Roastie Toasties: The Tiny Popcorn Workers of Disney Parks


Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and each is notated accordingly. If you click and make a purchase using these links, Where In The Park may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions are used to cover podcast operational costs. Thank you for your support!

If you’ve ever stopped for popcorn at Disneyland, or even just walked by a popcorn cart there, you’ve probably noticed the smell first, right? Then maybe the sound of kernels popping. And maybe—if you’ve slowed down just a little—you’ve noticed them.

Tiny figures inside the popcorn carts, near the register. The ones doing the hard work of turning the popcorn drum – day after day, hour after hour. These guys are known today as Roastie-Toasties, though their name has evolved over time.

The main inspiration for this episode was that January 19th is National Popcorn Day, and this episode (if you are listening when it first airs) is on January 16th. And like so many of our episode topics, we start with the question “what’s the story behind that?” 
So, today, we’re diving into where Roastie-Toasties come from, how far back their history goes, and where you can find them across Disney parks around the world.

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A Very Brief History of Popcorn

Popcorn feels like a modern snack, right? We see them all the time at the movies, theme parks, and sporting events. But popcorn itself is ancient.

Long before popcorn carts were invented, people were popping corn in what is now Central and South America. Archaeological evidence shows popcorn-style corn being consumed thousands of years ago. Corn kernels have been found in Peru dating back several millennia, and Indigenous cultures across the Americas were popping corn long before Europeans arrived.

So popcorn isn’t new.

What is new—relatively speaking—is popcorn as a public experience. 

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The Invention of Popcorn Carts & the "Tosty Rosty"

In the 1880s, an Ohio man named Charles Cretors moved to Chicago. He invented a revolutionary steam-powered peanut roaster that was reliable and consistent. Yes – I said ‘peanut roaster’ in a popcorn episode – but hear me out. Peanuts must be slowly roasted and constantly moving, or they will burn. So his machine involved a large rotating drum that was heated underneath for even heat distribution. To capture attention of those passing by, he added a steam-powered clown who stirred peanuts in a small glass tumbler. This clown was called the Tosty Rosty Man (no ‘a’ in either word). 

Side notes for those doing additional research here: in publications such as antique resale listings, blogs, or historical documentation, you’ll find Toasty Roasty (with a’s). This appears to be a phonetic modernization, not a formally documented name change. If I missed something on that, let me know on our Facebook Group – Where In The Park Explorers, or DM me @WhereInThe Park.

Anyway, Cretors would file a peddler’s license for his new machine in December 1885, and started selling peanuts in front of his shop. Thus started the beginning of C. Cretors & Company. With the help of traveling salesman J.M. Savage, word got around quickly.

The early 1890s saw a turning point in the growing demand for popcorn over peanuts, so Cretors added a built-in popcorn popper to one of his peanut roasting machines. Still using the same steam-powered mechanics, the kernels were automatically stirred in a kettle and mixed with seasonings and butter. He was granted a patent for his upgrade popper in 1893… now he just needed to get it in front of more people.

Luckily, the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago happened that same year, bringing millions from around the world to see the latest in American innovation.

By 1897, the design shifted to a more wagon-type look with wheels to easily move to more populated locations, like parks and fairs. As we know from the Carousel of Progress, at the turn of the 20th century, this new thing called electricity entered the market, and in 1907, Cretors filed and received the patent to convert the steam-powered equipment to run on electric motors. In 1909, they changed the game again by converting the wagon into a gas-powered engine called the Automobile Wagon. The menu was also expanded to include candy, soda, and of course the peanuts and popcorn – becoming the very first food truck. 1910 saw the first electric-powered Model 3 Peanut Roaster and Corn Popper, which is still in use today. 

1913 also saw the introduction of horse-drawn expanded wagons. 

