Why the huge affection for Mr Toad?

[BRER STITCH]

Originally posted by 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.

Well said, SCOOTER!!

In addition, many feel the closing of this attraction was another example of the "beginning of the end" of the WDW everybody loved. Instead of maintaining or improving the ride, they replaced it, without regard to guest opinions.

Having a fond memory destroyed is a very emotional thing.

Then it happened again....and again....

These things are gone....but not forgotten.

I have been on Mister Toad's Wild Ride at DisneyLand, and - while not spectacular - it IS as enjoyable as any other experience there.....AND another fond memory.

 

[Chape19714]

I really Enjoyed Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. The whole thing was just incredible. I only remember it as a kid, but it was still my favorite. It was always the last ride I would do before leaving the park. It was the best way to finish a day at the park. I would love to see a new and improved Mr. Toad Ride where 20,000 leagues under the sea is now. I really miss Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

 

[iluvstitch]

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? [/B]

Do you really think Disney gets replaces "favorite rides" just to upset people? They keep track of how many people are riding them, and replace rides that aren't as popular.

I think some people don't appreciate an attraction until its gone, and then they say it was the best ride ever. Reminds me of the song that goes "you don't know what you've got 'til its gone...". -Stephanie

 

[barnum42]

I think I have my answer - those who carry a child's memories of the ride carry the great affection. Those of us who only rode it as not very grown ups missed seeing it from that early magical perception.

 

[Sir Hiss527]

Now finally for my response...

It was truly a classic since it opened it 1971. Toad was a childhood memory on all the whimsical, and twisting turns. I don't actually remember the whole exact thing, way too young. But now that it's gone, I miss it.

The thing that truly interested me about the ride, is that it wasn't really a known story for the kids, or even grownups generation. Like most of the attractions at Disney, everyone knows what they are. But Toad was different. Same like Splash Mountain, not a lot of people know about Song of the South, that's what makes it a truly different experience.

Check this site out, it made me feel bad for all the TRUE Toadies out there.


http://www.math.miami.edu/~jam/toad/

 

[Plutofan]

I am another big fan of Mr. Toad and I really miss it...If the line wasn't too long I would always ride both sides. This was the first ride at WDW that I ever rode by myself as a kid.
R.I.P Mr. Toad

 

[Disney2002]

I have childhood memory affection for the ride, nothing more. Isn't it odd how people go crazy for this ride, which basically featured a lot of cardboard flat type sets, and no people complain to no end when disney uses the same style?!

 

[twistedmickey]

My reason for liking and missing Toad, if it makes any sense, was becaue it was so "Not Disney". You had Snow White, Dumbo and Mad Hatter and then you had Mr. Toad that really had no signifigance there and thats what made it stand out. I loved Toad and cant stand riding Pooh. So Disney greed destroyed a classic. BullPooh. If you know what I mean.

 

[johnvree]

When I was a kid, I enjoyed Mr. Toad just like I enjoyed every other ride/attraction I went on. As I got a little older, I found myself wondering why Mr. Toad was still around. It seemed like nothing more than a typical dark ride, but one with little effort in terms of techonology and animatronics. Having said that, I still miss it.

I enjoy Pooh. But I am a little dissappointed in it. For all of the money that spent, I expected more. It's really nothing more than a track and some animatronic figures of the Pooh characters. Really nothing special at all. It's cute and my kids love it, but just kind of ho-hum for me. Maybe my expectations are too high. I realize every attraction can't be a HM or M:S. Please feel free to correct me and tell me why Pooh is so great. But I just don't see it.

 

[Sir Hiss527]

Like others have said it wasn't a typical Disney ride, it was different...not many people knew who Toad was that's what made it quite interesting.

 

[Disney2002]

Anyone else remember there being huge positive response to Pooh when it opened? I don't know if I was just imagining it or not. Now it seems like the consensus is that people are less than impressed with the final result.

 

[Sir Hiss527]

Originally posted by Disney2002
Anyone else remember there being huge positive response to Pooh when it opened? I don't know if I was just imagining it or not. Now it seems like the consensus is that people are less than impressed with the final result.

Yes, Some people thought Pooh was going to be the next best thing since sliced bread...But they weren't that impressed with it. In my opinion they could have done a lot better on Pooh, then it came out.

Now that I think about all they had to do was make a huge rehab to it. (Kind of like what there doing to IASW now) Lighting, props, sound, etc. If only I was older when this happend.

 

[KaliSplash]

The only 'neat' thing about Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was the ending.
You don't expect to end up in Hell on a Disney ride. The fact that you did made it a cut above Snow White.
The ride itself, of course, was a simple carnival ride. But it was the "gotcha" at the end that made it worth getting on.

 

[HennieBogan1966]

As one of those who enjoyed riding Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, let me say that it's more than just memories. This does extend, to a large degree, to the direction that Disney seems to have taken in recent years.

Now, I'm all for progress. Nothing wrong with updating rides with current technology. But sometimes, I believe that they make changes for the sake of making a change. Although I couldn't tell you the "significance" of Mr. Toad's within the Disney Genre, it didn't, and still doesn't, matter. It was a ride that for me and my family was enjoyable. As was 20k Leagues, If You Had Wings, etc. etc.

I believe that there is a certain, mystique, if you will, that surrounds the attractions that we know exist at the parks. To give another example would be The Haunted Mansion. If we were told they were going to close it, how many of us would object to that? But there would be some who would say, it was outdated, corny, needed new technology. While they are entitled to their opinion, how many of us love knowing that it's there to ride when we go? This is the case with a lot of the attractions at each of the parks, but especially at the MK. And seeing change, even when for the better, is tough to deal with sometimes. But there is also an opinion out here among alot of us, that some of the changes, alot of the changes, are for the worse. The Pooh ride is okay, but I would be just as happy with the Toad. I for one, don't want to see a park full of "semi-adult" dark rides, or a park full of coasters. Coasters, to a certain extent, are overrated.
In this society of please me right now with what I want, or I'll leave, it's hard to please everyone all of the time. And let's remember that it's still us parents out here who pay the bills. So there needs to be something within the parks that attracts us as well. Let's remember that Disney is a family-oriented theme park.
Not a thrill ride park for teenie-boppers, or a yearly location for Pop Warner, and Cheerleading Championships. It was FIRST a theme park for families. And it always will be. And as with families, things change.

 

[marni1971]

Everyone thought Pooh was good: `Hey! Thats quite a cool dark ride... kinda an updated dark ride concept`. Then they saw the video of TDL Pooh...

 

[Sir Hiss527]

Originally posted by marni1971
Everyone thought Pooh was good: `Hey! Thats quite a cool dark ride... kinda an updated dark ride concept`. Then they saw the video of TDL Pooh...

Exactly, doesn't there's go outside?

Does anyone have any pictures of Pooh at Disneyland?

 

[ogryn]

I enjoyed Toad but I don't mind that it has been replaced.

My Mum however hated the ride... it gave her nightmares. Where it stopped in the dark was the spot. She used to dream that she had broken down in total darkness and there was no way out. :lookaroun

 

[Disney2002]

Originally posted by Sir Hiss527
Exactly, doesn't there's go outside?

Does anyone have any pictures of Pooh at Disneyland?

I believe this was a reference to Tokyo Disneylands AMAZING trackless ride system which is out of this world (and only $100 million!)

 

[Dayma]

MK is patheticallly becoming an all kiddy park which is more disappointing.

Since when was MK a thrill park anyways? I am confused.....

It disappointing to people that dont have children but to those with kids it is a wonderfull place to spend with them.

It seems to me you either have people that love darkrides or hate them. This debate always comes up on the boards. I think the people that hate them would be more comfortable at Cedar Point than a person like myself who loves darkrides and hates coasters and such.

This just goes back to all my other posts that there has to be balance in the parks. Sometimes I see it going more to thrill rides which is why I have still not bought into the Vacation Club.

 

[Katherine]

I was always afraid of this ride when I was little and it came as a relief to me when it closed, "Yeah I'll nver be forced to ride that again!":sohappy: Oh well I'd really like to go on it now just to see though ya know?