A big change will soon be coming to Disney’s original theme park in California. Disneyland’s Toontown will close for reimagining in March 2022. Disney has not yet released an exact reopening date other than stating the new additions will be unveiled sometime in 2023.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Mickey’s Toontown will be undergoing some updating to match its newest addition, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Both the new attraction and Mickey’s Toontown will launch at an undisclosed time in 2023. For park-goers who haven’t yet experienced this attraction at Walt Disney World, we’ve added a description for this ground-breaking attraction from the Disney World website below:
The darling duo are taking a leisurely drive to a picnic in their sporty roadster—with Engineer Goofy’s train following merrily along. Plot twist—you get to go, too! Climb aboard a runaway railway and embark on a whirlwind ride through a world where the rules of physics don’t apply. Prepare for unexpected twists, slapstick gags and mind-boggling transformations at every turn, as Mickey and Minnie try to save the day.
There’s no telling where this train is heading! This is an adventure for Mickey and Minnie fans of all ages.
CenTOONial Park
Mickey’s Toontown transformation is described by Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Experiences and Products, as a “vibrant symphony of sights, sounds, and sensations.” The new design will be more family oriented and designed as a, “welcoming place where families and younger guests can connect and play together in fun new ways.” This new space will give families a place to relax during their day in Disneyland Park, complete with large, grassy areas that will encourage children to engage in a variety of play activities.
This new play space, called CenTOONial Park, is an open play space that includes an interactive play space for young guests. The current fountains that feature Mickey Mouse and Roger Rabbit will be replaced with a new fountain. The new large fountain and water tables will be in the center of CenTOONial Park, a perfect sensory activity for kids and a great way to stay cool on a hot day in the parks. The fountain will also feature a nighttime spectacle.
Another feature to CenTOONial Park was inspired by Walt Disney’s real childhood. Walt Disney would spend his time under a tree, imagining and daydreaming. In honor of that experience, the “dreaming tree” section of the park will feature a hilly topography for young Disney guests to sit and imagine their own world. In addition, large tree roots will be in place under the “dreaming tree” for kids to crawl and explore.
All of these updates will debut along with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in 2023. The exact date has not been released at this time. Upon its reopening, Mickey’s Toontown will continue to be the location of Disneyland character meet and greets for Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy, along with other classic cartoon characters.
What do you think about the update to Mickey’s Toontown? Will the closure in March 2022 affect your trip to Disneyland? Let us know in the comments below! As always, stay tuned to the DVC Shop blog for all the latest news about Disney theme parks and Disney Vacation Club resorts.