Toontown is a Blast!

What a trip we had! I ran across this very bright and cheery attraction poster for Tokyo Disneyland's Toontown. It captures all the fun and zaniness of the land that delights adults as much as kids. At Walt's park, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway- count me in as a fan who likes this as much as Rise of the Resistance- and Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin are just the beginning of the fun. Gadget's Coaster was something I'd never ridden before, and I thought it was the perfect starter coaster for the younger set. Until I went on it. It has some serious zip! Now I know it's a great starter. The character homes are charming, and the street gags are great to discover as well. There's more here than I ever realized, making this land a surprise discovery each trip.

This sweet little attraction poster reminded me that when all the pieces of the land are placed together as a whole, this land is FUN! 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The Rarest of All Disney Attraction Posters

The construction of Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom in 1990 was a huge undertaking that required a bit of rerouting for guests riding the Walt Disney World Railroad. In fact, for a season, guests rode in the exact opposite direction! 

Do you remember the relatively short lived Mickey's Starland? It was the cheaper knock off version of Disneyland's incredible Mickey's Toontown (which shockingly opened years later in 1993.). The land started its existence as Mickey's Birthdayland in 1988 before becoming Starland in 1990. Well, guests would board at the Main Street station and off they'd go to Mickey's Starland. This clever attraction poster was designed to take advantage of the construction as well as remind guests the popular railroad was still open for business.

When Splash Mountain finally opened October 2 of 1992, the Walt Disney World Railroad resumed its normal clockwise route. As for Starland, during the 1995 Christmas season, it became Mickey's Toyland then reopened as Mickey’s Toontown Fair. The land lasted until 2011 when it made way for the park's expansion of Fantasyland.

As you might have guessed, this image directly above these words is NOT the fully original poster. It is a little too perfect and also a bit sanitized, removing some of the scrollwork even if it filled in the background to a solid color. But you get the idea. The original right above it had to be AI enhanced to bring it back to life. This image with the blog marker is above and the first AI version below it. The original is from the great now defunct Disney Park Attractions blog. The very top piece of art at the beginning of this article is a combination of AI and some photoshop to fill in bits of reflection from the photograph of the poster. 

But, with just more than a little persistence and the right AI program, you can get what you want IF you are patient enough. The image above is proof.

As always, the art is copyright The Walt Disney Company.

 

Build Your Own Ultimate Disney Castle Park Game

After the latest earnings call and no news of investment into the U.S. parks, I think we could all do better with the theme parks. Wanna try? Based on the classic Disneyland hub and spoke model as Walt Disney and the original Imagineers planned it, you are the lead designer in this new theme park game. Disney theme park fans will especially love the capability of building their own dream castle park. Now, you get a chance to do just that. 

The goal of the game and the rules are pretty simple: 

The Goal of the Game:  

Create the most balanced Disney castle park. You want epic attractions of all types, great shows, and very inviting places to dine and shop. Your park should appeal to fans of all ages.

Choose your perfect entrance land, a whimsical Fantasyland, a bold and futuristic Tomorrowland, a rustic Frontierland, and a very exotic Adventureland of your own. You can focus on any castle park to make your selections- the Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland or Shanghai Disneyland. Don't worry about the area that surrounds the park. Just focus on designing it.

The Rules of the Game:

1- When you choose a land from a particular resort, you must retain every aspect of the land and cannot swap out individual elements, nor can you add to them. However, if an attraction, show, shop, or restaurant is found in two different lands that you have selected, you may eliminate one of them.

2- As the lead Imagineer, you may also pick one additional land to add to your park, making a total of six themed lands. What choice would you make? Mickeys' Toontown? Liberty Square? Mystic Manor? New Orleans Square? Toy Story Land? Maybe Tokyo's Critter Country with the only remaining Splash Mountain.  Perhaps you'd pick one of two lands unique to Shanghai Disneyland: Treasure Cove or Adventure Isle. 

3- Bonus Decision #1- Choose whichever castle you want as the icon. You are not limited to choosing the castle which is connected to your choice of Fantasyland. But you are limited to keeping the attractions, shops, and restaurants that are part of your castle of choice.

