A new Toontown at WDW (open brainstorming)

[Big Disney Fan]

With Mickey's Toontown Fair supposedly succumbing to the Fantasyland expansion, I felt that we need to create a brand-new Toontown for Walt Disney World. Mickey and the gang need someplace to call home. And please, don't argue that they don't "live" in WDW, that they "live" in Disneyland. They need someplace to live, don't they?

Anyway, that's what this thread is about: a new Toontown for Disney's Florida resort. But where should it go? I think it should be Magic Kingdom.

[Escapay]

Someone speculated somewhere that they should make a Toontown-themed area to go behind Main Street, constructing it in the backstage area that's the managers' parking lot, the old ODF garage, the new ODF garage, and the backstage cafe (whose name escapes me, though if goofystitch were here he'd remember it) for castmembers to eat at if they don't want to go to Mouseketeria. They could simply put a smaller Toontown-esque area in the managers' parking lot whilst leaving the other areas alone (though it would make backstage access smaller, and they'd have to relocate the trash compactor.

This wooded green area/area circled in red:





I'm not too keen on the idea, as it would seem an awkward extension of Main Street, and given that the way to access it is quite small (between Exposition Hall/Tony's Town Square Restaurant and the DVC kiosk/smoking area), would cause a lot of guest trafficking during busy seasons. Plus, it would mean less backstage area (much like the Fantasyland expansion that's cutting into the backstage areas) for castmembers.

Then again, they already parade guests through there as a "spillway" to get them from Main Street to Tomorrowland during really busy times (usually the week of 4th of July). Only if they did it now, it'd look more like Toontown and less like a parking lot.

albert

[Wonderlicious]

The Walt Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris has an area called the Toon Studio, the idea being that it's a production area straddling the border between Toon Town and the real world, where animated films are shot (both 2D and 3D - there's attractions based on Aladdin, Finding Nemo and Cars in this area). I think that they could use this idea for a new "Toon area" of the Hollywood Studios.

[Big Disney Fan]

The Walt Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris has an area called the Toon Studio, the idea being that it's a production area straddling the border between Toon Town and the real world, where animated films are shot (both 2D and 3D - there's attractions based on Aladdin, Finding Nemo and Cars in this area). I think that they could use this idea for a new "Toon area" of the Hollywood Studios.

Toon Studios sounds too "plain", in my opinion. I thought of having it at the Magic Kingdom because it's in MK-type parks in California and Tokyo.

I also keep thinking that Disneyland Paris should have a real Toontown, a replication of Disneyland's.

[slave2moonlight]

The Walt Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris has an area called the Toon Studio, the idea being that it's a production area straddling the border between Toon Town and the real world, where animated films are shot (both 2D and 3D - there's attractions based on Aladdin, Finding Nemo and Cars in this area). I think that they could use this idea for a new "Toon area" of the Hollywood Studios.

I was about to suggest something like this while reading through the thread! Some sort of Toontown area could be created at the Disney Hollywood Studios. I definitely would like to see some sort of Toontown in Florida. Maybe it could be near the Animation building or part of that tour? They also should move the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor (which I've never seen in person) to Disney Hollywood Studios or make it part of a new Universe of Energy pavilion at EPCOT. It makes no sense to have that in Tomorrowland, as I here is where it is. I still say that if they MUST alter EPCOT, the "Discoveryworld" theme is a downgrade from "FutureWorld" and they should just continue inserting PIXAR touches to the themes they already have, as they all fit quite well with the various PIXAR films, but I know this is off topic, ha, sorry.

What I'd like to see for Toontown in Florida is not only Mickey and the gang, but some celebration of the old Disney animated series, like the Disney Afternoon on through ones they have today, PLUS Roger Rabbit and the gang, of course. I wish they'd build the Roger ride over there too. It's my fave film, and I've never gotten to enjoy the proper Toontown they have in California because we always opt for Florida. Someday, I'll hit the California parks, but I feel it may be quite a while. I haven't been to Disney World since 2004, but we might go the Christmas after next. It'll be our first Christmas there.

[Big Disney Fan]

The Walt Disney Studios at Disneyland Paris has an area called the Toon Studio, the idea being that it's a production area straddling the border between Toon Town and the real world, where animated films are shot (both 2D and 3D - there's attractions based on Aladdin, Finding Nemo and Cars in this area). I think that they could use this idea for a new "Toon area" of the Hollywood Studios.

What I'd like to see for Toontown in Florida is not only Mickey and the gang, but some celebration of the old Disney animated series, like the Disney Afternoon on through ones they have today, PLUS Roger Rabbit and the gang, of course. I wish they'd build the Roger ride over there too. It's my fave film, and I've never gotten to enjoy the proper Toontown they have in California because we always opt for Florida. Someday, I'll hit the California parks, but I feel it may be quite a while. I haven't been to Disney World since 2004, but we might go the Christmas after next. It'll be our first Christmas there.

