News Reimagined Toontown coming

[choco choco]

Do we think with the possible removal of the treehouse... Disney may be considering adding a connection to Galaxy's Edge? End the dead end of ToonTown? Or is this road to important?

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There's a bit of an elevation change between ToonTown's ground level and Star Wars Land. My guess is the path would go up and over the central service road (leaving it serviceable during Park Hours) before a long, gradual descent into Star Wars Land. That way everything's ADA compliant. If they covered the walkway it should still be usable during the fireworks, although Toontown may not be.

I think it's a great idea and doesn't have to be overthemed. The Main Street back lane as a model would be good enough.

 

[choco choco]

The concept art remodel looks nice enough. Honestly, they just needed to plant some trees, real trees, and the place would be an improvement. I think the Dream Tree is obviously fake, but whatever, surround it with enough real foliage and the place could look quite nice.

I too am hoping for real grass. I thought real grass is actually easier to maintain than Astroturf? Astroturf has no natural cleaning ability, so once it gets dirty, it becomes real slick and greasy real quick.

 

[D.Silentu]

If anyone under 35 knew what the original Toontown was like, and how many interactive attractions it had when it opened in '92, they'd lose their mind.

I remember anxiously entering the brand new land and slowly realizing that I was too old for everything it had to offer, save for the attraction that was still under construction at the time. That's probably why I've been in the 'expand Fantasyland/Arendelle' camp when it comes to the area, but at least they're giving it some attention.

 

[TP2000]

really because adding a major e ticket like MMRR and redoing the land around it is kinda a big deal to me

The addition of the E Ticket is a huge deal, and a fabulous plus for Disneyland as a whole.

The rest of this project appears to just be industrial engineering work to ease access to/from that huge new E Ticket. In this case, the work is themed to Toontown and includes new planters, ripping out the old ankle-breaker trolley tracks from the 1990's, and repurposing existing infrastructure to align with the reworked pathways for the big crowds about to descend in 2023.

It's much needed improvements for Toontown, since the original 1992 land footprint was never designed to host a high-capacity E Ticket on its northern flanks.

But let's not pretend this is anything more than pathway widening and street beautification. Plus something called a "Dream Tree" that may or may not be sponsored by the AstroTurf division of Monsanto.

 

[wityblack]

So that's where the Tomorrowland planter money went to

 

[mharrington]

I hope they retheme the coaster to something not quite so tied to the '90s (i.e., Gadget).

Also, I had previously mentioned how Yesterworld needs to update its video about the Snow White ride after its overhaul into Snow White's Enchanted Wish, and now they need to do the same with its video on Toontown, which ends on a rather depressing note, given all the safety concerns, with only a small glimmer of optimism, as Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway was not yet official then (not at Disneyland anyway):


Also also, is there a chance that Tokyo's Toontown could get some of the same updates? It's (or at least it was) more or less a copy of the one in California. Actually, I take that back. Disneyland should keep some things for itself, and besides, Tokyo just created a brand-new meet-n-greet for Minnie in its Toontown, which makes me wonder what the point of Minnie's House is now there.

I'm just glad that they're doing something with what used to be the Treehouse and the Jolly Trolley tracks. But I also hope and pray they keep the eateries there in some fashion and not nix them.

 

[DisneyFan32]

My guess is Roger will get a layover more in line with DL’s Snow White than WDW’s. I.e. not a full removal but “updates” to show scenes which while unnecessary won’t change the nature of the fact it’s still a spinning blacklit ride.

Cartoon spin will remain in some form with updated effects/projection mapping and possibly a new conclusion to the story that centers on PI Jessica Rabbit as the lead. As @TP2000 noted I suspect a queue update and preshow too.

While I’m still not a fan of changing RRCT I could see them favoring a more generic “Cartoon Spin” overlay that takes guests through various scenes/animated shorts. Possibly with cameos from the 3 little pigs, Oswald, Clairabelle cow, etc. (in addition to Roger) and other miscellaneous characters that have to be saved from the Weasles by PI Jessica. Better than removing it all together, I suppose.

I think non-Disney characters could make as cameos for Car Toon Spin overlay like Bugs Bunny, Betty Boop, Daffy Duck,
Porky Pig, Droopy, Woody Woodpecker (if Disney deals with Universal), Tom & Jerry, Yosemite Sam, Road Runner & Wile E. Coyote, Popeye, Olive Oyl, Bluto, Felix the Cat, and many more.

 

[mharrington]

I think non-Disney characters could make as cameos for Car Toon Spin overlay like Bugs Bunny, Betty Boop, Daffy Duck,
Porky Pig, Droopy, Woody Woodpecker (if Disney deals with Universal), Tom & Jerry, Yosemite Sam, Road Runner & Wile E. Coyote, Popeye, Olive Oyl, Bluto, Felix the Cat, and many more.

I highly doubt that. In fact, Tom and Jerry, Felix the Cat, and the Popeye characters are not even in the original movie.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

I have mixed feelings about the project. The good side? It looks terrific! The bad side? Now they only have the Tomorrowland revamp including the old Motorboat Cruise area and the space where the Fantasyland Theater is to work with. I just don't trust Chapek to do something good with it.