4- Bonus Decision #2- Choose any attraction from any park you'd like, and place it within an existing land. Fill the that attraction gap. Not enough thrills rides? Need more theater based attractions or rides for children? Now is your chance to round out the roster.

Explain your choices and convince other players your design deserves to win. Ready, Set, Go!

Here are my choices for the Ultimate Disney Castle Park:

Main Street U.S.A.-  Disneyland Paris

The opening scene of any park must set he stage for what lies ahead.

 

Yes, this too is Disneyland Paris!

This one was much, much harder than I thought it would be! If I didn't choose Disneyland, could I exclude Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, one of Walt Disney's personal favorites? If I chose Tokyo Disneyland and its covered main thoroughfare, I'd have to forego the Railroad- and certainly that is a standard must-have aspect of any castle park. But what about the Crystal Palace? It's one of my favorite pieces of architecture. Could I choose Shanghai Disneyland's Mickey Avenue in lieu of something celebrating America? That answer was "Absolutely not!" 

Ultimately, I decided upon Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland Paris.

Imagine an elegant look at America at the turn of the 20th Century with a touch of French elegance. Dine at Walt's for a signature meal set in rooms filled with Imagineering art. Take an excursion about the railroad but glance up at the stunning stained glass windows that frame a part of the train station. Each represents a different land. Main Street Motors is just one of the beautifully designed buildings that take the art of Imagineering to the next level. The ceilings of the most visited shops match the appeal of famous Parisian department with domes of leaded glass. Stop to get a haircut at Dapper Dan's. Stroll the gracious arcades on each side of Main Street with each one telling a unique story about America. 

Adventureland- the original Disneyland

What means a land of adventure in your park? Think it through and choose wisely.

In contrast to the previous land, overall, this decision was a much easier one to make. I'm very partial to the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House at the Magic Kingdom, but the inclusion of the very out-of theme Magic Carpets of Aladdin meant I'd pass on picking that one. Tokyo Disneyland's included a mini New Orleans Square and its Pirates of the Caribbean, but that seemed like an easy cheat.  Although a fresh concept, I passed on Adventure Isle in Shanghai as in my mind, a Soarin' attraction doesn't seem to fit a castle park. Hong Kong Disneyland held promise as the biggest Adventureland with much room for expansion even though it's currently under built.

Epic, classic, and a must-have aspect of my Adventureland.

As much as I love Adventure Isle at Disneyland Paris- I mean a full-sized Skull Rock, a Captain Hook Pirate Ship and a junglely take on Tom Sawyer Island!- without a version of the Jungle Cruise, it just could not be a contender.  I decided against the Parisian area as an off the shelf Indiana Jones coaster can't come close to competing with a wild, off road jeep excursion. So, Disneyland won the competition.

Yes, it is the smallest and there's no room for expansion, but inch for inch, it is difficult to beat the original Adventureland in Anaheim, California. Tree House? Check. Jungle Cruise? Yes. Enchanted Tiki Room and The Tropical Hideaway for a taste of the islands? Perfect!

Angry deities abound in two attractions here. 

The Indiana Jones Adventure seals the deal! Its small temple fits the scale of Disneyland and masks the mega-adventure within. A nice surprise. 

Stuffed with attractions that span generations, this Adventureland's filled with almost 70 years of growing trees, shrubs, and flowers, making it a hidden gem in the middle of suburbia.  All proving once again, that size doesn't matter. It's what you do with it.

Frontierland- Disneyland Paris

The Wild West. Is it cartoon and Intellectual Property filled or is it based on American history- or a combination of both? The choice is all yours.

From difficult choices to the easiest one, there's no Disney castle park on earth with a more compelling and better designed Frontierland than the one found at Disneyland Paris.  Here's Thunder Mesa -a nice tribute to Imagineer Marc Davis- in all its glory. All that's missing is Western River Expedition.

With a full grown fort at the entrance, the whole land is worthy of exploration. Going up to the arcades, you're blessed with the view like the one shown above in my photo. The steamboat rounds the bend as the trains of Big Thunder Mountain Railway circle the island. Going under the river is an unexpected, thrilling, and totally unique way to begin the journey! But trust me, you'll want to ride time and again.

