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Credit: DisneyDisney has brought back a legendary character to its theme parks, possibly signaling the return of another fan-favorite character.
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Over the last several decades, The Walt Disney Company has innovated in countless ways within its theme parks. New rides and attractions are the lifeblood of the amusement park industry, and as such, Disney has made great efforts to provide guests with several new, unforgettable experiences.
This is especially true for the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, which has received multiple new high-quality expansions in the last few years. One of the most notable new additions to Walt Disney World is TRON Lightcycle / Run, a thrilling and visually dazzling roller coaster at the Magic Kingdom.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is another notable recent addition to the Walt Disney World Resort, becoming the first-ever roller coaster to open at EPCOT.
However, Disney World is home to a plethora of classic and iconic rides, which all continue to be a big draw for guests. Rides and attractions like Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad all remain some of Disney’s most cherished and most popular attractions to date, despite being decades old.
History is important at Walt Disney World, and the company recently honored a long-defunct attraction in a peculiar way.
Disney Hints at Mr. Toad’s Return
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In a surprising move, the classic Disney character Ichabod Crane can be seen in a new installation at the Magic Kingdom. Crane can be spotted in a window above the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square, one of several themed lands at Magic Kingdom.
This new installation came without any warning or prior announcements by Disney, ending a welcome jolt of excitement throughout the Disney theme park community.
Avid Disney reporter Drew Smith shared a video of the new installation.
Ichabod Crane can now be spotted in a window above Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe at Magic Kingdom Park! This is a great update to a space that had nothing before. More of this, please.
Ichabod Crane can now be spotted in a window above Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe at Magic Kingdom Park! This is a great update to a space that had nothing before. More of this, please. 👏 pic.twitter.com/QGcKGiiEmK
— Drew Smith (@DrewDisneyDude) July 21, 2024
Not only does this new installation enhance the magic of Disney’s Magic Kingdom, but it also harkens back to a beloved attraction that used to be there.
When Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, the park featured several dark rides for guests to enjoy, one of them being Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. This dark ride was based on Disney’s adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows, which spawned a Disney film called The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad in 1949.
Mr, Toad’s Wild Ride was everything guests could hope for in a dark ride, complete with catchy music, colorful scenes, and an incredible cast of characters, including the titular Mr. Toad.
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Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride had become a classic ride at Walt Disney World, and as such, many guests hated to see it go.
The ride closed in September of 1998, marking a new era for Magic Kingdom and Walt Disney World Resort as a whole. However, the addition of this new Ichabod Crane installation at Magic Kingdom suggests Disney may not be entirely done with Mr. Toad after all.
Following the confirmation that Disney would be closing Mr. Toad, protests formed outside of the attractions’ entrance at Magic Kingdom. Dozens of fans could be seen chanting and holding signs expressing their disapproval of the ride’s closure.
With the introduction of Ichabod Crane in the Magic Kingdom, it’s possible Disney could bring more characters, like Mr. Toad, into the park in future updates.
A version of the classic dark ride is still open at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, though many guests still long for the days when the dark ride was available at Magic Kingdom.
Do you miss Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride? What is your favorite ride at Magic Kingdom?