The DaVinci Toad

Take one classic Disney dark ride, throw in an opportunity to cast a new light on it, and add a dash of Imagineering creativity. What do you get?  

Well, when it came time to build the brand new version of Fantasyland for the gorgeous Disneyland Paris, creative lead on the project Imagineer Tony Baxter pulled off an all star team. Tom Morris must have given quite  bit of thought in translating a Disneyland original into a restaurant, but Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was the absolute right vehicle to complete the transition.

Yes, that is the Pirates of the Caribbean fortress

 blended into the Fantasyland scenery. 

Toad Hall would itself remain, becoming a very welcoming pub type environment open for a course of British fish and chips and other delights. 

Inside the elegant doors, if guests waited long enough while exploring the place, they would find a painting of the master in three distinct styles: Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and finally, DaVinci- with the Toad man  transformed into Mona Lisa. All in one portrait that changes every few moments. It takes patience to see them all, but it's worth the wait. Like all of Disneyland Paris, the amount of details are worth looking for.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company. Photo copyright Mark Taft.)