Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway - Disneyland

[Californian Elitist]

Ummm... Avengers Campus completely rethemed one ride, and killed 3 other rides (one transferred to the Pier) and It's Tough to Be a Bug for just one new ride (a second to be named and built much later).

In WDW, TRON and Ratatouille are new and not replacing other attractions. Cosmic Rewind added to the footprint of attraction-space with its new gravity building. Soarin' added 50% to its ride-space.

In DHS, TSMM added 50% to its ride-space. Four new rides were added with TSL and SWL, replacing one ride and one stunt show.

Altho, Stitch and Primeval sitting empty isn't good.

All in all, DL and WDW pretty much have the same number of rides, which has been the case for the last decade, and as far as we know, will continue to be on par with each other ride-wise for the next half decade.

All that extra space in WDW is taken up by hotels and golf courses.

Ummmm… I’m talking about MMRR. AC has nothing to do with this conversation, but I’ll bite a little. AC replaced a land with four rides, a theater show, and a water play area with two rides, one reskinned, and eventually a third, a restaurant, snack carts, and a show or two. If AC didn’t look like a dud and had an actual Marvel aesthetic, I would certainly call it a complete win. It’s a partial win, in my opinion.

Correct, same number of rides. To me, it seems that DLR utilizes its space better. I know what the space consists of. I inserted the quote because WDW love to count the size as plus for superiority, but I don’t see it that way at all.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Ummmm… I’m talking about MMRR. AC has nothing to do with this conversation, but I’ll bite a little. AC replaced a land with four rides, a theater show, and a water play area with two rides, one reskinned, and eventually a third, a restaurant, snack carts, and a show or two. If AC didn’t look like a dud and had an actual Marvel aesthetic, I would certainly call it a complete win. It’s a partial win, in my opinion.

Correct, same number of rides. To me, it seems that DLR utilizes its space better. I know what the space consists of. I inserted the quote because WDW love to count the size as plus for superiority, but I don’t see it that way at all.

I know someone at sometime said WDW had the blessing of size.

Reading these boards and other WDW sites, I don't know anyone who takes that to heart and thinks that all that land is a very special secret sauce of WDW (except when wanting to build a 5th gate).

So, people keep mocking the phrase even tho I don't think there are any serious proponents of it (left).

And looking at the maps of usable land... That blessing of size has run out. Any new addition has to take into account less and less 'blessing of size' and having to make difficult choices. E.g., no more sprawl of low level hotels. Just about all future hotels are going to be towers.

 

[waltography]

Though I must say, I eagerly await the creation of the newest conspiracy theory thread about how Donald's Boat was actually the greatest attraction of the nineties and that modern Disney is just too fearful to allow it to blossom into its true, untutored state of brilliance.

Donald's Boat is our generation's Mine Train through Nature's Wonderland and you know it.

Honestly, not really. If anything, I’m interested in the queue. The actual ride…eh. I would have preferred to have gotten a unique ride. At least MMRR didn’t replace another ride. That’s a win.

The real win here, IMO. Rare that a new ride at DLR actually adds to the ride capacity of the park. Shame it's going to the wrong park, but you can't win everything.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I know someone at sometime said WDW had the blessing of size.

Reading these boards and other WDW sites, I don't know anyone who takes that to heart and thinks that all that land is a very special secret sauce of WDW (except when wanting to build a 5th gate).

So, people keep mocking the phrase even tho I don't think there are any serious proponents of it (left).

And looking at the maps of usable land... That blessing of size has run out. Any new addition has to take into account less and less 'blessing of size' and having to make difficult choices. E.g., no more sprawl of low level hotels. Just about all future hotels are going to be towers.

I’ve seen many people tout the size of the resort as a benefit. I don’t think they were being sarcastic.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I’ve seen many people tout the size of the resort as a benefit. I don’t think they were being sarcastic.

But were they touting how the size enables them to create lots of brand new ride and attraction spaces in the theme parks?

