Mickey's ToonTown Fair got its start as Mickey's Birthday Land, a temporary promotion in honor of Mickey's 60th Birthday in 1988 that gave him a place to greet his fans. Unlike the other lands in the Magic Kingdom, all of which have been there since it first opened and look like they existed years before that, Mickey's Birthday Land looked as pre-fab and temporary as it was.

The next year, however, instead of disappearing it became Mickey's Starland, housing a show promoting the "Disney Afternoon" television cartoon shows in addition to Mickey's House. The longer it's existence was extended, the more shopworn and, well, cheap, it began to look.

Finally it was rehabbed once again, becoming Mickey's ToonTown Fair. It still looks a bit temporary (those fairground "tent" buildings), and although it's now a little better, it still lacks the detailed theming and many of those wonderful little touches found in the other lands.

Mickey's ToonTown Fair is the smallest of the Magic Kingdom's lands, carved out of part of Tomorrowland's Speedway, and, if you don't count the railroad stop, it has only one ride. It's primarily a character greeting area and children's playground, with little in the way of shopping or food service. (Makes you wonder if Tom Sawyer's Island, part of Frontierland, gets jealous of Mickey's Toontown Fair's "land" status.)

Mickey's Country House
Serving mainly as a queue area for meeting Mickey, this walk-through attraction is a cute and clever look into the lifestyle of our favorite mouse. Note the collection of white gloves (all the same) in the bedroom, the books in the living room (classics like Wuthering Mice) and the complete mess in the kitchen left by remodelers Donald and Goofy. More than the corn has ears in the garden out back, while "craftsmouse" tools and an "autobiography" populate the garage.

The Judge's Tent
Behind Mickey's house, this is where you actually meet and greet the ToonTown Fair's chief judge -- Mickey himself. A video preshow acquaints visitors with Mickey's previous fairground exploits during the usually long wait.

Minnie's Country House
another cute walk-through, also serves as a meeting area for Minnie who often greets visitors in the gazebo behind the house. Try and snatch a cookie from the kitchen, but, be warned -- Minnie protects her sweets with mirrors.

The ToonTown Hall of Fame Tent
Like Mickey and Minnie's houses, this another admirable attempt to satisfy the public's want to meet the various Disney characters without the crush of crowds around them that can develop when they make appearances on the streets. If your child (or you) wants to meet a particular character or get an autograph, these set meetings are usually a good way to do it (although a character meal remains the optimal way).

Entering the Hall of Fame you find yourself in another character merchandise shop masquerading as fair exhibits, with the requisite huge pile of plush toys in the center. To the right of the doors are three lines that lead to the meeting rooms -- check the sign over the line to see what sort of character you'll be waiting to meet. Choices have included "Mickey's Friends" (Donald, Goofy, etc.), "Princesses," "Villains," "The 100 Acre Wood" (Winnie the Pooh characters), and "Fairy Tale Friends" -- categories are subject to change and, within categories, so are the individual characters on duty during any given day.

From the long, long lines small groups of visitors are ushered into the actual meeting rooms to meet, photograph, and get autographs from about four or five different characters. It's not exactly an unhurried one-on-one, and it usually involves a line for each character, but it is often the only way to meet some of them. Autograph hunters will need to bring their own autograph books and pens. (Similar greeting areas at the other parks, while often crowded, are usually not as insanely crowded as here).

The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm
This simple, family roller coaster is themed as a cropduster, flying over Goofy's Wiseacre farm and even through the barn (although, as the smashed wall shows, we are simply re-tracing the Goof's footsteps). The ride is incredibly short and just barely themed, making it a missable attraction if the line is too long. If you do ride it's a fun little roller coaster, but nothing special. It's big enough for an adult to ride with a child, but not so intimidating as to be really scary -- like most Disney roller coasters, the emphasis is on banked turns rather than drops.

Toon Park
Another play area, this one with a few foam sculptures for kids to climb on.

Donald's Boat
The Miss Daisy is the place for wet fun on a hot day. Stop by this interactive play area that can't decide whether it wants to be a leaky boat or a fountain. I guess a duck would want it that way.

The Walt Disney World Railroad
The Toontown Fair Station provides an easy entrance and exit to the land by train.

Toontown Farmers Market is a snack stand with lemonade and strawberry shortcake (in season). There are no real restaurants in Mickey's Toontown Fair.

County Bounty specializes in, of course, character merchandise and plush toys. They also do a brisk business in autograph books for character meeting bound fans (you'll need a pen, too -- get a thick one. Small pens are hard to hold when you only have three fingers, and those are in gloves.)

Where To?

Mickey's Toontown Fair is between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.