J. Thaddeus Toad

J. Thaddeus Toad, Esquire, better known as Mister Toad is a literary character from the Wind in the Willows, adapted in The Adventures of Ichabod and Mister Toad (1949). He is central character of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and is referenced in a multitude of attractions.

History[]

Background[]

Origins[]

J. Thaddeus Toad was born into the wealthy Toad family of Toad Hall, an estate along an English river. He was close friends with the likes of Rat, Moley and Angus MacBadger. Toad was prone to extreme manias which put his house in disorder, with MacBadger working to book-keep his wealth.

The Wind in the Willows[]

One of these manias lead to Toad purchasing a canary-yellow vardo drawn by a horse named Cyril Proudbottom, who would be a friend and companion of Toad. Rat and Moley were sent by MacBadger to talk Toad out of it, at which point Toad saw a motorcar for the first time and became obsessed. Rat and Moley locked Toad up in Toad Hall so he wouldn't purchase it, but Toad escaped to the local tavern.

Mr. Toad would also be tricked by criminal Weasels and their leader Mr. Winky into purchasing a motor-car which was actually stolen, in return for ownership of Toad Hall. Toad was framed for the crime and sent to prison where after many retrials, he was denied parole. One Christmas, Cyril left him a disguise to help him escape, and he found his way to Rat's home. Here, they all learned from MacBadger that Winky and his weasels were living in Toad Hall, with the deed which Toad had sold them.

Toad and his friends used a secret entrance to sneak into Toad Hall and retrieve the will. Because of this, Toad was deemed innocent and reclaimed ownership of Toad Hall. While his friends believed Toad to have move past his manias, Toad then purchased an airplane which he rode with Cyril.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride[]

After being deemed innocent, one of Toad's manias lead to him opening up a restaurant in Toad Hall. Around this time, Angus was offered the opportunity to work for the Queen of England, only to return to serving Toad for which the Queen awarded him a medal of bravery.

One of Toad's manias involved purchasing a motorcar which he drove through Toad Hall, dismaying his friends and passing some of the weasels dangling from chandeliers, possibly attempting to rob the place. Toad then drove through the countryside causing chaos, was deemed a criminal, was run over by a train and went to Hell where he was tormented by Devils before driving out. Toad would also run the business J. Thaddeus Toad Motors, Ltd. along with Angus which sold motorcars.

Later history[]

By the late 1930s, Toad wrote a book titled, "The Wildest Ride". Around the late 1950s-1960s, he would become a patron of, "Trader Sam's Grog Grotto", a bar run by, "Trader Sam" which was located in the Great Ceremonial House of a Polynesian village along the Seven Seas Lagoon.

At some point, Mr. Toad may have sold property (possibly Toad Hall) to Owl of the Hundred Acre Wood, which Owl kept a portrait of. At some point, Toad died and was buried in the pet cemetery outside of the Haunted Mansion.

Development history[]

Mr. Toad originates from Kenneth Grahame's 1908 children's book The Wind in the Willows, which was (somewhat loosely) adapted by Disney into the first segment of The Adventures of Ichabod and Mister Toad in 1949. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was an opening-day attraction for both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom, though outside of his likeness Toad did not appear as the ride was intended to be the guests representing Mr. Toad (a tactic similarly used in Snow White's Scary Adventures and Peter Pan's Flight). While other attractions since added scenes of their titular characters appearing, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride did not.

In 1997, it became known that Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was going to be shut for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh to take its place in 1999. This became a notable controversy in Disney Parks history due to it being the first instance of an opening-day attraction being shut down and replaced. Due to this, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride has had many tributes in Walt Disney World while Mr. Toad has become considered a significant Disney Parks character (despite originating from film).

Appearances[]

Mr. Toad used to be a live-performed character in the Disney Parks.

Fantasyland[]

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh[]

Inside of Owl's house, there is a portrait of Mr. Toad handing Owl a deed as a representation of the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh replacing Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Moley also appears in a portrait, tipping his hat to Winnie the Pooh.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride[]

Mr. Toad is central character and namesake of this attraction, where guests take on the role of Toad driving through England.

Storybook Land Canal Boats[]

Toad Hall appears nearby Moley's home in the Disneyland version of this ride.

Toad Hall Restaurant[]

This restaurant in Disneyland Paris is themed around Toad's estate of Toad Hall.

The Haunted Mansion[]

Mr. Toad's tomb is visible in the Pet Cemetery of the Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion, represented by a sculpture of Mr. Toad. A popular assertion (which is likely untrue) is that the grave has an epitaph which reads, "Here Lies Toad, it's sad but true. Not nearly as marketable as Winnie the Pooh", in reference to the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh replacing Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in the Magic Kingdom.

For the Haunted Mansion themed 40th anniversary event Room for 1 More at Disneyland, statues of Toad could be found in the grave's likeness with a, "Deed of Departure" which read, "I hereby announce my departure from regions beyond to take a journey across the pond, merrily going nowhere in particular. So as to not be forgotten I tribute myself to you dear friend, for this is not the end. Farewell until we meet again at a later date".

Mickey Avenue[]

The deed to Toad Hall hangs in the barbershop.^[1]

Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin[]

In the queue, there is a licence-plate from 1941 with the ID, "MR TOAD".^[2]

Skipper Canteen[]

In the library is a book titled The Wildest Ride by J.T. Toad.

Town Square Theater[]

There is a letter sent to Mickey Mouse from the "J. Thaddeus Toad Motors, Ltd.", "Quality Motors Are Our Mania", signed by Angus MacBadger. The letter mentions having sold Mickey a , "Nifty Nineties Edition Horseless Carriage" automobile.^[3]

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto[]

Suspended from the ceiling are car-keys labelled, "J. Thaddeus Toad, Esq.", implying Trader Sam had to take away Toad's car-keys due to his drinking and driving.

Trivia[]

Mr. Toad's family crest reads, "Toadi Acceleratio Semper Absurda" which is latin for, "A Speeding Toad is Always Absurd".^[4]
Mr. Toad and Moley's cameos in the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh are similar to the cameos of Gomer and Teddi Barra in the Disneyland version of the attraction.
Mr. Toad and Sparky are both Disney characters with tombstones in their Haunted Mansions' pet cemeteries.