But what about the Magic Kingdom? I don't want to leave the Magic Kingdom out in the cold. That's one of the more kid-friendly areas of the resorts. I want to have that park be the most reliable, end-all spot to find Mickey and the gang.

[slave2moonlight]

Well, Mickey and the gang were at the Magic Kingdom long before Toontown. Frankly, I don't want to see them remove/replace the Toontown they have now, just build it up to be as good as the California one is from what I've heard, but they never did that. I don't want to see them take down all the awesome character houses and all that though. Frankly, I'll be surprised if they do, but if they do, Mickey and the gang have always been comfortable in the area right where you enter the park, at the front of Main Street, and also just in front of the castle, in Fantasyland, and pretty much everywhere else, with or without special costuming.

As for putting a Toontown behind Main Street, I don't like the idea. It WOULD start to make Main Street too screwey to me. I like it as a sort of yellow brick road to the central hub that leads to the various lands. As it is, I thought it was awkward having Toontown tacked onto Fantasyland like it is.

[Big Disney Fan]

Well, Mickey and the gang were at the Magic Kingdom long before Toontown. Frankly, I don't want to see them remove/replace the Toontown they have now, just build it up to be as good as the California one is from what I've heard, but they never did that. I don't want to see them take down all the awesome character houses and all that though. Frankly, I'll be surprised if they do, but if they do, Mickey and the gang have always been comfortable in the area right where you enter the park, at the front of Main Street, and also just in front of the castle, in Fantasyland, and pretty much everywhere else, with or without special costuming.

Well, unfortunately, I heard that the expansion of Fantasyland is going to eliminate Toontown. I, too, wished they just built it up. Mickey and the gang seriously need someplace to live and I don't think Main Street really cuts it. They need a true home.

[slave2moonlight]

All of Disney World is their home. Again, remember, they never had houses or a Toontown before or through most of the '80's. I just think it's a waste to tear down the houses of Mickey and the gang, though I never thought having them as walk-thrus was that great. They should just make a huge Toontown tour dark ride over in Disney MGM, and move the houses there. Or it could be a Toontown walk thru or whatever, but more elaborate than just having the houses of Mickey, Donald, and so on. I remember, by the way, when it was supposed to be Duckburg, and that was also an awesome idea. They should have expanded on that while Toontown was in California, since they seem to want to differentiate the two parks. Then again, it makes more since to keep it as Toontown. And I know that Roger Rabbit's Toontown Spin is basically a dark ride tour of Toontown, as I understand it, but I mean they should make one that is more of a general Toontown, rather than the Roger Rabbit thing, and more like just a driving tour past "the stars' homes" or something, but add more than just Mickey and the gang's, like Roger's house and so on? And have a Meet 'n' Greet at the end, or it could be a walk through, like I said, with just the characters at their houses, but more houses and characters this time. And, again, this could be where they used to have the DIsney Backlot Tour, if that area is still available. Haven't been out that way in a while and don't remember if they used all that area yet...

[Big Disney Fan]

Well, I was talking about houses for them to lay their weary heads to rest after a hard day. And they're being deprived of someplace like that. And I just can't see the Studios as the end-all spot to find Mickey.

[nilyvn]

Hi,
Fine renovation. I think It's got to be magic kingdom. The Magic Kingdom is home to several special events. First of all, the Disney Dream Come True parade passes by three times daily. There's also a nightly Spectromagic parade, which never ceases to amaze with its fiber optics, neon lights and holograms. As it gets darker, you won't want to miss the Wishes Spectacular fireworks display above Cinderella's castle - set to music and narrated by Jiminy Cricket and the Blue Fairy. Whether young or old, it's moments like this you will always treasure. Hence it's the perfect option.

[nilyvn]

Hi,
Magic kingdom is the best choice. The Magic Kingdom, which just happens to be my favorite theme park, covers 107 acres at the Disney World Resort near Orlando-Florida, the Sunshine State! It is owned and operated by The Disney Company. Opened on October 1, 1971, it is the most famous of the Florida theme parks, Mickey Mouse and most of his friends live there! Its layout and attractions are very similar to those of Disneyland, Walt-Disney on the West coast of America, in California. The park was designed and built by Walt Disney Engineers or Imagineers as they are more appropriately known.

[Big Disney Fan]

I'm starting to warm to the idea of having a Toontown at the Studios, but I'm still not exactly the biggest fan of it. I'm just not that keen on not having the Magic Kingdom be the most reliable spot for to find Mickey and the gang.

The things I have against putting the Toontown in the Studios is that it, as stated earlier, would rob the Magic Kingdom as being the most reliable spot for Mickey and the gang. Also, it would not help the fact that the non-MK parks are echoing the Magic Kingdom's personality. You can look it right here on this thread: http://www.dvdizzy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25655.

