Walt Disney World | Hollywood Studios | Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway | Story Behind the Story | Mickey Mouse Cartoons | Potatoland

The historic multiyear transformation of Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios recently marked a significant milestone, the Opening of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

Completing phase 2 of the multiyear transformation. The transformation started with the removal of the Sorceress Hat back in 2015, along with the closing of The Backlot Tour, The Streets of America, The Great Movie Ride – you know that story. All of the attractions associated with a working backlot, which was the original plan for Disney MGM studios, a working studio. Boy how things have changed.

With the opening of Toy Storyland in 2018, Stat Wars Galaxy’s Edge in 2019, including the Rise of The Resistance, Hollywood Studios is no longer a theme park that takes you behind the scenes of now movies are made, but it is a place that takes you inside the movie. Where you are a part of the action and experience the movie. From the unbelievable storytelling on the planet Batuu including the seamless nature of

joining the resistance. After all, they are rumored to have an encampment just outside of town, look for the abandoned gun turret then enter the haunted caverns of a long-abandoned village. In Rise of the Resistance, you are in the movie, the action is all around you. It’s not on a screen, or just in front of you, it’s all around you as you begin your voyage to join the resistance. And like any engaging storyline, it could easily have been a movie itself. Of course, something goes wrong, and you’ll need to deal with Kylo Ren and the First Order to finish your mission. The storytelling is so complete that it ties the planet Batuu into the larger star wars universe. Ever wonder why General Hux wasn’t the commanding officer of the Star Destroyer in Rise of Skywalker? Well let’s just say his failure at the battle of Batuu didn’t sit well with Supreme leader Kylo Ren, and he was demoted as a result. Be sure to check out my other videos on Galaxy’s Edge backstory.

The recent opening of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway extends that immersive storytelling. As you enter Disney Hollywood Studios you arrive on Hollywood Blvd.  The original theme of Studios lives on, the Hollywood that always was, but never will be. The golden age of Hollywood 1920s/30s and since the premiere of Steamboat Willy in 1928 Mickey Mouse has been a Star in Hollywood. People have been lining up to see Mickey on the Big Screen, side not – That’s All True. While the story is heavily influenced by actual events, the shorts and stories from this point are based on the recent Mickey Shorts which officially premiered on The Disney Channel June 28, 2013. All of which you can find on Disney+, so with hits like Tokyo Go, Three Legged Race, Wonders of the Deep and my favorite Potatoland, all of which “may have previously premiered at the Chinese theater” You’ll see all of the Movie Posters inside the lobby (queue) for the attraction. Lucky for you, the theater is getting ready for the World Premier of Mickey’s latest short, “Perfect Picnic”, and it looks like we are just in time to experience the premier for ourselves. You can’t miss that new marquee at the end of Hollywood Blvd, or as Walt would have called it, the weenie at the end of Main Street.

On a side note, the Marquee is covered via a drop-down screen for the nightly theater projection show, and the Queue for Runaway Railway closes before park closing, to prevent anyone from being inside the courtyard for fireworks.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway was originally announced at the D23 Expo in 2017, the first attraction at any Disney park dedicated to Mickey. Imagineer Kevin Rafferty, who recently authored his amazing journey, (Details at this D23 Breakout) was the Executive Creative Director & Show Writer for the project, we had the opportunity to ask Kevin a few questions about the attraction, check the video for details. On opening day, March 4, 2020, Kevin and his team of Imaginers were at the attraction unload area cheering on the first riders, and I was among some of the few that recognized him and went out of their way to say, Thank You, Kevin!!!

While Kevin was the executive creator, Charita Carter was there from the beginning as Senior Producer, she took some time to answer a few questions as well.

Here is a brief synopsis of the premier.

As the cartoon premiere begins, think of it as the pre-show, Mikey and Minnie set off to find the best spot for a romantic picnic, taking their red convertible for a drive-through run amuck park. Sounds pretty simple right? Well, they don’t know Pluto has stowed away in the trunk, so when the roadster hits a bump and Pluto flies out … mayhem ensues. 

It’s at that point in the preshow premier that Disney magic brings guests inside the movie and into the cartoon world, where we join Engineer Goofy on a train ride on the Runnamuck Railroad, with Goofy at the helm, what could possibly go wrong? Remember in a cartoon world anything is possible, a Stampede through the Wild West, a carnival, a swirling twister, an exploding volcano a dive over a waterfall, and so much more.

The best way to experience this attraction, like Rise of the Resistance, is in person, with things happing all around you – watching a Point of View video is watching what someone else wants you to see, not necessarily where the action is. When you watch a video someone else video created you miss the sound behind you, your ability to react to it, you miss the little Easter eggs, the hidden mickey’s the hidden characters, you miss most of the attraction. The best way, the only way to experience Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is in person the way Kevin and the team designed it. It’s not a ride, it’s not an attraction, it’s an experience. Thanks for watching, be sure to subscribe for more.

For More from Disney Hollywood Studios be sure to check out: Osborne Lights, New Years Eve Fireworks, 5 things we miss, Club Disney, Jingle Bell Jingle Bam, Music of Pixar Live, Wonderful World of Animation, The Dream Comes True, Galaxy’s Edge, Mickey and Minnies Run Aways Railway the Story, The Ride and The Merchandise, The Great Movie Ride. The Great Move ride ending, Star Wars Fireworks. Movie Magic