Disney's official photo capturing a summer day at the Manor.

My photo from a dreary winter afternoon.

Particularly after dark, the old and dilapidated Wild West version of the statesides' Haunted Mansion scares up some nightmares. The storyline of the entire land is tied together in a way that will give you the chills long before you enter Phantom Manor. Be sure to investigate the graveyard and notice one bit of naughty humor that only the Parisian parc could get away with.

As the railroad cars pass the perimeter of the park, riders get a great view of the geysers that dot this wilderness settlement during the gold rush. Imagineer Tony Baxter and his team lavished detail everywhere you look in this land and all the lands which make up the Disney location in France.

The official Disney photo shows Thunder Mesa in its haunted splendor.

The Lucky Nugget Saloon serves up piping hot fare, but it does miss a great opportunity to bring in the full blown cancan show- which originated in France- that was once a mainstay of California's park. Ooh la la! The shooting gallery gives young gunslingers a chance to practice while a great BBQ barn around the bend gives those traveling the frontier a chance to refresh and regroup. There's lots of open land on the frontier for growth and expansion.  

Fantasyland- Tokyo Disneyland 

Some people would say this is the very heart of any castle park. Just thinking through the list of classic Disney animated films and their matching attractions gives you plenty of options. 

Welcome to Beast's Castle! Official Disney photo.

Back to a difficult choice. The charm of Walt's park would bring a European style village and a great assortment of dark rides to the park including the lovely Storybookland Canal Boats and Casey Jr.'s Circus Train. Choosing Magic Kingdom would add Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Ariel's Undersea Adventure, and the Be Our Guest and Cinderella's Royal Table Restaurants. Voyage to the Crystal Grotto may be at Shanghai, but it is as overrated an attraction as the land is misdesigned. Fantasyland in Paris has its Alice in Wonderland maze and combines many attractions, also adding the Toad Hall restaurant.

Pooh's Hunny Hunt from Disney Photoblography.

A closer inspection really meant one clear winner: Tokyo Disneyland. Not only is the beloved Pooh's Hunny Hunt to be found here, you've also got the brand new Enchanted Tale with Beauty and the Beast. Just imagine a second full sized castle set in the forest by the film's iconic village. The ride's full of the film's music, charm, and suspense- as well as dozens of Audio-Animatronic characters. 

In Tokyo, you can in Wonderland! The Official Disney photo.

The Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall is a fan favorite right next to It's A Small World. The original attraction facade is found here in a new array of pastel colors and Mary Blair styling. 

Around the castle courtyard lie the classic dark rides: Snow White's Adventures, Peter Pan's Flight and the original Pinocchio's Daring Journey and even Philharmagic. The land's setting may be old school pre-1983 Disneyland, but it is 100% maintained and upgraded. Certainly, more updates are due here next, but as it stands now, the attraction line up cannot be beat!

Tomorrowland- Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

Science fiction or science fantasy. What does your land dedicated to tomorrow look like? This make be the most difficult land of all in which to choose.

From themeparktourist.com

The Land of the Future. Every park has its weakest cohesion of theme found here as the future keeps becoming the past, leaving each park with a mix of old and new as well as some Intellectual Property thrown in. Which park has the Tomorrowland that I'd add to finish off my park? 

The original has its strengths- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, the only real water submarine ride in existence, and wait for it... Oh yeah, let's forget it. Disneyland's land of the future is a wreck. The once great Matterhorn Bobsleds are just painful, and it seems the entrance is in a perpetual state of confusion. In Tokyo, Monsters Inc. Ride and Go Seek! is a unique entry in the land of the future line up. But it's neither futuristic or educational. Over in China, Hong Kong Disneyland is either cutesy or infused with Marvel. No thank you. Farther east in Shanghai Disneyland, this area looks incredible, but it is very short on attractions. The Jules Verne theming of the land in Paris is too specific a look for my choice, although I absolutely love it as part of the whole.

These two photos of mine represent aspects I love and put up with 

in the world of the future.

