Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway confirmed

Amidala

Amidala

Well-Known Member
I totally agree that the new shorts are clever, beautiful to look at, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, but there's probably no point in my pushing that here. People are entitled to their opinions, and what works for some won't work for others, etc. I will say that there's as much slapstick and "gross out" humor in older Mickey cartoons as there is in this new short, and that doesn't immediately make this series comparable to Spongebob, Ren & Stimpy, or any of the other shows mentioned in this thread. This shot of Mickey from Plane Crazy isn't very cute or wholesome either, but a) Out-of-context screenshots are in general a pretty awful litmus for the quality of a show overall and b) Different iterations of Mickey have different personalities and serve different purposes.

Not sure if this is controversial, but while I definitely see the appeal in a "Mickey through the ages" ride, I don't think it's a very bold move for TDO to plop down a Mickey-themed version of GMR right where GMR used to be...The new ride would always be seen as a (potentially inferior) "sequel" to a beloved classic, rather than something new and innovative. Whether Runaway Railway succeeds or fails, at least TDO are trying a new concept–which IMO has a promising premise.

The preview we were shown may be like a Power Point if it was two-dimensional, but (correct me if I'm wrong) it looks like this is not 100% screens, but a combination of screens and three-dimensional elements. It looked unlike anything I've seen at the parks before. I'm expecting a very modern and technologically advanced take on the classic dark ride, which is something I've been wanting to see for a long time, especially since Disney parks abroad have gotten modern takes on the dark ride (Hunny Hunt, Ratatouille, Mystic Manor) while we've had nothing.
 
Jones14

Jones14

Well-Known Member
Another thing to consider is that this is a bit of a risk on Disney's part. It would have been much safer to go with the "standard" (tan) Mickey, or to do a Mickey through the ages ride. Should we not be excited that they're going with a unique animation style to fit a unique ride concept?

It just seems to me that people are getting upset on principle without stopping to consider that they're adapting the IP to fit the ride instead of the other way around. Isn't that what we've been asking for in their IP-based attractions?
 
Haymarket2008

Haymarket2008

Well-Known Member
For me, and I suppose this is why I'm not entirely outraged about this replacement, is that is an attraction thematically appropriate to the park it is housed in (a rarity these days) and it seems to be a risk as @Jones14 says. Risks can turn into smashing successes. This is not a "safe" replacement. Other than the fact it is a Mickey attraction, it does seem to be pushing boundaries. Isn't that what we all want and feel is missing in WDI? I'm excited. Despite the fact that I will mourn Great Movie Ride forever.
 
Kram Sacul

Kram Sacul

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
Yes
MickeyMario said:
Of course.

The characters have been continually changing since they were created. And they're gonna keep on changing.

People keep saying new Mickey doesn't look like the "real" Mickey, or the "original" one. None of them do. If we're assuming the real one is the Plane Crazy Mickey. No other mickey since has looked like the original Mickey.

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All those different versions and they pick the mangled one most people have a problem with. Hopefully the actual ride will be great enough to look past the questionable character design. It's going to have to since it's representing Disney's most famous character AND replacing the signature attraction of the park.
 
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BlindChow

BlindChow

Well-Known Member
Jones14 said:
Another thing to consider is that this is a bit of a risk on Disney's part. It would have been much safer to go with the "standard" (tan) Mickey, or to do a Mickey through the ages ride.
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Nah, they just want to promote another IP. Not really a risk. It's just their latest "big thing" from other media they're trying to stuff into the parks.

Also the location is bad for just another general IP-based ride. Disney Channel Mickey isn't iconic enough for such an iconic spot in the park. It would have been perfect in Animation Courtyard.
 
dothebrdwalk

dothebrdwalk

Well-Known Member
BlindChow said:
But not the building it's housed in. How is a runaway train ride "thematically appropriate" for the Chinese Theater in Hollywood?

Honestly though, the "theme" of DHS is so convoluted now, I'm not sure how I'd determine thematic appropriateness of anything they build there. It seems like literally ANY ride would work as long it was based on an IP... :joyfull:
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You are going to a premiere of a Mickey Mouse short at the Chinese Theatre when you become a part of the cartoon... So, yeah it is thematically relevant.
 
