Why the huge affection for Mr Toad?

[barnum42]

I often read members raving about the retired “Mr Toad’s Wild Ride”. I’m not out to knock the ride or those who loved it, but I am curious to know what it was about this ride that generates such affection. Personally I was disappointed by it as I felt it was very cheap looking , being mainly cardboard cut outs when compared to the other rides in Fantasyland and the Pooh ride that has replaced it.

 

[DivineMadness7]

Personally, I never went on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride while it was still open at the MK...

I went on several trips to the MK while it was still open, however...

It was just never anything that, as a young child, I had a desire to go on. My parents never seemed to want to go on the ride either, so no one was ever disapointed that we missed it on our trips. I would've much rather gone on the Tea Cups or Peter Pan, as I would've been anywhere between age 5 and 10 while it was still in operation...

Anyways, my best guess would be it was a ride that a lot of people remember from the MK when they were young.

It seems as though it's not so much the ride itself but the nostalgia behind it.

Another example of this would be Figment. Seeing Figment was the highlight of my trip as a young child. I was very sad to see him replaced and ultimately, in the state that Journey into Imagination is in today....

Anyways, the moral of this lengthy post is, different strokes for different folks....

 

[stingrock23]

You know, Mr. Toad was my favorite fantasyland ride growing up. I think it was all the sharp and whimsical turns that the ride vehicles made. It was just more enjoyable than the other fantasyland rides. I also enjoyed the song heard in the queue. It always got stuck in my head.

I wish they wouldn't have replaced it. I need to make a trip out to Disneyland before they replace it there too.

 

[WDWhumanmap]

i always hated mr. toad (no offense to the fans) i never understood the long lines. i use to like pooh but now that is boring and i don't understand the long lines again. but still you got to realize it always was a ride for the kids you never see people ride it by itself it was always people and there kids just like pooh is now. MK is patheticallly becoming an all kiddy park which is more disappointing.

 

[JackSkellington]

I personally never enjoyed Mr. Toad.

 

[DSpear456]

I thought it was better than the Pooh ride they put in there. For those of you who have been to TDL and MK, I'm sure you know just how cheap the pooh ride at MK is.

 

[JackSkellington]

welcome Dspear to the boards. I was wondering if the Pooh at DL is better than the WDW version.

 

[NemoRocks78]

I always loved Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. There was just something about it that made me want to ride it again and again, something The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh doesn't make me want to do. It's faster approach made it different than other dark rides. I still miss it a lot and always think of the memories when walking by its replacement all the time.


By the way, the Magic Kingdom version was a lot better than the Disneyland version which still lives today. The ride at MK was a lot longer and a lot more "elaborate."

 

[Merlin]

Originally posted by NemoRocks78
By the way, the Magic Kingdom version was a lot better than the Disneyland version which still lives today. The ride at MK was a lot longer and a lot more "elaborate."

Agreed! It also had two tracks, which was cool!

 

[KevinPage]

Nostalgia

 

[debbiedoo]

Going on Mr toad's as a child it was fun that your cart make all those turns and you didn't know what to expect until you have rode it many times!! Whether it was or expensive it ws the concept!!

 

[luvJC4saken]

Let's not kid ourselves guys. When your in the business of theme parks you just have to think new. Even w/ rides that are popular, if you don't refresh your parks w/ new things you're not going to increase your revenue.

I liked Mr. Toad a lot, though I didn't ride it often. One of my favorite effects was the train coming towards you at the end. Of course it's just a simple headlight attached to a wall that opens up, but really made a great effect.

I think Pooh deserves more credit than people give it. Again, I've only ridden this once so I'll have to refresh my memory next time I go, but if I remember, the rest of my family, both young and old alike, really enjoyed it.

You know there's a lot of controversy surrounding Disney these days. Everyone knows that. A lot of people don't like Eisner... everyone knows that too. He WILL leave eventually, whether he's booted or his contract expires. Once that happens I'm interested in seeing how it affects the posts, particularly the complaints, on the boards. Is this a war for the restoration of a fantasy world? Or are these complaints being stirred up simply because there's someone at the helm who we don't like, and we'd make up any excuse to boot him out?

Some of you may get angry at that accusation, but have you looked at SaveDisney.com lately? The two headlines on the front page are about the accident w/ BTMRR at Disneyland, and the Tigger Child Molester--two items, that upper management really has no control over except in how they react, which I think they did well. Posting these headlines is a blatant fallacy. I don't agree with where the company has been heading either, but I'm just wondering if we are focusing our efforts correctly (and morally).