What about over in Walt Disney World? As with so many others, it's a curious mix, old, new, and filled with toons. But somehow it works.

Space Mountain is a must for my park, and I'm riveted by the chance to ride a Light Cycle in the world of Tron. The land of the future here also holds one of my very favorite attractions, one I look forward to riding multiple times every visit: The WEDWAY Peoplemover.  Sure, the toon invasion is here as well, but it is balanced out by a bit of retro Disney history with the Carousel of Progress. All said, this is not my favorite land, but it is the one that works for me to flesh out this park.

Castle Icon- Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant,  Disneyland Paris

The classic castle park icon. So many choices! What will push your decision over the top?

Gorgeous by day. Both photos here and below are mine.

Park purists hold to Disney's original and smallest castle as being the best. It's charming and sentimental for obvious reasons- who cannot be moved by the famous photo of Walt walking through it- but it does not represent the magnificent accomplishments of what a Disney park entails. The walk thru is nice, though.

The Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland share a castle architecture, but with different paint color schemes. Tokyo's got its own walk thru and Florida has Cinderella's Royal Table, a terrific place for a special meal. With its darker bottom tones, it's Tokyo for the win between the two. The pink paint job in Florida is just a disaster. 

Hong Kong's new remodel is 100% better than what they had, but there's really nothing inside it. In contrast, they threw everything into Shanghai's castle, but the end result is boxy, clunky, and just too much. Sometimes bigger is not better.

Breathtaking at night.

Bonus photo from arjwdwgirl.

Sleeping Beauty Castle in Paris best captures the magic and charm. The ground floor very expensive restaurant is not in its favor, but the ability to walk the upper regions past beautiful stained glass and tapestries among stone pillars that look like trees is a treat. The lovely balcony overlooks Fantasyland and the castle courtyard. Of course, the dungeon's giant dragon is an attraction on its own. The whole area is beautifully executed and magical in the best sense of the word. A nifty little bonus is the secret passageway into the dungeon found in Merlin's shop. 

Bonus Land- New Orleans Square,  Disneyland

Every Disney park expands throughout the course of its history. In your park, there's a special land from opening day. What will it be?

By any measure, Disneyland's elegant New Orleans Square is an artistic triumph and a fan favorite. Certainly, it is one of my most beloved themed lands in any park. Removing the seediness of the real life city from the Imagineer's recreation, and what is left is the area's history, flavor, and charm. In abundance.

The winding streets and courtyards allow guest to wander and almost forget they are in the middle of a very busy city or even a theme park. Live music is to be found as well as some of the best places to dine. Cafe Orleans holds less expensive fare, and the waterside dining at the iconic Blue Bayou is unmatched in atmosphere. Mint Julep and a beignet anyone?

The mother lode of Imagineering genius is here.

There's nothing new that can be said by me about the original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. For a decade, the French version was my favorite, but after several rides recently on the California original, I've come home. The more leisurely pace and timing gives the attraction time to breathe and immerses guests in an adventure unlike no other. 

(In this park challenge, there's a duplicate attraction to deal with, so I  have to remove two of three Haunted Mansions. In order to keep the story flowing, I'm going to keep Phantom Manor in Frontierland, and forgo both the New Orleans Square mansion and the Fantasyland one in Tokyo. Each of these two lands are so strong, they can hold its own without it.)

I probably have more photos of this attraction than any other.

And more blog posts- for good reason!

More recent changes to the pirate attraction are a mixed bag at best, but at its core, Pirates of the Caribbean remains Disney Imagineering's finest achievement. All new hires into Imagineering should be required to take a course and learn what makes this one so uniquely Disney and the company's crowning achievement.

Bonus Attraction- Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Pick an attraction to fill in any gaps in your attraction line-up.  It's harder than you might think to pick just one and leave others behind.

Let's be honest- Splash Mountain would be the most obvious choice here. Perhaps even Star Tours or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. But each of these would require big changes to the park that night even feel out of theme. Ariel fits in pretty easily, and certainly the fortune changing 1989 animated film deserves its place in Fantasyland. It's not a great attraction, but for the most part, it works. Replacement location would be where Tokyo Disney's Haunted Mansion resides. 

