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Credit: DisneySo long, partner – Jessie has officially replaced Woody at one Disney park.
Last month, Woody, Jessie, and co. returned to theaters with Toy Story 5 (2026). For the first time in the franchise’s history, this focuses on Jessie (Joan Cusack) rather than Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen), with the cowgirl battling the tablet Lilypad (Greta Lee) in her efforts to help owner Bonnie (Scarlett Spears) make friends.
With Jessie taking center stage, Woody and Buzz are pushed into supporting roles, so much so that some critics have questioned whether Tom Hanks was needed at all. Woody was initially absent from the film, with director Andrew Stanton deliberately drafting the story without him to test whether it could stand on its own. Ultimately, the filmmakers decided it could not, finding that the movie lacked its emotional core and felt incomplete without the cowboy.
However, Jessie remains center stage in the film’s marketing – and, it seems, at Disney parks.
Disney Replaces Woody Meet-and-Greet With Jessie
This week, Disneyland Paris removed Woody from his regular meet-and-greet and replaced him with Jessie.
📍Jessie has now replaced Woody at Animation Celebration
📍Jessie has now replaced Woody at Animation Celebration pic.twitter.com/MoN1b0bhKn
— DLP Report (@DLPReport) July 17, 2026
The character’s regular meeting spot in Animation Celebration within Disney Adventure World’s World Premiere Plaza is now occupied by everyone’s favorite yodeling cowgirl.
Jessie is available daily from 12.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
The good news is that there is still plenty of Toy Story content elsewhere across Disneyland Paris. Toy Story Playland features RC Racer, Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, and Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin, alongside giant statues of Buzz Lightyear and Rex.
Guests can also ride Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast in Disneyland Park, watch Woody, Jessie, and Buzz in Disney Stars on Parade (although costumed characters have sporadically been removed from the parade as of late due to extreme heat), and see the franchise featured in TOGETHER: a Pixar Musical Adventure at Disney Adventure World. However, the latter will be taking a scheduled break from August 3 to September 30, 2026.
Disney is also celebrating Toy Story 5 through September 30 with special character encounters, a Pizza Planet truck hunt, themed snacks, and exclusive collectibles. Woody may therefore still appear elsewhere, even if Jessie has taken over his former regular location.
What do you think of Disney swapping Woody for Jessie?
