Mr. Toad's Wild Scavenger Hunt
Toady’s wild ride may have ended, but eagle-eyed fans can find at least a few hidden nods to the beloved bygone attraction and the world’s most whimsical amphibian (yes, I know, Kermit’s over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but he’s really more given to awkwardness than whimsy). You may know where to find these Easter eggs, but do you know why they fit perfectly with the ride’s origin story?
Take, for example, the headstone for J. Thaddeus, found at the pet cemetery at the exit to Haunted Mansion. Given Mr. Toad’s impulse control issues, combined with his spotty driving record, that final scene in the ride — the alternate ride ending in which Toad (and the riders!) died — could have landed Toady here. Take this as a warning that we should all buckle up (there’s no safety bar in real life) and obey local traffic laws.
And as for the deed you see Mr. Toad handing Owl in the Winnie the Pooh ride? In the story, Toady gets 20 years in the slammer. Shortly after that sentence gets handed down, some of the animals in the Wild Wood take over his house, chasing out Rat and Moley — who had taken up residence to protect Toad Hall from this exact sort of takeover. In the end, the squatters get chased out themselves when Mr. Toad escapes from prison, but the thought remains: Mr. Toad would have lost his home had he stayed in prison. Better left safe with Owl than taken over by squatters!