The Final Land Breakdown and the Attraction Line-Up

There's two lands from Walt's original park: Adventureland and New Orleans Square. There's one land from the Magic Kingdom in Florida: Tomorrowland. Fantasyland comes from Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris brings its amazing castle, Main Street U.S.A. and Frontierland. The Chinese parks had no entries. (In my mind, this points to problems with each park. In Shanghai, there's a few very good original attractions but a weak supporting cast. The opposite holds true in Hong Kong: the park is beautiful and filled with great second tier attractions but few true headliners.) 

Here's my very poor mock up of the new park.

In this game, my entry reveals what I think is a pretty impressive line up for beloved attractions from various eras. 

Traditional "E Tickets" include Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Indiana Jones Adventure, the Jungle Cruise, Space Mountain, TRON Lightcycle Run, It's a Small World, Pooh's Hunny Hunt, Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast.  (10 total)

Traditional "D Tickets" include the Disneyland Railroad, Enchanted Tiki Room, Molly Brown Steamboat, Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover, Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, PhilharMagic, Carousel of Progress. (7 total)

Supporting attractions: Three traditional dark rides (Snow White, Peter Pan, Pinocchio), La Tanier du Dragon walk thru, La Galerie du Chateau walk thru, the Tea Cups, Dumbo, Carousel, Swiss Family Tree House, Frontierland Playground, Rustler Roundup Shootin' Gallery, Frontier Arcade walk thru, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Speedway, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, Astro Orbiter, Horse Drawn Streetcars and other vehicles, Main Street Discovery and Liberty Arcade exhibits. (19 total)

Theater Show locations: Fantasyland Forest Theater, Frontierland Theater, Tomorrowland Stage. (3 total)

Dining Locations of Note: Walt's, Silver Spur Steakhouse, Blue Bayou, Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall, Tropical Hideaway.

So, there you have it! Have I won the Build Your Own Ultimate Disney Castle Park game? What does your entry look like? 

Maybe one day, I'll piece together my dream castle park with no restrictions...

(All photographs unless noted by Mark Taft.)

Concept Art for Mickey's Toontown Coaster at Disneyland

A nice piece of concept art here for the charming and soon to be more popular than ever Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland. Why would it be more popular than ever? You probably know the answer: Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. When the reimagined land opens at Walt's park this month, Gadget's Go Coaster will be fully reimagined as well.  The fairly rare piece of concept art here shows a fun little ride for first time thrill enthusiasts- complete with lots and lots of water. What will it look like when it reopens? Your guess is as good as mine!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disneyland Debuts a Toontown Inspired Logo for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway

Befitting the attraction's location within Disneyland, the Imagineers have unveiled a brand new logo for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway.  Unlike its Florida cousin at Disney's Hollywood Studios, the California attraction needed something more "in-toon" with its surroundings. I'm very excited for this ride to come to the West Coast! It is a fun adventure for the entire family, a very clever, enjoyable and uniquely Disney adventure that must be ridden multiple times to see it all. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Toontown is FUN!

As I continue writing my trip report for hopefully publishing this week, I ran across this very bright and beautiful poster for Tokyo Disneyland's Toontown. With all the changes coming to Disneyland's version good and questionable, (Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway and Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin, respectively), this poster reminded me that more than anything, this land is FUN! Glad to see the addition of Disney's Hollywood Studios latest attraction is coming to the West Coast!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

 

Jessica Rabbit Swings Again!

Once again, Jessica Rabbit is causing an uproar among Disney fans. First, it was her debut in 1988 with the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit? I mean, do women really look like that? (The answer is "Yes" if you watch reality television and see the work of Hollywood's worst plastic surgeons or get a look at Megan Fox.) Then, it was her more than lifelike size image rocking Walt Disney World's adult playground Pleasure Island- leg swinging and all. Must admit, it was striking! (Photo by yours truly. See more photos of Pleasure Island in its heyday here.)