And the last thing is this: with Mickey and the gang supposedly overtaking the Exposition Hall, I guess that defeats the purpose of my idea I've thought of to move Walt Disney: One Man's Dream from the Studios to the Magic Kingdom. I wanted to move it elsewhere because I think it wore out its welcome at the Studios some time ago. The Exposition Hall seemed like the ideal place for it, especially since it would actually be going in a building that already once housed an attraction like it (that, of course, is The Walt Disney Story). But now, with Mickey and company supposedly using this area as the new meet-and-greet area after Toontown Fair gets sent to Walt Dated World, where can One Man's Dream go?

[Big Disney Fan]

Where at Disney's Hollywood Studios can Toontown go, anyway? Can anyone tell me?

My main concerns for doing this are where exactly it can go and, more importantly, what to do there. Another thing is how we can possibly apply here the squash-and-stretch architecture so prevalent at the other parks' Toontowns. And what else? How can we possibly provide a nice meet-n-greet location here for Mickey and the gang? I really want to avoid the simple generic meet-n-greets styles that they love to use at other parks. I really feel that when it comes to meet-n-greets, they really should treat them as by no means slapdash and hastily-thrown-together as they love to do. Even the Town Square Theater was originally not made for Mickey, like how Mickey's Country House was.

I'm also hesitant about doing anything related to Roger Rabbit here, mainly because of legal battles and whatnot.

So what can we do here? And please, no joking or sarcasm at any time.

[Disney Duster]

Toontown could fit at Hollywood Studios but I think we all know Toontown was best in Fantasyland. If we really could get what we wanted, we know we would want to have Toontown exactly as it was before, just with more characters' houses replacing the tents.

[DisneyAnimation88]

Where in DHS would it go? I can't think of anywhere in the park where it would fit.

In this case, I agree with Disney Duster. The only place I can see it being is where it was, a replica anywhere else simply wouldn't be the same for me. I actually also hoped that they would put in more character's houses, like Donald's and Goofy's, while I also hoped that rumours that Pete, Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar would feature more prominently in the area would be true.

[Big Disney Fan]

Where in DHS would it go? I can't think of anywhere in the park where it would fit.

In this case, I agree with Disney Duster. The only place I can see it being is where it was, a replica anywhere else simply wouldn't be the same for me. I actually also hoped that they would put in more character's houses, like Donald's and Goofy's, while I also hoped that rumours that Pete, Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar would feature more prominently in the area would be true.

Unfortunately, there is no room for a Toontown in the Magic Kingdom anymore.

Take a look at this overhead shot of the Magic Kingdom:



Fantasyland/Storybook Circus is going to eat up all the remains of Toontown Fair. For the meet-n-greet of Mickey, he's going to be shoehorned into the Town Square Theater on Main Street, right up at the front of the park. The only areas I can think of are:

1. That grassy-area behind the railroad tracks and next to Space Mountain. The problem with this is there's a little river thing going through it and a street that seems to be really close by.

2. I'm pretty sure the area behind the former 20,000 Leagues area is being used. Maybe a bit further back, but it'd be very hard to access.

So what can we do?

[Disney Duster]

Oh, I thought you were talking about the perfect Toontown, like if it didn't have to move.

Actually, what I really think we should do is as many of us as possible should go to Disney World and protest the removal of Toontown and have the old Toontown come back, and Dumbo's area can just be Dumbo and not the whole big unnecessary Storybook Circus that makes no sense.

[Super Aurora]

Toontown could be behind fantasyland/ the railroad. That's what Disneyland California did. There were no space withing it so they added it as an extension outside the place. MK is ten times bigger than DL(in addition to all the other land space own by disney within the area) so surely enough they could try that.

[Escapay]

The only areas I can think of are:

1. That grassy-area behind the railroad tracks and next to Space Mountain. The problem with this is there's a little river thing going through it and a street that seems to be really close by.

The street leads to the main cast member parking lot, Disney University, West Clock, the Costuming building, and various other backstage stuff. And like you said, it's behind the railroad tracks. Aside from Space Mountain, the entirety of the Magic Kingdom is within the railroad tracks, and the only reason Space Mountain isn't is because there wasn't space in Tomorrowland. They're not going to start building outside the tracks again, even for a small semi-land that was never intended to be a permanent place anyway.

2. I'm pretty sure the area behind the former 20,000 Leagues area is being used.

It's also cast member area as well as where they set up the fireworks, IIRC.

The whole Fantasyland Expansion is actually costing cast members to lose backstage space. They can't afford to lose more.

Honestly, and this is going to sound very harsh, but Toontown Fair is gone. It's not coming back, and if in some strange case it were, it would not come back the way that it existed at Magic Kingdom for the past so-many-years.

Disney is not going to scuttle the new plans that's already being constructed in order to rebuild a small area that they recently tore down just because a bunch of people throw a protest together. If that were the case, then Mr. Toad's Wild Ride would have been re-instated years ago.

albert