Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland features a colorful backdrop that extends the world of the toons into colorful rollicking hills and if you look close enough you might find a few hidden nods to Disney’s past and even a Hidden Mickey.

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An unassuming barn in the backdrop of Mickey’s Toontown appears to be without distinction but it’s actually a reference to Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. The Carolwood Foundation’s mission is to preserve Walt Disney’s railroad legacy and it’s supported by the Walt Disney Family Foundation. Walt’s Barn is filled with trains of all scales and also some of Walt’s personal items and tools including work benches he built himself. Check out a photo of the beautiful barn below and learn more about it at their non-profit website.

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A small windmill in the backdrop also seems unassuming at first but on closer inspection is a reference to the 1937 animated Silly Symphonies short “The Old Mill.” As with many projects leading up to 1937’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” this short proved to be a proving ground for the burgeoning animation division to stretch its wings and explore new techniques. The short is noted for being Disney’s first-ever use of the multiplane camera — an innovation which would be explored in Disney’s subsequent feature length films.

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If you  have an account, you can watch the short on Disney+.

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Of course, you know there had to be at least one hidden Mickey somewhere in this backdrop, right?

Explore Mickey’s Toontown

Check out all of our our in-depth guides of the newly refreshed Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland!

QUICK LINKS: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway  |  Goofy’s How-to-Play Yard  |  Donald’s Duck Pond |  Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster |  Mickey’s House |  Minnie’s House |  CenTOONial Park |  Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin |  Meet the Characters |  Café Daisy |  Good Boy! Grocers |  EngineEAR Souvenirs |  Real Life Sweets |  Hidden Toontown Secrets |  Silly Signs

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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

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