R.I.P. Mr. Toad

**VonBaroketch** · 10-27-2009, 10:49 AM

Today's WDW Trivia calendar entry is:

Fan-based "Toad-Ins" began in late October 1997 to protest the decision to close WDW's Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Fans with green shirts began camping out in front of the attraction, and letters were sent to Disney asking it to spare the beloved attraction. To no avial. The attraction closed permanently on September 7, 1998.

This raised some bittersweet memories, not only of the ride, but of the Toad-Ins. Those meetings of protest were some of the earliest meets of the Disney online fan community and were a lot of fun. Here is a picture from the very last one. I was 16!

**firemedic** · 10-27-2009, 10:56 AM

Yep, that was a tragic closing alright. I rode it right before it closed and I haven't been back since.

**lilo88** · 10-27-2009, 11:26 AM

I was a month late... I wish I could have rode it in WDW.

Glad I was able to ride it in DL.

**NC_WDW_Daddy** · 10-28-2009, 07:26 AM

We rode it on our first family trip in '97, but it was gone when we returned in late '98.

**Tim** · 10-30-2009, 02:12 PM

They had enough room in Fantasyland to keep Toad and add Winnie. They never should have dumped him. Poor frog.

**VonBaroketch** · 10-30-2009, 02:51 PM

I must admit, I had my fingers crossed at the D23 Parks and Resorts announcement. I knew they were expanding Fantasyland, and I was hoping to see a new Toad Hall added to the plans. As popular as it still is at Disneyland and with the new efforts at bringing back retro merchandise (including a MTWR shirt), I do not think I was being too naive. Even Disneyland got the submarines back, so it would not have been unprecendented.