4. The use of technology is impressive

For a while, it was looking like Disney was dipping into a lurch in attraction technology, relying a bit too heavily on screens and 3D-movie gimmicks for new content. While Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway does make use of screens and quite a few projection effects, I have to say I was very impressed with the use of technology on this ride.

I would have lost my cheese if I saw this ride as a kid. Every time I think Disney has cornered the market on bringing cartoons to life, they surprise me again. Perhaps the abstract nature of the new Mickey & Minnie Cartoons helped, but the animatronics felt incredibly real. My eyes widened multiple times at the way Disney used practical tricks to make cartoon characters appear in the real world, like something straight out of the old Pete’s Dragon. I especially liked the way that they managed to pull off making Mickey & Minnie’s heads look just like the cartoon—always pointed somewhat to the side, like a whimsical 2D drawing.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is also another great use of Disney’s trackless ride vehicle technology. We’ve seen these before in Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. They add a delightful element of freedom and smooth movement to these newer rides, and their use in Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is excellent, particularly as a means to connect scenes full of practical effects with mind-boggling illusions. As an old-time Disney fan, I particularly appreciated the return of something like the old SuperSpeed tunnels the Disneyland PeopleMover used to have (which used scenes from the movie TRON in the 80’s). All in all, the mixture of technologies tells an impressive story without making the ride all about the spectacle of the effects.

5. The ride’s story is genuinely enjoyable

Video: YouTube, @MyKingdomForAMouse

I mentioned earlier that the new Mickey & Minnie cartoons are hilarious. This kooky fun carries over well into Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, giving the ride a story that legitimately feels like being thrown into one of the couple’s ridiculous adventures.

We had a little trouble piecing together the story during our first visit as Disney is currently having guests skip the pre-show to maintain social distancing. Despite this, we were able to get the gist of it—Mickey & Minnie are on their way to enjoy a nice picnic when a rogue pie wrecks Goofy’s locomotive, triggering a series of zany mishaps, putting our heroes in increasing peril from tornados, volcanos, waterfalls, saxophone squids, and more.

I really expected this ride to be a simple “day in the life” attraction, but the story kept me engaged simply by how it kept getting more and more bonkers—just like a good cartoon. You find yourself asking, “What else could go wrong?” and try not to feel too bad at laughing at Mickey & Minnie’s escalating misfortunes. The attraction also includes a subtle twist I appreciated, where you may think the ride is finished, only for it to get even more silly and carry on.  

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway does a good job breaking the tradition of simply being a spectator ride with no solid story for guests to follow… As a matter of fact, the ride even has a B-Story following Pluto on his own adventure. Pay close attention on your next visit to spot it!

6. It makes Mickey more than a figurehead for the company

I’m an odd Disney fan in that I think over the years, I’ve grown a bit numb to Mickey Mouse. When I visit Disney parks, I’m not thinking about what Mickey merch I can buy or where I can get my next picture with the great Mouse. Part of this is because, at times, Mickey can feel like little more than a figurehead for the Walt Disney company, rather than a character with a rich story.

The one exception to this for me has always been during Fantasmic. I’m not the type to tear up easily, but to this day, my eyes still threaten waterworks the minute I hear the words, “Imagination,” and see Mickey Mouse appear in a cone of light. The reason why is that Fantasmic (particularly the Disneyland version) puts Mickey in the center of an entrancing story, making him a hero in the battle of good vs. evil, a protagonist facing the worst of our childhood nightmares (even those jazzy pink elephants on parade). Fantasmic makes us care about what happens to Mickey, as much as we would Flynn Rider, or Elsa, or Belle.

In its own way, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway injects some of this magic back into its namesake characters. It is kind of bizarre that in all these years, Mickey and Minnie Mouse have never had a ride letting guests experience their story. In the same way the new Mickey and Minnie cartoons breathe fresh life into the characters, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway takes it a step further, letting Walt Disney World (and soon, Disneyland) guests root for Mickey & Minnie in a captivating tale from their wacky world.

7. It provides a valuable draw for Disney’s Hollywood Studios

We’ve covered most of the reasons for this, but there’s no question that Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway provides an important draw for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Its all-ages appeal helps to balance Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and its position as the first attraction focused on Mickey and Minnie gives fans who prefer Disney’s traditional content a reason to visit the park (instead of just Magic Kingdom). It also provides one more offering for families with small children who may have chosen to skip Disney’s Hollywood Studios otherwise. Overall, this is a win, as better attendance means more incentive for Disney to keep bringing great content to this park. There's also no question that this ride will fit in fantastically at Disneyland in California when it opens.

The conclusion is this: I will definitely miss The Great Movie Ride, and I wish Disney had found a way to keep it. Despite that, I was genuinely surprised how much I ended up enjoying Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. It reminded me why not all rides need to have the awe-factor of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or Avatar: Flight of Passage to be enjoyable. Sometimes, that perfect mix of nostalgia, innovation, and fun can be a great formula for a charming ride.

Enjoy this article? Keep reading to learn why there are some real benefits to visiting Walt Disney World right now… as well as what to expect if you visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios this week!