If you are like me, this time of year is for all things spooky and fall feeling! The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Wind in the Willows or as we know them, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad are definitely top on that list! I have watched these two shorts ever since I was a little girl and I can’t believe they are 75 years old. Just another testament to how Disney films, whether short or long are timeless. I have always wondered why these two were packaged together so I did a little digging. I thought I would share a little Disney history with you all today as well as where you can still find these characters in the parks.
So Why Are They Together?
Well, it’s not really a very glamorous answer, actually it was a little disappointing. I think I was hoping for some great story of how Walt Disney saw them as connected but that just wasn’t the case. In the 1940’s Disney released a lot of “packaged films” or two films put together like Ichabod and Mr. Toad. BUT, all the others seem to fit with one another. Things like Melody Time, Fun and Fancy Free, Make Mine Music and The Three Caballeros. So why put these two together if they don’t actually go together? Mostly it was due to the fact that the bank had said no more money until these feature length films are completed and making money and they could only produce animated shorts otherwise. So a lot of things got cut short or packaged together.
Both of these films were intended to be feature length films when they first started. Through the money troubles, the animation strike and some of the animators working on them leaving they were met with lots of delays and shelved numerous times. Once they were picked back up, Walt said make them 25 minutes and let’s package them together with the name Two Fabulous Characters. It was set to release in 1949 and eventually renamed The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.
Why Do We Love These Films
I think that’s a loaded questions and depends on the person but these are well written and well developed characters that Disney adapted into these animated shorts. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was written by Washington Irving in 1820 and still has new adaptations being made today! Who couldn’t love Ichabod Crane and the story of the cute nerd getting scared? The Wind in the Willows was written by Kenneth Grahame in 1908 and has the best cast of animal characters. The story shows consequences for your actions (what other Disney ride do you end up in hell at the end?), great friendships and lost of other good lessons. Mr. Toad is definitely the guy you love and hate at the same time. I always said I want to grab him and shake him but I also want to hang out with him! Hahaha! I think we can all relate to these main characters in different ways and that’s why we love them.
So Where Are They Now
There are lots of places to see nods of to these two short films in the parks! Here in Walt Disney World you can get a snack at Sleepy HollowRefreshments in the Liberty Square part of Magic Kingdom. You can also see a silhouette of Ichabod Crane eating his dinner in the window of the Christmas shop, that’s new this year. When you are leaving the Haunted Mansion look to your left and you will see the pet cemetery, all the way at the top is Mr. Toad. R.I.P to the Mr Toads Wild Ride that used to be where Winnie the Pooh is now. Finally, during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party you will get to see the Headless Horseman ride before the Boo To You parade. This time of year Magic Kingdom has big photo ops of both short films also, they are so cool.
Over in DisneyLand you can still ride Mr Toads Wild Ride in Fantasyland which makes me so happy!! You can also see the Headless Horseman ride in Disney’s California Adventure during the Oogie Boogie Bash’s Frightfully Fun Parade. Internationally you will find the Toad Hall Restaurant in Disneyland Paris. Other than the parks, you will see these characters make appearances in other films like Mickey’s Christmas Carol and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Conclusion
I have grown up watching these two short films and now my kids are too. I have a feeling they will be around at least another 75 years! The Headless Horseman is such a halloween staple for me. And this past August when we went to Disneyland and I got to ride Mr Toads Wild Ride again, I almost cried! It was my dads favorite ride when we would vacation in Walt Disney World and I loved riding it with him. I am so glad it still exists somewhere. Right now there is all kinds of Ichabod and Mr Toad merchandise too. I had to get the ears nd t-shirt when they did the pre-release at D23. I had a little photo shoot with them in Magic Kingdom last week, it was so fun! Well this was another week of letting my Disney nerd out, y’all know I love my Disney history! I hope you all enjoyed reading and now you need to go watch The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad! Have a magical day!
