A Portal to Wondrous, Dark Adventures

Sleeping Beauty Castle is more than a fanciful park icon; It beckons you into a land containing the best collection of classic-style dark rides on the planet. And, once upon a time (before the mid-eighties), those rides were darker and more mysterious. Today's guests experience the adventures of Snow White, Pinocchio, Peter Pan and Alice as journeys into film worlds they're well acquainted with. Mr. Toad's movie remains relatively obscure, but at least the film's available.

But the dark rides weren't always visits to familiar film worlds. Two factors originally combined to make each ride a stranger, more thrilling experience, particularly for children. Sure, there was the massive Fantasyland makeover in 1983, but most of it revolves around the fact that Disney animation was not always something you could view anytime you wanted.

Anyone who grew up in the 1950's, 60's or 70's might remember the particularly strong sense of otherworldliness Fantasyland held. Because...

In the pre-home-video days, more park guests knew the Disney versions of Alice, Snow White, Peter Pan, and Mr. Toad from their Fantasyland dark rides than from the films themselves.

Classic Disney Channel Memories: The Wind in the Willows

Britain's other Fab Four

In its early years, The Disney Channel was the classiest thing on cable, and it sported a lineup of amazing shows the entire family could enjoy together. There was Five Mile Creek, the sprawling tale of Australia's first stagecoach line. The much-loved Avonlea continued the Anne of Green Gables saga. And then there was The Wind in the Willows, the most elaborate, literate and wonderfully acted stop-motion animated series ever to grace the tube.

Toad disrupts dinner and annoys Badger...again.

Produced by Cosgrove Hall (of Danger Mouse fame), this funny, gentle and sometimes heartbreaking show followed the lives of Toad, Mole, Rat and Badger after the events of the famous novel (and the Disney film. And Mr. Toad's Wild Ride).

Mr. Toad's Experimental Fireplace

Disneyland's Fantasyland dark rides have received tweaks and improvements from time to time, even after their extensive 1983 remodeling. The first noticeable change after the summer of 1983 was the abandonment of an interesting but problematic special effect on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

Ever since the opening of New Fantasyland, the last part of the ride's queue has been great fun. Upon entering Toad Hall and encountering the foreshadowing tapestry, you hear jolly music -- and a distinct CRASHING sound which repeats every fifteen seconds or so.

As you near the boarding area, you see the source of the noise as you watch the departing motorcars disappear through library doors -- only to immediately crash back out through the room's fireplace.

The effect (done with scrim, animation and fiber optic embers scattering across the floor) is a hoot to watch -- but it's not quite what the Imagineers tried to achieve in 1983.

Going through my old photos, I remembered I'd taken a shot of the original fireplace effect.

Fantasyland at Night

Disneyland's Fantasyland takes on a unique energy late at night. Because much of it's blocked off during fireworks (as the castle hosts some of the pyrotechnics), the last hours of park operation find the area bustling with relaxed, tired-but-happy guests trying to get in one last ride on a childhood favorite before closing time.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride Before & After

One night at Disneyland back in the late 1960's, my parents let me borrow their camera to use up the last shot on whatever I wanted. My nine-year-old-mind knew exactly what to do: take a photo of random people bursting out of hell at the end of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!

I have no idea who those folks are in the picture, but I love their attitude. And look -- that plucky kid didn't take his hands off the steering wheel -- not even while being taunted by cackling demons with pitchforks!

Jumping ahead to this past summer...

...we can see that I took better photos when I was nine. We can also see that the newer unload zone -- now inside Toad's mansion -- isn't nearly as gothic-looking. It's more difficult to photograph the final "crash" doors now without being a nuisance, but way back on the right you can see how those once hellish-looking doors are now painted to look like they lead from a wine cellar or pantry.

Inside, however, the ride is just as loud, chaotic and crazy as ever. Long live Mr. Toad's Wild Ride -- May its dynamite kegs never stop exploding.

Mr. Toad's Wild Weather Vane

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is one of my favorite attractions at Disneyland. The weather vane high atop Toad Hall gets my vote for the single best little detail in all of the resort.

With one simple silhouette, the artist perfectly captures the spirit of the ride, the character, the Disney film (The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad) and even the source material, The Wind in the Willows. Most of the tale's riverbank citizens resent the intrusion of noisy machines into their peaceful lives, but J. Thadeus Toad eagerly grabs hold of new thrills and takes off, merrily on his way with no thought of consequences.

Either this vane wistfully represents the passing of a simpler era...

Or it's just a great prop on the only ride that turns a train collision and trip to hell into a jolly good time.

Weirdest Classic in Fantasyland: Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

When most people think of Disneyland's Fantasyland, they think of Sleeping Beauty Castle, Teacups and Dumbo. Plunging into hell after being killed by an oncoming train probably doesn't enter their minds. To a true fan, however, no trip to Disneyland is complete without a spin through Fantasyland's weirdest attraction, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. If you've never rampaged through moonlit London aboard one of Toad's out-of-control motorcars, be sure to check out this gem on your next trip. Like all of the classic Disneyland dark rides, it keeps getting tweaked and improved. I love the recently enhanced "crashing through the fireplace" effects.

Disney's got an animated Mr. Toad's Wild Ride film in production, and they're boasting it's based on the ride. The odd thing is, the ride's already based on Disney's own film,  "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad," which is based on Kenneth Grahame's classic novel, "The Wind in the Willows."

So, soon we'll have a movie based on a ride based on a movie based on a book. Crumpets, anyone?