Ready to ride Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway inside Mickey’s Toontown? Here’s the scoop on this attraction – and what you can expect when you climb aboard.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is one of the most exciting attractions to come to Mickey’s Toontown in quite a long time. As part of the long-awaited overhaul of this corner of Disneyland Park, the new attraction is launching as part of the big Disney100 Celebration at Disneyland Resort – and its doors open on January 27, 2023. While Walt Disney World has its very own version of this ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disneyland’s version is a little different (which means you’re in for a few fun surprises!).
So, what can you expect when you’re ready to join the queue for the newest iteration of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disneyland? Here’s everything you need to know!
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Transports Guests Into a Cartoon World
A look at the pre-ride animated short. Photo by Danny Shuster
When you step aboard the train at the heart of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, you’ll enter a totally different world! This dark ride is a special experience; it marks the first time Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse star in a ride-through attraction at Disneyland. And when you get inside your ride vehicle, you’ll leave behind Mickey’s Toontown and enter the colorful, whimsical world of Disney Television Animation’s Emmy Award-winning “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts.
The sights, sounds, and even queue of this attraction utilize different forms of technology to create a thrilling experience. From the trackless ride vehicles to the catchy musical score (seriously, it’ll get stuck in your head!), you’ll glide past physical sets, catch Audio-Animatronic figures, see animated media, and experience projection-mapping techniques.
The entire ride takes place at the El CapiTOON Theater, which is a new marquee destination inside Mickey’s Toontown. Inside the theater, you’ll catch the premiere of a new “Mickey Mouse” cartoon short, “Perfect Picnic.” As Mickey and Minnie set off to find the right spot for a romantic picnic, things go haywire – and Guests have the chance to walk through the movie screen and into the animated world of Mickey and friends.
“To bring an experience to life starring two of our most important characters – especially at Disneyland Park, Walt Disney’s original park – is an incredible honor,” says Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz, Portfolio Executive Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering. “Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse uniquely embody a welcoming and comedic spirit, and celebrating that, as well as the silly antics they and their friends get into, makes this attraction one of the most fun around!”
See Cartoon Props Come to Life Inside the Attraction Queue
A peek at the prop-filled queue (or special exhibit) inside the El CapiTOON Theater. Photo by Danny Shuster
Before you enter Mickey Mouse’s cartoon world, you’ll want to take a close look at everything you pass by inside the El CapiTOON Theater! The queue for this attraction is filled with special cartoon props turned into real-life items, giving you a chance to check out some of the most famous sights and scenes from Mickey Mouse’s classic shorts up close.
“The special ‘Mickey Through the Ears’ exhibit in the attraction queue was Walt Disney Imagineering’s way of letting Guests walk through Mickey Mouse’s evolution from the black-and-white ‘Steamboat Willie’ to the highly stylized ‘Mickey Mouse’ cartoon shorts,” says Jonathan Friday, Senior Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering. “It features iconic props, costumes, and set pieces from Mickey’s long career in a way that only residents of Mickey’s Toontown would – look out for all those puns!”
All of these cool props are part of a special exhibit created by the Toontown Hysterical Society. And while Mickey himself is obviously the star of the exhibit (and the attraction!), you’ll also spot plenty of iconic Disney characters and props associated with their appearances, too. Keep an eye out once you board the ride for Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Pete! Eagle-eyed Guests may even spot rarely-seen characters like Mortimer Mouse, Mickey’s nephews, and Max Goof’s classmates.
The Attraction Pays Homage to Mickey’s Past and Present
Another look at some of the props and character sightings inside the queue. Photo by Danny Shuster
While much of this brand-new attraction highlights more recent “Mickey Mouse” animated shorts, the Imagineers have incorporated details that hark back to the very start of his cartoon career. You’ll spot costumes, props, and mementos from classics like “Steamboat Willie” to modern faves like “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.”
And the attraction is chock-full of subtle nods to Disney history. It’ll likely take you a few rides to catch all of the details! What should you look for? Here’s a peek at some of the cool hidden history notes you might see:
- A newspaper featuring the headline “Oswald Wins!”, a reference to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
- The Iwerks and Uwerks Waterworks water treatment plant, which is named after Disney Legened Ub Iwerks (who created the first Mickey Mouse sketch!)
- The 1401 Flower Shop, an homage to the Walt Disney Imagineering headquarters
- A poster advertising “5 for a Dime” tickets, a reference to the now-gone Five & Dime shop in Mickey’s Toontown
Oh, and you can’t forget about hidden Mickeys, either! Keep your eyes peeled for signs of Mickey – as well as other characters – throughout the queue and the attraction itself. You might spot Mickey, Minnie, and Donald in unexpected places, like in the El CapiTOON Theater’s concession stand snacks!
See What It’s Like to Ride Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Wondering what happens once you board this attraction? Come along on a ride through with us! We were able to get a sneak peek of everything that the Disneyland version of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway includes during a media preview – which means you can ride along with us in the video below:
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Will Use a Virtual Queue
Brand-new attractions always draw big crowds at Disney theme parks, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will be no different! So, when the ride opens on January 27, 2023, Guests will need to join a free virtual queue in the Disneyland app in order to experience it. There will not be a standby line for this attraction.
You’ll also have the opportunity to get on the ride quicker with Disneyland’s Lightning Lane option. You can purchase an Individual Lightning Lane arrival window (subject to availability) to slash your wait time. Check the Disneyland app – and Genie+ – on the day of your visit to see if Individual Lightning Lane is available.
For more on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disneyland, check out our Disney100 Celebration coverage:
Everything You Need to Know About the 2023 Disney100 Celebration
Thanks to Disney for hosting us on a 3-day Disney 100 Press Preview at the Disneyland Resort where we we able to learn about the magic behind new offerings like World of Color – ONE, Wondrous Journeys, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, food and merchandise for the celebration. #Disney100 #DisneyParks #Disneyland
