The attraction is a small-scale recreation of the Mickey Mouse universe where visitors can meet the characters and visit their homes which are constructed in a cartoonish style.

It was inspired by "Toontown" from the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit in which the cartoon characters live alongside humans.

Roger Rabbit was set to be the star of his own land, behind Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland, called Hollywoodland.

There were also set to be attractions based on Roger Rabbit, Judge Doom, and Baby Herman opening in a major expansion at the Disney's Hollywood Studios and Tokyo Disneyland, but after the financial troubles of the Euro Disney Resort, plans were cut back.

The planned attractions for Hollywood Studios were ultimately canceled, but Hollywoodland and Mickey's Birthdayland concepts (as well as some concepts found in Who Framed Roger Rabbit) were eventually combined to form Mickey's Toontown, which opened in Disneyland in 1993 and a different version at Tokyo Disneyland in 1996.

These Shorts were: Steamboat Willie, The Skeleton Dance, Springtime, Minnie's Yoo Hoo, Smile, Darn Ya, Smile!, 'Box Lunch' Minnie's song from Building a Building, Three Little Pigs, Puppy Love, The Pied Piper, The Grass Hopper and the Ants, Camping Out, Playful Pluto, Funny Little Bunnies, The Tortoise and the Hare, Who Killed Cock Robin?, Thru the Mirror, The Country Cousin, Pluto's Playmate, Donald and Goofy's respective Cartoon Themes from the mid 40's to mid 50's, Casey at the Bat and Little Toot (segments from Make Mine Music and Melody Time respectively; re-released as standalone shorts in 1954) and the Maroon Cartoon logo theme from Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

[3] The land was closed in early 1996 for an extensive refurbishment, and on October 1, 1996, it reopened as Mickey's Toontown Fair for the park's 25th anniversary.

[4][5] The second phase of Storybook Circus, including the second half of Dumbo, the indoor queue area, and the Casey Jr Splash 'n' Soak Station opened in June 2012.

There are several attractions involving classic cartoon characters, such as the houses of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and a small children's coaster.

[10][11] Disneyland Resort was temporarily closed from 2020 to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time construction commenced on Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway.

With the addition of Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, a new children's play area was added called CenTOONial Park and features a fountain.