What To Expect When Disneyland Reopens Refreshed Mickeys Toontown
ID:
TMS-5247
Source:
Orange County Register
Author:
Brady Macdonald
Dateline:
Posted:
Status:
Current
The reimagined Mickey’s Toontown returning to Disneyland this weekend after a yearlong makeover will feature the first Mickey Mouse-themed ride, reimagined shops and eateries and play areas for families with young children.
Disneyland will reopen Mickey Mouse’s neighborhood on Sunday, March 19 after an extensive facelift of the 30-year-old themed land that has long been in need of some TLC.
The cartoon-styled land based on the 1988 “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” live action/animated comedy mystery film will continue to be home to Mickey and other Disney characters.
The renewed Toontown is opening in phases at the Anaheim theme park as Walt Disney Imagineering continues to put the finishing touches on the family-centric land that has been closed since March 2022.
The centerpiece of the reimagined land is El Capitoon Theatre that serves as the entrance to the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction imported from Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida.
The Disneyland version of the trackless dark ride debuted in January to rave reviews ahead of the full renovation of Toontown.
Runaway Railway takes riders into the animated world of Mickey Mouse’s newest cartoon short, “Perfect Picnic.”
The backstory behind the Runaway Railway attraction queue at Disneyland finds Minnie Mouse teaming up with the Toontown Hysterical Society to create the “Mickey Through the Ears” exhibit.
The theater lobby exhibit features props and costumes from the Toon world — including a magical dresser mirror from the “Lonesome Ghosts,” the ship’s helm from “Steamboat Willie” and the sorcerer’s throne from “Fantasia.”
Rolling green hills covering the massive Runaway Railway show building have replaced the cartoon hills in faded colors that dominated the skyline of Toontown for the past few decades.
The new EngineEar Souvenirs shop in Mickey’s Toontown soft opened on March 10 about a week before the official return of Mickey’s Toontown.
The gift shop at the exit to the new dark ride currently offers a handful of Runaway Railway items along with souvenirs geared toward Toontown residents Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto.
Merchandise themed to Mickey’s Toontown along with other Runaway Railway items will be available starting on March 19.
Portions of Toontown’s central courtyard were revealed during the debut of Runaway Railway.
Toontown City Hall is flanked by the 3rd Little Piggy Bank and the town courthouse. Down the block, the Toontown Street Repair department building is in need of repair.
Cafe Daisy will take over space once dedicated to the land’s quick service food stands — Pluto’s Dog House, Daisy’s Diner and Clarabelle’s ice cream. The Daisy Duck-themed sidewalk eatery opening on March 19 will serve “dinner classics” like pizza, corn dogs and donuts. Shade trees and umbrellas will dot the City Hall courtyard filled with outdoor dining tables.
Next door, the Good Boy Grocers Market themed to Mickey’s dog Pluto will sell grab-and-go drinks and snacks.
Most of Toontown remains behind construction walls until the grand reopening on Sunday.
The Centoonial Park fountain interactive water play area near the Toontown entrance will spring to life for regular show moments throughout the day and night. Water will spurt from clamshells, flower blossoms and the mouth’s of cartoon fish in the fountain basin. Mickey will hold Minnie aloft in a ballerina pose at the top of the fountain.
Goofy’s House and Donald Duck’s Boat will be rethemed as children’s play areas.
Goofy’s House will be reimagined as a candy-making shop with a chaotic Rube Goldberg-like contraption inside that fuels the confection operation. Goofy’s trademark green hat will rest at the peak of the roof that will be surrounded by honey-dripping beehives and colorful birdhouses.
Nearby, Donald’s Boat is now filled with water and leaking from the inside after crashing into a duck pond. The resulting water play area will feature spinning water lilies and dancing fountains. Visitors will no longer be able to go inside the boat or up on the deck.
A play area will surround a Dreaming Tree — inspired by the tree Walt Disney used to dream under in his hometown of Marceline, Missouri. Kids can climb on the tree’s sculpted undulating roots.
An elevated clubhouse will feature a rope climbing cargo net, hillside slides and a sound garden with quirky noise makers. Small play areas with balance beams, rocking horses and hopscotch squares will fill Goofy’s How-To-Play Yard.
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin and Gadget Go Coaster will both remain after the extensive remodel.
The venerable dark ride has already been updated with a new backstory starring Jessica Rabbit as a private eye determined to stamp out a Toontown crime wave.
The kiddie coaster is getting a slightly new look, backstory and name: Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Gadget Coaster. The 28-foot-tall coaster with a single 16-passenger train reaches a top speed of 22 mph while traveling over a 680-foot-long track.
Mickey and Minnie’s houses will also return as meet-and-greet photo op locations.
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