When confronted with a tornado, it is critical to keep your ears open.
I found out the hard way when my ears flew out of my head as our vehicle swivelled sharply around the large twister.
The ears, of course, were a hairband accessory inspired by Minnie Mouse’s ears. The tornado wasn’t a real tornado, but rather a cartoon tornado that appeared through a combination of animatronics and some sort of projection sorcery that I’m still trying to figure out. And our mode of transportation wasn’t a car, but a cart gliding through Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, a newly opened attraction at Disneyland in Southern California, which is celebrating the Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary with Disney100.
Fortunately, my ears were waiting in our cart in the row behind me when the fast-swerving, colourful, chaotic joy ride came to an end.
Guests of all ages will enjoy the Runaway Railway attraction at Disney World. The combination of classic Disney aesthetics with a sleek, modern execution distinguishes the experience from others.
Runaway Railway, the first Disneyland attraction to feature the company’s icons Mickey and Minnie Mouse, transports guests back in time by featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Daisy Duck, and other well-known characters in a retro animation style reminiscent of Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts.
However, Runaway Railway has its own story to tell. Guests are jolted from roving green hills to a cragged canyon to a waterfall and beyond, which appear seamlessly on walls and animatronics in poppy, cartoon style, following a romantic picnic outing between Mickey and Minnie that goes awry.
Runaway Railway continues the trackless trend established by more modern Disneyland attractions such as the Galaxy’s Edge attraction Rise of the Resistance. Guests think they’re boarding a train (not so expertly operated by Goofy) until the train carts break off and race across the floor in their own path, making it difficult to predict where you’ll go next.
At one point, the carts face a mirror for Daisy’s dance class and softly sway from side to side, mirroring ballet steps, before spinning out into a fierce conga, which made me smile instantly.
The carts swivel and swerve, but they never jerk too hard, making the attraction an exciting but smooth overall experience. The only disadvantage, if any, is that there is so much to take in at once that it can be overwhelming the first time around. My second ride through, I noticed more detail and ultimately got more out of the attraction.
Is Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway worth the wait?
New attractions at Disneyland are notorious for having long lines. But in this case, especially if you’re visiting the park with children, I believe enduring a long line is worthwhile, and it’s not like the line at Walt Disney World’s version of the ride.
The El CapiTOON attraction at Disneyland pays homage to Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre, and the queue features adorable posters of classic films replaced with Disney characters, such as “The Chipmunk Trap,” “High School Goofical 3,” and “Goofy Friday.” The queue concludes with a short film featuring Mickey and Minnie, followed by the screen literally breaking open, revealing the secret entrance to the boarding era.
Adults’ willingness to wait depends on the type of attraction they prefer. Runaway Railway should be prioritised if your favourite Disneyland experiences are gentler ones that immerse you in another world. If you’re looking for fast thrills, you’d be better off waiting for epic classics like Big Thunder Mountain or Space Mountain.
‘Wondrous Journeys,’ a new nighttime spectacular, is extra in the best way.
More is more, it appears, is the Disney100 motto.
Two new nighttime spectaculars debuted Friday at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure in celebration of the company’s anniversary. One of them, Disneyland’s “Wondrous Journeys,” which I saw at a preview on Thursday, is completely overwhelming – in the best way possible.
The 13-minute show, which combines projections on Sleeping Beauty Castle with nonstop fireworks, includes references to every Walt Disney Animation Studios film released in the last 100 years. Waves of applause erupted at one screening of “Treasure Planet,” a niche but beloved 2002 film, and my heart swelled as Moana, Hercules, Belle, and Quasimodo somehow combined their respective power anthems to form a cohesive musical melody. The Blue Fairy from “Pinocchio” floated by the castle spires at one point, and Baymax from “Big Hero 6” circled in the air at another.
“World of Color – ONE” was not available for preview Thursday at Disney’s California Adventure, but its producer Jennifer Magill says the show has been in the works for a year and builds on the previous “World of Color” by focusing on each individual’s potential to impact the world. It also makes extensive use of lasers and intricate lighting.
“When we heard about the Disney100 celebration, it really sparked this creative idea in the team (that) it all started with Walt Disney,” she says. “What exactly is the power of one? This ripple effect can be caused by a small gesture or action.”
What else is happening with Disney100?
There will also be tonnes of new merchandise, specialty food, and platinum park decorations to peruse during the Disney100 celebration. A new exhibit at The Disney Gallery will also pay homage to Disney history by displaying art and designs of iconic characters and moments.
Mickey’s Toontown, which houses Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, will also reopen on March 8 with new attractions.
