Disneyland’s Runaway Railway reaches construction milestone, opening pushed back to 2023
Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock has revealed that construction on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway has reached a new milestone – and will also be opening a year later than previously announced.
By Niamh Larkin
In an Instagram post, Potrock stated, “I am thrilled to share my ‘Happiest View on Earth’ with you today, a special peek outside a window at our Team Disney Anaheim building. This particular view offers a behind-the-magic look at a momentous milestone that happened today at @Disneyland park – the first steel beam has been placed for what will be the future Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction, scheduled to open for guests in 2023!”
The new attraction was originally announced for Toontown in Disneyland park last year with a tease from then-Resort President Josh D’Amaro on Instagram and eventually an official report from Disney Parks Blog, with an opening set for 2022.
Potrock confirmed in his Instagram post that the attraction will now open to guests in 2023, and that the first steel beam has been placed by Imagineers. This marks the beginning of vertical construction on the attraction.
Walt Disney Imagineering also posted the construction milestone on Instagram, stating “The first steel beam being installed for the future Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction @Disneyland, scheduled to open for guests in 2023! Disney Imagineers proudly joined Disneyland Resort President @KenPotrock outside the construction zone this morning as the beam was lifted into place.”
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opened to guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios back in March. For a glimpse of the ride, check out this ride-through POV below:
The Disneyland version of the Mickey Mouse-themed attraction will open in the El CapiTOON Theater, but will follow the same storyline of the original Mickey short titled “Perfect Picnic.”
At the time of writing, the hotels and theme parks at Disneyland Resort remain closed to guests due to the ongoing effects of COVID-19. The Downtown Disney District is currently open to guests at a reduced capacity.
I don’t understand why I’m the ride won’t open until 2023, since the building won’t require much more than simple flat walled rooms and some projectors.
You’re the ride omg
It’s actually more complicated than that. There’s a lot of animatronics and 3D effects that do take some time to build. I also believe it’s mainly due to the pandemic because construction was halted for a while after the parks were shut down so that does affect the opening date of the attraction.