All I Got Was This Lousy Potato
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (125437)
Gainesville, Florida
July 10, 2025 12:04pm CST
Most of you know that I am a die-hard Disney fan. But as much of a fan that I am, there is still new things I learn and discover every time I visit the Disney theme parks.
Over the past several years, I've been hearing more and more about this place called Potatoland, but didn't really understand what it had to do with Disney. But it seems to be gaining cult status among Disney die-hards. Well, I finally figured out what it was all about, having accidentally discovered a small room adjacent to a theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios (see photo).
The story of Potatoland goes back about 10 years or so. It was a Mickey Mouse short cartoon, in which Mickey takes Minnie and Goofy on a roadtrip to visit a theme park, only to discover that Potatoland was nothing more than a sign on the side of the road welcoming visitors to Idaho. Not wanting to disappoint his friends, Mickey sets out to build an actual theme park out of potatoes. You can only imagine how all that turned out.
Although the cartoon was only a filler in between Disney tv shows, it seemed to have struck a chord and resonated with Disney fans, so much so that Disney has referenced it several times in other Mickey cartoons.
I've now discovered and visited Potatoland (well, I watched the cartoon)! And for all my efforts, all I got was this lousy potato!
...and a t-shirt that I found online and ordered.
Now I can boldly walk around Disney World in my Potatoland t-shirt and have the satisfaction of knowing that I'm now a Potatoland insider.
Aren't you jealous? LOL
Have you ever traveled somewhere, only to be greatly disappointed in what you found once you arrived at your destination? Poor Mickey Mouse tried to make the best of a bad situation.
22 people like this
20 responses
@much2say (57783)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Jul
What in the world - I've never heard of this Potatoland 
! That's quite a discovery - I would have thought you of all people would have already explored every inch of Disney World 
. I was thinking there'd be at least a potato restaurant or a potato ride 
. We've been to restaurants where the food was not as delicious as the hype made it out to be 
.
! That's quite a discovery - I would have thought you of all people would have already explored every inch of Disney World . I was thinking there'd be at least a potato restaurant or a potato ride . We've been to restaurants where the food was not as delicious as the hype made it out to be .3 people like this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
I’ve visited Disney World all my life, and I still discover new things every time I go. I find it amazing that there is still things I haven’t seen or done at Disney. But it is a massively huge resort, bigger than the city of San Francisco!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jul
@Ineeddentures It is huge. It's not just one theme park, but a collection of theme parks, water parks, resorts and shopping districts. There are 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, 35 resorts, 1 shopping district, and numerous golf courses. And the crazy thing is, they've only developed 25% of the land they own.
@Ineeddentures (13313)
•
21 Jul
@moffittjc
I had no idea that it was so big.
Wow
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
What type of attractions did it have?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Jul
@JudyEv Wow, that is awesome! And a great photo too. I would drive a great distance to see that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (362081)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jul
@moffittjc It has a rock that has been eroded into a wave formation and that's about it. It's a long drive to get there and not really all that big. Here's a photo. It looks quite decent here I guess.
2 people like this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (15760)
• Torrington, Connecticut
11 Jul
That's awesome, my wife is a die hard Disney fan as well, she drags me into the tiki room every time we go
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jul
How often do you go to Disney World?
I like the Tiki Room, but it's been quite a while since I went in there. Most of the time, it's to cool off from the heat. lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jul
@BACONSTRIPSXXX Disney's prices are out of control. If I wasn't a 25+ year pass holder, I probably wouldn't pay the prices they charge now to get into the theme parks.
1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (15760)
• Torrington, Connecticut
18 Jul
@moffittjc I use to go once a year before covid now its too expensive, il visit if I'm in Florida visiting my mom etc.
1 person likes this
@porwest (106678)
• United States
11 Jul
I am usually "well-planned" whenever I intend to go somewhere specific. Of course, we have the Internet these days to do a lot of research. I mean, can you actually go anywhere anymore without there being information somewhere about it? I guess some people do still run out of gas regardless of the advanced technology that now tells you exactly how many miles you have to fumes.
