A great (trackless) ride for the whole family
This is our original review of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Walt Disney World, updated and including a special section highlighting the ride's differences at Disneyland.
You know what comes to mind when I look at this one? I stop and think about how some theme park rides have such long and complicated names.
Oh yeah, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway also makes me think of how trackless dark rides are such a big hit nowadays. It’s a great system used in Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and it’s a great system here as well. This means that your vehicle doesn't follow a conventional track, but rather seems to glide through a designated area. This setup is fantastic because it allows designers to create larger set pieces and introduce innovative tricks to keep us surprised.
Runaway Railway opened in 2020 in Walt Disney World, and then in 2023 at Disneyland. This is one of the best family rides for the entire family. Not only it doesn’t feature any height requirements, but it is also very charming, very fun, has great visuals and includes some of your favorite Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy. That’s a pretty good combo for a successful ride.
What we like about Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
The idea here is that you board a vehicle for 32 guests and follow Mickey, Minnie and more Disney characters through different set pieces. I really like them, by the way, and they also make the trackless ride system truly shine. It kicks off with your vehicle trailing behind Goofy, who's piloting a locomotive ahead. Naturally, things go wrong, leading you on an adventure through a desert and even an underwater city. The visuals are all of the highest quality and the scenarios are big and imposing.
One standout moment for me is coming face to face with an animatronic Daisy Duck, who starts singing. Our vehicles sway and dance in response to the music. It's moments like these that truly showcase the brilliance of a trackless ride system.
The visuals draw inspiration from the latest Mickey cartoon available on Disney+, presenting great visuals with expressive facial animations. While numerous digital screens showcase our favorite Disney pals, I'm particularly pleased that Disney uses several animatronics as well. The combination of both elements proves to be a wise decision and makes you more immersed in the storyline.
That was one of my problems with Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, by the way. I think that Remy uses digital screens way too much, and the 3D effects simply can’t carry the ride alone. Both attractions use the trackless ride system, but I’d say that Runaway Railway is much better than Remy.
What we don’t like about Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Basically the only downside here are the above average waiting times. Everyone knows by now the equation for the theory of theme park queues: fun ride + recent attraction = long queues². Not as long as Rise of the Resistance, but expect to spend 40-60 minutes in line.
Will Kids enjoy it?
Guess what, this is a dark ride featuring classic Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and even Daisy! Of course, this one is going to be perfect for the whole family. There are no height requirements and everyone is welcome aboard.
Runaway Railway is an excellent choice for young children seeking vibrant visuals and a touch of excitement on an incredible trackless ride. In other words, it's the perfect attraction for young guests who simply want to enjoy their day at Disneyland.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: Differences between Disneyland and Disney World
The rides are nearly identical, with a few key differences in their entrances and queues. At Disney World, the entrance is designed to resemble the Grauman’s Chinese Theater. At Disneyland, however, the entrance is a replica of the El Capitan Theatre, now renamed the El Capitoon Theater.
The queue at Disneyland is better, featuring displays of Mickey’s outfits from his extensive career and props he "used" in his cartoons and movies.
As for the ride itself, it’s exactly the same in both theme parks.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway FAQ
Is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disneyland scary?
No, there are no scary elements during this ride.
Is there a ride height requirement for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway?
No, there is no height requirement for this ride.
What is the usual wait time for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway?
Wait times can vary depending on the time of day and the season, but you can typically expect to wait between 30 to 60 minutes to experience the ride.
What are the main differences between the Disneyland and Disney World versions of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway?
The ride itself is identical in both theme parks. The main differences are found in the entrance and the queues.
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