Forgotten Disney

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN February 2015

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride- Walt Disney World
Lost DisneyWorld attractions

October 1, 1971-September 7, 1998

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is a dark ride at
Walt Disney World.

Although it was modeled after the Disneyland attraction, it had some unique characteristics that set it apart from its California counterpart. The most obvious was that the Florida incarnation had two separate boarding areas.

The vehicles in each boarding area were on separate tracks that followed different paths, so riders would get a slightly different ride, depending on where they boarded.

Like its counterpart, it was not a thrill ride, but it was not slow and quiet like most dark rides. The vehicles made sudden turns and would often move at full speed towards an obstacle, which would move out of the way at the last second. At one point, the ones on the different tracks would head directly towards each other, giving the sense of an oncoming collision.

It was a very stylized attraction and resembled a cartoon more than any other Disney ride. It contained highly ornate plywood characters and sets that were very reminiscent of the multiplane camera work featured in many Disney films.

On Track #1, riders passed through the rural English countryside upon leaving Toad Hall's library, coming face to face with a few barnyard animals along the way and crashing through a chicken coop filled with squawking chickens. After passing through a tunnel with several warning signs, guests made a turn into a central plaza. Traveling around the turn, the vehicles passed a policeman signaling riders with his whistle. Guests then made a right hand turn into the jail as the judge declared the riders guilty. Upon making a right hand turn, the vehicles entered several jail cells. After winding through the cells, guests emerged out into a dark scene, passing by a shootout between police and some Weasels (using red lights to simulate gunfire). Several of the police barriers then moved aside, revealing a railroad crossing complete with a ringing bell. The gate then moved aside and the vehicles made a right hand turn onto the tracks. The vehicles traveled along the railroad tracks until getting hit by a train (with riders seeing the headlight of the locomotive). A door then opened, revealing the "Hell" scene. Afterwards, guests went through a door and arrived at the station.

From the boarding area to the plaza, Track #2 passed through three scenes not seen on Track #1: Toad's trophy room, Toad Hall's kitchen, and a Gypsy camp. After rounding the plaza, instead of entering the Jail, guests continued on and entered Winky's Tavern. The vehicles made a right hand turn and guests could see the Weasels hiding out in the Tavern among the ale barrels. Following this, guests emerged into the countryside. Passing by Ratty's house, the vehicles reached a railroad crossing complete with a ringing bell. It moved aside and the vehicles made a left hand turn onto the railroad tracks. Like on Track #1, the headlight of the locomotive was visible before the train hit the riders. The "Hell" scene on this track was a mirror image of the Track #1 sequence. Afterwards, guests went through a door and arrived at the station.

Despite its popularity and many protests, it closed on September 7, 1998, and was subsequently replaced by The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

While minor tributes to the ride can be found throughout Walt Disney World, including paintings of Mr. Toad and Moley within The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and a statue of Mr. Toad in the pet cemetery outside The Haunted Mansion, traces of "The Wind in the Willows" characters within Walt Disney World are minimal.

Source: Disney Wiki

December-1-2019 Update: Updated and changed chapter with added information.