Tootown is broken into three parts; Downtown, Toontown Square, and Mickey’s Neighborhood. The Downtown District features the land’s premier attraction Roger Rabbits Car Toon Spin and a host of interactive features that will delight people of all ages.


The first thing that you notice is how the architecture doesn’t seem to contain any straight edges. This is because the architecture does not have any straight edges by design. When the Imagineers did research to understand the world that Toons lived in, they noticed that the architecture had a familiarity to it but did not mimic real physics. To reproduce this effect in three-dimensions, they borrowed an animation trick called Squash and Stretch.




The idea behind Squash and Stretch is the effect keeps the volume of a structure constant while it is "squashed and stretched" in seemingly unnatural ways. Or as former Disney animator Preston Blair explains, "When a sandbag moves through the air, it will "stretch" in the direction of the movement. Then when its progress is arrested, it will "squash" out." Blair adds, "If it were alive (anything can happen in a cartoon!), it would also squash from anticipating the action in which it stretches. The proper use of Squash and Stretch will strengthen an action. It is essential in creating a feeling of weight in characters."


That is why the buildings have no straight lines. the super bright colors (when they are maintained) adds to the cartoon effect. As Don Carson said, "No one has ever built buildings that look fat and inflated with air with no right angles."

Everything comes alive in Toontown. Spend a little time looking at some of the boxes on the loading dock of the Warehouse. Go ahead and open the lids if you dare.

Each box is destined for one of the buildings nearby. Open up the box for spare train parts and you have the sound of locomotives. Clarabelle's Yogurt shop seems to moo. And be careful if you try to open the box for assorted springs. The boxes vary in heights and everybody in the family can get into the act.


















Sadly, one of the most common way for a Toon to die is to have a safe fall on their head. I guess this happens more often then one would think. As you tour Toontown, you will notice that you just missed getting smashed. It is this type of non-verbal sight gag that you will find throughout the area.



For those who have been to Club Cool at Epcot, you know how much it can be to have your unknowing buddies try Beverly for the first time. If this type of humor makes you laugh then Toontown has something you will want to try. Just ask your friend to go to the Toontown Power Company's front door and to take a peek inside. It will be a shocking experience that they will never forget.

Didn't get a chance to stop by the gym on the way to the park? You might want to try working out at Horace Horsecollar's gym. Be careful as things may be heavier than you first think.



















The old Jolly Trolley barn is still there. Once upon a time you could catch a ride from one end of Toontown to the other with this fun little train. It added a level of kinetic energy that is sadly missing today. There is still one trolley station at the old depot. The other one was sold off on eBay a few years ago. Just in case you get into trouble you can always call the cops. However, somebody is probably already talking on the phone.

Another really fun effect to see what happens when you push down the plunger. Most of the time it will come up gooseeggs. But every once in awhile you can really see the sparks fly.

There is so much more to do and see in Toontown's Downtown district. Of course, the biggest deal is Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin which will get the full treatment in another article. Take a few minutes to admire the Roger Rabbit fountain, push every button you see and turn every knob. This is not your passive land. It requires you to do something and in return you will get plenty of laughs.