At a Glance
Duration: 6 minutes, 10 seconds
Look Out For: motion sickness, some sensory overload, and a simulated drop
Opening on March 4, 2020, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a whimsical trackless ride through quirky animation aboard a runaway train. But how scary is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway? Let’s take a look at the ratings:
1. Ride Length
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway has a ride duration of approximately 6 minutes and 10 seconds. This does not include the pre-show, which some might consider part of the ride as well.
2. Height Requirement and Warnings
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway has no height requirement or warnings, making it a great choice for even the most sensitive of riders.
3. Ride Vehicles and Restraints
The Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway ride vehicles consist of individual cars seating approximately 6 passengers in 2 rows of 3. There is no lap bar but each row has a small rail in front of the seats that guests can hold onto if so desired. As the ride begins, the cars are lined up together – like a train – only to break apart when things go haywire. Most of the ride consists of your individual car traveling through the show scenes – not the entire train moving together.
4. How Does Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Work?
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway works by using wireless navigation and frequencies to glide smoothly over the floor on a predetermined route. It’s one of 3 “trackless” rides in the parks – the other 2 being Rise of the Resistance and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. In addition, the cars tilt and spin to give you the illusion of bouncing through a whimsical animated short. While the floor-to-ceiling screens provide much of the ride’s setting, there are some cool practical effects and show scenes along the way as well.
5. Is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Scary?
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is not intentionally scary at all. Though there are some quick scenes of mild peril (namely a waterfall scene and a tornado), some flashing lights, loud music, and some brief smoke effects in the pre-show, everything is presented in a light and playful tone. Those especially prone to sensory sensitivity may find some of the show scenes chaotic, but many will just find them genuinely fun and lighthearted.
6. How High is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway?
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway does not technically involve heights. While some of the show scenes simulate wild and precarious situations, the theming is so cartoonish that it never feels like you’re actually elevated in any way. As an indoor dark ride, your car remains on the ground at all times.
7. How Fast is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway?
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway does not go fast. While there are a few moments that simulate more speed, most of the action takes place on screen. While the cars don’t actually accelerate very much, they do tilt, “bounce,” and spin – creating an immersive experience for everyone.
8. Does Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Have Drops?
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway does not technically have drops. However, there is one scene involving your cars plummeting down a waterfall – but it is entirely simulated with a large screen and a slight tilt of your ride vehicle. It’s incredibly similar to the glass roof scene in Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, though this attraction is decidedly less intense and more playful.
9. Does Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Cause Motion Sickness?
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway may cause motion sickness for some riders. As a largely 4D experience involving screens and rushing visuals, this attraction has a high potential of causing nausea with its spinning, tilting, and chaotic movements alongside a massive screen. However, it uses more practical effects than Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, making it a bit milder in this regard.
10. Is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Claustrophobic?
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway should not be claustrophobic for most riders. Despite its longer ride duration – the quick pacing and lack of any restraints might make this attraction a good fit for the claustrophobic among us.
11. Are There Animatronics on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway?
There are a few animatronics on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. However, they are extremely cartoonish and fluid – making them actually hard to distinguish from the characters on screens. In addition, they are all friendly and beloved characters, making them especially inoffensive on this attraction.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Queue Walkthrough
The queue entrance is located outside of the Chinese Theater in Hollywood Studios. When the line is long, it will wind around outside the building for a significant amount of time before finally making your way inside. You’ll enter into the exquisitely-themed foyer before making your way through a few hallways. Before entering the pre-show room, you will be queued up as if before a theater or stage show and wait for the doors to open,
You’ll then be ushered inside and watch a cute (1 minute and 20 second long) clip of Mickey and Minnie preparing for their picnic. Things go a bit haywire as Goofy’s train crashes into a shed – involving some brief smoke effects and “breaking” open the screen to allow guests to walk through into the next part of the queue. You’ll walk down a couple more hallways before making your way onto the loading station.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Ride Walkthrough
As the train sets off, Goofy will welcome you aboard and ask if you’re ready for “a relaxing ride around the park.” Minnie and Mickey will drive up beside you and accidentally hit the “track switch” – sending the cars into a canyon scene – before promptly pursuing you on horseback. You’ll then glide into a carnival scene that is quickly blown away by a tornado. After passing our favorite couple wrapped up in the twister, you’ll suddenly find yourself in a rainforest, about to plummet down a huge waterfall.
As mentioned before, there’s no real drop in this ride and the 3 second fall into the water is completely simulated with large screen and a slight tilt of your ride vehicle. After splashing into the water, you’ll find yourself in an ocean scene before floating through the sewer and into a city scape. Here you’ll find Pete on a jackhammer, rattling you a bit as you go by.
Suddenly, you’ll find yourself in Daisy’s dance studio, waltzing with the other cars before spinning into a conga. From there, you’ll make your way into a factory where Mickey and Minnie struggle to get the train back on track. They do succeed, of course, and you’ll be whisked away into a beautiful nighttime scene at the park. You’re reunited with Goofy (who thought you were behind him the whole time) and Mickey and Minnie sing you out into the loading station.
That’s it! Remember, everyone’s riding experience is a little bit different and only you can decide whether to hop on that ride vehicle or not. I just hope this guide helps you be prepared and enjoy every second of your Disney experience!
So what do you think? How scary is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway? Leave a comment to help keep this guide up to date!
For a full visual of the ride and queue, be sure to check out this video from 4K WDW:
