I Got The Chance To Check Out Mickey And Minnie's Runaway Railway At Disneyland, And It's A Ride That's Truly Destined To Be A Classic Like Pirates Of The Caribbean
🚨Warning: There are mild spoilers for what to expect inside the ride, so if you want to be totally surprised by everything, it's best to click out. 🚨
If you're a Disney fan — and, let's be honest, more than likely you are, since you clicked on this post — then you know that 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company. And as part of the celebration, not only is Disneyland being completely decked out for the company's centenary, it's also getting a brand-new ride!!!
Of course, that ride is Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway!!! We got a chance to check out the attraction when it opened, and here is everything you need to know about it.
First of all, yes, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is technically a duplicate of the ride of the same name that is located at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida and opened in early 2020 (in fact, we covered the opening). But this version of the ride — which is located inside the El Capitoon movie theater in Mickey's Toon Town — is hands down the best version of the attraction.
Now, except for a few minor things, the actual ride itself is identical to its Disney World counterpart.
However, it's Disneyland's queue — which has an entire backstory filled with homages and Easter eggs — that helps make this version superior to Florida's. As soon as you walk into the ride, you enter the art deco lobby of the El Capitoon theater that makes up the entire queue.
The first thing you'll notice is that the lobby is filled with lots and lots of movie posters of live-action Disney films that instead star Disney cartoon characters...which will truly get a chuckle out of any Disney fan.
There is also a 3D poster for the Perfect Picnic, the ~movie~ that is currently playing in the theater. Of course, this also makes for a perfect photo spot and is designed so there is plenty of room around it to get that great shot.
Once you get further into the queue, you learn that Minnie has curated an exhibit for the Toontown Hysterical Society called Mickey Through the Ears, and it celebrates Mickey's entire career...and it truly does!
The exhibit features a ton of props and costumes from various Mickey Mouse cartoons, like the wheel from his very first short, Steamboat Willie...
...the robe and hat he wore in Fantasia's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"...
...to even the outfits he wore on the album covers of Mousercise and Mickey Mouse Disco.
The exhibit is laid out in chronological order, ending with props from the Mickey Mouse TV series of the 2010s — which is the style of the animation on which the ride is based.
And of course, no movie theater is complete without a concessions stand — which also happens to be another perfect photo spot.
The stand is filled with candy and treats that pay homage to so many Disney cartoon characters from throughout the decades.
Honestly, there so many details, callbacks, and hidden Easter eggs that you can go through the queue several times and end up seeing new things. It's also a great way to pass the time while waiting in line.
Now, speaking of lines, the ride (like Rise of the Resistance in Galaxy's Edge) will use virtual queuing, so you have to get a boarding pass for it. However, unlike the virtual queue for Rise, you can check in early, starting at 7:00 a.m., and you don't have to be inside the park to do it. You can read the exact details about how to do it here. Alternatively, you can buy a Lightning Lane entry through the app for it, and the prices for that will vary depending on how busy the day is.
Also, if you buy a Lighting Lane pass, you do not miss out on the wonderful queue, the line for it wraps around the regular queue.
As someone who is a huge Disney fan and loves going to Disneyland, I have to say the ride is as amazing as everyone says it is. It's also a welcome addition to Mickey's Toon Town, which needed an extra ride to help give the land a little bit more to do. If you're planning on going to Disneyland soon, I highly recommend putting this on your must-do list. It's not only a wonderfully immersive and technologically impressive family-friendly ride, but it also holds up to repeat rides (being able to catch and see new things every time you ride it).
