Play helps safely bring down our natural barriers by creating guardrails that allow us to be silly. Walt Disney World has a new coaster inspired by the movie “Tron.” It’s sleek, it’s pretty and it’s fast, but how does it compare to other modern thrill attractions? We rode it and have thoughts. Play is the foundation of that.Įntertainment & Arts Walt Disney World’s new Tron ride: Gorgeous, but not the next Space Mountain For children, they’re experimenting with who they ultimately grow up to be. It is the first moment you learn about who you are, what risks you want to take, what you feel comfortable engaging with, what preferences you have. “Play is necessary for development,” says Ryan Wineinger, Toontown’s senior creative director. Increasingly, our worlds - and especially our theme parks - seem geared toward play. It’s largely inspired by nature - softer tones feel easier on the eye because they very much come from nature palettes.” We wanted Toontown to be relaxing, a decompressing experience. We know Disneyland can be a very stimulating experience. There’s a movement in play, especially in young children and young-child development, to make sure that you’re providing as much decompression as stimulation. Such a style makeover wasn’t done simply to bring the land more in line with modern tastes, says Walt Disney Imagineering, the arm of the company that oversees its theme park experiences.ĭesigners, say Elliott Rosenbaum, Toontown’s creative producer, “wanted to make sure the color palette of the land was softer, a little gentler. It still has buildings and houses full of curves and purposefully disjointed slants, but overall Toontown has been ever-so-slightly grounded in Disneyland’s comforting, welcoming version of reality. In turn, Toontown no longer feels disconnected from the rest of the park. Gone are colors that look CGI-created, and in their place throughout is a more painterly feel. Take a stroll through its refresh and one major change is immediately apparent: The colors are muted, and at long last feel in harmony with one another. When Disneyland’s Toontown opened 30 years ago, it was full of harsh slants and brash colors - a wildly painted world based on clashes of styles and tones rather than narrative cohesion. One could draw a line from Toontown’s lighthearted playground fare to the digitally-focused games at the nearby Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the large-scale interactivity of lands such as Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood.Įvery aspect of the re-imagined Toontown, which officially opened today, was designed with play in mind, even paint color. The new Toontown is part of a broader movement to refocus theme park experiences around games and play, which help foster communication among friends, families and even fellow park attendees. While the area’s rides are designed to accommodate as wide an audience as possible, play spaces are typically defined as targeting those in the 2- to 12-years-old range. The hope is that Toontown 2.0 becomes a place that prioritizes imaginative and interactive play, specifically for younger children. "We really wanted to lean into nostalgia overall," Elliot Rosenbaum, a creative producer with Walt Disney Imagineering, said. "While we are excited for guests in this newest generation to come and experience it as kids for the first time, we wanted to make sure that there were familiar experiences for guests who were returning.Mickey’s Toontown opened at Disneyland in 1993, inspired by the wild world of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” But now, after a yearlong closure and refresh, Toontown is doubling down on Mickey Mouse and friends while adding patches of picnic-ready green space that get children out of the strollers and running free. Goofy gave USA TODAY a personal tour of his house, showing off framed pictures of his son Max and other beloved characters from 1995's "A Goofy Movie." The music that plays throughout Toontown also includes references to music from '90s Disney television staples like "The Disney Afternoon," "Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers," and "DuckTales." How can I get the most out of my Disneyland trip? Pro tips from insiders who know it best New Mickey's Toontown caters to '90s kids with kids of their ownįor older Disney fans who love Toontown for its nostalgia, the new iteration of the land has plenty of gems. "We've got our 6-year-old with us today and to be able to go with him and be next to him while he's exploring, especially in Goofy's house and in Donald's boat, that was a big deal to him – for his dad to actually be there and actually able to do it with him," Phoenix said. Toontown's accessibility makes it easier for all guests to make memories with their families.
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