R.I.P. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

BirdandRobot · Post by **BirdandRobot** » Sep Sun 07, 2008 12:00 pm

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the closure of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in the Magic Kingdom. In commemoration of this wonderful attraction, I'm posting links to two of the best written and most insightful analyses of the ride I've come across:

http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/mtwr.htm

http://passport2dreams.blogspot.com/200 ... -toad.html

As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was as essential to the Disney experience as Pirates of the Caribbean or The Haunted Mansion. Despite its technological limitations, the ride was throughly creative in it's premise and design and flawlessly executed. Few rides have encapsulated the abstract quality of children's imagination as effectively as Toad. Its removal truly marked the end of an era. Take this opportunity to share stories and memories of the ride.

spodie · Post by **spodie** » Sep Sun 07, 2008 12:01 pm

I do miss you, Mr. Toad...

Diebolds · Post by **Diebolds** » Sep Sun 07, 2008 12:05 pm

I wish we had that ride . It was great

cccmouse · Post by **cccmouse** » Sep Sun 07, 2008 2:39 pm

Thanks for posting these 2 links. Good reading.

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Sep Sun 07, 2008 3:36 pm

I miss this ride. I was young when I rode it but I do have a lot of memories from the attraction. I always thought I was going to get hit by the train at the end only to find out that it was just a light lol.

yodiwan1 · Post by **yodiwan1** » Sep Sun 07, 2008 5:21 pm

I have a video from when I was somewhere between 8-10. It was the first time I was in any type of car by myself. My dad videoed me getting in, and as it began to move you can see my face just light up!!! I really thought i was driving!

IMFearless · Post by **IMFearless** » Sep Sun 07, 2008 7:05 pm

My word. I was scared OUT OF MY MIND when it was open. I always refused to get on it. I think the Hell sequence did that to me....
However, having seen videos of the old one, and having been on the one in California when I was much older, the Cali one blew it out of the water anyways. Go figure - the California version of Winnie the Pooh is HORRIBLE compared to Florida's.

yodiwan1 · Post by **yodiwan1** » Sep Sun 07, 2008 9:36 pm

i never realized they were different. I know this is off topic, but how is pooh different in Cali? you can PM me that one.

BirdandRobot · Post by **BirdandRobot** » Sep Sun 07, 2008 9:43 pm

IMFearless wrote: However, having seen videos of the old one, and having been on the one in California when I was much older, the Cali one blew it out of the water anyways.

I disagree. The Disneyland version has some cool effects and a really beautiful facade/queue, but stylistically it's all over the place and lacks the unity that WDW had. Here are some photos I found from the DL version and one can clearly see huge differences between how the characters are rendered. Some revel in simplicity...

http://flickr.com/photos/50988034@N00/1 ... 0/sizes/m/
http://flickr.com/photos/maggotpie/4535 ... 041227036/

...while others are overworked and try too hard to create a trompe l'oeil effect (and consequently appear too rigid)...

http://flickr.com/photos/maggotpie/3092 ... 041227036/
http://flickr.com/photos/50988034@N00/1 ... otostream/
http://flickr.com/photos/50988034@N00/1 ... 9/sizes/m/
http://flickr.com/photos/50988034@N00/1 ... 4/sizes/m/

...And then there are a select few that are good mediations between both ends of the spectrum:

http://flickr.com/photos/50988034@N00/1 ... otostream/
http://flickr.com/photos/hollywood1939/ ... 9/sizes/m/

WDW's version, on the other hand, was fairly consistent throughout, maintaining a stripped down yet very animated style (for what it's worth, I'll take these plywood flats over anything in Peter Pan or Snow White):

http://virtual-toad.com/id145.html
http://virtual-toad.com/id148.html
http://flickr.com/photos/50988034@N00/1 ... otostream/
http://flickr.com/photos/50988034@N00/1 ... 9/sizes/o/
http://home.cfl.rr.com/omniluxe/mtwrvillagers.jpg
http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jeff_lang ... /1557.aspx

In addition, the WDW version was unique in the fact that it had two tracks with different show scenes, thus it was essentially two rides in one. It was also signifcantly larger than DL with enough space to stagger set pieces and create a false perception of depth, whereas DL is very claustrophobic and cluttered. Overall, I found/find the WDW version to be a much more memorable and exhilarating experience than DL (although the latter should by no means be shunned since it is the only one left now). Had the WDW version been updated with new effects instead of gutted, it would unquestionably be better than the DL version.

IMFearless · Post by **IMFearless** » Sep Mon 08, 2008 7:06 am

Huh. Maybe it was just the sense I got from the videos ... but the WDW version seemed to be all blacklighty neon, while the DL version seemed to be more normally-colored. Of course, if you consider modern technology, there's a ton of potential here ... I was vaguely hoping that Disney would take the hint, and actually rebuild Toad Hall across the street from its original location - you know, the old 20k area.
And that "Virtual Toad" website is pretty cool - though people should also be working on the existing attractions before any of them disappear. Or someone should make a program of some kind to make this process easier. Hmm...

BirdandRobot · Post by **BirdandRobot** » Sep Mon 08, 2008 10:08 am

IMFearless wrote: And that "Virtual Toad" website is pretty cool - though people should also be working on the existing attractions before any of them disappear. Or someone should make a program of some kind to make this process easier. Hmm...

Yeah I agree. My biggest grudge with Disney is that they get rid of attractions
and then leave them for others to archive. I understand they occassionally have to change things, but couldn't they at least make some effort to preserve the memory of older attractions for future generations? Couldn't they get some film cameras, document the rides and put them on home video (much like what the Extinct Attractions Club)?

Esmeralda · Post by **Esmeralda** » Sep Mon 08, 2008 2:22 pm

I can't believe I never rode Toady in Disney World!! I'm sad to say it was gone before I knew the joys of the open road, the dusty highway. Pooh is cute, but just doesn't compare. Ah well, at least he can still be found at Disneyland!

ctrain2281 · Post by **ctrain2281** » Sep Tue 09, 2008 6:52 am

Wow, looking at those old photos brings back great memories. It's hard to believe that 10 years has gone by since the closure of Mr. Toad's. I can remember as a child trying to decide between the left and right track of the ride and sometimes convincing my parents to take us on consecutive rides so that we could do both. Offtopic, I assume that they auctioned off those cars used in the ride? What I would give to have one in my entertainment room!

Post by **rdeacon** » Sep Tue 09, 2008 8:06 am

BirdandRobot great photos. I have to say even though people may feel the DL version was inferior, its one thing I am looking forward to riding at the 5th Anniversary meet.

Guess we are lucky DL hasn't axed the toad.

Rich

Jwc247 · Post by **Jwc247** » Sep Tue 09, 2008 3:50 pm

I hardly remember Mr. Toad, but what I remember I like it. It's too bad they got rid of it