Some say their favorite ride at the Magic Kingdom is Space Mountain. Some may defer and say that it’s Splash Mountain, or the Haunted Mansion, or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. But me? Well I prefer to take things above the streets of Tomorrowland on a relaxing, blissful, refreshing ride on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. There are many who would scoff at regarding this elevated train ride as something worthy along the lines of immaculately detailed and animatronic-filled attractions, but consider the many facets of this experience:
Simply put, there’s no better way to take a break from a tired day, or just seek refuge than hopping on the PeopleMover. This idyllic tour of Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland has been traveling since 1975, taking a cue from Disneyland nine years earlier. Before that, WED Enterprises was examining the technology to help fulfill Walt’s dream of the City of the Future, also known as EPCOT. Walt envisioned an ever-moving set of trains whisking guests throughout his city, eliminating the need for private transport which in return leads to traffic and pollution. Imagineer Bob Gurr designed the system as not being powered by the vehicles themselves, but instead by rotating tires running on a motor embedded into the track itself.
Being the salesman trickster he is, Walt got the Ford Motor Company to fund the engineering for the prototype, which debuted at the 1964/65 New York World’s Fair as the Ford Magic Skyway. Guests would embark on a time-traveling journey within actual Ford motor vehicles, all “driven” by the PeopleMover system. The ride worked consistently and with little downtime during its two-year run, prompting Disney to immediately finance a Disneyland version that would be prominently featured in the New Tomorrowland. Hilariously, the system worked so well that it made Ford uncomfortable when offered to forward their sponsorship over to Anaheim. They cited that they were reluctant to support technology that could plausibly “replace the automobile”. (Goodyear took up the mantle instead)
Sadly, in 1966, Walt Disney passed away and doomed the Florida Project, slated to be the site of his marvelous Progress City. Despite this, the PeopleMover still opened on-time, and WED knew that the system was viable to be used all around the world. Immediately they had MAPO (their manufacturing arm) mock up a system that could feasibly serve as cheap, but efficent public transportation worldwide. Unfortunately, there was only one bite, but one that still exists today. If you travel to Houston, you may be able to see the only existing semi-public form at the George Bush International Airport. The airport “Subway” travels in the basement levels, transporting guests from terminal to terminal, and even stopping at the airport hotel, swiftly navigating tight turns. But be sure to visit soon, as the airport is currently seeking a replacement. (the current version is no longer maintained by Disney)
It is a bit heartbreaking, as public transport would be so much better if we had the PeopleMover in our world. Could you imagine instead of getting into your car every morning, grousing through traffic and spending hundreds on gas every month, or finding a spot on a crowded bus, or a stinky subway, you instead just climbed into your small, private, ever-moving car straight to your place of business. Pop in your earbuds and take in the view…
Sounds nice, doesn’t it? The sad reality is that nobody was willing to invest in a system, especially with the then post-Walt company. Walt could sell anything, and anybody who was left just didn’t have the right charm or pizazz. Instead, the PeopleMover only existed in those three locations, at least until 1995. Disneyland’s PeopleMover shuttered to make way for the Rocket Rods, the proposed E-ticket centerpiece attraction for the 1998 redo of Tomorrowland. The concept had guests climbing into futuristic cars that would speed along the old track. Originally many turn sections of the track were subject to be banked and re-tracked for an experience much like Epcot’s Test Track. However, the project was subject to budget cuts and the attraction was reduced to one that sat upon the old track, virtually untouched. Thus the vehicles would speed up and immediately slow down, making far more disappointing experience. Everytime you’d catch speed, the ride would immediately decelerate, creating a frustrating start/stop ride. Capacity was also rock bottom low as the vehicles were far bulkier (and sat less guests) than the PeopleMovers and took much longer to load and launch at quick intervals. Waits would balloon many days to over three hours.
It didn’t help that it was a maintenance nightmare due to utilizing much of the same problematic tech that was plaguing the Test Track attraction out east. Downtimes were frequent, and the attraction went down for not just hours, but days and even weeks. On top of that, the ride was causing structural damage to the track foundation itself. Ultimately in 2001, the Rocket Rods were shuttered until a plan could come into place to address the troubled attraction’s woes. Then 9/11 happened, bottoming out tourism and sealing its fate. So why didn’t Disneyland just eventually bring back the beloved PeopleMover? Sadly the track would have to be entirely replaced, unusable since the Rods’ affliction to its structure. The cost to tear out and rebuild, considering how many attractions it touched was astronomical. So now the old track sits unused, a reminder of a better time.
Fortunately, the Magic Kingdom kept the PeopleMover during their Tomorrowland renovation in 1994, turning it into the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Here, the theme extended to the idea that it was a sci-fi, futuristic city straight out of Flash Gordon, and we’re riding on the rails going throughout the city. Finally, a story for the attraction that fits the tech’s original intent. So it remains today, gliding in and out of almost every building in the land, even giving guests a sneak peek into Space Mountain. This might be the ride at its best, plunging them in the darkness as the two side-by-side rocket tracks hurtle upwards between them, and then seeing streaks of green and hazy starlight patterns as track rattles and screams roar.
Just this alone makes the PeopleMover worth saving, but consider the rest next time you ride. Think about what might have been… or hopefully, what may be to come.
Traveling Salesman is a Columnist for the Boardwalk Times.
