I have done many, many threads for improving Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland, especially after it has lost so much of its luster. This is kind of like those other ones, but only on one attraction...
On the thread about Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway coming to Disneyland's Toontown (https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/mickey-and-minnie’s-runaway-railway-disneyland.935320/), as of page 119 or so, it has deviated into a discussion of how to improve the larger Mickey's Toontown as a whole, as it so deserves.
One of the things that sorely requires improvement, to me at least, is Donald's Boat, which, out of safety considerations, has basically become a shell of its old self. The slide has been removed, as has the children's entrance into the upper deck. The spiral staircase and rope climb were also made off limits, and eventually the staircase and entryway were removed entirely. Even the tugboat horn was turned off, allegedly from parents who complained about the noise. Thus, I feel that Donald's Boat should be given some attention.
The problem is that Donald's Boat is sandwiched between the Go Coaster and Goofy's Playhouse (both of which should have updates of their own, too, but that's another thread for another time), as you can see below (Donald's Boat is encircled in light blue):
As such, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to work there, and besides, any overhaul to the space would necessitate the relocation or even total removal of the existing boat structure, thus robbing this area of the conceit that this is where Donald lives, while his friends continue to have dwellings of their own.
One of my suggestions was a Twist-n-Splash spinning ride (from Mack Rides), like the teacups, but with a huge squirting area. The problem with this is that as I said before, it's a pretty small space. As was pointed out, the Twist-n-Splash area would require the partial removal of Goofy's space as well as the boat to fit. Both of those combined is a third of the Little Mermaid ride space, or about the size of an oddly-shaped Tuck 'n' Rolls Drive 'em Buggies from the old Bugs Land. The boat itself, they said, can only fit something like Francis' Ladybug Boogie, which is even more like a teacup ride, only smaller, slower and less exciting. Of course, it would be better than just letting the boat continue to waste away.
Then someone else proposed something that does seem a little more doable: a tugboat ride, which, they said, won't rock anyone's socks off, but would be a welcome addition for adding to the kinetic energy of the area. They didn't mention anything else exactly, but I'm going to assume they're referring to a spinning tugboat ride, like this one:
However, while I would agree that a ride like it might fit in thematically, again, I'm not sure how big the space is for it. Secondly, I believe they have those kinds of rides at both Knott's Berry Farm (Rapid River Run)...
...and SeaWorld (Oscar's Rocking Eel):
I'm not sure if it's a smart idea to have that kind of ride so close to another park that also has it, unless maybe there was some way to differentiate it somehow, like, say, an interactive element like squirting water or something (maybe have onlookers trying to douse the riders with water from mounted water guns).
Thirdly, it would still seem like a downplay to have Donald's home be taken away while his friends all have dwellings of their own.
What are your thoughts? What could be done with the space for Donald's Boat without taking away the notion of this being Donald Duck's space?
On the thread about Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway coming to Disneyland's Toontown (https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/mickey-and-minnie’s-runaway-railway-disneyland.935320/), as of page 119 or so, it has deviated into a discussion of how to improve the larger Mickey's Toontown as a whole, as it so deserves.
One of the things that sorely requires improvement, to me at least, is Donald's Boat, which, out of safety considerations, has basically become a shell of its old self. The slide has been removed, as has the children's entrance into the upper deck. The spiral staircase and rope climb were also made off limits, and eventually the staircase and entryway were removed entirely. Even the tugboat horn was turned off, allegedly from parents who complained about the noise. Thus, I feel that Donald's Boat should be given some attention.
The problem is that Donald's Boat is sandwiched between the Go Coaster and Goofy's Playhouse (both of which should have updates of their own, too, but that's another thread for another time), as you can see below (Donald's Boat is encircled in light blue):
As such, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to work there, and besides, any overhaul to the space would necessitate the relocation or even total removal of the existing boat structure, thus robbing this area of the conceit that this is where Donald lives, while his friends continue to have dwellings of their own.
One of my suggestions was a Twist-n-Splash spinning ride (from Mack Rides), like the teacups, but with a huge squirting area. The problem with this is that as I said before, it's a pretty small space. As was pointed out, the Twist-n-Splash area would require the partial removal of Goofy's space as well as the boat to fit. Both of those combined is a third of the Little Mermaid ride space, or about the size of an oddly-shaped Tuck 'n' Rolls Drive 'em Buggies from the old Bugs Land. The boat itself, they said, can only fit something like Francis' Ladybug Boogie, which is even more like a teacup ride, only smaller, slower and less exciting. Of course, it would be better than just letting the boat continue to waste away.
Then someone else proposed something that does seem a little more doable: a tugboat ride, which, they said, won't rock anyone's socks off, but would be a welcome addition for adding to the kinetic energy of the area. They didn't mention anything else exactly, but I'm going to assume they're referring to a spinning tugboat ride, like this one:
However, while I would agree that a ride like it might fit in thematically, again, I'm not sure how big the space is for it. Secondly, I believe they have those kinds of rides at both Knott's Berry Farm (Rapid River Run)...
...and SeaWorld (Oscar's Rocking Eel):
I'm not sure if it's a smart idea to have that kind of ride so close to another park that also has it, unless maybe there was some way to differentiate it somehow, like, say, an interactive element like squirting water or something (maybe have onlookers trying to douse the riders with water from mounted water guns).
Thirdly, it would still seem like a downplay to have Donald's home be taken away while his friends all have dwellings of their own.
What are your thoughts? What could be done with the space for Donald's Boat without taking away the notion of this being Donald Duck's space?
