J. Thaddeus Toad

**J. Thaddeus Toad, Esq.** or more simply **Mr. Toad** is a character from *The Wind in the Willows* and its 1949 Disney adaptation, *The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad*. With the now removed Florida version of *Mr. Toad's Wild Ride* becoming a symbol of Walt Disney World's past, Toad has occasionally been referenced in Easter Eggs within S.E.A.-adjacent attractions at the resort.

## History

### Background

J. Thaddeus Toad is an anthropomorphic toad who was born into a family of wealthy toads in Britain. At some point he would be left as the heir to the Toad estate and would inherit his family's fortune and grand home of Toad Hall along the riverbed.

Toad would use this wealth to indulge in every passing mania ranging from motorcars to planes to grand adventures and expensive hobbies. He had three close friends, Rattie who was a pompous river-rat, Mole the mole, and Angus MacBadger the badger who helped him put his affairs in order.

### Development History

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is an opening day attraction for the Fantasylands of Disneyland and Walt Disney World which was highly beloved. In Walt Disney World this attraction was removed in 1998 to make way for a new ride themed to Winnie the Pooh which caused much anger amongst Disney Park fans at the time.

## Appearances and allusions

### The Haunted Mansion

   In the Walt Disney World version of the Haunted Mansion, Mr. Toad's tomb can be found in the manor's Pet Cemetery. The tomb has commonly become affiliated with the epitaph "*Here Lies Toad, it's sad but true. Not nearly as marketable as Winnie the Pooh*" which is not visible on the tombstone itself.

At the Haunted Mansion's 40th anniversary event, statues of Toad could be obtained with messages reading, "*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".*

### Mister Toad's Wild Ride

Mr. Toad is the protagonist of this attraction with guests assuming the role of Mister Toad as they crash their motorcars throughout his English village. At the end of the attraction they try to escape the police but are run over by a train, ending up in Hell where they are ruled innocent and allowed to leave but not before being terrorized by demons and a giant dragon.

### The Skipper Canteen

A book written by one, **J.T. Toad** called, "The Wildest Ride" can be found in the library of the *Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen*.

### Trader Sam's Grog Grotto

Toad is identified as being a customer of Trader Sam's for his Polynesian Village bar. His car-keys are hung from the ceiling of the Grog Grotto, likely to prevent his already disastrous vehicle skills to be blended with potentially driving under the influence.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.extinctdisney.com/mr-toads-wild-ride/
2. ↑ https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/hauunted-mansion-40th-anniversary-293392648
3. ↑ https://jungleskipper.com/sea/attractions/skipper-canteen#&gid=1&pid=right-bookshelf-top-shelf-c23
4. ↑ http://www.dressingfordisney.com/2015/03/dressing-for-trader-sams-grog-grotto.html