With D23 a month away, it’s time to look ahead and let speculation begin. I have one attraction on my radar that I hope gets some news at the A Boundless Future: Disney Parks Experiences and Products panel a month from now on September 11th, and that is none other than Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Disneyland is set to receive its own iteration of the Disney’s Hollywood Studios attraction next year , so why can’t Disneyland Paris receive it too?
I think there is the possibility we get a better idea of when the attraction will open at Disneyland Resort, over the previously announced “Early 2023” date. Whilst on the subject of dates, I do believe we will receive a full opening schedule for Magic Kingdom’s upcoming TRON Lightcycle Run attraction too.
History of the Attraction
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opened way back on March 4, 2020 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and is set within the park’s replica Chinese Theater, which was the location of the former opening day attraction, The Great Movie Ride. The latter closed on August 13, 2017 to many upset fans, but the arrival of a Mickey Mouse ride felt promising for some.
The attraction also includes “2 and 1⁄2 D”, which allows riders to experience the effects of 3D without glasses. This effect allows Imagineers to give depth to the attraction’s 2D environments. Not only that, but Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway was the first ride in any Disney theme park globally themed to Mickey Mouse, so I think that status alone warrants a global expansion.
I think one of the most exciting opportunities with this kind of attraction is that the ride can have varied storylines based around the world – Perfect Picnic is the short in Hollywood’s Studio and perhaps a different one could be used at Disneyland Resort, and any other park should it be replicated around the world.
Where Would It Go?
Previous rumours indicated that the attraction would go on the land between Star Tours: The Adventure Continues and It’s A Small World. However, from looking at the park myself – I believe that there is definitely space for some kind of ToonTown expansion within Disneyland Paris’ Parc Disneyland, which would take over from current attractions including the likes of Le Pays des Contes de Fées, Casey Jr. – Le Petit Train du Cirque and Alice’s Curious Labyrinth.
Why this area? When you look past the backstage areas, the obvious Disneyland Railroad tracks and the edge of the park, there is a great opportunity to use this space in the park. Sat to the left of these attractions is Meet Mickey Mouse, and I think that attraction could be reworked to better fit the new Toontown theme, whilst continuing its role as a Character Meet and Greet attraction
The show building itself is sort of too big to fit my proposed location (hence why the rumoured land is more plausible) – Disneyland Resort’s El Capitoon Theater is expected to be cover around 100,000 square feet, but in traditional fashion, I highly doubt that would stop Disneyland Paris getting a smaller scaled edition of a pre-existing attraction/land – it wouldn’t be the first time Disneyland Paris has done such a thing.
I don’t think the loss of an opening day walk-through attraction, a water ride and Casey Jr.coaster from 1994 would be that disappointing for many people, despite drastically reducing the park’s attraction number. Introducing a Parisian edition of Mickey’s Toontown Fair could really add a new feeling of life to the park, and I for one would love to see it happen!
