Is Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Scary? What to Expect
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a thrilling and fun attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. But is Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway scary? Let’s break down the entire ride, so you can decide whether or not you should put this ride down on your must-do list for your next Disney trip.
How Scary is Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway?
Before we dive into specifics, let’s cover a few overall basics of just how scary I see this attraction (which replaced the The Great Movie Ride) in Hollywood Studios..
Theming: You ride through bright and colorful scenery with occasional loud noises, flashing lights, and wind. It can be a little surprising for little ones, but it is a fun and lighthearted theme.
- Theming Scary Scale: 2/10
Story: Step inside your own Mickey short – Perfect Picnic! Goofy is taking you on a tour around the park, where your train car goes off the rails after Mickey deactivates a track switch. Your vehicle goes through several thrilling and relaxing scenes, including the Old West, the deep ocean, a bustling city, Daisy’s dance hall, and a clanking warehouse.
- Story Scary Scale: 1/10
Ride Speed: The ride vehicles do not go very fast, but the occasional spinning and projections on the attraction can make it feel faster! Expect ride speed similar to Toy Story Mania or Remi’s Ratatouille Adventure.
- Ride Speed Scary Scale: 2/10
Ride Drops: There are no actual drops on this ride; however, there is one moment where it feels like you are falling over a waterfall.
- Ride Drop Scary Scale: 1/10
Best Ages For This Ride: Nothing can stop you now! Walt Disney World allows all heights and ages for this one – so bring the family! This ride is best for those that can handle occasional loud noises, surprises, and lights.
- Overall Scary Scale: 2/10
- You Might Also Like: Is Expedition Everest Scary?
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Theming & Story
When I first rode Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway way back in April 2021, I was amazed by how fun, colorful, and whimsical the attraction was—so I rode it four times in one day! It is a simple story boasting plenty of chaos and laughter, as you would expect from a Mickey Mouse short.
This attraction primarily focuses on projections along the walls with your ride vehicles using a trackless system to glide you from room to room. What I enjoy about this attraction is that you have a different experience nearly every time you ride based on the car and row in which you are sitting.
The attraction’s experience starts at the beginning of The Chinese Theater. Walking in the queue, flashing neon lights and movie posters from Mickey Mouse shorts like “Wonders of the Deep” greet you. The scenery is ornate and draped with red velvet, wooden art deco-inspired archways, and gold flowers and detailing. There are intricate details everywhere in this queue, so if you are in a bit of a wait, take a look around and see if you can find a hidden Mickey or two.
Winding through the switchbacks, you eventually land in a theater to watch the premier of Perfect Picnic. This is your last stop in the queue before entering the ride load area. It is also important to note that the short and attraction features characters from the new Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse shorts instead of the more classic-looking friends many know.
The short begins with Mickey and Minnie singing the attraction’s theme song, Nothing Can Stop Us Now, and preparing for their perfect picnic at the park. On their way, they wave to Goofy, who is conducting a train for a ride around the park. Mickey and Minnie drive over a bumpy railroad track and launch Pluto, who got stuck in the trunk, and a pie into the air – only to have the confection land on Goofy’s train. The train explodes in the station, and the screen in the queue opens up in a cloud of smoke. Goofy asks your ride host to help you into the station so you can enjoy your ride around the park.
After entering the torn screen, you enter the Runamuck Park train loading station. At this point in the queue, it feels as if you are transported into a Mickey Mouse cartoon short. The wall paneling becomes more rustic-looking yet colorful, and lamp lights hang from the ceiling. There are a few more switchbacks before you read the ride, but at least you can see the vehicles! The ride vehicles are long in comparison to other rides at Walt Disney World. You can easily fit at least a family of four or six in one vehicle row.
With lap bars down, you are on your way to a pleasant and relaxing train ride around the park. Everything is bright, sunny, and oh-so vibrant. Train Conductor Goofy welcomes you onto the ride, and Mickey and Minnie, who are cruising in their little red car, stop by to say hello. Suddenly, the track switch falls over, and your train cars separate! Goofy is unaware, as his train follows the correct path while yours begins to veer away from the park! The darling and daring duo, Mickey and Minnie, must wrangle the train cars back together.
