We’ve already shown a bunch of the great merchandise available at Mickey’s Toontown but we wanted to take a moment to appreciate the fun details, homages, and Easter eggs that Disney Imagineers have packed into the EngineEAR Souvenirs shop. The location serves as the official exit gift shop for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and is also the land’s largest shop.
The new EngineEAR Souvenirs shop has plenty to pique your interest. From brand-new highly-coveted toys including remote-controlled trains and roadsters from Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway to branded candies, trinkets, and apparel, you’ll find SOMETHING that will make your spending finger itchy.
But we’re taking a look at the shop itself and the insane amount of details that Disney has hidden for eagle-eyed Disney fans…
Walt Disney was an avid model train builder and famously had a scale model train running through his backyard and EngineEAR Souvenirs expands on this history and lore. Disneyland fans will recognize the unmistakable silhouette of the Disneyland Viewliner perched atop the sign, it was a short lived attraction in the early days of Disneyland.
The store is themed after a hobbyist train model shop and features a working model train circling the store from up above while a playful train track is integrated as part of the flooring. The shop has a distinct streamline moderne style reminiscent of the 1930s when Mickey and his crew were first getting their start.
The store’s shelves and displays are packed with tons of Easter Eggs and homages to Disney’s past if you stop just long enough to take it all in. And we did…
Animated Short References
We start off at the very beginning with the to “Steamboat Willie,” Mickey and Minnie’s first official cartoon which debuted in 1928!
Another reference to a Mickey short is can be found with these props as seen in “Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip.”
The model train carrying a tree here is an homage to the classic “Out of Scale” which itself was a contemporaneous tribute to Walt himself and his love of model trains.
Vintage Ephemera
Likely facsimile reproductions, the shop is also full of designs for actual vintage pieces of Disney history including “Walt Disney’s Original Chip ‘n’ Dale Chipmunk Fun” by Disneyland Records, Walt Disney Comics featuring Donald Duck, and other characters, the Golden Book “Donald Duck’s Toy Train,” and even a copy of the Dell Giant “Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse in Fantasyland.”
Doodlebug Model Trains
The toony Doodlebug Model Trains company is prominently on display in the shop with the model train circling around displays, props, and boxes for the company and its accessories.
Various accessories can be found including Assorted Funny Farm Animals, Rather Typical Flat Cars, Assorted Clowns, and more. They’re all “packed by” Disney Imagineers.
Model Train Accessories
Playset pieces for your Doodlebug Model Trains can also be found scattered around the park. They are flat painted pieces of wood meant to be used with your Doodlebug train to create your own miniature villages. The pieces are all references to Disney locations including the homes in Mickey’s Toontown plus other locations like Minnie’s Style Studio in Tokyo, Goofy’s Barnstormer in Orlando, and cartoon locations such as Mickey’s Racers garage, the new Mickey Mouse Fun House, and our personal favorite… the House of Mouse!
Signs of Humor
Signs throughout the shop are chockful of references including this funny Train Talkin’ glossary with Ludwig Von Drake and Herman the Bootle Beetle.
This Toontown Railway sign gives status updates on trains heading to Duckburg, Spoonerville, Mouseton, Camp Woodchuck, and Hot Dog Hills.
So that’s just a taste of the references pakced into this shop. What did we miss? What’s your favorite? let us know in the comments!
More in Store
From brand-new highly-coveted toys including remote-controlled trains and roadsters from Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway to branded candies, trinkets, and apparel, you’ll find SOMETHING that will make your spending finger itchy.
MORE INFO: MERCH RUN: Mickey’s Toontown reopens with myriad of fun souvenirs, toys, apparel
See it for Yourself
Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland has been fully refreshed and is now open!
MORE INFO: Check out more news and info about Mickey’s Toontown