Throughout the decades, in every single iteration of these roasters – including the ones in the Automobile Wagons, sits a version of the Tosty Rosty Man – dutifully turning the drum of peanuts. They were more than just decoration: on many early Cretors machines, the Tosty Rosty Man was positioned so it looked like they were physically turning the roasting drum or actively working the machine. Even though the motion was powered mechanically, the figure created the impression that a person was supervising the roast. That mattered—especially for peanuts—because customers couldn’t easily tell if they were done, undercooked, or burned. The Tosty Rosty Man helped build trust. It suggested care, attention, and craftsmanship, turning what could have felt like an industrial process into something personal and reassuring. It wasn’t just a machine that worked, it was a machine that performed. 

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Popcorn at Disneyland - From Day One

So, what does this have to do with Disney? Well, a number of things. First – Walt Disney was born in Chicago in 1901, the family moved to Marceline in 1906, then over time moved back to Chicago in 1917. A simple Google Maps search of Walt’s birthplace home (which is a historical landmark at 2156 N. Tripp Avenue) is actually only 8.8 miles away from the C. Creators & Company Headquarters on 620 W. Cermak Road, where they were for 76 years. So, while Cretors is no longer at that location, Walt Disney would have been right in the midst of Cretors’ machines as they spread across Chicago and beyond.  It would have been part of his childhood.

And the idea that these wagons brought to consumers– with its kinetics, visibility, and a human presence make food feel more trustworthy, rooted in 1900s America—is exactly why this detail carried forward into Disney parks since opening day in 1955, especially on Main Street, U.S.A. – a fantasized snapshot of a hometown in the early 1900s. 

Today, Tosty Rosty Men are more commonly referred to as “Roastie-Toasties”. While they aren’t actually powering the machines today, they’re doing the same job their predecessors did over a century ago. They turn the drum of popcorn. They humanize the machine. They add charm. And they quietly reinforce the feeling that even something as simple as popcorn is being made with intention.

As we know, Disney parks are all about storytelling, and these carts are no different! In fact, the carts are specifically themed to match the land they are in, complete with their corresponding Tosty Rosty Man, but we’ll go over who they are in a minute. 

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Popcorn Sponsorship at Disney Parks 

While the storytelling of the popcorn carts hasn’t changed, what has changed is the brand of popcorn used. 

Early Era (1955–1977)

In Disneyland’s early decades, from what we could gather, popcorn was sold without a heavily emphasized national brand presence in the park. The experience focused more on: the cart itself, the smell, and the show. 

By the 1970s, Disneyland’s Popcorn kettles were changed from the Cretors brand to Manley brand. Also, by about 1971, McGlashan Enterprises (a division of Buena Vista Distribution Co., Inc.) had designed and was manufacturing a line of custom-crafted popcorn wagons for Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Interesting side note, this is the same company that manufactured and designed air cannons, lead shot, and plastic ammunition in addition to shooting galleries and air rifles for Disneyland.

Orville Redenbacher (1977–2015)

Anyway, on February 12, 1977, Orville Redenbacher became the official sponsor of Disney popcorn at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. A ceremony was held on Main Street, at Disneyland, which included a parade led by the Disneyland Band and Disney characters. Orville and his wife Mina were also part of the parade, which went from Town Square to the hub. Orville gave a speech at the popcorn wagon at the hub, and named Mickey and Minnie as honorary “kernels”. He then passed out free samples of popcorn to those in attendance.

Cast Members working at the popcorn carts during this time wore special pins that read “Serving Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn”, and the cart featured bronze signage advertising the brand as well.


Pop Secret (2015–??)

Orville Redenbacher would be the official sponsor from 1977 – 2015, when Pop Secret became the new sponsor. On September 15th, 2015, Pop Secret was announced as the official sponsor of Fantasmic! At Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Many of the popcorn carts would also feature signage with the brand’s logo.

However, shortly after this partnership started, Pop Secret changed ownership from Diamond Foods, to Snyder’s-Lance in 2016, to Campbell Soup Company in 2018, and now Our Home in 2024. These changes impacted the long-term sponsorship with Disney, though we could not find official confirmation of when the partnership ended.


