Disneyland Updating Toontown

WDWNT Author on June 12, 2008

A New York Times article talks with Bob Iger about planned changes to Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland, among other things:

Mr. Iger talks about the need to balance “heritage and innovation.” For Mickey and other Disney characters, one method is to keep the core attributes of the characters the same, but to update the world in which they live. For instance, Disney is updating Toontown, the section of Disneyland that Mickey calls home. One plan features an old-fashioned trolley, but Mr. Iger is not sure that is a smart idea. Will modern children know what an old-fashioned trolley is?”

Finally Toontown is getting some needed attention and that probably explains the construction walls around Donald’s Boat, the gas station and the planned refurb for Gadget Go’s Coaster starting in September.

DLR/TSMM Update

WDWNT Author on June 9, 2008

MasterGracey on MiceChat has put up a lovely photo update, which mainly covers Toy Story Midway Mania, but also has a few other things in it. Also, Mouseketeer on MiceChat posted a TSMM update, with a few more pictures. So let’s start with the non-TSMM related pictures:


While the Guided Tour Garden is closed for refurbishment, tour groups will meet at the Guided Tours building


A signing for the new Mark VII Monorail poster was held this past Sunday at the Disneyana Shop


The It’s a Small World Top Shoppe is now also behind tarps


The fire truck has returned to Toontown, looking as bright & shinny as ever!

Now let’s move onto the Toy Story Midway Mania pictures:


A look inside the queue building


The loading area


The start of the ride


The end of the ride


The exit stairs

Finally, Mouseketeer has a few pictures inside the ride itself:


The layout of the ride as seen from a Cast Member computer… You can find a bigger version of this picture here!

Many more pictures are available at the 2 links in the beginning of this post!

Dateline Disneyland Picture Update

WDWNT Author on May 30, 2008

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge:

Banners for Toy Story Mania in Downtown Disney


Another Toy Story Mania ad, this one in the Esplanade


Cast Members at the parking toll booths are passing out flyers for the Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries


The It’s a Small World train has been stripped down to the bear


The pond underneath Gadget’s Go Coaster has gone dry while the connecting water for Donald’s Boat is drained during the Boat’s refurbishment


The fire truck in front of the Toontown Fire Depot is missing


The article (linked above) has a detailed look at the Create Your Own Ear Hat station in the Gag Factory in Mickey’s Toontown


A look at the new Hot Dog Hut’s menu

MitP Update

WDWNT Author on May 26, 2008

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Monday in the Parks on MiceAge:


Apparently the Hot Dog Hut is now open (even though it’s still behind walls in this picture)


A look at the new Create Your Own Ear Hat (Mickey Ears) station at the Gag Factory in Mickey’s Toontown


Donald’s Boat is closed for a month long refurbishment

Also of note in this article, is a look at some of Southern California’s newest attractions & events, including the Summer of Hidden Mysteries, & Pony Express at Knott’s Berry Farm.

And Darkbeer gave a link to an OC Register interview with Joey Michaels, one of the Imagineers who worked on the Summer of Hidden Mysteries.