Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover takes Guests of all ages for an elevated tour of Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom theme park. Relax and enjoy a leisurely 10-minute journey above the Tomorrowland area aboard this pollution-free mass transit system. Each car seats 4 Guests with 2 riding forward and 2 riding backward.
The tour introduces you to Tomorrowland attractions and includes a view of early architectural models of Epcot theme park and Space Mountain, as well as a peek inside the actual Space Mountain attraction. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover station is located in the center of Rockettower Plaza beneath the Astro Orbiter attraction.
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover (also called the Blue Line, TTA and Tomorrowland's Super-Skyway), formerly known as the WEDWay PeopleMover until 1994 and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority until 2010, is a PeopleMover system in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort. Themed as an urban mass transit system of the future, riders are taken on a train ride around the second floor of many attractions in Tomorrowland. It has one station, in the center of Rockettower Plaza, located beneath the landmark Astro Orbiter. The TTA's leisurely pace, and lack of long queue lines, along with the sneak previews of other more extreme Tomorrowland attractions it offers make it a favorite attraction among repeat visitors.
You get in your car and head off on a leisurely tour of Tomorrowland. Technically, you're on a 'linear induction' powered track. There are no engines, the cars are magnetically pulled. It's pollution free, so no problems with global warming. Along the way you'll pass windows overlooking Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. The one mile tour takes 10 minutes. If you're in need of a little siesta, go ahead and close your eyes. You're not going to miss anything and you may get that little boost of energy that we all need from time to time.
Touring Tips
- Wait times are usually nonexistent.
- The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover is open during the Magic Kingdom's Extra Magic Hour.
- If you're not sure where to go next, jump on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover to decide. Not only is it restful, but you'll be able to see if there are long lines or crowds below you.
- This ride is also great at night when the park is all lit up.
- There is nothing overtly scary about the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, however, you do go in and out of dark areas on the route. Occasionally, when you are in Space Mountain, you can hear screams from those on the roller coaster.
Facts
- Opened July 1, 1975.
- Using linear induction motors, the vehicles glide with ease in an environmentally safe manner. Each section has five cars that travel at 10 feet per second except at the loading and unloading station where it travels at 2.7 feet per second.
- To reach the loading platform you will step onto a moving conveyor belt that is at a steep incline. The loading platform moves at the same speed as the vehicles, so you can step inside easily. Each vehicle can seat four, two riding forward and two riding backward.
- Walt Disney's 20th Century vision for the future (a model city) can be seen along the way. Some believe this was tied closely to Walt's own vision for Epcot Center.
History
The WEDWay PeopleMover opened on July 1, 1975, based on the first prototype PeopleMover at Disneyland in California. Because it did not utilize the propulsion system of rotating Goodyear tires used in the original, (instead using linear synchronous motors), Goodyear opted not to sponsor the east coast version. The Edison Electric Institute was the original sponsor of the ride. The original narration track was provided by longtime Disney voice, Jack Wagner. In June 1985, his narration was replaced by the voice of ORAC One - "The Commuter Computer". Instead of an open track with covered cars, this ride was designed the opposite from the Disneyland version: open-air cars with a ceiling over the track.
In the spring of 1994, Tomorrowland underwent a massive refurbishment that changed the theme of the land from being a showcase of future technology to a working city of the future. The WEDway PeopleMover received new physical theming as most of the track was updated from smooth Googie-esque white forms to boldly colored metallic structures.
It was during this refurbishment that the attraction's name changed from the WEDWay PeopleMover to Tomorrowland Transit Authority. A new narration was added, with the tour led by Pete Renaday broadcasting from TTA Central. This 1994 recording remained largely unaltered until October 2, 2009, which came shortly after the ride had reopened following a five month down period during the refurbishment of Space Mountain, when it was replaced with a more general tour narration.
On August 5, 2010, it was announced that the name "PeopleMover" would be re-instated into the ride's name, effectively changing it to Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. However, many people still refer to it as simply the Tomorrowland Transit Authority.
Hidden Mickey
- There is at least one Hidden Mickey in the diorama of the hair salon. The alien seen getting her hair cut is wearing a belt,which has a belt buckle with a black Mickey face on it.