Why was Mr. Toad's Wild Ride removed from MK? Any reason other then creating Pooh?

[Master Yoda]

I hear that's why the Haunted Mansion died out; it was a dark ride with no recognizable characters. Pre-Depp Pirates, too. And the original Journey Into Imagination. Horizons. The Jungle Cruise.

The HM is an incredibly immersive E ticket dark ride. Toad had plywood cut outs. It was at best a well done carnival ride about a character that nearly anyone over the age of 30 does not know.

After 27 years, of course.

Meanwhile, Disneyland's version is 55 years (27 from the 1983 reno) in counting.

It was a cheap attraction to operate hence its long life.DL's core customer are AP holders that want a museum with seasonal overlays.

 

[Future Ape]

Toad was one of my favorites in Fantasyland long before I knew they were going to turn it into the Pooh ride and I'm in my 20s now. The WDW version had more detail in it and was bigger than the Disneyland version (the WDW version had two tracks). All of the scenes were not plywood. The statue of Cyril and Toad, the elephant's head in the game room and the devils at the end were three-dimensional figures.

I always thought the ride was the most exciting one in Fantasyland with its sharp turns. The cars were really fun since they had the steering wheels. Whenever I went to WDW, it had a long wait. The last time I rode it in 1998, there were still long lines for both sides.

I can't remember the first time I saw the Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, but I don't think you would have needed to have seen the movie before riding the ride. Even if you didn't know the story or the characters it was still a fun ride.

 

[preludevtec01]

Amazing site linked to all that Toad stuff. Also I would like to note as a child Toad was a great ride. However, I understand why Disney would put Pooh in its place. Pooh has been there for 10+ years and still appeals to everyone like day one.

 

[ChrisFL]

yes, cardboard cutouts, Disney wouldn't do that again, right?

 

[Master Yoda]

yes, cardboard cutouts, Disney wouldn't do that again, right?

Put guns and a score board on anything and people will line up to ride.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Here's a question:

What is the NAME of the movie that Mr. Toad appeared in? (Hint: It wasn't called Mr. Toad either)

Okay now as far as I am concerned I do agree that nostalgia does tend to cloud our judgement. Look, I liked it, but with Pooh in there does it ruin your day? No. Plus think about the subtle nods the Pooh ride gives to Mr. Toad. There is Mr. Toad handing the deed of the house over to Owl, and there is Mole moving out while Pooh moves in. Plus we all know about Mr. Toad's statue at the Haunted Mansion in the pet sematary. It almost gets you a little MORE immersed with the ride than you were when it was actually there.

That being said was it a better ride than Pooh? I thought so, by a little bit at least. I have never seen Mr. Toad's movie before and people would be shocked to learn how old it is (1943). I don't know about the plot or what happens, maybe I'll watch it someday. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the ride, because I did, but EVERYONE young and old knows Pooh.

I too liked the train at the end. As for the cardboard cutouts and it being nothing more than a glorified carnival ride, well, all I can say is "Snow White". And you know what? I love that ride too. The only difference between those two is that Snow White is still relevant today and it is after all the original movie. Hard to take that one down.

I do like the fact that it's still in Disneyland. I think they still should keep one going at all times. But to be honest, I am more upset that Country Bear Jamboree isn't at DL anymore than Mr. Toad at WDW. But here's the thing. We all know how bad the space is utilized at MK. So why couldn't they find room for Pooh elsewhere? This is Disney we are talking about, they could squeeze it somewhere. Why not build ONTO the park instead of replacing stuff? I've always felt the old skyway in Fantasyland is nothing but dead space

 

[sgshredder33]

Name five things that aren't Jackie Chan

Tim and Eric ftw:sohappy:

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Toad was a great FL dark ride. :sohappy:

It was frantic. Colourful. The ride had character, an identity of it's own. The strength of the ride was not in elaborate sets, it was in non-stop madness. I loved it and miss it sorely. In what Disney ride do you die and go to hell? :lol:

I never did figure out who the characters were, or what movie they were from, until well after it had closed.


Not that I would mistake it for the greatest attraction on property.

I would mind the demise of Toad less if WDW had gotten a top Pooh attraction, as in Tokyo, instead of replacing one cheap dark ride for another cheap one. A ride with less character of itself, but with a more marketable character as a subject.

