Ride Review: The Peoplemover/Tomorrowland Transit Authority
SplashMoun10 When you ask someone what their favorite Disney rides are, they'll most likely mention the big ones like Expedition Everest, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, The Haunted Mansion, and Splash Mountain. Although all the rides I previously mentioned are among my favorites at Walt Disney World, another one of my favorites is a little under the radar and in my opinion doesn't get the acclaim it deserves. This attraction would be none other than the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover, formerly known as simply the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Thrill rides are fun and all, but sometimes you want a ride you can just relax on, and in my opinion, the Peoplemover is the perfect ride for that. It's a calm ride in which you tour Tomorrowland and get some good sights of the park, including a look inside Space Mountain. It's not one of those rides where you're thinking "I can't wait to ride The Peoplemover!" 3 months in advance, but ultimately, a trip to the Magic Kingdom wouldn't be the same without it and it is one of my favorite things to do in the park.History:
The Peoplemover originally opened in Disneyland in 1967 in which guests hopped aboard on a grand tour of Tomorrowland. This version of the ride closed in 1995 due partially to Eisner wanting to conserve money and also because Imagineers thought that the ride was dated and was now just a place for people to relax. The ride was replaced with an attraction called Rocket Rods, which was unpopular and very short-lived. Parts of the track of the old Peoplemover attraction still exist and are visible to Disneyland guests today. The Magic Kingdom version opened in 1975 and is still in operation. The trains have a different look than their Disneyland counterparts and the overall feel of the ride is significantly different. Watching videos of the old Disneyland Peoplemover, the ride feels a lot more compact and synergetic with the rest of Tomorrowland. You got an up-close view of attractions such as the Matterhorn, Autopia, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, as well as riding through attractions such as Star Tours (not in WDW's Tomorrowland) and Space Mountain. It would have been cool to get to ride that and it's a shame it's not there anymore. Fortunately, we still have Walt Disney World to fulfill our Tomorrowland tour needs.
The Ride:
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority is located in the central of Tomorrowland just underneath the Astro Orbiter. Usually the attraction is a walk-on, but sometimes there will be a decent wait. Guests enter the loading platform by taking an escalator to the top. The vehicles are in constant motion, but go at a pace slow enough for guests to board at the loading station. The speed of the vehicles throughout the attraction is just a little over 6 mph, a pace that really allows you to take in the sights of Tomorrowland. The first attraction that the ride passes by is... *sigh* Stitch's Great Escape! However, now that Stitch is closed (it's about time!), the audio track for Stitch no longer plays. The ride makes a turn and you get a great view of the park including entrance to Tomorrowland and the castle. The ride goes back indoors for a look at a display of Walt's original vision for Epcot, which was going to be this full-on futuristic city and not just a theme park. You also get an overhead look at Mickey's Star Traders, a large gift shop. The ride goes back outside again and gives us a good look at central Tomorrowland including the Astro Orbiter on one side and the eyesore that is the Tomorrowland Slowway on the other. The ride then goes inside one of the park's most popular attractions, Space Mountain. It's very dark in there, but you can see the lift hill, exit ramp, and parts of the track. You may luck out and get to see Space Mountain with the lights on, though for some that may ruin it! The ride goes back outside and we get another look at the Tomorrowland Slowway, and get some more good views of Tomorrowland. You may catch a glimpse of the Walt Disney World Railroad when turning towards the Carousel of Progress.The ride then goes through Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in which we get to see riders shooting at targets, which for me has always been a highlight of the ride. The last attraction the ride passes by is Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor before it enters the unloading dock, thus ending our tour of Walt Disney World's Tomorrowland.
Conclusion:
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority has always been a family favorite and is always a must-do anytime we go to the Magic Kingdom. Not only is it the perfect ride to unwind for a little bit, you also get some nice views of the park and really get to enjoy the feel of Tomorrowland. Tomorrowland truly wouldn't be the same without the TTA, which is why it's such a shame that the Disneyland version no longer exists. I particularly love the experience at night, especially when there are shows going on, it's cool to watch them from the TTA. Tomorrowland in general looks really amazing at night, so that probably plays a big part in why I like the night experience. While I wouldn't change much with the ride, I do think it could use some freshening up so to speak, not so that it loses it's charm, but it just feels like outside of the narration and a few paint jobs here and there, it seems like it's been untouched for quite awhile. A lot of people aren't fond of the 2009-current narration, and while I don't hate the current narration, I do like the old voice better. I doubt it's coming back anytime soon though, so overall, any changes I'd make to the ride would involve just a little sprucing up, otherwise, I think it's fine as it is. Overall, this is one of my personal favorites at WDW and the Magic Kingdom just wouldn't be the same without it.
Rating: 9.5/10
Comments
Yeah, this one doesn’t get a lot of attention and I can kinda understand why, but it’s not a bad ride. - DCfnaf
Been a while since I've seen one of your ride reviews. As always, good job on the post and keep up the good work, Kate. - visitor
The splashy content has returned! - visitor