As of today, Disney no longer has an official freshly popped popcorn sponsor. 

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Roastie Toasties Around Disney Parks

But here’s the thing – even though the branding has changed, the Roastie Toasties have always been part of the story. The characters may have changed over the years, but they are very much still there! So let’s now go to each Disney park with a Roastie Toastie and see who we can find!


Disneyland

Let’s start at Disneyland. Just know that some of these do change seasonally, and again, we are recording in January, which is near the tail end of the holiday season. 
Anyway, when we went to the Disneyland Resort last week, we saw the following Roastie Toasties:

  • On Main Street, U.S.A., in the Town Square near City Hall, you’ll find a Dapper Dan with a mustache, wearing blue pinstriped pants and a red vest over a white shirt, and a straw hat with a matching blue sash. 
  • In the Hub by the Partners Statue on the other end of Main Street is a clown in a white outfit with red polka-dots, with red frill around the hands, feet, and neck, and a red and yellow hat. 

  • In Frontierland, across from the Golden Horseshoe is a frontiersman wearing tan felt-like pants and matching jacket, which has 4 buttons and is fitted snugly around his neck. He also has dark gloves and matching knee-high boots, and a large coonskin cap. Apparently, he’s quite cold.
  • In New Orleans Square, in front of the train station, is an Oogie Boogie Roastie Toastie. You can also find the Undertaker here, who is a gauntly-looking man in a black tuxedo and top hat.

  • In Toontown, you’ll find a train conductor at the cart between Chip & Dale’s Gadget Coaster and Mickey’s House. He’s wearing a blue conductor outfit with a yellow shirt and a red bow tie. He also has a blue conductor hat with a red sash and a gold plate.
  • Also in Toontown, head over to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. While in line, you’ll pass by a concession stand with treats with fun names and hidden Easter Eggs (which would be a whole episode itself). But on the back wall is a popcorn machine, with a special effect showing popcorn being freshly popped (be sure to take a close look at the popcorn to see some familiar shapes!). This popcorn machine also has a Roastie Toastie actively turning the drum – she is a mouse-like character, but not one that we recognize. She is dressed in the same outfit as the Cast Members in the first half of this line: red pants, light blue shirt with a yellow vest with black buttons, and a black bow tie. Her facial features remind us of Minnie, but she has bright red hair and smaller ears. Perhaps a distant cousin. If you know her name, definitely let us know!

  • Leaving Toontown, near the Fantasyland Theater and it’s a small world gift shop, you’ll find another clown Roastie Toastie, this one wearing a very detailed costume – half blue stain, half red sequins, with white frill around the hands, feet, and neck, with a blue and red hat with different colored polka-dots.
  • Along the parade route near the Matterhorn, you’ll find a large white yeti character turning the drum, with a bluish face and glowing red eyes. He resembles the yeti you’ll find in the Matterhorn.

  • In Tomorrowland, across from Star Traders, you’ll find a female astronaut in her space suit and helmet with her eyes closed for some reason. What’s also unique about this cart is that the machine that spins as she turns the drum has some parts replaced to resemble the sun and planets. 

 

Disney California Adventure

Alright – moving across the esplanade to Disney California Adventure, where you’ll find two Roastie Toasties:

  • One is located at Pixar Pier, to the right of Pixar Pal-A-Round. There, you will find Duke Kaboom from Toy Story 4 turning the drum, complete with his white and red daredevil suit and a red Canadian maple leaf on his belt buckle and cape.
  • The other one is in Grizzly Peak, toward the back of the line for Soarin, before rounding the corner to Grizzly River Run. There, you will find an airplane propeller turning the drum. Now – I would argue that this is not an official Roastie Toastie, as it is not a character “hand-cranking” the drum. But, the drum is still there, and it is themed to the area. If they switch to an airplane pilot, then it gets an official vote from me, but for now, definitely an honorable mention.