P.S. I'm a major advocate of the idea to bring Mr. Toad's to the UK pavilion at Epcot. :lol:

That would be soooo awesome!

I'm a big fan of keeping characters out of EPCOT. But Toad would fit the UK so very well!

 

[drossjr]

Toad was a great FL dark ride. :sohappy:

It was frantic. Colourful. The ride had character, an identity of it's own. The strength of the ride was not in elaborate sets, it was in non-stop madness. I loved it and miss it sorely. In what Disney ride do you die and go to hell? :lol:

I never did figure out who the characters were, or what movie they were from, until well after it had closed.


Not that I would mistake it for the greatest attraction on property.

I would mind the demise of Toad less if WDW had gotten a top Pooh attraction, as in Tokyo, instead of replacing one cheap dark ride for another cheap one. A ride with less character of itself, but with a more marketable character as a subject.


That would be soooo awesome!

I'm a big fan of keeping characters out of EPCOT. But Toad would fit the UK so very well!

I totally agree with you on all accounts

Would love to see him added to the UK as well

 

[FutureImagineer01]

I've never ridden Mr. Toad, but I have seen videos. I think there could be some reasons why it was replaced:

- Confusing for the next generation. The movie isn't all that popular so kids today would ask, "so who's Mr. Toad?"

- Boring for teens scary for kids. Same reason Snow White was taken from MK. I mean, since when does a Disney ride get you run over by a train and sent to hell? A kid's worst nightmare, especially if he grew up in a religious environment.

- Weird ending. Great adventure, then bam. You're dead. You DIED and went to HELL. Ride's over. What?

So yeah, Mr. Toad was a cool, classic ride. But the Imagineers weren't stupid. When a ride is juvenile for older kids but traumatizing for younger kids something has to change.

 

[officialtom]

Hello, thread, our long lost friend. Nice to see you again.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Toad in the hole

 

[Miss Heinous]

But the Imagineers weren't stupid. When a ride is juvenile for older kids but traumatizing for younger kids something has to change.

Yet Stitch's Great Escape still exists with no closing date in sight...

 

[Goofyernmost]

Yet Stitch's Great Escape still exists with no closing date in sight...

At least Stitch is an original technologically loaded attraction whereas Toad was a standard roadside carnival funhouse ride with day glow plywood cutouts and no story at all. Yea, it was a great one alright. I rode Toad once in 1983 and never ever went on it again until I visited Disneyland in 2005. I thought to myself... self people seem to think this is one of the best things that Disney has to offer so, open your mind and try it again. I'll be darned, I thought, I was right, it still is a big blah!

 

[wm49rs]

Toad in the hole

Long dead, much like this thread....

 

[beast]

Winnie The Pooh is more popular than Mr. Toad. WTP makes money via movies and merchandise. If you haven't seen "The Wind In The Willows", then you most likely have no idea who Mr. Toad is.

 

[Californian Elitist]

So yeah, Mr. Toad was a cool, classic ride. But the Imagineers weren't stupid. When a ride is juvenile for older kids but traumatizing for younger kids something has to change.

If this is the case, why does the ride, as well as other traumatizing dark rides, exist at Disneyland?

 

[Matt_Black]

Now, name 5 characters from the story Splash Mountain is based on.

Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, Br'er Bear, Br'er Frog, Uncle Remus.

Now, name 5 characters from the story Dumbo the Flying Elephant is based on (other than the character in the name of the ride).

Timothy Q. Mouse, Casey Junior, Jim Crow, Mrs. Jumbo, The Stork

Now, name 5 characters from the television show the Tower of Terror is based on.

Rod Serling, Anthony (It's a Good Life), Harold Bemis, Jefferson "Jeff" Myrtlebank, Adolf Hitler* (He's Alive).

*Yes, he totally counts.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

If this is the case, why does the ride, as well as other traumatizing dark rides, exist at Disneyland?

Because Disneyland is better.

 

[EngineJoe]

Winnie The Pooh is more popular than Mr. Toad. WTP makes money via movies and merchandise. If you haven't seen "The Wind In The Willows", then you most likely have no idea who Mr. Toad is.

Except they put the wrong Pooh ride in Orlando.

Tokyo Disneyland: Pooh's Honey Hunt Trackless Ride:


Orlando Magic Kingdom Pooh's Honey Pot Tracked Ride: