RIP Toontown

Mickey's Toontown Fair will officially close at the end of today.  It originally opened on June 18, 1988 as Mickey's Birthdayland to celebrate Mickey's 60th birthday.  It was then renamed Mickey's Starland on May 26, 1990 and finally Mickey's Toontown Fair on October 1, 1996.

Toontown is closing as part of the Walt Disney World Fantasyland Expansion.  The biggest attractions in Toontown are Goofy's Barnstormer, Mickey and Minnie's houses, and the character meet and greets.  The Barnstormer will be re-themed as The Great Goofini, while the rest of Toontown will be a part of Disney history.  You will find Tinker Bell in Hollywood Studios and her fairy friends in Epcot.  Mickey, Minnie, and the Princesses can be found in Tomorrowland until they make their move to the Town Square Exposition Hall in the spring of 2011.

I have to admit that I'm a little sad to see this piece of Disney World go.  I loved visiting Mickey and Minnie's houses and looking at all tiny details that make them so magical.  Although Toontown was fun to look at, our main reason for visiting was always the meet and greets.  I feel certain that the space is being put to better use.  I'm looking forward to seeing the progress as the first phase of the Fantasyland Expansion opens late 2012 and most new attractions by 2013.