Remembering Mr. Toad's Wild Ride [Looking Back]
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was an original opening day attraction at the Magic Kingdom in October 1971. A classic Fantasyland dark ride, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was based on the Disney adaptation of "The Wind in the Willows."
The Disneyland version of Mr. Toad was very popular, so Imagineers gave Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at the Magic Kingdom some special features: two rows of seats on the cars, and two ride tracks, with slightly separate show scenes on each.
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is an attraction that continues to captivate, despite being closed on Sept. 7, 1998 to make way for the more well-known Winnie the Pooh. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh was opened in its place in 1999.
Of course, Mr. Toad isn't completely absent from this new ride -- sneak a peek to your left as you enter the "flood" scene to see this "photo" of Mr. Toad handing the deed to the ride to Owl.
Mr. Toad Hands the Deed for the Ride to Owl
A Mr. Toad statue can be found at The Haunted Mansion pet cemetery, and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride can still be experienced at Disneyland.
A treasure trove of Mr. Toad can be found at virtual-toad.com, including a very interesting virtual walking tour.
See ride-throughs from 1998 of both Track 1 and Track 2 below.
Do you mourn the loss of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at the Magic Kingdom? Was it a must-do ride for you in the 70s, 80s and 90s? Share your thoughts below.
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Mase wrote on Mon, 05/09/2011 - 12:20:
You know... as much as I loved this ride as a kid. This is one of the ones im glad that got remade into something different. I can see this scaring my kids now. I do miss it, and still wish it was here, but I think Pooh Bear's ride is a good one to replace it.
I love the articles because I havent noticed these rides gone till you guys mention it on here! lol
JeffC wrote on Mon, 05/09/2011 - 23:54:
I never knew this ride, as our first visit as adults was 1999, but it sounds kinda fun!
Fun fact from my The Complete Disney World 2010 guide book: On the ride's last day, about 100 fans gathered outside as it closed, one with a sign reading "Here lies dear old J.T. Toad, he hit some Pooh upon the road".
I think that's pretty funny and clever :p
worldfanatic wrote on Wed, 05/11/2011 - 03:29:
Overrated ride.
I still enjoy it at Disneyland, but I'm not too sorry about its demise at the Magic Kingdom.
Poppet wrote on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 20:24:
One of my favorite rides as a kid. Still mad that they replaced it. I can see now that it would need some MAJOR refurbishments. The cardboard cut outs (like a pop up book)needed to go. My kids love the book, "Wind In The Willows"and movie "Adventures of Mr. Toad"! They wanted so much to ride this when we went to WDW last. It was great fun being tossled about by the wild driving and thinking you were going to crash into something or get run over by a train. Laughed our heads off! The "Motor Car" rocked!
I can see now that that the "Inferno" scene would not be very "Child Friendly"....it never phased me as a kid but that part would scare kids. Still wish this ride would make a "Come Back".
elaine massey wrote on Wed, 11/25/2015 - 03:35:
I love your article. I love Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and wish they still had it at Disney World, but I love Winnie the Pooh more. I just wish they could have both rides. We visited Disneyland and got to ride it over and over.
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