 

[choco choco]

Has anyone here been on it AND still think it’s a D?

I've been on it, and think it would have been better as a D.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is cute fun. It’s physically massive but so is pretty much everything from Disney these days. It never uses that size for any sort of awe inspiring sense of scale. It feels very much like a ride in a warehouse where you are watching something happen, not being immersed within a world. What really hurts it at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is its place of prominence. ToonTown is a much better location for the ride.

And there it is. My review of the ride (I'd written this awhile back):

My impression is that:
- with Roger Rabbit's ride system
- adding an s or c-shape curve to every room (to hide the vehicle in front)
- bringing the physical set elements in to line that curve route but keeping the upper level wall projections largely the same

... and this ride would own. The only real changes needed would be to the waterfall scene (which is useless) and Daisy's scene (which kinda feels like its there to pad the ride length, honestly), and both could be excised or shortened to no real detriment.

The trackless system was the best way to move about and make use of previous occupant Great Movie Ride's gargantuan room sizes. But where this ride is going to be a new construction (like at Disneyland), I see opportunity where scaling it down a little bit could be a cost-saver and a show-improver.

 

[mickEblu]

I've been on it, and think it would have been better as a D.



And there it is. My review of the ride (I'd written this awhile back):

My impression is that:
- with Roger Rabbit's ride system
- adding an s or c-shape curve to every room (to hide the vehicle in front)
- bringing the physical set elements in to line that curve route but keeping the upper level wall projections largely the same

... and this ride would own. The only real changes needed would be to the waterfall scene (which is useless) and Daisy's scene (which kinda feels like its there to pad the ride length, honestly), and both could be excised or shortened to no real detriment.

The trackless system was the best way to move about and make use of previous occupant Great Movie Ride's gargantuan room sizes. But where this ride is going to be a new construction (like at Disneyland), I see opportunity where scaling it down a little bit could be a cost-saver and a show-improver.

That’s interesting wording. I was going to ask you to clarify but you did that with your response to lazyboy. I suspect ill agree with much of your take as I already do from the ride throughs.

 

[Californian Elitist]

But were they touting how the size enables them to create lots of brand new ride and attraction spaces in the theme parks?

They were touting the size alone. Bigger = better, essentially.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

What is there to defend? I think it’s sad and embarrassing. Also, why replace GMR, which seemed like a perfect fit for the park, with MMRR?

For those that have been on MMRR at DHS, how do they contextualize the ride around the Chinese Theatre?

Trying to keep this not spoiler-y, since it seems Disneyland's approach will be similar-ish despite using a Toon-ified theatre . . . the Chinese Theatre is hosting the premiere of Mickey's newest Cartoon Short

To say much more than that would start to enter spoiler territory.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Thank you for your explanation.

Two people, including yourself, have said that you actually feel like you’re in a warehouse. Can’t be a coincidence. That’s not pleasing to hear at all. To me, it sounds like, as you stated, the ride feels less immersive, I’m assuming due to lack of details that should be in the surrounding environment. Basically, I’m not expecting for this to feel like Pirates or Indy.

Immersion is definitely lacking in the WDW iteration. Which is a shame, because the concept is one I think guests would love to be immersed in. It seems to work as-is for some people, but I felt like they bunted on this one. Would love to see the DL version address this.

There's a level on which it could almost be compared to Small World, where it's pretty clear you're in an open warehouse - but in Small World they're not really trying to convince you you're not, it's much more presenational and pageant-like than what Runaway Railway aims for, which should not feel warehouse-y. Small World distracts you from its warehouse-ness with hundreds of animated dolls in glittering costumes surrounded by large and beautiful sets. Runaway Railway too often points a projector at the wall, maps it over some minor scenery, and hopes you just fully ingnore the plainly visible industrial ceiling.

 

[Phroobar]

WDW had the blessing of alligators.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

While i agree with some of what’s said above, the combination of different aspects in the ride keep it fresh and ambitious. It is not perfect- especially the opening scene on the ride compared to those that follow, but it is unique putting riders in that zany cartoon world. It is sweet, playful, irreverent yet nostalgic, and utterly charming. It's old school Disney in many ways. Even with its shortcomings and flaws, I'll ride it in each park every visit.