Wow. Lol, sorry about that. My point is that I think all the controversy is just causing people to have an eye for criticism because they want an excuse to boot Eisner. Lighten up, people, and you might have a little more fun.

 

[sarajo]

Mr. Toad wasn't my favorite ride, by any means... but I did enjoy it, just like I enjoy it's replacement. Not that either of the rides give (gave) me a thrill. Instead, I love to see the expression on the kids faces. My nephews used to love the "train crash" in Mr. Toad and they would talk about it forever after they would ride it. They would always ask "what happened to the train?" Now, with Pooh, the kids come away smiling from ear to ear.

Now... isn't that what Disney is all about?!?! Kids (of all ages) smiling from ear to ear!

In that last post from luvJC4saken, I followed your drift until paragraph 4... after that, I couldn't figure out what connection you were making to people's affection for Mr. Toad... oh well... I guess I'm getting old and can't figure things out as well as in my younger days! sorry!

 

[figmentfan]

I LOVED Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

One of my favorite rides at Magic Kingdom (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was my favorite.)

I have been going to Disney every year since I was a child, I loved going on the Toad. It was cool running into things, driving through the pub, mansion, barn, almost running into other vehicles (on the other track.)

Then the end, when you go through a dark tunnel at get hit by a train and end up not in heaven (if you know what I mean.)

I do not go on Pooh that much, or even Snow White. I do not spend too much time in Fantsyland, only to go on Peter Pan, Its a Small World, Tea Cups, and Philiarmagic.

Disney seems to get rid of favorite attactions: Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Horizons, World of Motion, Orginial Journey into Imagination, and Living Sea's Sea Cab Ride. Where does it end?

 

[TravisMT81]

I enjoyed the story, and the ride was after all wild Does anyone know if they have Mr. Toad merchandise at DL??

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

Originally posted by luvJC4saken
have you looked at SaveDisney.com lately?

Yes I have. I don't think those articles are a part of Roy's big plan... Just plain Disney updates!:animwink:

 

[Merlin]

Originally posted by luvJC4saken
You know there's a lot of controversy surrounding Disney these days. Everyone knows that. A lot of people don't like Eisner... everyone knows that too. He WILL leave eventually, whether he's booted or his contract expires. Once that happens I'm interested in seeing how it affects the posts, particularly the complaints, on the boards. Is this a war for the restoration of a fantasy world? Or are these complaints being stirred up simply because there's someone at the helm who we don't like, and we'd make up any excuse to boot him out?

Some of you may get angry at that accusation, but have you looked at SaveDisney.com lately? The two headlines on the front page are about the accident w/ BTMRR at Disneyland, and the Tigger Child Molester--two items, that upper management really has no control over except in how they react, which I think they did well. Posting these headlines is a blatant fallacy. I don't agree with where the company has been heading either, but I'm just wondering if we are focusing our efforts correctly (and morally).

Wow. Lol, sorry about that. My point is that I think all the controversy is just causing people to have an eye for criticism because they want an excuse to boot Eisner. Lighten up, people, and you might have a little more fun.

What's the matter with us...Blaming the GUY IN CHARGE???

 

[Jusjuice]

Originally posted by TravisM
I enjoyed the story, and the ride was after all wild Does anyone know if they have Mr. Toad merchandise at DL??

Yeah, they have a few cool things you can buy. There's beanies for several of the characters, pins, and a die cast Mr. Toad ride vehicle. I think you could order them from LaughingPlace.com or Ebay and I know they are selling a few of the beanies on Disney Deals (ebay).

 

[Scooter]

I think The Mr Toad hype is just all about childhood memories.

It wasn't a great ride, not really, just alot of cardboard cut-outs with Day-Glow paint on them.

People like to remember the good things in life. I imagine riding Mr Toad seemed very exciting through a childs eyes.

And towards the end, the last 2 or 3 years or it's excistence, the lines got shorter and shorter until it was always a walk on.

I rememeber years ago Mr Toad had huge lines...I remember finally getting on the ride and then getting off and saying to myself "Thats it?!" I wondered what all the fuss was about.

Then I saw the looks to the little childrens faces and I knew.

Now these children are growing up, and to them, the memories of Mr Toads Wild Ride are childhood memories, and the fun and excitement they had while riding it.

THESE are the people that miss Mr Toads Wild Ride the most.

 

[eclipseSD]

Perhaps if WDW had built the $100 million Pooh ride from Tokyo Disney Sea in place of Mr. Toad, we might not be upset.

But by cutting the budget again and again, a semi-good semi-adult dark ride was replaced by a mediocre kiddie dark ride instead of a blockbuster show stopping fun for the whole family dark experience.

But maybe thats just me.,