The Magic Kingdom is essentially Disneyland 2.0, as it contains many similar attractions and experiences to its Californian counterpart. However, there have certainly been more than a few changes over the years. As progress marches on, dark secrets are revealed as new experiences take over.
One of the most drastic changes in the park's history was Mr. Toad vacating the premises of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride to make room for Pooh and his friends in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. However, as Yesterworld shows below, it might not have been an easy transition.
Pooh takes over, Mr. Toad gets squashed
Veteran Park Hoppers out there already know that Mr. Toad and Pooh are two very different attractions in both layout and theming. Where one is a cute and cuddly romp through the Hundred Acre Wood, the other is a chaotic cartoon chase scene that literally took guests to Hell and back.
What some fans might not know is that the transition between the two Disney dark rides wasn't exactly a jolly ride in Mr. Toad's motorcar. In fact, many fans protested the ride's closure after Michael Eisner came into power. After Pooh stepped in, however, new lore was introduced.
During the Blustery Day sequence in Owl's house, eagle-eyed viewers will see a portrait of Mr. Toad handing the deed to Toad Hall over to him on his wall before the ride vehicle leaves, similar to the events in his original film. A symbolic passing of the torch, and a wink to the audience from the Imagineers.
However, this gesture of goodwill might also be a clever deception implemented by the Pooh crew. Toad might have abandoned his beloved motorcar, but that doesn't mean he left the park.
If guests venture over to The Haunted Mansion's pet cemetery, a statue of Mr. Toad can be found amongst the other dearly departed furry friends. A grim homage to the lost attraction, but it comes with some rather sinister implications.
Although Pooh really wouldn't be capable of murder until Blood and Honey happened, this writer can't help but wonder if some shady dealings went down before he and his friends took over. Perhaps Owl managed to persuade Mr. Winky and his gang of weasels to come back and finish the job.
Of course, Disney would never imply something so fiendish (at least not intentionally), but fans do love their lore and absurd theories. It certainly lends a different flavor to the overly sticky-sweet tales of Winnie the Pooh.
The original Mr. Toad's Wild Ride can still be enjoyed at Disneyland.