Now in 2021, in the years of re-envisioning everything, her presence in Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin in Disneyland signifies yet another  new politically correct story line: Jessica as private detective. We all know Roger is bumbling and in need of help, but did they really need to change the story of the ride? Are those mandating the change that insecure they can't visit Walt's castle park and just have fun? I guess so. They need to watch the film and see just how self-sufficient and savvy a beautiful cartoon woman can be. Or meet the real women in my world.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

"Oh, Roger (Rabbit)!" Cartoon Spin Concept Art

Concept art for Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland is not very common. Concept art for the key attraction, Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin is almost impossible to find! But here you go. These pieces by Imagineer Marcelo Vignali from 1994 capture essence of the movie in stunning eye-popping fashion. 

The beloved film actually makes a pretty hare-raising attraction! Walt's original park has the best roster of classic dark rides, and addition of this one was just a perfect execution of fun, thrill, and story. I have to say that the upcoming opening of Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is a welcome addition for two reasons: First, it's a great ride, and secondly, this new E Ticket will make sure that Toontown stays open at Disneyland for decades to come. The attraction and the land is a win-win for Disney and for park fans. Exactly the type of expansion that belongs in the most loved theme park ever!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Norway Part of Magic Kingdom South

 Star Wars Land. Avatar's Pandora. Norway. What could these all have in common? These are all the location of the latest infusion of Disney characters- all fictional, all popular, all awaited by many theme park and movie fans. 

It still seems rather odd to me that Frozen is finding its way into Epcot's aging but still beautiful World Showcase. Honestly, I do not know why this should be so. The Three Caballeros were placed in Mexico years back. Canadian Comedian Martin Short made his way into his home country's pavilion, (and he is certainly a lively character!), and there remains some (mostly fan) talk of Remy from Ratatouille making his home in France. In other words, Epcot is turning into Magic Kingdom South one pavilion at a time. One plea for the suits in charge- please do not get rid of the epic Impressions de France, and I may be just slightly  more forgiving.

The mission is mostly accomplished in Future World, where in the oddest turn of events, the one fictional character that really belongs there- Figment- has been given the short end of the stick with an attraction not in the least bit worthy of the source material.  He could be on his way out with Dreamfinder already being kicked to the curb. You don't even really have to use your imagination at all to see this. So Norway, now becomes home to Anna and Elsa. (Nice piece of Imagineering concept are above, though.)

In some ways, things aren't all that much different on the West Coast. Star Wars Land will be built next to Frontierland, dedicating an all too important property to a park and location where it doe not belong. The same can be said for Marvel attractions being badly shoehorned into California Adventure, right behind Hollywood Land to be precise. 

At least at Disneyland, the biggest animated hit Frozen will be given a proper home in Fantasyland as soon as Mickey and his toon friends vacate and the nearby theater closes sometime after Star Wars Land opens up. 

Bottom line- all these changes will bring in even bigger crowds, moving the turnstiles and ringing the cash registers. Even bigger profits ahead for Robert Iger and Company.

Star Wars Celebration Lands in Anaheim

Too good not to come back and post for! The Star Wars Celebration hits California in 2015. Here's the official poster for the four day event scheduled for April 16-19. 

With activities which be familiar to fans used to celebrating at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida, the event will hopefully culminate in an announcement by the Walt Disney Company of what and when Star Wars Land is coming to the parks.

It's know all over that the Studios will be its home at Walt Disney World. The location for Disneyland, however, looks to be up in the air. While Tomorrowland would be a natural and needed choice for a makeover, insiders say Mickey's Toontown is that actual location for the Moon of Endor and more. Perhaps time in April will tell!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disneyland: Toontown Out, Star Wars Land In

Goodbye Toontown at Disneyland. Hello Star Wars Land. Really. We expected it at Disney's Hollywood Studios, but Star Wars land right next to It's a Small World? Perhaps a recreation of Endor could easily back up to the pine trees of Frontierland pretty easily. Regardless, the news is just shocking.

The news is too hot to not spread the word. The very reliable industry insider WDW74, known commonly as Spirit, dropped the news bomb last night over at the WDWMagic Boards. Right here.  It may just be the biggest real piece of Star Wars news in the last few months.