I'd say you didn't get ANYTHING out of it. There's that rather large potato of course that would have become a baked delight. Then there's this fantastic picture ripe for a poster. You should try to sell it to Disney. And of course there's this post.
I think you hardly walked away empty handed.
Well, let me rephrase that. It WAS Disney. If there was any money in your hands that's long gone. But that's for another day, of course.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jul
I made my kids pay for everything that weekend. So, I got a free ride for once.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Jul
@porwest They both make good money now, so I figure it's time for them to start taking care of me, since I took care of them all their lives. lol
1 person likes this
@porwest (106678)
• United States
18 Jul
@moffittjc Oh. Nice. And good idea. lol
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (47840)
•
11 Jul
We know how you love Disney World...I am glad you got your Potatoland shirt to show off when you go there! And yes, sometimes a person possibly expects too much when they go to a new place, or we have built it up in our minds as how great it was going to be. Then when we do get there, we are wildly disappointed and wonder just what all they hype was about. But...there are places you go to in life that you had no expectations of at all. Not any! And you discover you loved it, you will come back whenever you can, and you wonder just why you never went there before?
I think it works both ways. You are adventurous, and I am sure you will find many more destinations in your life that you love and go back again and again--but with your love of Disney World, I bet you never find a destination you like as much. You do love your Disney! 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
I’ve been all over the world, and there have been some incredible and amazing places I’ve visited, and also some not-so-great places. But Disney is different. It’s my second “home.” I’ve practically raised my kids there, and their love of Disney is probably even stronger than my love of it. We’ve had some incredible bonding experiences there, and many, many wonderful memories.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Jul
@MarieCoyle I've always told the kids that experiences and memories are far more valuable than physical wealth, and they both agree. Granted, I will leave them an inheritance of some wealth, but more importantly I will leave them with tons and tons of memories.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (47840)
•
12 Jul
@moffittjc
Making the special memories is what it's all about. I certainly treasure some of mine, and hope to continue to make more with them. The kids still talk about places I took them and adventures we had together when they were little, I'm so glad they have those memories to cherish.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (13313)
•
10 Jul
Have you ever traveled somewhere, only to be greatly disappointed in what you found once you arrived at your destination?
Yes indeed I have
Indiana.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
Why in the world would you ever go to Indiana? Haha
My biggest disappointment ever was when I went to Scotland.
Haha, just kidding!!!
Paris has probably been my biggest disappointment of all the places I’ve travelled to.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Jul
@Ineeddentures I dated a girl named Becca from Indiana. She was lots of fun! But she was living in Florida, not Indiana, when I dated her.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (13313)
•
11 Jul
@moffittjc
Indiana was a great fun
A girl called Becky.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (165572)
• United States
11 Jul
i have had bad hotel rooms or things that were less that I expected but mostly I do not go too many places. I am wondering how many people will see continue to wonder about Potatoland.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
It will be interesting to see to see how many people ask me about my Potatoland t-shirt when it gets delivered and I wear it to Disney. Believe it or not, people notice the shirts everyone is wearing at Disney and often comment on them if they are unique or unusual. My new mission in life is to promote Potatoland to the world! Lol
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
I just need for the t-shirt to hurry up and arrive!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jul
It's become an insider joke known to those die-hard Disney fanatics. I now feel like I've joined an exclusive club! haha
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (88501)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Jul
Glad you got your T-shirt. Cannot remember a place disappointing me oh, yes wait I can, Way back when in NYC the club Copacabana opened up and I like the Manilow song so I had to go to the club, Big disappointment for me not what I expected and too crowded to even dance,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (88501)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Jul
@moffittjc most of those clubs were just for making money, But the biggest disappointment of all was a club I kept hearing about called Crisco like in the Crisco lard for cooking food. My friend and I went there one night and I was rendered speechless, There was a small dance floor and right next to it a large can of Crisco 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jul
@RasmaSandra Was there actually lard inside that can of Crisco? Maybe they wanted you to grease yourself up and grind against all the people on the dance floor! LOL
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
I haven’t received the shirt yet, I just ordered it a few days ago.
