Could Disneyland's Roger Rabbit ride be on the way out and a new replacement in the works? There's evidence it could happen!
It's no secret that Disney has a habit of remaking some older rides. It's the nature of the business as they want to keep things fresh and with very few exceptions, just about every ride in Disneyland has been altered from opening day.
One interesting case is Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. The dark ride has been the central attraction of the Toontown area since that expansion opened in 1993. Based on the 1988 hit Who Framed Roger Rabbit, it's a fun attraction, sending guests spinning through Roger and his friends tangling with enemies.
The ride has retained a following even if it's been shifted a few times over the years. Most recently, in 2021, Jessica Rabbit got a makeover that added a raincoat over her famed body for a detective character. It met with a mixed reaction, notably as Robert Zemeckis, the film's director, slammed the change and even claimed the movie couldn't be made today.
"They can't make a movie with Jessica in it. The sequel script isn't ever going to see the light of day, as good as it is. I mean look what they did to Jessica at the theme park. They trussed her up in a trench coach."
That only adds to the growing buzz about how the attraction could be dropped completely, and there's evidence it could be happening!
Why Roger Rabbit may be changed
A key reason why the attraction might be changed is the sad fact that Roger Rabbit never became the huge character Disney hoped for.
The 1988 movie was a hit, hailed for its fantastic special effects that mixed live actors with hand-drawn animation. Disney had plans for a sequel but various issues prevented it from happening. They also had an idea for a Roger Rabbit ride at the Disney-MGM Studios, but like many 1990s Disney attractions, it never got off the drawing board.
The movie still has a loyal following, but Disney seems to have forgotten about it. With a new generation of fans growing and Disney's reliance on fresher IP, it sounds more likely the ride could be changed. And in fact, Disney was going to do it.
How DuckTales nearly replaced Roger Rabbit
As revealed in a recent episode of the Unbuilt: An Unrealized Theme Park Podcast, in 2019, Disney was planning to replace Roger Rabbit Toontown Spin with an attraction based on the 2017 animated revival of DuckTales.
NEW EP!
— Unbuilt: An Unrealized Theme Park Podcast (@UnbuiltPod) August 30, 2024
We have an exclusive today, rewriting history with a never-before-seen look at a DuckTales themed attraction that was set to replace Roger Rabbit in Toontown! https://t.co/O2D05jrujz pic.twitter.com/yedpqMsXkN
The attraction would have changed the layout to GyroLabs with the idea of a time machine going awry and thrusting Donald and his nephews into various time periods. It would have kept much the same layout but brand new scenes of the characters.
It seems Disney was intent on this until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, when Disneyland closed for almost a solid year. Like so many pre-pandemic plans, the remake was pushed aside, with Disney just going for the smaller 2021 update.
This wasn't the only close call for Roger Rabbit, as former Imagineer Jim Shull revealed that back in the 1990s, Disney had planned a Winnie the Pooh ride for Toontown. CEO Michael Eisner then pushed for a Roger Rabbit ride with the Pooh ride still in development.
So Disney has long had the idea of changing this attraction for years. Another blow is the opening of Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway at Toontown, which takes away guests from Roger Rabbit. Thus, the ride may be on the chopping block and Disney could already have something lined up for it!
The perfect Roger Rabbit replacement
There are a few options Disney could use for a Roger Rabbit replacement. The parks did a survey on the possibility of using The Simpsons in the parks and they'd be a good fit for that area.
There's also the chance of Inside Out taking the spot as it would blend into Toontown and be fun to see the characters mixed in. However, there's one property truly perfect: Bluey.
The beloved cartoon has become one of the biggest international hits in the world. DIsney's ownership of it is added to it with Bluey and his friends beloved by kids. It's also a big merchandise mover for Disney, who are always fond of using IP in the parks.
A Bluey dark ride would be a great addition to Toontown. It wouldn't take too much to change the layout to Bluey and his pals exploring the area, toss in some new AA and animation, and keep it with the spinning motif. Toontown is always geared toward the younger set, so having Bluey there is the best spot for Disneyland.
This may be a bit early as Disney has so many plans for Disneyland in the next few years and hasn't announced another change yet. However, given they've been planning a Roger Rabbit replacement for a while, it seems they may be inclined to pull the trigger on it.
If they do, using Bluey at last with a good presence in the parks may be a good bet. As it is, fans should enjoy Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin as long as they can, as the hints are there it could be the next Disneyland ride to fade into history.