Amidala

Amidala

Well-Known Member
BlindChow said:
But not the building it's housed in. How is a runaway train ride "thematically appropriate" for the Chinese Theater in Hollywood?

Honestly though, the "theme" of DHS is so convoluted now, I'm not sure how I'd determine thematic appropriateness of anything they build there. It seems like literally ANY ride would work as long it was based on an IP... :joyfull:
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I'm excited for this ride, but have to agree here. Obviously DHS will be getting a name change, but I can't fathom what name would tie all of these different areas together. Sunset Boulevard and ToT retain the old Hollywood feel of the original DHS. Star Wars land and Toy Story land are separate entities, completely distinct from each other and the rest of the park. And then there's just this Mickey ride in the middle (housed inside the Chinese Theater, which as you mentioned...doesn't make much sense thematically). Even if TDO manage to give the Mickey ride some movie-related theming (maybe in the vein of Get A Horse, where Mickey and the gang are "inside" a film reel?) this still leaves the rest of the park an incoherent mess.

Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to the Mickey ride and Galaxy's Edge individually...but fail to see how all of this is going to come together as a unified park.

EDIT: @dothebrdwalk Oh! Is that confirmed? I think that would work fine.
 
brb1006

brb1006

Well-Known Member
MickeyMario said:
Honestly, people saying the new shorts are ugly and feel nothing like "the real mickey" need to get a grip.

These shorts have a stunning art direction, that is often inspired by Mary Blair.

They finally gave Mickey back his personality after 60 years of being a neutered, one-note corportare logo.
People are so ingrained with the bland image he is today that they forget he used to have a wide range of emotions and actions.
(Steamboat Willie is about torturing animals for music, something that would fit perfectly in a Ren and Stimpy cartoon, so)

And there's so much heart in these shorts, especially the cultural ones set in different countries.

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My favorite being the one where Minnie is in the Netherlands. It was such a cute short.
 
Haymarket2008

Haymarket2008

Well-Known Member
BlindChow said:
But not the building it's housed in. How is a runaway train ride "thematically appropriate" for the Chinese Theater in Hollywood?

Honestly though, the "theme" of DHS is so convoluted now, I'm not sure how I'd determine thematic appropriateness of anything they build there. It seems like literally ANY ride would work as long it was based on an IP... :joyfull:
Click to expand...

I would say it is more than that, as you are immersed into the world of a Mickey cartoon. Presumably you, as a guest, will be attending a screening at the Chinese Theatre. I would say this ride wouldn't work in any other park at WDW.
 
Matt_Black

Matt_Black

Well-Known Member
egg said:
People keep calling this the Disney Channel Mickey. It's not.

Disney Channel Mickey:
(the one in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and spin-offs)

View attachment 220636

Disney XD Mickey:
(the one in the shorts, and soon, this ride)

View attachment 220635
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Except when you go OnDemand, the new Mickey shorts are found on the main Disney Channel... uh, channel. They are not on the Disney XD section of OnDemand.
 
No Name

No Name

Well-Known Member
Matt_Black said:
Except when you go OnDemand, the new Mickey shorts are found on the main Disney Channel... uh, channel. They are not on the Disney XD section of OnDemand.
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Oh okay, then I stand corrected. I thought the shorts were only on XD. Now it's just confusing because "Disney Channel Mickey" refers to two things.
 
SorcererMC

SorcererMC

Well-Known Member
egg said:
People keep calling this the Disney Channel Mickey. It's not.

Disney Channel Mickey:
(the one in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and spin-offs)

View attachment 220636

Disney XD Mickey:
(the one in the shorts, and soon, this ride)

View attachment 220635
Click to expand...
That really shows the stark difference in shape and proportion between the circular 'classic' Mickey design and the current one.
 
FettFan

FettFan

Well-Known Member
BlindChow said:
But not the building it's housed in. How is a runaway train ride "thematically appropriate" for the Chinese Theater in Hollywood?
Click to expand...

Agreed on that point. They should have just revamped the GMR, and then when Star Wars opens in 2019, close Launch Bay and put the Mickey Runaway Railroad in the former Animation building. It is the Animation Courtyard, after all.
At least I thought it was....hosts the Little Mermaid and is the entry point to Pixar Place.
 

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