Yesterland Question: People Mover?

[twitch]

When riding the monorail, we noticed a secondary track near the loading platform. I checked on Google Maps, and it looks like it must the track for a ride similar to WDW's ride-sometimes-called: WEDway People Mover, Tomorrow Land Transit Authority, etc.

Assuming that's the case, two questions that immediately come to mind:

1) What's the backstory for the attraction being gone? How long has it been gone?
2) Why in the world didn't they take the track down??

 

[MrJT]

I can tell you that it's been gone since the 1990s, and at one point, the track was later used for a different attraction, the Rocket Rods, but that didn't last too long.
I never did the Rocket Rods, but I preferred DL's People Mover over the one at WDW.

 

[ImDMous]

Yes, the People Mover used to be in Disneyland too from 1967 to 1995. In 1998, Disney opened the 'new' remodeled Tomorrowland that included the Rocket Rods that used the same track as the People Mover. The Rocket Rods had many technical problems and were really not as exciting as they sounded and they were closed 2 years later. The loading and line area for Rocket Rods is now Buzz Lightyear. At the D23 Expo in 2010, George said that everyone knows how much loved and missed the People Mover is and to "not worry" when someone asked why the track was still there and if it would come back. Still waiting for some plans....

 

[Darkbeer1]

As mentioned, a long history, at the end of the People Movers life, it was a slow loader and expensive to run, especially if it broke down, and CM's had to go out and walk people back from the vehicles on the bridge section.

http://www.yesterland.com/peoplemover.html

Rocket Rods was built back when Disney was trying to be as cheap as they can, and didn't design the ride well, which caused it to close down shortly after it opened. Also was a slow loader with weird seating arrangements.


http://www.yesterland.com/rocketrods.html


And to be honest, the cost of removing the track would be very expensive, and no gain for Disney. So it sits in silent tribute. Some portions have already been removed when the space was need for another project.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

Here's an article about the People Mover. It's pretty long, though, just a warning:

http://www.****************.com/fea...depth-peoplemover-and-fall-walts-tomorrowland

A lot of the article has to do with the failings of Tomorrowland in general and how the People Mover is a reflection of that. But to answer your second question, they didn't take the track down because it provides structural integrity to some of the buildings, so they would have to tear the whole building down to take down the track.

Edit: I see the website I linked to is blocked here, sorry.

 

[DizneeRailFan62]

Regardless of the "faults", the PeopleMover was my favorite Tomorrowland ride aside from the Skyway! I was sorry to see it go, and while Rocket Rods was not awful to ride, it was broke more than it was operational. Even the glimmer of hope of having some form of Peoplemover return to the skies overhead in Tomorrowland is better than contemplating its removal altogether.

 

[twitch]

Wait... what's the skyway?

 

[DizneeRailFan62]

The Skyway was a bucket that was suspended from a line that ran from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland, through the Matterhorn. Beautiful, peaceful ride above the park. Here is a link to the bygone attraction at Yesterland.com.

http://www.yesterland.com/skyway.html

 

[ImDMous]

The Skyway was the sky buckets that went from one side of the park to the other, through the big hole in the top of the Matterhorn. They finally just demolished the Fantasyland station, in the "woods" near Pinocchio's... I think for the Star Wars expansion.

 

[GatorChris]

Bring back the PeopleMover!!! This is one of the place where I miss the WDW version of the MK over DL. There's nothing like getting in that constantly moving short line, getting in the car, and just chilling. DL could use some more "just chilling" attractions.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I just read here the other day that Peoplemover was never coming back because of OSHA requirements. I cannot recall which thread that was posted in.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

Yeah, I loved the People Mover and Skyway, was disappointed to see that they were gone the last time I went to DLR

I just read here the other day that Peoplemover was never coming back because of OSHA requirements. I cannot recall which thread that was posted in.

The article that I linked to that was blacked out states that it can't come back due to the ADA (American Disability Act) requirements. Previously it was grandfathered in, but now it would need to comply, which would cost money of course. Not sure how accurate that is though

 

[Wilcojoe]

Bring back the PeopleMover!!! This is one of the place where I miss the WDW version of the MK over DL. There's nothing like getting in that constantly moving short line, getting in the car, and just chilling. DL could use some more "just chilling" attractions.

100% agree!

I remember on our last trip to WDW, my one year old fell asleep on the first loop around and the CM let me ride it a whopping 5 times straight while he napped.

The original at Disneyland will always be my favorite ride of all time. The Tron part was killer. There are some pretty decent videos of the entire ride posted on YouTube.

 

[disneychrista]

it can't come back due to the ADA (American Disability Act) requirements.

Not to mention OSHA requirements.