar replied.
It’s unclear what caused the character’s eyes to turn red, and Walt Disney World Resort didn’t issue a public response to the Redditor’s photos. Disney cast members can conceal Mr. Potato Head’s area with a curtain when repairs are necessary, allowing guests to experience Toy Story Mania! even if the queue animatronic is malfunctioning.
Have you ever seen an animatronic malfunction at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your story with Inside the Magic in the comments!