And I quote: "First, I am no tease, except with fanbois, so I've played enough: the current WDI plan for Star Wars at DLR involves a complete removal of ... Toontown. Don't know what this means for future DL pyro shows, but that is a huge chunk of land that is considered very 'underutilized'."

Why not in Tomorrowland where Star Tours already exists? No one knows but the suits and the Imagineers. Wonder if Marvel plans have anything to do with it. 

I love Roger Rabbit and his Car Toon Spin. Yes, all of Mickey's Toontown could be better utilized with more attractions besides bounce houses and lightly themed roller coasters. So, I do not understand the choice.  But I will say this: Spirit's sources are usually spot on, 100% accurate- and we've all seen Disney make the oddest of choices. I'm mean, a California themed park in California?

Overlooked Attractions at Disneyland

With space at a premium and lines everywhere for the large attractions Disneyland is famous for, the smaller experiences are well worth exploring. Here are some of my favorites: 

 1- Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Walt Disney loved America and was justifiably proud of its culture and achievements. Disneyland reflects the man's heart. At opening, Frontierland represented the pioneering spirit of the people and Main Street U.S.A. its heart. In the years before he died, Walt was able to see one of his heroes come to life, Abraham Lincoln. This Audio-Animatronic masterpiece debuted at the 1964 World's Fair, but made its way to Disneyland at closing. It's more effective than Walt Disney World's Hall of Presidents found in the Magic Kingdom. There, guests are overwhelmed by the spectacle of all the presidents at the expense of the message and its power. Nowadays, as folks rush past its entrance on their way to Indiana Jones Adventure and Splash Mountain, Mr. Lincoln remains in quiet dignity, reflecting an old school Disneyland and its early charm. 

 2- The Hungry Bear Restaurant. OK, I do not always eat here, but there's that intangible aspect to this place that draws me back repeatedly. A combination of peaceful surroundings, the sounds of nature in the middle of Anaheim, and the fact few visitors ever go all the way out to the bear end. the perfect place to sit, relax, and watch the world go by. 

 3- Sailing Ship Columbia. The Mark Twain Riverboat may get all the glory- especially on those rare occasions when it is possible to sail at night, but its the Columbia that impresses me more when I take a chance to explore the ship and its lower deck. The attention to detail is part of the appeal, and this nod to America's nautical history is just another example of a park that is a national treasure for good reason. 

 4- The French Market. Not an attraction in the traditional sense, but its is definitely one for me! There's something so appealing about a leisurely meal here, listening to a little jazz, and sitting at a cafe table, sipping a mint julep. It's not the real thing, but its as close as we can get to New Orleans west of the Mississippi. Besides, for Disney park lovers, the real thing has a hard time competing with Pirates of the Caribbean on one side and the Haunted Mansion on the other! 

 5- Alice in Wonderland. Admittedly, I do not always make it on this gem of an attraction, as for the last two decades my visits are shorter, limited to one day, and now with two parks to explore. Timing is everything, and if I get into Fantasyland later than 9 or 10am, the line is already trouble. Most guests prefer Peter Pan or Mr. Toad to a zany trip with Alice, and I generally do as well. All said, when I do ride, I am always surprised by just how clever and good the attraction is! The original Disney inspired characters are much warmer and likable then those found in the Tim Burton / Johnny Depp revamp, and the music and narration adds just the right whimsy to the proceedings- all the way to the explosive ending! 

 6- Mickey's Toontown. Like much of Fantasyland, as an adult male, I avoid this area of the park when the crowds settle. On that rare day when the numbers are light, I'll venture into the space to enjoy all the gags the Imagineers put in place. Surprises everywhere- many overlooked by the little ones enjoying attractions designed just for them. 

 7- Fire House. Since one of my daughters married a fireman, I decided to stop into the fire house on one of my recent visits. The number of artifacts found inside surprised me, causing me to stop and remember that Main Street U.S.A. is meant for exploring and not just for shopping. A ride on the Fire Engine is fun, but its what's upstairs that is even more appealing: Walt Disney's own apartment, where a light is always burning in tribute to the man that started it all.

(I highlighted the piece with a Disneyland Map from 1958- just for a bit of fun.)