Your vehicle travels to the Old West, where Mickey and Minnie are on horses and try to lasso you – only to lasso themselves! There is nothing overtly frightening in this first room. It is very reminiscent of the Southwestern United States and features towering archways.
After their failed attempt to rescue you, you find yourself at a charming pier-inspired carnival. Mickey and Minnie bought all the balloons and attached them to a broken hot dog sign, letting you know they will be down shortly to help you to the park. Out of nowhere, a tornado starts to whisk the carnival away – taking Mickey and Minnie with it! This portion of the attraction has bright, flashing lights, some loud noises, and light wind. Your vehicle goes through a dark tunnel with flashing lighting and shows Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto screaming while stuck in a whirling twister.
You fling into a Polynesian-inspired island with palm trees and tiki totems. The projections turn red, and lava flows from the nearby volcano. Your vehicle turns, and you are heading downriver to a waterfall. Mickey and Minnie try to help stop your car, but it is too late. You plummet down a waterfall into the ocean depths. You flow through this area to a relaxing scene with fish and the Kraken gently playing some light jazz music before floating through a storm drain into a bustling city.
The city scene is, in my opinion, the noisiest of the entire ride. The whole city shakes as Pete uses a jackhammer, characters (mainly Donald) are screaming in frustration, and sirens fill any apparent quiet spaces. Your vehicle glides you into Daisy’s dance hall, and your car gently dances to a waltz before Daisy kicks it up a notch and asks you to conga line out the room. The dance hall projects bright flowers and flashing lights as you make your way into the factory.
The factory is the last scene in the ride before transitioning back to the loading dock. Mickey and Minnie are trying to flip the switch to stop the press ahead from crushing your car. As Mickey successfully saves you from your grim fate, the factory transforms into the park, where you catch up with Goofy (still unaware you were gone in the first place). Your party then enjoys a quaint duet from your rescuers, a reprise of Nothing Can Stop Us Now, before heading back to the loading dock.
- You Might Also Like: Is Tower of Terror Scary?
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Ride Speed
As mentioned, the ride itself is not very quick. The ride engineers have done a great job at the projections, making certain scenes feel like you are traveling faster than your actual vehicle. To me, the attraction speed feels similar to Toy Story Mania at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Remi’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT. You may experience some spins or quick turns, but it can be handled by almost any rider.
A great example is the waterfall scene, where your ride vehicle is almost stationary, but the water’s intense flow feels like you are in an out-of-control situation. The projection gives that cliff overlook-feeling, like a cartoon, before your car reaches the water’s surface. Another example is the beginning western scene, where the ride cars circle and make you feel like you are running away from Mickey and Minnie. On the whole, the ride speed is manageable for almost every guest.
- You Might Also Like: Is Splash Mountain Scary?
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Ride Drops
There are no physical drops in this attraction like other trackless rides, such as Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This ride focuses on projections along the walls, which creates the attraction’s depth. The only situation where it feels as if you are falling is going over the waterfall in the island scene. You feel as if you are dropping downward and careening into the watery depths, only to be surrounded by a wall of bubbles that make you feel light as if your vehicle is “floating.”
- You Might Also Like: Is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Ride Scary?
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Noise & Lights
This attraction has a fair amount of flashing lights and loud noises, which may be sensitive for certain guests. Personally, the noisiest scenes are the carnival and whirling tornado, the city’s downtown area, and the factory. Flashing lights and projections occur in the carnival scene, Daisy’s dance hall, the city, and the factory.
- You Might Also Like: Is Rise of the Resistance Scary?
Conclusion
So, is Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway scary? Frankly, it is not a scary ride, but it does have some surprising or loud moments that could be a lot for little ears. This attraction is for nearly anyone of any age and under any health limits. The ride is fun and whimsical, with a touch of chaos that is bound to be memorable for most guests.
I enjoy seeing all of the Disney pals in one space and hidden gems around the ride detailing. The layout allows you to have different experiences, no matter how many times you ride. Whether it is your first or hundredth time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway should be on nearly everyone’s list for a fun day in the park.
This article was written by Angela and edited by Michael.
If you enjoyed this article, please “like” our Countdown to Magic Facebook page!
You Might Also Like:
