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Mickey’s Toontown is the colorful cartoon neighborhood in Disneyland Park where Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck get their mail. The land opened Jan. 24, 1993, but after 30 years, the place really needed a spruce-up. Enter Walt Disney Imagineering, which after about a year of re-imagination, will debut a new and improved Mickey’s Toontown on March 19, 2023, as part of Disney’s year-long 100th-anniversary celebration.
Downtown Toontown. © Samantha Davis-Friedman
The re-imagination of Mickey’s Toontown features lots of new green spaces and trees (Concept Art courtesy of Disneyland Resort)
The tooniest town around is not only home to Mickey and his pals, it’s also where parkgoers can find Disneyland’s newest attraction – Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – the fan-favorite Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, and a slightly re-themed Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster. Mickey’s Toontown will also re-open with brand new kid-focused activities, new grassy spaces, and more shade, which all parents appreciate.
Let’s take a spin around Mickey’s re-imagined hometown!
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Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
A primary motivation for the Toontown project was the west coast debut of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which opened Jan. 27, 2023, as Disneyland’s first ride that stars everyone’s favorite mouse couple. The family-friendly attraction (with no height restriction) starts in the all-new El CapiTOON Theater for a queue experience exclusive to Disneyland (Walt Disney World’s version is housed in the Chinese Theater at Disney Hollywood Studios Park).
The Toons Are Everywhere! Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort
As riders progress through the theater’s lobby, they’ll see the results of Minnie’s hard work curating a special “Mickey Through the Ears” retrospective that traces her beau’s illustrious career through props, costumes, and set pieces, from the black-and-white “Steamboat Willie” all the way to the modern highly-stylized “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts.
According to the exhibit’s description, this steamboat helm is “an actual prop from ‘Steamboat Willie’ 100% authentic. The wheel deal. (Photo by Samantha Davis-Friedman)
Each section of the queue highlights a different period starting with the “Early Ears,” which includes “Steamboat Willie” (1928), “Plane Crazy” (1929), “The Band Concert” (1935), “Lonesome Ghosts” (1937), and “Fantasia” (1940). Next is “The Golden Ears,” with “Mickey and the Beanstalk” (1947) – complete with a giant beanstalk crashing through the ceiling – and “Pluto’s Christmas Tree” (1952). Finally, the “Modern Ear-a,” which showcases Mickey’s movies from the 70s and 80s through today, including his costumes from “The Prince and The Pauper” (1990). There are also fun magical moments along the way, including a lonesome ghost who appears in a mirror and Mickey’s magical sorcerer hat.
Fun Fact: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway contains more Hidden Mickeys than the rest of the park combined. The popcorn at the theater’s concession stand is even shaped like Mickey, Minnie, and Donald!
If you look closely you can see a hidden Mickey made from gears behind the “Prince and the Pauper.” costume display (Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort)
The El CapiTOON Theatre Concession stand features popcorn shaped like Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy, but sadly, it’s not for sale (Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort)
During the premiere of “Perfect Picnic” – which, due to a mishap involving Pluto and a pie, doesn’t start perfectly – moviegoers find themselves transported into the wacky world of cartoons. Luckily, Goofy, Mickey, and Minnie – along with some help from their pals – make sure everyone makes it safely through a series of colorful cartoon scenarios and to our perfect picnic in Runnamuck Park.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway begins at the premier of “Perfect Picnic”
The innovative attraction combines physical sets, audio-animatronic figures, animated media, and projection-mapping techniques, all synced with trackless ride vehicles and what Disneyland accurately describes as a “jaunty” musical score, including the ride’s toe-tapping original theme song, “Nothing Can Stop Us Now” written by Emmy-winning “Mickey Mouse” shorts composer Christopher Willis. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway also introduces Chuuby (pronounced “choo-bee”), an adorable cartoon bird created exclusively for the attraction.
Riders enter the colorful cartoon world of Mickey Mouse shorts (Photo courtesy of DIsneyland Resort)
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway has no height restriction so the whole family can ride together (Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort)
Disney Movie History
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway features several sound effects created by Disney Legend Jimmy Macdonald for Disney animated shorts dating back to the 1930s, plus new effects using Macdonald’s original equipment. Remember the famous whistle sound in “Steamboat Willie?” The same exact tri-tone whistle was used to create the sound for Engineer Goofy’s train in Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
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How To Ride Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
There is a standby queue for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, but Disneyland guests can also purchase an individual Lightning Lane arrival window for expedited access (subject to availability). Individual Lightning Lane does not require purchasing the resort’s new Genie+ service.
Other Toontown Attractions
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
This popular ride themed to the 1988 Disney movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” opened January 26, 1994, to take riders on a zany spinning taxicab ride through the streets of Toontown with Roger himself. In 2021, the attraction’s storyline was updated to feature Jessica Rabbit as a private eye. The area in front of the ride’s entrance has also been upgraded to feature an open grassy area where there was previously concrete.