We also have some past Roasties who are no longer at the park, but we wanted to mention anyway:

  • Santa at the cart in the Hub
  • The Rocketeer in Tomorrowland
  • There have also been various clowns and Dapper Dans in different colored outfits along Main Street

In doing this research, we were surprised to learn that the cart between Elias & Co and Carthay Circle Restaurant did not have one – we thought for sure it did! In fact, there are several popcorn vending locations around the Disneyland Resort that do not have one. I was also surprised to find absolutely no mention of Roasties anywhere at Walt Disney World Resort. Yes, they have popcorn, but from what I could tell, their carts do not have Roastie on them. Again, if you have any information on this – either as to why this is, or to show a cart that has one – definitely let us know!

Now, let’s go overseas and see who else we can find! But, just a disclaimer – we have not been to these overseas parks with popcorn in mind, and some of the resources found for this episode were older photos, so if I missed any of your favorite characters, or if you know of any that have been added or removed from the parks, definitely let me know on our Where In The Park Explorers Facebook Group. 


Tokyo Disneyland

At Tokyo Disneyland, they have “Popcorn Wagons”, some of which have versions of Roastie Toasties, such as

  • A Clown with a Christmas scarf and hat at the Soy Sauce & Butter flavor Wagons in front of Café Orleans. We also found him represented at the Chocolate Popcorn Wagon. The one at Café Orleans is replaced with a clown with a white outfit with red polka-dots and frill, who you will also find at the Caramel Popcorn Wagon in front of Sweetheart Café.
  • Winnie the Pooh & Piglet at the Honey Popcorn Wagon in front of Pooh’s Hunny Hunt
  • Big Al from the Country Bear Jamboree at the Curry Popcorn Wagon next to the Trading Post

  • Goofy in a workout outfit with an oversized orange and yellow shirt, blue shorts, knee-high yellow socks and green headband. He is over at Toon Pop.
  • Pecos Bill and his horse, Widowmaker in front of Cowboy Cookhouse 

Tokyo Disneyland also sold miniature figurines of Roastie Toasties in a mystery box set, which included

  • The clown I mentioned earlier
  • Henry and Oscar from Country Bear Jamboree, as well as Big Al
  • Winnie the Pooh and Piglet with a honey pot
  • A bird from the Enchanted Tiki Room, and
  • Goofy in his workout outfit 


Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris has what they call “Popcorn Animated Dolls”. While they have had these dolls for some time, Disney unveiled new ones just last year in 2025, including:

  • Mr. Toad near Toad Hall Restaurant
  • Casey – inspired by Casey’s Corner located on the left side of Central Plaza
  • A Gibson Girl-inspired doll on the right side of Central Plaza
  • Willie the Giant near the Storybook Land entrance
  • Panchito – near Big Thunder Mountain
  • Lady Liberty on Main Street in Town Square

 

Hong Kong Disneyland

  • A large brown bear at Grizzly Gulch
  • Either an astronaut or an alien at the popcorn cart outside of Space Mountain (the image we found was too grainy to tell)
  • A Dapper Dan with a red and white suit at the popcorn cart to the left of the hub
  • And a clown at the cart along the walkway between Space Mountain and it’s a small world

But, in going around the parks and really looking closely at these characters, one thing really stood out to me – someone is actually responsible for designing these costumes. From hand-painted faces, to the tiny jackets and the sown-on sequins, all designed to move constantly each and every day. So we were delighted to find a video of one of the Cast Members giving us a behind-the-scenes look at this process. Be sure to check it out and share your appreciation for the hard work put into such a tiny yet important detail.

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Now, Go Get Some Popcorn!

So next time you grab popcorn at a Disney park, pause for just a moment.

Look inside the cart.

See who’s turning the drum.

And remember—this tiny figure exists because Disney believes even popcorn is part of the story.

And honestly? That’s why we love these parks so much, and why we love exploring the details with you – there’s just so much more to explore!

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Articles Referenced

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and each is notated accordingly. If you click and make a purchase using these links, Where In The Park may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions are used to cover podcast operational costs. Thank you for your support!
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