Trams from TTC to MK

[sotoalf]

A friend didn't believe that for a few years in the seventies Disney ran a tram from the TTC to the MK. I kept telling him it existed. I know there are a few pictures around.

Anyone remember when Disney discontinued it and why?

 

[joelkfla]

A friend didn't believe that for a few years in the seventies Disney ran a tram from the TTC to the MK. I kept telling him it existed. I know there are a few pictures around.

Anyone remember when Disney discontinued it and why?

I don't remember it myself, but I've heard of it from some old-timer bus drivers. They said the trams traveled up World Drive under the Water Bridge.

I would guess they were eliminated to allow better auto access to CR and 7-Seas Drive.

 

[grimley1968]

I remember it. Although my memories are vague about it, I remember the diesel fumes going under that water bridge were pretty strong. That may have also been a contributing factor to discontinuing that run.

 

[shafke]

Yep... there used to be three ways to get to the MK from the TTC.
Monorail, ferry, and tram.

There also was a tram that ran through FW campground up until mid to late 80s I think.

 

[joelkfla]

There also was a tram that ran through FW campground up until mid to late 80s I think.

... which had replaced the Fort Wilderness Railroad steam trains that ran from 1973 to the early 1980's.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

... which had replaced the Fort Wilderness Railroad steam trains that ran from 1973 to the early 1980's.

The FWRR was never a regular means of transportation within the campground. It only made two stops, the tram however stopped at every loop as well as the settlement and outpost area. The tram went around the campground in one direction and the bus went the other. The tram was stopped about the same time as cabin loops became popular. The theory my sister and I had at the time was the cabin people didn't like getting wet, not that maybe the trams were just no longer an efficient means of getting around as the campground got bigger.

As for the tram from the TTC to MK, it was fun, and you may still be able to see the tram loading area at the TTC, it was near the gift shop.

 

[sotoalf]

I remember the Ft. Wilderness tram well. On one of our last trips to River Country in 1988, we rode the tram from Outpost to Pioneer Hall.

 

[sharadoc]

There was also a tram from Yacht Club to International Gateway in the 90's. We had a room right above the tram stop and it was our morning alarm clock. Back in the day when all of Epcot was open at 9 to 9.

 

[joelkfla]

The FWRR was never a regular means of transportation within the campground. It only made two stops, the tram however stopped at every loop as well as the settlement and outpost area.

Thanks. I didn't know that, nor that trams & buses were running simultaneously in the campground. It's always interesting to learn more WDW transportation history.

As for the tram from the TTC to MK, it was fun, and you may still be able to see the tram loading area at the TTC, it was near the gift shop.

That's probably what we now call the "Mouse House." It was rarely used until a recent refurbishment along with the TTC bus lot. It's now used on busy mornings for buses to supplement the Express Monorail to the MK.

 

[cranbiz]

Yup, Joel. That is the "Mouse House" area.

Used to park the training buses when I was still working there.

 

[sotoalf]

I also remember the gold-flagged bus that served the monorail resorts until 1990 or so: it ran simultaneously with the monorail for day and Hotel Plaza guests. I'm assuming this was a rarely used option.

 

[joelkfla]

I also remember the gold-flagged bus that served the monorail resorts until 1990 or so: it ran simultaneously with the monorail for day and Hotel Plaza guests. I'm assuming this was a rarely used option.

The flags are long gone (and before my time), but the colors remain.

Bus service to the monorail resorts when the monorails are down is called the gold route. Buses from TTC to Epcot, to replace the Epcot Monorail, are called the Red Express. And the bus from MK to the campground, IIRC, is called the blue route when the boats are down.

 

[sotoalf]

Same flag colors before '93.

 

[chartle]

When we were there in '77 you took a tram to the marina to get to River Country and the launch to the MK. There was no other place to go.

In '99 the trams were gone, but this was when there was more than one park and the buses for the parks looped around the park. There was also the two buses that just looped the park running in opisite directions and one bus that took you to the TTC so you could transfer to a bus to one of the water parks and maybe DTD.

I'm assuming the buses starting running when Epcot opened.