This Week in Theme Park News: Mickey’s Toontown Gets Reimagined, Sesame Street Comes to San Diego, and More
[ad_1]
Let’s start with news that became known recently today. Disneyland is about to say goodbye to the current version of Mickey’s Toontown. Mickey’s Toontown, a true cartoon world that opened in January 1993, is being reinterpreted for early 2023. Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro announced the news today at the annual International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo in Orlando. We have known for a while that a west coast version of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway would be coming to Toontown and that it would bring some changes to the country, but this is the first thing Disney has revealed about a major reinterpretation. The whole country will be closed in March 2022, and when it reopens in early 2023 it will feature not only the new amusement ride, but also play experiences for families and green spaces to relax in.
Some of the planned changes are detailed in a post on the Disney Parks blog. The first thing you will encounter when entering the new Toontown is CentOONial Park, a green space with a large interactive water fountain and a sculpted “dreaming” tree for children to explore. It will continue to be home to Mickey, Minnie, and their friends, including Donald Duck and Goofy. I could imagine, however, that the country’s fancy cartoon aesthetic could go away, as it always looked more like Disney competitors like the Fleischer Brothers and Looney Tunes and the fictional cartoons from the world of Who Framed Roger Rabbit than Disney’s own cartoons from the 30s and 40s.
We don’t know what this reinterpretation means for the only ride that’s currently in Toontown. Back in September, Disney announced that Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, a modernized version of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride that opened in 1994, would receive an update that would move Jessica Rabbit from a maiden in need to a more active participant in history . Disney didn’t really touch the future of Roger Rabbit today, but hopefully it can remain an anchor for the revamped Toontown alongside Mickey and Minnie’s new ride. We’ll no doubt learn more about the changes to Mickey’s Toontown in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Walt Disney World welcomed its newest hotel across the country. Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort – one of my favorite resort accommodations at Disney World – has opened a new 14-story extension. The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve is adding 349 guest rooms and 151 suites. It’s right next to the Swan and Dolphin, which means it’s a short walk to EPCOT, the Skyliner, and the restaurants on Disney’s Boardwalk. This makes it an ideal hotel for adults who want to experience Disney World’s nightlife. The Swan and Dolphin are great for families, of course, but when you’re in Disney World enjoying the food and drink at EPCOT, or the Boardwalk dance hall, duel piano bar, or the fantastic Abracadabar themed bar late into the night linger? represent the best combination of proximity and affordability. And now there are even more rooms available with the Reserve. Executives from co-owners Tishman and MetLife were on hand last Friday to officially cut the ribbon, along with Disney and Marriott officials and a couple of life-size mice you may have heard of. The swan reserve is now open and bookable.
Last Wednesday marked the 52nd anniversary of Sesame Street’s TV debut. The TV show quickly became a pop culture icon, making deep impressions on every generation of children since then, eventually making the leap to theme parks with the launch of Sesame Place in Philadelphia in 1980. An upcoming park entirely dedicated to the show announced that it has reached its latest construction milestone. The 17 hectare park is a collaboration between Sesame Workshop and SeaWorld and is currently due to open in March. Expect a variety of family-friendly rides and attractions to feature with your favorite Sesame Street residents, including Elmo’s Rockin ‘Rockets and Super Grovers Box Car Derby. There are meet-and-greets, live shows, parades – everything you would expect from a theme park. The year-round park will include a seasonal water park, and annual passes are available for purchase now. You can also bundle it with an annual SeaWorld San Diego pass. I don’t know about you, but Rub-a-Dub Sub – “a bubbling adventure aboard Ernie’s toy submarine” – sounds like the 20,000 league replacement I’ve been after 1994 I was looking for.
And that’s it for another week. If you work at a theme or amusement park and want to keep me and our readers updated on your latest news, please feel free to contact me by email or twitter. And if you go to an amusement park this week, stay safe and have some fun!
Senior Editor Garrett Martin writes on video games, comedy, travel, theme parks, wrestling, and anything else that gets in his way. He’s also on Twitter @grmartin.
[ad_2]
Source link