A new grassy play space has been added in front of Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster
Formally Gadget’s Go Coaster (which had a minimum height requirement of 35 inches), this is a perfect “first coaster” for kids who aren’t ready for Disneyland’s “mountain” rides. The fun-sized coaster was created by Toontown’s resident tinkerer Gadget Hackwrench, a character from the Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers comics and video games. She also appears in the 2022 Disney+ original movie (voiced by “The Simpsons” voice actor Tress MacNeille).
Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort
CenTOONial Park
This entirely-new area in Toontown features a fountain designed for interactive water play and a dreaming tree with sculpted roots for climbing – a tribute to Walt Disney’s dreaming tree in his hometown of Marceline, Missouri.
The all-new CenTOONialPark in Mickey’s Toontown features a climbing tree and an interactive fountain
No, you can’t swim in it. Photo by Samantha Davis Friedman
Goofy’s How-To-Play Yard and House
Goofy’s prime real estate has been re-designed to include a “sound garden,” where kids can discover new ways to make wacky noises and explore a new, elevated clubhouse. Inside, they’ll discover an interactive kinetic candy-making contraption Goofy has fashioned out of random household appliances so he can make honey candy from his honeybee hives.
Welcome friends! Photo by Samanta Davis-Friedman
Goofy’s Sound Garden is the perfect place to play. Photo by Samantha Davis-Friedman
Inside Goofy’s House, kids will find a kinetic candy-making machine
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Donald’s Duck Pond
Donald’s Boat is surrounded by larger-than-life spinning water lilies, splashy fountains, and fun rocking toys. The boat’s portholes feature fun interactive water games with Donald’s mischievous nephews – Huey, Dewey, and Louie – and their friend Webby.
Where’s my good luck? Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort
Donald Duck’s Boat features interactive portholes and plenty of opportunities for water play
Mickey’s House and Minnie’s House
Kids will definitely want to visit the cartoon houses of Mickey and Minnie, where special surprises fill every room. Plus, the famous mice will pose for photos and sign autographs for fans when they’re home.
A-List Couple Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort
Toontown Dining
Mickey’s Toontown has two new dining locations in Town Hall Square: Café Daisy, a sidewalk quick-service eatery from Chef Daisy herself, and Good Boy! Grocers, a “roadside” stand offering grab-and-go drinks and snacks.
So many options Photo by Samantha Davis Friedman
Café Daisy serves a Daisy Dog (an all-beef footlong hot dog with house-made chips) and Daisy’s Dressed-up Dog, which adds chili-cheese sauce, mac & cheese, and parmesan potato crispies to the party. For pizza lovers, Daisy has cooked up the Cheesy Pizza Flop-Over, with mozzarella and provolone, and tomato sauce, and the Pepperoni Pizza Flop-Over, which, as its name suggests, is the pepperoni version. Daisy is also offering the plant-based Spring Garden Wrap with romaine, quinoa, creamy lemon dressing, and toasted pumpkin seeds.
Not your ordinary dog!
It even looks healthy!
For kids, there’s the Cheese Please! Pizza or the Pepperoni Please! Pizza, as well as bite-size Minnie’s Mini Corn Dogs and Mini Mac and Cheesy – and everyone will want to try Daisy’s Goody-Goody Donuts with cinnamon sugar.
The grab-and-go items at Good Boy! Grocers include pickles, Mini Babybel cheese snack, gluten-allergy-friendly cookies, fruit bars, and whole fruit, but what’s really fun is that families can have their own “perfect picnic” (just like Mickey and Minnie in the ride) by purchasing a Perfect Picnic Basket, which includes three snack-sized items of their choice like a Cuties mandarin orange, yogurt smoothie, applesauce, granola bar, and a gluten-allergy-friendly fig bar (plus water or juice). But wait! There’s also a cute Perfect Picnic Blanket available to go with the basket, so all you need to do is find the most perfect picnic spot in town.
Only thing missing is you!
Mickey’s Toontown officially re-opened in Disneyland Park on March 19, 2023.
When You Go
Getting To Disneyland From LA
There are multiple ways to get to Disneyland from Los Angeles. If you drive from LAX, take either the I-110-E to the I-5-S to Disney Dr. (about 34 miles) or take I-405 S, I-605 N and CA-91 E to Disneyland Dr in Anaheim. (about 43 miles).
If your family is flying into town, an excellent discount site for flights (and cars, hotels) is Expedia! This is where we start our research for the best deals!
Get Discount Tickets To Disneyland!
Yes, prices keep going up but you can score a deal through Undercover Tourist here!
Where To Stay Near Disneyland
Disneyland Resort has three hotels on its property. The Grand Californian Hotel and Spa has three outdoor pools and a waterslide. Also, a pretty fancy spa for post-amusement park therapy. Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel is a sea-side-themed hotel with a rooftop pool and available connecting rooms. The Disneyland Hotel has Disneyland park views and family suites. It also has a monorail-themed waterslide.
Other hotels we like near Disneyland are the Howard Johnson by Wyndham Anaheim which has a playground and a waterpark. The Cambria Hotel also has dual water slides and two pools with five onsite restaurants. Both are within a mile of Disneyland and just over $150 per night (depending on when you go).
Or check this handy map:
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