 

[Consumer]

The ride's structure and narrative is fine, it's just an ugly aesthetic. With a classic Mickey the ride would be near solid.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

This helps me manage my expectations. Thank you.

The ride sounds more interesting. I’m still more curious about the queue, but I now have a better understanding of what’s going on with the ride.

The Disneyland queue will be different from the WDW queue, and concept art seems to suggest the DL queue will have more to look at. It's fine enough at WDW, but nothing to write home about.

The Preshow, however, is more interesting

 

[wityblack]

While i agree with some of what’s said above, the combination of different aspects in the ride keep it fresh and ambitious. It is not perfect- especially the opening scene on the ride compared to those that follow, but it is unique putting riders in that zany cartoon world. It is sweet, playful, irreverent yet nostalgic, and utterly charming. It's old school Disney in many ways. Even with its shortcomings and flaws, I'll ride it in each park every visit.

Adding on to this, and as much as I hate to say it, I think the new style of off-the-wall Mickey Mouse storytelling is important for the frenetic nature of this ride. Whilst Roger Rabbit and ToonTown in general captures the Looney Tunes-esque vibrancy of hyperactivity, the Fab 5 shorts that existed at the time of ToonTown's inception (maybe with Goofy as an exception) were more mellow and tempered in comparison. Some of the early early cartoons share the feverish pitch of the modern catalog, but probably would still fall short of a high energy attraction that so befits ToonTown. I honestly can't think of a more colorful attraction where you really feel like you've been properly popped into the cartoon world, and given that ours doesn't come at the loss of a great (movie) ride, I see this as an absolute win.

 

[truecoat]

I don’t want to be spoiled. Since it’s coming here, I’d rather go in with fresh eyes so it can be a surprise. I have no problem watching ride-throughs of rides in the other parks around the world if said rides aren’t coming here

Yep, I have no plans to ever watch a ride-through prior to the ride opening. Why spoil it for myself?!

I'd like to hear your review since you haven't watched any videos. I wasn't sure it was coming to Disneyland and watched the ride-thru right away.

The only ride I haven't spoiled ahead of time lately was FOP but I did watch the first 30 seconds.

 

[CaptinEO]

I don’t want to be spoiled. Since it’s coming here, I’d rather go in with fresh eyes so it can be a surprise. I have no problem watching ride-throughs of rides in the other parks around the world if said rides aren’t coming here

Yep, I have no plans to ever watch a ride-through prior to the ride opening. Why spoil it for myself?!

I never watch ride thrus of anything beyond accidentally seeing an official ad for something on TV. I figure I hope to one day go to many themeparks and experience these rides for the first time.

 

[BrianLo]

What is there to defend? I think it’s sad and embarrassing. Also, why replace GMR, which seemed like a perfect fit for the park, with MMRR?

For those that have been on MMRR at DHS, how do they contextualize the ride around the Chinese Theatre?

Without spoiling it, they do a good job of it.

It’s a bit of a nifty setup element, which is why they stuck with a theatre for ToonTown. So I assume that story element will be retained.

 

[Kirby86]

What is there to defend? I think it’s sad and embarrassing. Also, why replace GMR, which seemed like a perfect fit for the park, with MMRR?

For those that have been on MMRR at DHS, how do they contextualize the ride around the Chinese Theater

As much as I liked the great movie ride and think it was a better attraction then MMRR. They replaced it because they wanted Mickey to have an attraction and GMR was hardly anything more than a walk on especially in the late 2010s. Also the Paul Ruddish shorts are popular.

As for how they contextualize the ride with the Chinese Theater facade? I think they did fine, the setup for the ride makes sense. Can't say how since that's a spoiler but it makes sense.

 

[Consumer]

I just hope the animatronics from the GMR were saved.