And it’s so cool that you got to go to Copacabana, even if it was a big disappointment.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (20970)
• United States
22 Jul
I never heard of that. I may have to tell this to Chris if we ever get to go back to Disney.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jul
It's at Hollywood Studios, if you ever go back to Disney.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (4713)
• United Kingdom
11 Jul
My Grandkids went to Disney last year ….not my thing. I have never heard of Potatoland.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jul
Did they have a great time? What time of year did they go?
I was at Disney last weekend, and I swear 90% of the people at the theme park were from the UK! Did the entire country go on holiday to Disney at the same time?
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Jul
@Traceyjayne If they went mid February then they probably had a great time. The weather is cold (by Florida standards, although it probably felt great for them), and February is probably the one month of the year when Disney World is the least crowded.
@Traceyjayne (4713)
• United Kingdom
17 Jul
@moffittjc they went mid February ….1/2 term holiday from school.
They seemed to have a good time through the videos but they didn’t have a lot to say about it when they got back.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
Crowds aside, I bet you would have a great time. Forget the rides, we’ll just eat and drink our way around the parks.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jul
@NJChicaa I promise you we will have the time of our lives!
@NJChicaa (124472)
• United States
11 Jul
@moffittjc You are probably the only person that could convince me to do that
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (199382)
• United States
11 Jul
Yes, I'm jealous. I love potatoes. Is that you? It doesn't look like you. Yes, when in Vegas I told my husband that I wanted to visit the potato chip factory. It was in all the travel brochures....except that it was no more. My hubby was ticked that I made him drive all over!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Jul
@LindaOHio There is one in the city of Ocala, about 30 minutes south of where I live. I can't remember what brand it is, but I remember seeing a story on the news about the place.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jul
Yes, that's me in the photo, unfortunately. lol
I would also want to visit a potato chip factory if there was one nearby that allowed tours.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (199382)
• United States
18 Jul
@moffittjc Just make sure it's still in operation. lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
I’m just glad I finally figured out what everyone was talking about! Lol
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (195249)
• United States
10 Jul
Bermuda...not for me..Humid, cold water, and overly expensive. I didn't know potatoes came that big!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
My best friend is from Bermuda, and he has been trying for decades to get me to visit the island (he lives in the US now). But for some reason I’ve never had any desire to visit there.
@LeaPea2417 (38311)
• Toccoa, Georgia
10 Jul
This is the first time I have heard of Potatoland. There was a time my husband and I stayed in a hotel where we thought it had a hot tub with the pool when it only had a pool. That disappointed us a little bit. Also, we stayed in a beach condo once where there was construction right nearby and we could hear it which took away from having an excellent time even though I look back on it and we still had some fun on that trip.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
I always feel bad for people who plan those “once in a lifetime” trips to a beach somewhere, only to find their trip ruined because it rained the entire time. That has happened to me a few times, although I’m the type of guy who will make a trip fun no matter what the circumstances are.
And yes, that was one big potato!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
Now you know! Lol I have now officially been inducted into the Potatoland fan club! Next up: a Griswold-style family vacation to Potatoland!
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
It was a rather nice size potato! I would have loved to have brought that home to make a loaded baked potato!
1 person likes this
@Melanie_Marie (2274)
• St. Clair, Michigan
10 Jul
Yes I am jealous and I’m thinking maybe for Halloween let’s make huge potato hats. Forget the costumes.
Potato hats 
I’m in the midst of working and saving and finding a suitable place to call home but I’ll be back soon, esp before Halloween and then don’t forget we have the NYE hat competition template to work off of after that.
See you soon and you look great!1 person likes this
@moffittjc (125437)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
Don’t disappear Melanie! It’s much more fun when you’re here!
And I love the idea of potato hats! lol
Thanks for the compliment on my looks. I’ve packed on a few pounds this year, although I probably sweated out half of my weight in the heat and humidity this summer. My doctor says I am in great shape for a man of 96!
