As a toddler mom, I am constantly roped into watching TV shows I’d never personally choose. And, since I limit my son’s options to a few selections on Disney+ and PBS, I naturally wind up watching a slightly concerning amount of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. So, when the brand-new version – Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ – launched in 2025 on Disney+, I was thrilled we’d have something new to tune into.

For parents whose kids love the original Mickey Mouse Clubhouse from 2006, the latest iteration is a return to form for young Mickey enthusiasts. But while it’s similar and slightly nostalgic, it’s also quite different…and somehow even less logical than its predecessor. 

And after watching all 20 available episodes on repeat for the last few months, I’ve got a lot of questions (and you probably do, too).

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse vs. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+: What’s Different?

At first glance, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ looks nearly identical to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. But quite a lot has changed in the 20-ish years since we last said “Meeska, Mooska, Mickey Mouse!” and sang the Hot Dog Song. (Don’t worry, parents: the music is still done by They Might Be Giants, so the new show is equally full of catchy tunes.)

Many scenes and components of the show have stayed the same, like the opening and closing sequences, the call for “Oh Toodles!”, and the use of Mouseketools. There’s always a problem in need of solving and a song to suit the situation. But now, instead of a Mystery Mouseketool we have a Mystery Mousekepal who comes in to help. And the clubhouse itself is different; there’s a second floor and a Wacky Tube (which obviously has its own song).

Most importantly, though, if you loved letting your kids watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse because it was a good in-between option of slow TV and faster-paced, problem-solving TV, you’ll want to know that Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ does have a faster pace than the original. It isn’t Cocomelon by any means, but there’s more activity, scene cuts and jumps are quicker, and there’s more action overall. There’s also a bit more chaos overall in each episode.

I Have So Many Questions and So Few (Logical) Answers

Like the original, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ plays its stories out for children, not adults. But in this wacky, zany, and boldly colorful world, there’s a lot that simply doesn’t make sense. And if you’re a parent who’s sitting through repeat after repeat of the mere 20 episodes that exist (so far), I’m willing to bet you’ve got questions, too.

Photo Courtesy of Disney

What Happened to Toodles?

Toodles is perhaps the most intriguing character in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse universe. In the original show, he was a silent but ever-present and always-ready helper. Halfway through the series, he gained a voice and became sentient (and became more annoying, in my opinion). 

But now, in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+, something has happened in Toodles’ years offscreen. He no longer speaks and he’s lost his personality. In fact, I’d argue he’s no longer sentient at all – he’s like the Handy Helpers who simply appear to perform a task, then disappear into the background.

Toodles was a central character in the clubhouse, so much so that he even had a bit of a romance in season 4. So, I can’t help but question what terrible fate befell him. He’s been replaced by a new face: Little Helper, a faceless little robot hand that squeaks, chirps, and rolls around helping much in the same way a toddler does (by making things slightly messier). Did Little Helper take Toodles’ job because he’s younger and cuter? Does Toodles resent Little Helper? Does he care that he’s been usurped by a new tool?

And most importantly: Now that Toodles isn’t sentient, what do Mickey and the gang think? I’m dying to know, because they act as though Toodles has always been like this. But he hasn’t, and I can’t forget it.

Why is the Mystery Mousekepal Always a Hippo?

I know, I know. I complained about the hippos previously. But now, I’m even more stumped. In three out of the first 10 episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+, the Mystery Mousekepal is no mystery: It’s always Hilda the Hippo.

Photo Courtesy of Disney

Hilda’s appearances do lessen in the show’s second season (or second batch of episodes, technically – there are no seasons in this clubhouse). But I can’t figure out why she’s so integral to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ universe. Is she a throwback to Fantasia and the dancing hippos? Is Mickey particularly fond of hippos as friends? Where does Hilda the Hippo even live?

And I’m not even going to get into how many jobs Hilda has. She’s a hippo who sure does it all, as an animal rescuer, a professional roller skater, and a lumberjack. 

Where Did Figaro Go?

One of the most notable changes to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ is the loss of some staple characters from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. In my house, we’re bemoaning the disappearance of Figaro the cat, Minnie’s beloved pet and the star of multiple episodes in the 2006 version.

But it’s not just Figaro who’s missing from the reboot. Mr. Pettibone, Goofy’s cat (and my son’s second-favorite character) has also disappeared. So too has Baby Red Bird, who was an occasional clubhouse visitor, along with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Butch (Pete’s dog), and Quoodles (the girl version of Toodles and his romantic interest). 

Frankly, I ask this question primarily because I’m tired of trying to invent excuses for my cat-loving son. But also, isn’t it odd that Minnie’s pet just disappeared? Why did Willie the Giant – a character I’d call somewhat problematic – stick around, but not Figaro? Why is Cuckoo-Loca, a fast-talking bird who apparently debuted in a Minnie Mouse cartoon, here, but Figaro isn’t? And while it makes sense that classic Disney characters like Clara Cluck and Horace Horsecollar are finally making a modern-day appearance here, in my household, we really just want to know where Figaro disappeared to.

Will Anyone Ever Explain the Mysterious Technology Running the Clubhouse?

When my son tunes in to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+, I forgo all of my questions and assume the two clubhouses aren’t operating in the same universe. But there’s one nagging detail I just can’t overlook: All of the wacky technology running Mickey’s clubhouse.

The silent but ever-present Handy Helpers were around in the show’s first iteration. And they’re still here in the new show. But the clubhouse has progressed. Now, there are tubes that shoot characters upstairs (and before you ask, no, it doesn’t work to get downstairs!). Speaking of upstairs, a second floor appeared on the clubhouse, but other key facets have suddenly ceased to exist. 

Little Helper seems to be tapped into the clubhouse tech, as he’s something of a portable Handy Helper who has no real idea what he’s doing. And there are two new clubhouses in the neighborhood that appear seemingly out of nowhere: Minnie’s Clubhouse and Martian Mickey’s Clubhouse (yeah, the aliens are back, too). Where did they come from? And why is no one concerned about all the aliens in the neighborhood?

And every time Mickey and friends fire up the now-kind-of-useless Toodles for a Mouseketool or chase chickens out in Clarabelle’s backyard, I can’t help but wonder: Is Mickey really in charge of all of this technology? Or is the clubhouse itself in charge? Mickey always seems surprised by what’s in store for each episode – but at least he’s always calm, cool, and collected.