 

[mickEblu]

Ironically, even though Toontown looks like it’s getting more foliage it actually might be more of a wash as most of that new park area is cutting into the foliage between the Train and Toontown. Of course these new trees will have much more of an impact on the atmosphere in the land. I’m partial to green spaces so the left of Toontown entrance was probably my favorite part of the land.

Also I noticed that we re losing Goofys yard? Looks like that new path cuts into where his yard would be.

 

[mharrington]

Ironically, even though Toontown looks like it’s getting more foliage it actually might be losing some as most of that new park area is cutting into the foliage between the Train and Toontown. Of course these new trees will have much more of an impact on the atmosphere in the land. I’m partial to green spaces so the left of Toontown entrance was probably my favorite part of the land.

Also I noticed that we re losing Goofys yard? Looks like that new path cuts into where his yard would be.

This is probably a long shot, but maybe they will convert his house into Goofy's Paint 'n' Playhouse, which is found only in Tokyo Disneyland. It looks cool! I just wish I knew what Goofy is saying because I don't speak Japanese:

 

[BasiltheBatLord]

Also also, is there a chance that Tokyo's Toontown could get some of the same updates? It's (or at least it was) more or less a copy of the one in California.

I would be really surprised if it does. Tokyo rarely ever gets updates to its attractions/lands.

 

[D.Silentu]

By the way, is the "Dream Tree" a reference to something?

 

[TP2000]

By the way, is the "Dream Tree" a reference to something?

Yes. It's the tree that TDA executives go sit beneath to learn how to "leverage Disney’s powerful brand", as Chairman D'Amaro explained today.

 

[waltography]

I'm actually glad that it's getting this much-needed TLC. Toontown is unbearable in the summer heat, so the fact that they're bringing in trees at all into the land is a plus.

An interesting thought: do you think that come 2023, Toontown will be a better balanced land than Batuu? I don't know about you, but I'll take Toontown's two C-tickets and E-ticket in a small footprint (guest-facing wise) compared to Batuu's sprawling shopping district with a D- and E-ticket (even if RotR is very, very good).

By the way, is the "Dream Tree" a reference to something?

Very much a stretch, but it could be a reference to the Dreaming Tree, which was apparently Walt's favorite spot to play/doodle as a child in Marceline.

 

[Roger_the_pianist]

I wonder what might change other than the Mickey fountain to have the land match the newer cracked out Mickey and gang design...it will be pretty weird if there is 80s/90s Mickey along with this new design in the ride. Even the meet and greet characters don't match.

 

[chadwpalm]

Very much a stretch, but it could be a reference to the Dreaming Tree, which was apparently Walt's favorite spot to play/doodle as a child in Marceline.

Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland Park to be Reimagined with New Experiences, More Play and Interactivity for Young Families in 2023

Just in time for Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse’s birthday this week, we have some exciting news to share about the Disneyland Resort!

disneyparks.disney.go.com

Third from last paragraph.

 

[TP2000]

Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland Park to be Reimagined with New Experiences, More Play and Interactivity for Young Families in 2023

Just in time for Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse’s birthday this week, we have some exciting news to share about the Disneyland Resort!

disneyparks.disney.go.com

Third from last paragraph.

Oh, it's Kelsey from the Parks Blog! She's the one who wrote that Disney was supporting Diversity & Inclusion by making it hard to find the non-Christmas decorations for sale in the new Christmas shop. Because... words!

This paragraph also caught my eye...

At the center of CenTOONial Park will be a fountain, designed for play, which will also become a center icon for Mickey’s Toontown. As its base, water tables will invite guests to play with the water and have a sensory experience. At night, the fountain will be brought to life in a unique spectacle.

Um, so, it's the fountain that has been there since 1992. That was interactive in the 1990's by stepping on the band instruments engraved into the sidewalk that would then activate sounds and water effects from the same instrument on the fountain.

I take it that fountain and its effects no longer works? And they think by repairing it and getting it back to 1990's standards that a new generation will think it's something new? Or they're going to remodel the original 1992 fountain to be a new fountain?

Or are they remodeling the other fountain on the other side of the land, with Roger Rabbit? Does removing two fountains and replacing it with one fountain mean improvement at WDI now? I'm confused.

 

[The Aracuan Bird]

I’m not going to lie. I am a bit concerned that I’m not seeing Benny nor the Roger fountain on the concept art. I get why the fountain isn’t there now but not seeing both has me wondering. Of course they may just be trying to really solidify this as MICKEYs Toontown. We also could be reading too much into it. You do have to wonder what their long term game plan for Roger is. It’s not an IP they care about at all. Sadly, I could see them retheming it to some new D+ show. Whenever a super popular non Fab 5 animated show comes along on D+.

Disney concept art these days is purposefully vague. They de-emphasize certain areas to draw your attention to what’s new.

The Roger Rabbit area looks purposefully un-detailed because it probably isn’t changing that much (on the outside at least).

 

[Dear Prudence]

yes, but with the exciting Toon Town updates, will there be space for influencers to clog up instead of monopolizing areas meant for children for their Instagram?