Imagineer tour of Disneyland’s Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

We were among the first to experience Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disneyland Park. We received a guided tour from an Imagineer of the “Mickey Through the Ears” exhibit located in the attraction queue, and then stepped aboard Disneyland Resort’s newest attraction, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in Mickey’s Toontown.

This article is being continually updated with new photos and videos throughout the day as we continue to tour. Stay Toon-ed!

This new attraction will be a high-capacity offering as part of a new Mickey’s Toontown. This attraction and updated land will offer re-imagined rides and play spaces for families.

Our Imagineer tour gave us an inside look into the historical items and hidden Easter eggs located in the ride’s queue.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is already open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the ride portion of this attraction is nearly the same at Disneyland Park. The major difference between the attractions are their exterior facades and the queue details. Walt Disney World’s version takes guests into the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre as guests prepare to witness an all new Mickey Mouse short, while the Disneyland version takes place in the El CapiTOON Theater.

The updated Mickey’s Toontown will offer more grass, more shade, and more accessible areas. Guests will be able to explore this updated area March 8, 2023.

Before heading into the new attraction, we got a look at the ongoing work in Mickey’s ToonTown. The color pops and the building shapes are still quite wacky.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway stands tall with a vibrant and cartoonish exterior of the El CapiTOON Theater.

Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz, Portfolio Executive Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering said, “At Disneyland Park, the attraction takes place at the El CapiTOON Theater in Mickey’s Toontown, the land’s hometown theater and the place where Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their friends ‘prem-ear’ all of their movies for its citizens. Because of the excitement for their new film ‘Perfect Picnic,’ Minnie worked with the Toontown Hysterical Society to put an exhibit in the attraction’s queue.”

UPDATE: Jan. 25 12:12 p.m. we were taken into the ride’s queue to checkout Easter eggs and details.

Much like the rest of Mickey’s Toontown, there are a ton of smaller stories going on for you to find. Located inside of the El CapiTOON ticket booth we see references to Powerline, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, Scrooge McDuck, and “The Three Musketeers.”

For fans of Disney signage, we didn’t miss this look at the numerous signs as you enter the attraction.

UPDATE: Jan. 25 1:28 p.m. Disney D23 released new looks at hidden details and movie posters.

Fun Disney homages cover the walls of the Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway queue. We particularly loved these three character posters featuring “The Parent Trap,” “High School Musical 3,” and “Hocus Pocus.”

The queue also features some of Mickey Mouse’s most iconic outfits. This queue offers a museum-style tour with looks at Mickey Mouse in films like “Mickey’s Birthday Party” (1942), “Fantasia” (1940), and “The Prince and the Pauper” (1990).

UPDATE: Jan. 25 2:02 p.m. we continued our tour, with a step inside of “Mickey Through the Ears.”

This queue focuses on some of Mickey Mouse’s greatest achievements, like his first ever on-screen appearance in “Steamboat Willie.” This prop is presented as 100% authentic, straight from the short film. But, you are in Disneyland, so accept that many of these props come from a world of fantasy (even if you are technically in Mickey’s Toontown and not Fantasyland).

If you love these props and looks at “Mickey Through The Ears,” you can thank Minnie Mouse. She curated this tribute to Mickey’s Toontown hometown hero, Mickey Mouse.

The jokes and puns go on and on inside this queue. The cartoon short references continue as well, with “props” from “Mickey’s Birthday Party” (1942), “Lonesome Ghosts” (1937), and “Mickey’s Delayed Date” (1947).

Kids and kids-at-heart should instantly recognize this iconic piece of Disney history. Straight from the “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” show is the Mousekedoer and the Handy Helper props.

Details, details, details! Even the recycling bins are themed to the El CapiTOON Theater.