For Mickey’s 60th birthday, the Magic Kingdom decided to celebrate in a very special way. Unused land to the East of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea began being cleared to make way for what was supposed to be a temporary land. In June of 1988, Mickey’s Birthdayland officially opened to guests.
Upon entering the Magic Kingdom, guests would hear announcements from Minnie Mouse regarding a special surprise party she was having for Mickey. A new train stop was added, and guests made their way into a toon land, similar to Toontown in Disneyland, but themed around the town of Duckburg.
After touring Duckburg, guests would move on to a large circus-style tent that was to act as the location for Mickey’s Surprise party. Once inside, guests were treated to a show that featured Minnie and the Gang surprising The Big Cheese with a 60th birthday party.
Mickey’s Birthdayland was home to Grandma Duck’s farm and a famous cow, Minnie Moo, who’s left side featured a large “Hidden Mickey.” Unfortunately, after moving to Fort Wilderness, Minnie died in mid-2001.
Birthdayland was so popular that Disney decided to make it a permanent land at the Magic Kingdom; the first new land since the park had opened. In April of 1990, it closed for a brief refurbishment, opening a month later as Mickey’s Starland.
Starland featured characters from the current lineup of Disney afternoon cartoons and, of course, a handful of classic characters. A new show was created for the land called “Mickey’s Magical TV World.” As the lineup of Disney afternoon cartoons changed, the show was modified to mirror them.
For a brief period during December of 1995, Mickey’s Starland became “Mickey’s Toyland.” It then closed, in early 1996, to be refurbished into an officially permanent land called Mickey’s Toontown Fair!
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