The Wild Rides of Mr. Toad

in Disneyland Resort, Movies

There are three attractions, now long gone from Walt Disney World in Florida that I REALLY miss:  20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Adventurers Club from Pleasure Island, and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Of these, Mr. Toad is the only one still in existence elsewhere (there is a different version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in Japan, but it is not the same ride).

Taken from the pages “The Wind in the Willows,” Mr. Toad has a long history of appearances. Toad’s terrific adventures appear in several different adaptations of Kenneth Grahame’s novel.  From theater to television, to silver screen, Toad’s escapades have even inspired pop music and been the source of murder.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

History

J. Thaddeus Toad Esquire and his luxurious estate, Toad Hall, is the creation of former banker turned author Kenneth Grahame. His novel, “The Wind in the Willows,” based upon bedtimes stories Grahame told to his son, was first published in 1908. A first edition print of this classic children’s novel cost one historian his life when he would not disclose the book’s hiding place to thieves.

The Wind in the Willows

Trend-happy Toad and his pals/protectors Mole, Rat and Badger come to life in a series of short stories as well grand adventures within the novel.  Most notable of these adventures is Toad’s total fascination with motorcars, of which he’s crashed several. This leads to Toad’s arrest, incarceration, escape, and eventual encounters with wicked weasels who’ve taken over Toad Hall in his absence.

Toad Hall

Madcap Media

“The Wind in the Willows” earned the attention of A.A. Milne (“Winnie the Pooh”), who adapted it for the stage. “Toad of Toad Hall” was first performed at London’s Lyric Theater in December of 1929.

Seven different stage shows have been produced since, including two musicals. “Toad of Toad Hall” was also adapted for television. It aired on the BBC as a live production in 1946.Toad of Toad Hall

Just three years later, Disney’s duo of classic cartoons found its way into movie theaters. For this appearance, Toad shared the title with Ichabod Crane (“The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad”).

Ichabod and Mr. Toad

Ichabod and Mr. Toad

The BBC also brought Grahame’s stories to the radio in several different versions from 1955 -1994.

Since then, there have been numerous additional adaptations for both television and movie theaters.

Rankin/Bass productions (best known for their Christmas specials) brought both “Wind in the Willows” and another children’s classic, “The Reluctant Dragon,” to television as an animated series in 1970.

Rankin/Bass also created a made-for-television cartoon musical movie in 1985. Voice talent included Roddy McDowell (Rat) and Charles Nelson Reilly (Toad) with a song performed by Judy Collins.

Monty Python’s Terry Jones wrote and directed a 1996 live-action television version where he also played Mr. Toad. Fellow Python veteran Eric Idle assumed the role of Rat.

Sadly, the Guillermo del Toro/Disney adaptation that was in the works for 2003 fell apart. According to del Toro, he left the project when Disney asked him to make Toad more hip with catchy “radical dude” phrases and skateboard riding scenes. On second thought, maybe skipping this version was a good idea.

Mr. Toad

“Wind in the Willows” also inspired musical artists. Pink Floyd named their 1967 debut album “Piper at the Gates of Dawn” after a chapter in the novel. Several classical-style musical compositions have been inspired by the book as well.

A strange marriage of narrated excerpts from “Wind in the Willows” was set to various styles of music in a 90-minute mix by Paul Oakenfold (as part of his “Urban Soundtracks” series”).

A Wild Ride

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, based upon Toad’s obsession with motorcars and taking visual cues from Disney’s infamous 1949 animated motion picture, opened along with Disneyland in 1955. It was originally conceived as a roller coaster.

The attraction departs from the book in its eccentric ending, a visit to hell. Voices within the whimsical ride include audio clips from the Disney movie and performances by voice actor Corey Burton.

Above the attraction’s entrance is Toad’s coat of arms, which contains the Latin words, “Toadi Acceleratio Semper Absurda.” This amusing inscription literally means “Toad’s Ever-Absurd Acceleration.”

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Walt Disney World’s version of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride also opened when the park premiered (1971), but was closed in 1998 to make way for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. This version featured larger ride vehicles (seating four instead of two) and two different tracks (each with different scenes).

Tributes to Mr. Toad’s long-lost follies can be found within the Winnie the Pooh attraction. These include images of Toad and of Mole within the ride as well as a statue of Toad in the Haunted Mansion’s pet cemetery.

Did you know?

Disneyland Paris was supposed to also receive an updated version of the ride intended to more closely follow the book, including a change to the story’s end. Instead, a restaurant named “Toad Hall” was installed within Fantasyland.

For fans who cannot find their way to California and those who miss Walt Disney World’s wild ride, there is a virtual version. Using Quick Time, visitors to Virtual Toad can mouse their way around the dark ride. Images from the VR attraction can also be found on the site.

Virtual Toad

Toad and pals still entertain in Disney’s original magical escape in Anaheim, California and have a presence in Paris.  The attraction will always hold fond childhood memories of visits to the Magic Kingdom in the 1970’s.

Michael Gavin & Mr Toad's Wild Ride

Source and Images: Disney.com, Disneyland Paris, Wikipedia, Virtual Toad, YouTube, ITM Archives, Michael Gavin

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