In Praise of the New Mickey’s Toontown
Four years ago, Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland earned headlines and media attention for the first time in a looooong time.
Sadly, the attention stemmed from a violent family fight that quickly went viral.
Photo: Wikipedia
As part of the public dissection of events, many joked that they didn’t even realize Mickey’s Toontown remained open.
People had just assumed the themed land had faded into oblivion since so few talked about it.
Photo: Travel and Leisure
In 2022, Disneyland confirmed that it intended to revitalize Mickey’s Toontown for a new generation of Disneyland fans. The results hint at the future of Disney theme parks.
Let’s sing the praises of the new Mickey’s Toontown, a place that honors Walt Disney’s vision of a place where all are welcome.
Welcome to the New Mickey’s Toontown
Photo: Playbuzz.com
How do you know you’re at a theme park?
I’d argue that one of the most telling aspects is the pavement where you walk. Theme park designers try to guide visitors to locations via these paths.
Photo:visitorlando.com
Alas, you’ll find a sameness to these designs, a cookie-cutter approach that makes all paths blend together. That’s decidedly un-Disney.
At the Happiest Place on Earth, guests should know where they are by the surrounding landmarks, ones that immerse them in the area’s theme.
Photo: D23
Why else would Walt Disney get upset when he saw a cast member dressed as a cowboy in Tomorrowland?
The Disneyland founder wanted nothing to disrupt the illusion. Astronauts belong in Tomorrowland, and cowboys belong in Frontierland.
(File photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sadly, no matter how cleverly the janitorial staff jazzes up the pavement with artistic designs, it’s still just pavement.
The new Mickey’s Toontown attacks that sameness and overcomes the issue once and for all.
(Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Disney has replaced much of the pavement in Mickey’s Toontown with artificial grass.
While exploring Mickey’s Toontown, families feel much more like they’re visiting a local park than a theme park. That’s a remarkable feat.
(Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
On the one hand, you’re only steps away from Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which is quite possibly the family-friendliest attraction ever built.
On the other hand, all you need is a picnic basket to perfect your morning. You can happily look around and take in the sights of Disneyland in a low-stress environment.
(Sean Teegarden/Disneyland Resort)
Disney has also colored what little pavement you’ll find in Mickey’s Toontown so that it blends perfectly with the backdrop.
Mickey’s Toontown is no longer just a child-friendly themed land. It’s now also a vibe.
To All That Come to This Happy Place, Welcome
Photo: ABC 7
Have you ever studied old pictures of Disney theme parks? What passed for crowded then looks like the attendance at a garage band’s first concert now.
Disneyland Park on its own hosts approximately 20 million annual guests, which averages to roughly 55,000 daily visitors.
Photo: CNtraveler.com
Since this park hosts nine themed lands, we can safely assume that thousands of guests simultaneously visit Mickey’s Toontown at any time.
That number is likely higher than usual right now since Mickey’s Toontown is entirely new AND hosts the hottest attraction at Disneyland Resort.
El CapiTOON Theater!
Depending on your personality, that much commotion may not disrupt you. However, it will impact hundreds, possibly even thousands, of daily guests.
As society grows more informed about mental health and neurodivergence, we gain additional details about triggers and mechanisms for avoiding/overcoming them.
Photo: Disney
To its credit, Disney has designed the new Mickey’s Toontown as an oasis during a park visit.
Imagineers have emphasized the concept of decompression as much as interaction. So, you’ll hear the buzzword of “play” mentioned repeatedly.
When cast members say “play,” they’re referencing how much activities like Goofy’s How-to-Play Yard emphasize free-form activities.
Children ages 2 to 12 represent the target audience here, and they’ll learn about themselves as they decide the kind of “play” that feels right to them.
However, children of all ages will appreciate the escapism here. Disney has followed the practices of companies like KultureCity.
That business creates accessible spaces at live sporting events and other heavily attended gatherings.
KultureCity
KultureCity’s mission statement prioritizes “creating sensory accessibility and inclusion for those with invisible disabilities.”
You’ll find spaces like this at some Atlanta Hawks games:
Disney has expanded that premise to Mickey’s Toontown. It’s a safe space for overwhelmed park guests.
Remarkably, Imagineers have designed every interactive element so that ANY guest may use it!
A Cartoon Come to Life
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
In Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, you embark on a cartoon adventure inside the madcap world of Mickey Mouse and members of the Sensational Six.
Disney has expanded that premise to Mickey’s Toontown as a whole, and it’s a noticeable change from the previous era.
When this themed land opened in 1993, Imagineers connected it to Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
The entire purpose of that film disassociated it from typical Disney animation, and Mickey’s Toontown reflected the incongruity.
Photo: Disney
Splashy, almost angry animated imagery reinforced the fact that this wasn’t your parents’ Disneyland. That’s the thing, though.
Over time, EVERY themed land becomes your parents’ Disneyland because these places last forever.
Image Credit: Disney
One of the primary reasons Mickey’s Toontown faded out of the public consciousness was that it connected to a film from the 1980s.
Disney failed to update the themed land enough, causing it to fall into spiritual disrepair. The place always looked exceptional for what it was.
. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Unfortunately, audiences no longer connected with that story.
Meanwhile, Disney did little to support the characters from Roger Rabbit over the past 30 years. Disney philosophically abandoned this themed land.
Photo: DIsney
Now, Imagineers have reconnected Mickey’s Toontown to Runaway Railway…but also something more timeless.
When Walt Disney invented Disneyland in his mind, he was sitting at a family park…and wishing it were better.
Photo: Disney
I’m not exaggerating when I say that the new Mickey’s Toontown reflects the culmination of Uncle Walt’s vision for a better place for families to gather socially.
After nearly 70 years of trying, Imagineers have finally perfected the concept. It’s peaceful, inclusive, colorful…and full of “play.”
. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
The 2023 reimagining of Mickey’s Toontown represents what Disney should aspire to be.
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Feature Photo:Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort
