The reality is that they would have to shut down a large portion of the park to remove it, and Disney cannot afford that. They need rides with large hourly throughput processes right now. Their numbers are down for the fiscal year, and that number would only grow if a massive portion of the park was closed for pillar removal. At this point Tomorrowland would look weird without it
As a current tomorrowland cast member, not only do i get guests asking if the people mover is open, but i also come across guests who have no idea what the people mover was and ask me what attraction that is. It breaks my heart to tell them that its been closed for decades, but i at least get to dive a little into the park's history.
You watch technology connections? Dude was a cast member and his older videos speaks on the people mover n the haunted House. Check it out and please let me know what you think. 😊😊
@@circuittoys Yeah, I rode the People Mover at Disneyland back in the 80’s many times and it was like going down memory lane riding the People Mover at Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland when I was last there in 2021.
Pretty crazy how the "transportation method of the future" ended up being one of the longest-standing abandoned Disney rides in history...all because they wanted it to be a thrill ride. Fantastic video as always, Jake
Would be great if Adam Something sink his teeth into why the Peoplemover would never work or otherwise be inferior to standard trains (hint: look up interoperability and redundancy)
@@BB_Sebring Not everything needs to be a full sized train. The Peoplemover seems more like a 'futuristic' [at least futuristic for back when it was designed] version of a streetcar for short distance travel; like if you wanted to go from one city block to the next, or from one building in a large complex to another. Just hop on without having to wait. It would never be a substitute for subways or long distance trains, but it would be more convenient for the things it IS good for.
I wish it was still a People Mover. There are so many thrill rides. A nice overview of the Park with a relaxing pace would be so welcome. I remember Jenny Nicholson talking about when they closed the petting zoo she worked at, & her advocacy for places to take a breather bc theme parks are exciting but can stress or burn families out, so she champions those slower paced experiences, & I agree.
When I was a kid, my parents were the ones who loved the peoplemover. It was slow, relaxing, great way to take a break from a lot of walking and kept the kids mildly entertained. It was a nice way to preview other rides without waiting in line. Like many families, someone always not into fast rides so it was one of the few that all members could ride together. It also kind of competed with the monorail, faster, slicker, functional and great views.
A good time where families could discuss what other rides to visit or where to eat, all while the kids could cool down and everyone mellow out for awhile.
Honestly, that's probably at least part of why it hasn't been removed. While I'm sure the biggest issue is cost to remove it combined with the fact that the parks never close, so they can't easily do the construction needed to remove it, the fact that it DOES provide shade for guests in an area where there otherwise isn't any is something Disney sees as a viable use for it.
@@kattriella1331agreed! I can’t see Tomorrowland without this looming abandoned structure. It’s just so iconic at this point and the shade is such a relief.
I know the difficulty of demolition is the "real" answer, but I always figured this is the main reason why they don't seem to have even considered trying. I wouldn't be surprised if any construction ever done on it would just to be to finally formalize it as a shade structure.
The Rocket Ride was poorly engineered and broke every month. The maintenance and repairs made the ride too costly to run. So, they shut it down after only a few years of it being open.
Tomorrowland needs an overhaul. Would it be amazing to have a people mover back? Yes! Would they do it. Probably not. The hard lesson they learned is to stop building tracks through their buildings.
I agree that tomorrowland needs updating. The biggest issue with the land now is that its a fix of sci-fi ish properties and rides. There isn't much connection. You have the Astral Orbitors, Star Wars, Lightyear shooter, Launch Bay, Autotopia, Space Mountain and the stage show that gets used on, Monarail (I guess it counts) and off along with the sitting building and tracks to People Mover. Not really counting the train that passes through the land. In short its a mix of property based attractions and original/semi original attractions. I think what Tomorrowland needs is a reimagined "future" and or a new concept of properties based around the idea of a "future". As much as I hate to say it, I think Star Wars needs to leave tomorrowland now that the new land is open. There isn't a point in having Star Wars in tomorrowland other than keeping launch bay's building open. Buzz Lightyear is kind of a hit/miss in my opinion to stay or go. As of late it's been kind of having performance issues. I think all the other attractions are fine, just maybe need a new update or retheme. Overall I think the reason why Disney is against making changes to the land is because they know it should have to be shut down or closed in parts which they don't want to do as its still a popular land.
@@UrSammich They're probably worried about removing or rebranding the IP-based attractions, not just the temporary closures needed to do so. Disney wants to keep leveraging their overvalued IPs, so any idea of consistent themeing is forced to take a backseat.
Like, does Disney know that they would hit a home run just by bringing the Peoplemover back in its previous form? I would visit just to see this thing operating again.
As much as I wish it would happen it's very unlikely. Rocket rods strained the tracks too much for it on top of the many years rotting thst the tracks would still probably have to be rebuilt. It would probably cost ad much if not more to do that than to just rip them out. Serves as a good refuge from the California sun though.
No they wouldn't. A handful of people who have a weird delusion about it what it was would find out it kinda sucks. It wasn't really a ride, it was something to do when your feet hurt because there was never a line for it and it was a "tour" of Tomorrowland. Don't really think they need a motorized means of showing you a busted ass arcade, Pizza Planet Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear and Star Tours. Having rode it ALOT before it closed its kinda hilarious the weird delusion that people have about it being so amazing.
Disney should absolutely bring the Disneyland Peoplemover back with the coming park expansion. Having a relaxed way of moving from park to park (by having loading/unloading stations in each) or getting a tour of the OG park and expansion via an updated Peoplemover would be a huge crowd-pleaser while also being a great way to shift some of the park capacity around.
Here's an idea what Disney could do with the Peoplemover tracks: turn it into their own version of the High Line in New York. Imagine having all that greenery on top of it and sitting spaces, view decks, etc.
That was on my mind as well. I've seen pictures of the High Line in New York but have never been there. Certainly would be a positive, especially in car dominating Southern California to get people out of their cars and...WALK. Mind you I enjoy driving and don't like the self driving cars that dominate the surface streets in my current home of Phoenix, Arizona. Certainly the downside would be providing enough shade to counteract the increasing temperatures of the USA Southwest.
I feel like they overlooked the real advantage and attraction of this ride....a break. I know when I go to Orlando, the people mover there is a great way to rest and cool down a bit while getting some light entertainment. It's the lofi of Disney rides, and I think its kinda sad DIsney just ditched it.
It was a highlight, not because my friends and I really liked the experience, but because it was fifteen minutes where you could just sit down and enjoy the company of your friends while doing something relaxing and a bit kitschy. Also the rollers on the moving ramps going up to the loading area and down again to street level made for a great foot massage.
I enjoy both thrill rides and relaxing rides. I was bummed in 2010 when I learned that the sky ride at the Bronx Zoo had been torn down. A friend said that it was because someone bigger got stuck on the ride or something. I had only been there once before as a kid.
I literally clicked as soon as I saw the video. Its counterpart in WDW is such a classic and I wish I had the opportunity to ride the version in Disneyland before they made it into Rocket Rods.
@@phantomdance So the PPl Mover is still working in FL at DW? I've only ever been to DW (not DL), and I LOVED the PPl Mover. When I went w/ my mom years later, it was our favorite ride, we went on it at least a few times.
A couple of corrections/clarifications: Tron was released in July 1982 and the SuperSpeed Tunnel (added 1977) added Tron within a month. Signage was completed by October. In preparation of planning the new attraction, the tracks were closed and torn up in 1995 to allow structural engineers to verify every pylon, joint, gap, and curve be sound. The attraction was designed with banked curves and the lack of budget which caused the removal of the banking. This redesign caused the unplanned severe braking which caused the track joints to crack and vibrate. The closure in 2000 was planned to address these issues and multiple engineering firms were consulted in creating a solution. The attraction was not abandoned until the last minute, right before the reports in late April, 2001. I know all these details since one of my college roommates was involved in the Tomorrowland ‘98 construction (although they only worked on Innoventions) and did some of the consulting before and right at the beginning of the Rocket Rods closure.
the people mover was a timeless attraction and i wish i got to experience it. my dad got to experience not only the people mover, but the gondolas too. oh how i envy him.
They got rid of the gondolas when I was very young. However, I do remember riding in those too. I remember both rides were amazing and I'm sad that you never got the chance to try both.
I'm not a Disneyland goer, but my theory as to why Tomorrowland sees so much neglect is that the concept of an optimistic future is... a thing of the past? Tomorrowland was made to showcase how the future is bright and how technology is awesome. Then it became about Sci-Fi in general. And today, whatever you see about the future or Sci-Fi... it's always post-apocalyptic. Even Star Wars thrives off the themes of decay, grime and authoritarianism. The current cultural sentiment does not see a positive future, and an optimistic Tomorrowland is not in the zeitgeist - and Disney doesn't want to bum guests out. That said, a truly optimistic Tomorrowland would be really good. We're in desperate need of positive visions of the future again.
The issue is that no one can appropriately predict what the future may be from a present perspective. Back in the 50s and 60s, the world was much simpler and visions were much larger and brighter. Today everything is so massive and saturated that it's virtually impossible to conceive a believable, optimistic future that everyone would agree on conceptually.
While I agree with this 100% I think the other issue is the passage of time. Time is always moving forward and that means we’ll always eventually arrive at the “future” so the whole area will constantly have to be updated to push that “future” forward another 20-50 years. To a money hungry company like Disney that’s an expense they’re not willing to make. As a history nerd I would love a “yesterday land” of some sort-I’ve never been to Disney so idk is they actually already have that or not-but it would be a lot easier since it wouldn’t have to be updated as often
Due to decades of runaway illegal immigration, the future is constant racial/ethnic conflict and third world child rape. Can they make a ride out of that?
I have very vivid memories of riding this. One memory that stands out, I remember peering over the edge of the bars and seeing people resting on a bench in a buildin area.
Rocket Rods is literally the embodiment of that saying “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well. You either do it right, or you shouldn’t bother at all “
CoP moved because GE figured they were no longer getting any bang for their bucks, as Disneyland is mostly locals and they'd seen it. GE agreed to continue to sponsor if it was moved to WDW for a new audience and agreed to fund the move. It was GE sponsered at WDW for a long time
@@richardperhai8292I rode the Carousel of Progress at WDW. My mom rode it at the 1964 New York Worlds’ Fair, along with the other rides that were there.
They really should call it Ancient Annex because it's clear they don't care about Tomorrowland and it does not live up to its name and hasn't for a long long time. I feel lucky to have ridden both the Disneyland people mover, and the Rocket Rods.
This channel has really hit a prefect formula for making these videos. Entertaining and informative for things that don’t seem like they’d be all that interesting. Makes you wonder how companies (like Disney) can churn out complete trash costing millions but a simple limited budget RUclips channel makes absolute gold.
I always wondered why Bush Intercontinental Airport had a strange little subway in the basement!! I love riding it even though it’s tiny and very rough.
After the people mover closed, they should really have just had some model spaceships without passengers going around on the tracks or something like that, for visual interest.
You don’t want to have a fake ride that looks more interesting than actual rides. It’s problematic enough with the empty promise of the elevated track.
I never got to ride the PeopleMover... It was such a great ride from what I've seen online. I still find it baffling to this day how Dosney hasn't done anything to fix or at least remove the track. To me, its a sad reminder of what was and what could've been. I honestly really hope Disney can bring back the ride in some form. I also hope Disbey can make the rest if Tomorrowland more like how it was in 1967, since that version if Tomorrowland is the best to me.
@@LeftCoastDronesI think people over rate it for the nostalgia. I didn’t ride the Peoplemover until I was in my 30s. I had no idea what it but after hearing the hype, I went on it at Disney World and was thoroughly disappointed.
The people mover was a rare jewel. Covered in the shade, smooth gliding movement, the slight breeze running through your hair; it was one of those perfect rides you'd go on in the middle of the day for some relaxation.
I always loved the people mover and got upset when they abruptly closed it. Whenever I went to Disneyland and tried to get on the Rocket Rods ride, it was closed. Then they permanently closed it. I never got a chance to ride the Rocket Rods. Even though I was told the ride sucked, I at least wanted to try it once. I wish they would bring the people mover back. It would be a great homage to the past and a nice leisure ride that people can enjoy. It would also put that abandoned track to good use.
I used to work ODV in Tomorrowland and we kept fridges in a room that would lead to the queue and I used to go down there and explore, it was creepy af. Covered in dust and abandoned strollers. Best memory tho was when my leads took us up to the ride to watch the fireworks, it was amazing
Always loved the PeopleMover as a little kid. I went on Rocket Rods once and kinda hated it lol If/when Disney gets their shit together and decides to make a serious decision to revamp Tomorrowland (and not need to tie everything to IPs), I hope the Tomorrowland Transit Authority makes a full appearance at Disneyland and the PeopleMover makes a comeback.
@@LeftCoastDrones Shame on you. The PM was one of the best best rides ever to be built at Disneyland. Not all rides need to be thrill rides. ON a hot day with sore feet, a tour on the PM was a wonderful break.
It did more than that. Rocket Rods was literally shaking the buildings apart. If you go back stage, you can see the I beams they used to reinforce the buildings back in the late 90’s. Also today’s codes would not allow them to make the same vehicle that were used back then. Being once they closed down the people mover and started work on RR. Everything that had been grandfathered disappeared, and everything would have to be brought up to code.
Thank you for this! It is curious to me why Disney doesn't at least remove the railings from the loading station in the middle, for when I first visited Disneyland a number of years ago, they were the biggest givaway that something had been abandoned there. The "shelfs" of the ride itself at the entrance to the land blend well enough in as a kind of sculptural element, and you'd have to more intentionally trace them to see that they went through buildings. But the railings call attention to the absence (and the decay) and thus reduce the overall theatrical impact of the land. Seems like it would be a small cost item to remove them and do a bit of touch up to better sell the 'transport you to magic' Disney and Disneyland professes to aim for. Also, neat to hear about how this version was a testbed for what was planned for EPCOT and how it evolved in the, as you note, still-popular version at the Magic Kingdom. :)
Yep. My wife and I were there in the late '80's and it was still fun. Now it just looks neglected and decaying. That's what happens when it just becomes a venue for showcasing your latest lame movie remake.
Tomorrowland at Disneyland may have peaked after the opening of Star Tours in the late 80s, although I enjoyed the quirkiness of Adventures through Inner Space. The Astro Jets over the People Mover and the Skyway added to the multiple levels of kinetic activity. No visually this land is mostly on the ground plane. Disney would never building attractions that intertwine like People Mover which touches every other attraction in Tomorrowland. The same issue exist with Autopia being built on top of the Submarines. Great video!
I remember riding the 'People Mover' in Houston Airport in the late 90s. I thought it was fairly neat at the time, and wondered why other airports didn't use the same.
I think its still running -- I always thought it looked out of place in the basement of the airport, but when you go between terminals outside of security you still use this system (i think?)
I managed to go on the Rocket Rods back in 1999, 7 year old me thought it was a fun ride. I actually like that the abandoned tracks and loading station are still there, it's like a relic of the past, and every time I go. I always have to point and say "abandoned Peoplemover tracks"
I was born in 91 and I was fortunate enough as a kid to ride both the people mover and rocket rods. Both were great rides, I totally remember the tron part of people mover and how fast and rickety rocket rods was. Im glad I was alive to experience both as with most rides and attractions at disneyland
Disneyland used to just be able to shut down entire lands for extended construction even when the park had significantly less capacity. Not only Tomorrowland in 1967, but Fantasyland in 1983, too. With California Adventure existing and with Star Wars land + the eventual opening of Tiana's directing thrill ride traffic to the opposite side of the park, I don't believe anyone who says it wouldn't be feasible for Tomorrowland to get another revamp that removes the tracks. With how much current Tomorrowland feels like a redundant extension of Galaxy's Edge anyway (especially when Hyperspace Mountain is on) it feels like it would be financially beneficial for Disney to not split the Star Wars focus between two areas regardless. I grit my teeth at how much the current execs focus on IP, but even if I accept their POV, surely they'd want to promote an IP in that area that isn't Star Wars, right? Are there that many people buying Star Wars merch in Tomorrowland instead of the only area in the park dedicated to a single movie franchise?
As a regular to Disneyland since 1965 (I was 4 then) I agree. I am one of those who write on the Dis fan boards that Tomorrowland 1967 was the best Tomorrowland. I have spoken to Bob Gurr (he's still with us!) and he has an idea of what a new Peoplemover should be but I doubt Burbank will listen to someone in their 90's. Oh well. Love your channel Jake!
Thank you for this video. I have never been to Disneyland, only Disney World. And just went back in April but before that was back in 1990. My parents never allowed us on the people mover, but when i went with my wife, we went on it, and I loved it. So fun too
I just came back from Florida and as we drove through Orlando I was thinking about how your Disney Abandoned videos are always the most interesting. I even drove past Cabana Bay and rewatched that video.
I really liked the rocket rods, fun ride. It was short lived. I guess I was one of the few that experience this ride. I remember hearing the rocket rods on the tracks when you were in the Tomorrowland area. They had a distinct noise
Can't believe the Peoplemover's just been left to rot like that! It's such a bummer, considering how iconic it was back in the day. Sure, maybe some folks might think it's old news now, but I bet a lot of people still have a soft spot for it. I mean, imagine if they brought it back with a fresh, modern twist. That'd be so cool!
I agree, we do enjoy the People Mover in the Magic Kingdom. When the day gets long and hot, a little ride on the People Mover gives you a chance to relax, and enjoy the leisurely ride through some AC.
Seeing footage of how wildly kinetic Tomorrowland used to be is depressing. Peoplemover, Astro Jets, Monorail, Autopia, Matterhorn, Submarine Voyage, Sky Buckets, Boat Cruise... they've made some improvements since the early 2000's dark ages but it's still a quiet shadow of what it once was.
I hope they never take the WDW people mover away.no joke one of my favorites from 5 to an adult now. Going on it at night and seeing Tomorrowland tron and space mountain are memories I won’t forget from magic kingdom as a kid ❤
It’s so funny seeing how nice the tomorrow land in Disneyworld looks, then comparing it to Disneyland with a more wacky layout with many different color schemes and ofc the people mover
The unused track provides some pretty good shade from the sun but it also makes the area feel pretty boxed in and crowded. The entirety of Tomorrowland needs a refresh, but modern day disney is just gonna throw whatever IP at it and call it a day instead of actually innovating so I don’t even know about that
I remember as a kid riding the 90s people mover. I remember it reopening as Rocket Rods and really enjoyed that ride for whatever reason. Was bummed when it closed and am still bummed that it is gone. Memories.
West Virginia University still has a running people mover, they call theirs PRT (Personal Rapid Transit). Its claim to fame is that it essentially never breaks.
Traveled here about a year ago for the first time and I’m so used to seeing the peoplemover at Disney world it didn’t even cross my mind this had been closed for so long. Your videos always amaze me
Yea, they should have never removed the people mover and left it alone, It was a great place to rest your feet and the scenery was wonderful for those nice long rides around tomorrowland. Rocket rods broke down so much, probably a few times in one day i saw it shut down back when it was running. I hope they add it back in, maybe doing it like the magic kingdom in florida has it.
I loved Rocket Rods when I got to ride it in '99, but I'll never forgive Disney for cheaping out and not banking the turns. So much squandered potential. Had they done it right, it might still exist.
Jake, thanks for amazing episode. I had a season pass to Disneyland in '99 and hated the Rocket Rods. They were fun, but as you stated, always broken down and the queue was always so long. The People Mover will forever have a fond place in my heart and memories. Thanks again!
Learning that they turned what is clearly an mode of transportation into a thrill ride is probably the biggest engineering failure imo and I never been to WDW (and likely never will). If they want to revive it, I think its best to restore it to its original intent and repurpose it to an viable transportation network by adding stops to points of interests and or extending to neighboring parks. And maybe get Brightline, Siemen or Hyundai Rotem to sponsor it. However there is a good chance that the track is beyond repair so its likely destined to just simply rot away to time but it would be cool if they, at the very least turn it into a walking path/trail... and maybe adds some entry points along the track if viable.
When I was a kid in SoCal, we went to Disneyland once a year from ‘68 to ‘76 and the People Mover was the perfect place for my folks to take me when I got a little too hyper and fussy. I still have great memories of being on it around sunset as the park cooled down and the lights came on. I haven’t been since and honestly had no idea it was no longer there. It’s too bad.
The people mover is a perfect analogy of everything Disney back in the day and everything Disney today. 15 years ago, my kids were on top of the world with out Disneyland experience. Today, I can't even pay them to visit it now.
Cool to see you talk more about the people mover, even including more about the rocket rods! Hopefully, the one in Florida stays for a long time since I still want to ride it!
If Disney is so obsessed in their desire to "leverage other intellectual properties", then the only thing I can visialise them doing in the near future is put holograms on the cute walking droids from that Star Wars land and let them parade endlessly around the track. IP used! Cute kinetic display! Free Ad space on those holograms! Disney, please surprise me, you can do more than this bare minimum... Right???
they should just bring it back to its original glory….the one here in FL….people always use it. i ride it to chill….all the chaos of being in the heat and long lines for other rides….you go on the peoplemover and chill….unwind.
I truly miss the PeopleMover very much as I was very lucky to have ridden this beloved classic especially during my early first visits to Disneyland around 1994 when I was months old at that time. It’ll be great to someday see “PeopleMover” make its long awaited comeback in Disneyland especially with the Upcoming “Disneyland Forward” Expansion Project within the near possible future ahead.
It’s pretty crazy that at Transit Trivia Night in Seattle just a couple nights ago they showed pictures of transit systems and we had to figure out what they are and they showed a picture of the Disneyland Peoplemover and myself being into theme parks and transit I was like “holy cow”
I've only been to Disneyland once....and that was in 1982. The funny thing about this is that I loved the People Mover the best of everything I saw. At the time, being 22, I loved it because it reminded me of 1967. It seemed so old in 1982. The Goodyear Music playing over the loud speakers was the theme music from Goodyear TV commercials all thru the 1960's, "Go Go Go Go Goodyear". I hadn't heard that song in so many years. It just seemed so old and quaint. I loved it!. I'm glad it's still there, yes abandoned but still glad it's there. I can remember waiting to get on Space Mountain and remember that ride too a bit, but it was the People Mover that made a lasting impression on me. I had been to the NY Worlds Fair, 2 times, so there was also the 1960's vibe going on for me in that regard as well.
The WDW Peoplemover is popular and a people eater. It’s shocking they haven’t found a way to just reopen the DL Peoplemover with ride cars similar to the WDW version.
I appreciate the shade it offers nowadays, but once I learned of the ride a few years ago I've wished dearly it would come back as a leisurely way to spend time.
The Disney World people mover is great because of the shorter wait times, the ride experience lasts longer, and it is a welcome change of pace in the day. Not every ride needs to be high speed thrills.
Very nice video! It’s crazy how long it’s been abandoned, and I personally don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon. It’s a shame, I think the Peoplemover is a really great ride!
As a LA resident who has an annual pass most of her life I can say this: 1. The Peoplemover was one of the most loved rides at the park til the day it closed, there was a constant but efficient line. When it was removed people were genuinely upset, especially since we had recently lost the Skyliner. Both of those ate up guests 2. I was one of the few who got to try Rocket Rods multiple times, and was one of the groups who got to first try it when it opened. It was fun, to a point. People complain about Matterhorn being rough...RR was rough! The stopping and starting and turns weren't fun. I only kept doing it cause...it was magically open at closing several times I was there. I was bored lol but I still wanted Peoplemover back. Most did 3. I strongly remember that no one was surprised when RR closed AND that people petitioned to bring back people mover for YEARS!! No one missed RR either because so few in reality to the amount of people who went to the park, got to ride the ride. It went down more than Rise of the Resistance 4. Disney admitted openly that due to the massive changes to the track and destroying most of the Peoplemover cars that they didn't want spend more money on bringing it back. Add on there's legit damage to the structure, the cost to repair is extremely high. But it's also been openly said that when they do do another needed update to Tomorrowland they'll likely bring it back because they know it would bring the crowds back. All this has been said by former and current Imagineers Honestly if Disney is smart they're make it the nostalgia ride, have us see the beginning of Disneyland to the planned future which could easily be regularly updated
Also missed that as well and really used to go to Disneyland back when it was still good and may have hit there when I was a young boy somewhere back in the early 90s.
Slightly off-topic, but years ago I attended Grad Night at Disney World. I don't know if it's still a thing, but the gist of it was that graduating high schoolers around Central Florida paid a reduced fee to go the Magic Kingdom and get locked in overnight doing all of the normal Disney stuff (everything was open). It was great except for one detail: they expected us to dress up, boys in suits, girls in formal dresses. In Central Florida. In July. You know how tiring walking the park can be wearing casual clothes, imagine it wearing dress shoe or heels. The magic of the evening quickly wore off one we saw the park was overcrowded with teenagers, the blisters started forming on our feet from ill-fitting dress shoes, and when we started soaking sweat completely through our shirts. The thing that saved our night was that blessed Peoplemover. We snuck food onto it and spent a couple hours slowly circling the park, eating and taking naps. The Disney workers probably didn't care what we were doing, to be honest, they were likely exhausted and tired of dealing with thousands of high schoolers, and we weren't causing any kind of trouble. I'll always have a small place in my heart for the Peoplemover. I'm not sure what we would have done without that option... maybe watch the Tiki Birds for a couple of hours... tiki tiki tiki room lol
Cheapest thing they could do with it is turn it into a sky walkway, especially as it goes directly to some attractions. Pave it over, put some hand rails up and you're pretty much done!
My big hope for tomorrowland is that once disneyland forward is at least partially opened, then Tomorrowland may see a complete refurb. I would hope that not only the people mover would return, but also maybe Tron can take the place of Autopia, finding nemo, and innoventions
Abandoned decaying infrastructure may be the most accurate predictor of the future that Tomorrowland has ever displayed.
Ooof that cuts
Underrated comment 😂
@@scarlett453 looking forward to Soylent Green on the snack bar menu
I wish I can favorite comments
Yea, just leave it as it is and rename it 'Detroit Land'!
Still weird that it just sits there rotting considering Disney’s usual standards when it comes to removing rides.
It's so weird
Maybe it’s because it’s too out in the open? Idk
The reality is that they would have to shut down a large portion of the park to remove it, and Disney cannot afford that. They need rides with large hourly throughput processes right now. Their numbers are down for the fiscal year, and that number would only grow if a massive portion of the park was closed for pillar removal. At this point Tomorrowland would look weird without it
I feel part of the issue is that with how much of the ride is in the open, too much of the park would need to be shut down to remove it completely.
Idk I'm a fan, but to be fair I was also crestfallen when they finally demolished river country so maybe don't listen to me 😂
As a current tomorrowland cast member, not only do i get guests asking if the people mover is open, but i also come across guests who have no idea what the people mover was and ask me what attraction that is. It breaks my heart to tell them that its been closed for decades, but i at least get to dive a little into the park's history.
That’s dope, you actually care enough to educate people. Most cast members wouldn’t even bother learning the history, let alone teaching it.
You watch technology connections? Dude was a cast member and his older videos speaks on the people mover n the haunted House. Check it out and please let me know what you think. 😊😊
I remember the people mover from Disney World. It was one of the best rides to sit back, rest and enjoy the scenery. Too bad that it's no more.
@circuittoys WDYM? The Orlando PeopleMover still lives.
@@circuittoys Yeah, I rode the People Mover at Disneyland back in the 80’s many times and it was like going down memory lane riding the People Mover at Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland when I was last there in 2021.
Pretty crazy how the "transportation method of the future" ended up being one of the longest-standing abandoned Disney rides in history...all because they wanted it to be a thrill ride.
Fantastic video as always, Jake
Transport mode of the future being left abandoned in the future.... That's so ironic it should be a line in an Alanis Morissettes song "Ironic" 😂
Would be great if Adam Something sink his teeth into why the Peoplemover would never work or otherwise be inferior to standard trains (hint: look up interoperability and redundancy)
Hard pass on another disney episode. Yarn. Keep them away from the kids.
@@johnmurray9526
It would be the only line in the song that was actually "ironic."
@@BB_Sebring Not everything needs to be a full sized train. The Peoplemover seems more like a 'futuristic' [at least futuristic for back when it was designed] version of a streetcar for short distance travel; like if you wanted to go from one city block to the next, or from one building in a large complex to another. Just hop on without having to wait. It would never be a substitute for subways or long distance trains, but it would be more convenient for the things it IS good for.
I wish it was still a People Mover. There are so many thrill rides. A nice overview of the Park with a relaxing pace would be so welcome. I remember Jenny Nicholson talking about when they closed the petting zoo she worked at, & her advocacy for places to take a breather bc theme parks are exciting but can stress or burn families out, so she champions those slower paced experiences, & I agree.
When I was a kid, my parents were the ones who loved the peoplemover. It was slow, relaxing, great way to take a break from a lot of walking and kept the kids mildly entertained. It was a nice way to preview other rides without waiting in line. Like many families, someone always not into fast rides so it was one of the few that all members could ride together. It also kind of competed with the monorail, faster, slicker, functional and great views.
A good time where families could discuss what other rides to visit or where to eat, all while the kids could cool down and everyone mellow out for awhile.
4:41 the drawing on the lower right looks like the old BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) cars where they would connect to each other.
"the bones of the people mover" is such a hardcore phrase out of context
Great book title.
@@americana9692nah nah nah 15-minute long stoner-prog doom with djent influences and jazz chords that forms the B-side of an unreleased demo tape.
Metal Af
Or it's just a hearse! 😉
that sounds like some horror game/movie type thing
or something that cares the souls of the damned to hell
What's left is a beautiful shade structure on a hot summer day when you're in Tomorrowland with no shade escape 🤣
no misters in land?
Honestly, that's probably at least part of why it hasn't been removed. While I'm sure the biggest issue is cost to remove it combined with the fact that the parks never close, so they can't easily do the construction needed to remove it, the fact that it DOES provide shade for guests in an area where there otherwise isn't any is something Disney sees as a viable use for it.
Honestly, I think that’s why it’s still there! It’s great shade and provides a futuristic atmosphere.
@@kattriella1331agreed! I can’t see Tomorrowland without this looming abandoned structure. It’s just so iconic at this point and the shade is such a relief.
I know the difficulty of demolition is the "real" answer, but I always figured this is the main reason why they don't seem to have even considered trying. I wouldn't be surprised if any construction ever done on it would just to be to finally formalize it as a shade structure.
Getting rid of this for Rocket Rods and then letting it collect dust is definitely one of the dumbest things Disney parks has done over the years.
I remember the rocket ride very well. When I was a small child, I went on it with my sister, and she was terrified because I kept taking it up hi
The Rocket Ride was poorly engineered and broke every month. The maintenance and repairs made the ride too costly to run. So, they shut it down after only a few years of it being open.
@@HockeyVictory66the ops point is that people mover should have never shut down; it was a perfectly good, if not “safe”, ride.
Tomorrowland needs an overhaul. Would it be amazing to have a people mover back? Yes! Would they do it. Probably not. The hard lesson they learned is to stop building tracks through their buildings.
tomorrowland has become yesterdayland
@@MCscarfacematt epcot too. The best part of epcot if you can even call it that is just stereotypes of what americans think of other countries lol
I agree that tomorrowland needs updating. The biggest issue with the land now is that its a fix of sci-fi ish properties and rides. There isn't much connection. You have the Astral Orbitors, Star Wars, Lightyear shooter, Launch Bay, Autotopia, Space Mountain and the stage show that gets used on, Monarail (I guess it counts) and off along with the sitting building and tracks to People Mover. Not really counting the train that passes through the land. In short its a mix of property based attractions and original/semi original attractions. I think what Tomorrowland needs is a reimagined "future" and or a new concept of properties based around the idea of a "future". As much as I hate to say it, I think Star Wars needs to leave tomorrowland now that the new land is open. There isn't a point in having Star Wars in tomorrowland other than keeping launch bay's building open. Buzz Lightyear is kind of a hit/miss in my opinion to stay or go. As of late it's been kind of having performance issues. I think all the other attractions are fine, just maybe need a new update or retheme. Overall I think the reason why Disney is against making changes to the land is because they know it should have to be shut down or closed in parts which they don't want to do as its still a popular land.
@@UrSammich They're probably worried about removing or rebranding the IP-based attractions, not just the temporary closures needed to do so. Disney wants to keep leveraging their overvalued IPs, so any idea of consistent themeing is forced to take a backseat.
It does need some serious tlc. Wish they would just bite the bullet and close Tomorrowland and fix it, instead of focusing on new parts of the park.
Like, does Disney know that they would hit a home run just by bringing the Peoplemover back in its previous form? I would visit just to see this thing operating again.
As much as I wish it would happen it's very unlikely. Rocket rods strained the tracks too much for it on top of the many years rotting thst the tracks would still probably have to be rebuilt. It would probably cost ad much if not more to do that than to just rip them out.
Serves as a good refuge from the California sun though.
They can’t do it
for the reasons mentioned above, plus maybe the reputation of being a Peoplekiller, moreso than any other ride to my knowledge
Disney doesn't know what they are doing these days. Just look at the shows they are making.
No they wouldn't. A handful of people who have a weird delusion about it what it was would find out it kinda sucks. It wasn't really a ride, it was something to do when your feet hurt because there was never a line for it and it was a "tour" of Tomorrowland. Don't really think they need a motorized means of showing you a busted ass arcade, Pizza Planet Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear and Star Tours.
Having rode it ALOT before it closed its kinda hilarious the weird delusion that people have about it being so amazing.
Disney should absolutely bring the Disneyland Peoplemover back with the coming park expansion. Having a relaxed way of moving from park to park (by having loading/unloading stations in each) or getting a tour of the OG park and expansion via an updated Peoplemover would be a huge crowd-pleaser while also being a great way to shift some of the park capacity around.
Too logical.
@@captiannemo1587 disney looks at what people want?
I am guessing the support structures got very damaged by rocket rods, then got even worse from being abandoned for 20 years.
It could be an automated light metro allowing different services to run between parks, journeys within, and possibly even to the hotels.
Similar to the Vancouver skytrain docklands light railway or Copenhagen metro
Here's an idea what Disney could do with the Peoplemover tracks: turn it into their own version of the High Line in New York.
Imagine having all that greenery on top of it and sitting spaces, view decks, etc.
That's a genius idea. No major construction, guest access, doesn't need to be a ride, etc
That was on my mind as well. I've seen pictures of the High Line in New York but have never been there. Certainly would be a positive, especially in car dominating Southern California to get people out of their cars and...WALK. Mind you I enjoy driving and don't like the self driving cars that dominate the surface streets in my current home of Phoenix, Arizona. Certainly the downside would be providing enough shade to counteract the increasing temperatures of the USA Southwest.
They definitely need more shade and shelter from rain
@@rebeccageiger9110 Was the ride operational during raining days back then? I couldn’t find any info if it was open or closed back in the day.
thats such a good idea i wonder if it was explored and for reasons we cant know, not pursued.
I feel like they overlooked the real advantage and attraction of this ride....a break. I know when I go to Orlando, the people mover there is a great way to rest and cool down a bit while getting some light entertainment. It's the lofi of Disney rides, and I think its kinda sad DIsney just ditched it.
I heard someone say the words "People" and "Mover" together. I'm in.
I came to the comments to see if you’d commented! I’m just now getting to watch but I knew you’d be all over this hahaha
@@meaganwilliams6826real. I can’t hear people mover without thinking of offhanddisney😂
HOW ARE YOU EVERYWHERE??? I immediately opened the comments upon discovering this video, and knew you’d be here somehow
It was a highlight, not because my friends and I really liked the experience, but because it was fifteen minutes where you could just sit down and enjoy the company of your friends while doing something relaxing and a bit kitschy. Also the rollers on the moving ramps going up to the loading area and down again to street level made for a great foot massage.
Also the speed ramps on Space Mountain gave a equally awesome foot massage!
I enjoy both thrill rides and relaxing rides. I was bummed in 2010 when I learned that the sky ride at the Bronx Zoo had been torn down. A friend said that it was because someone bigger got stuck on the ride or something. I had only been there once before as a kid.
This
I literally clicked as soon as I saw the video. Its counterpart in WDW is such a classic and I wish I had the opportunity to ride the version in Disneyland before they made it into Rocket Rods.
It was a great experience, it's a shame it's no longer available in DL. When i went to DW in 2019 it was the second right I went on.
@@phantomdance So the PPl Mover is still working in FL at DW? I've only ever been to DW (not DL), and I LOVED the PPl Mover. When I went w/ my mom years later, it was our favorite ride, we went on it at least a few times.
@@requinremembers it was when I was there in 2019, I believe it is still operating but I am uncertain,
@requinremembers @phantomdance I’m a cast member at Disney world in Florida and it’s still open
@@briannaw103 thank you!!
A couple of corrections/clarifications: Tron was released in July 1982 and the SuperSpeed Tunnel (added 1977) added Tron within a month. Signage was completed by October.
In preparation of planning the new attraction, the tracks were closed and torn up in 1995 to allow structural engineers to verify every pylon, joint, gap, and curve be sound.
The attraction was designed with banked curves and the lack of budget which caused the removal of the banking. This redesign caused the unplanned severe braking which caused the track joints to crack and vibrate. The closure in 2000 was planned to address these issues and multiple engineering firms were consulted in creating a solution. The attraction was not abandoned until the last minute, right before the reports in late April, 2001.
I know all these details since one of my college roommates was involved in the Tomorrowland ‘98 construction (although they only worked on Innoventions) and did some of the consulting before and right at the beginning of the Rocket Rods closure.
The older Abandoned Episodes got me into this channel, it’s so neat seeing old videos being given a new breath of fresh air
the people mover was a timeless attraction and i wish i got to experience it. my dad got to experience not only the people mover, but the gondolas too. oh how i envy him.
They got rid of the gondolas when I was very young. However, I do remember riding in those too. I remember both rides were amazing and I'm sad that you never got the chance to try both.
Still blows my mind that I can watch such high-quality videos for free from this channel
I mean, unless you have free internet, it costs something to watch. And the creators make bank off this "free content."
@@englishatheart It costs something to watch, but this creator isnt getting the money you pay your ISP lol.
The ads and your data added to their algorithm is the price you pay. Most are ok with that trade-off.
I'm not a Disneyland goer, but my theory as to why Tomorrowland sees so much neglect is that the concept of an optimistic future is... a thing of the past? Tomorrowland was made to showcase how the future is bright and how technology is awesome. Then it became about Sci-Fi in general. And today, whatever you see about the future or Sci-Fi... it's always post-apocalyptic. Even Star Wars thrives off the themes of decay, grime and authoritarianism. The current cultural sentiment does not see a positive future, and an optimistic Tomorrowland is not in the zeitgeist - and Disney doesn't want to bum guests out.
That said, a truly optimistic Tomorrowland would be really good. We're in desperate need of positive visions of the future again.
The issue is that no one can appropriately predict what the future may be from a present perspective. Back in the 50s and 60s, the world was much simpler and visions were much larger and brighter. Today everything is so massive and saturated that it's virtually impossible to conceive a believable, optimistic future that everyone would agree on conceptually.
While I agree with this 100% I think the other issue is the passage of time. Time is always moving forward and that means we’ll always eventually arrive at the “future” so the whole area will constantly have to be updated to push that “future” forward another 20-50 years. To a money hungry company like Disney that’s an expense they’re not willing to make. As a history nerd I would love a “yesterday land” of some sort-I’ve never been to Disney so idk is they actually already have that or not-but it would be a lot easier since it wouldn’t have to be updated as often
@@arianamaria_ they could be turning Tomorrow Land into Zeerust land and it’d be amazing.
Due to decades of runaway illegal immigration, the future is constant racial/ethnic conflict and third world child rape. Can they make a ride out of that?
Everyone always brings up the problem of “tomorrow will eventually come”, but no one ever talks about this aspect.
I have very vivid memories of riding this. One memory that stands out, I remember peering over the edge of the bars and seeing people resting on a bench in a buildin area.
I read this initially as "peeing over the edge" and it hit very differently until I reread
@@stealthspy007 I read it that way until I read your reply.
@@stealthspy007😂
Rocket Rods is literally the embodiment of that saying “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well. You either do it right, or you shouldn’t bother at all “
The people mover was easily my favorite Disney ride, it's hard to believe it's been gone for that long.
the People Mover, Submarine Voyage, and the Carousel Of Progress are the 3 rides i STILL don’t understand why they were removed from Disneyland.
Because they only care about Star Wars marvel movie franchise themed rides now. Ugh
Disney is a trash company.
@@ahsatan8997don't forget Pixar too! It's just so much easier to literally slap a coat of paint on an old ride than make a new one I guess
CoP moved because GE figured they were no longer getting any bang for their bucks, as Disneyland is mostly locals and they'd seen it. GE agreed to continue to sponsor if it was moved to WDW for a new audience and agreed to fund the move. It was GE sponsered at WDW for a long time
@@richardperhai8292I rode the Carousel of Progress at WDW. My mom rode it at the 1964 New York Worlds’ Fair, along with the other rides that were there.
They really should call it Ancient Annex because it's clear they don't care about Tomorrowland and it does not live up to its name and hasn't for a long long time. I feel lucky to have ridden both the Disneyland people mover, and the Rocket Rods.
This channel has really hit a prefect formula for making these videos. Entertaining and informative for things that don’t seem like they’d be all that interesting. Makes you wonder how companies (like Disney) can churn out complete trash costing millions but a simple limited budget RUclips channel makes absolute gold.
Well he doesn't pay for the footage he uses
The secret is passion and creative freedom.
I always wondered why Bush Intercontinental Airport had a strange little subway in the basement!! I love riding it even though it’s tiny and very rough.
The US capital has the same people mover.
Technology connections has a good video specifically on the Houston one
Been subbed to you for probably ten years at this point, it's insane how good you've gotten man
That’s really kind of you, thanks!
The people mover...through the world of TRON was one of my favorite rides!
I love the use of its soundtrack in the background. one of the best albums out there
After the people mover closed, they should really have just had some model spaceships without passengers going around on the tracks or something like that, for visual interest.
That's what I said. Similar to what IOA did with their elevated track in Seuss landing before the Seuss trolley train opened.
Or just leave open as is.
You don’t want to have a fake ride that looks more interesting than actual rides. It’s problematic enough with the empty promise of the elevated track.
I never got to ride the PeopleMover...
It was such a great ride from what I've seen online.
I still find it baffling to this day how Dosney hasn't done anything to fix or at least remove the track. To me, its a sad reminder of what was and what could've been.
I honestly really hope Disney can bring back the ride in some form. I also hope Disbey can make the rest if Tomorrowland more like how it was in 1967, since that version if Tomorrowland is the best to me.
It wasn't that good. People are overrating it just because Magic Kingdom is a 6/10 park.
@@LeftCoastDronesI think people over rate it for the nostalgia. I didn’t ride the Peoplemover until I was in my 30s. I had no idea what it but after hearing the hype, I went on it at Disney World and was thoroughly disappointed.
The people mover was a rare jewel. Covered in the shade, smooth gliding movement, the slight breeze running through your hair; it was one of those perfect rides you'd go on in the middle of the day for some relaxation.
I always loved the people mover and got upset when they abruptly closed it. Whenever I went to Disneyland and tried to get on the Rocket Rods ride, it was closed. Then they permanently closed it. I never got a chance to ride the Rocket Rods. Even though I was told the ride sucked, I at least wanted to try it once. I wish they would bring the people mover back. It would be a great homage to the past and a nice leisure ride that people can enjoy. It would also put that abandoned track to good use.
I used to work ODV in Tomorrowland and we kept fridges in a room that would lead to the queue and I used to go down there and explore, it was creepy af. Covered in dust and abandoned strollers. Best memory tho was when my leads took us up to the ride to watch the fireworks, it was amazing
It's sad the attraction has been closed longer than it was open, rocket rods don't count
Always loved the PeopleMover as a little kid. I went on Rocket Rods once and kinda hated it lol
If/when Disney gets their shit together and decides to make a serious decision to revamp Tomorrowland (and not need to tie everything to IPs), I hope the Tomorrowland Transit Authority makes a full appearance at Disneyland and the PeopleMover makes a comeback.
I’ve been waiting for this video for 10 years. 10 YEARS
Get over it. The PeopleMover is a fancy airport moving walkway at best.
@@LeftCoastDrones Shame on you. The PM was one of the best best rides ever to be built at Disneyland. Not all rides need to be thrill rides. ON a hot day with sore feet, a tour on the PM was a wonderful break.
Put the old 80's carts back up there, slap some Tron paint on 'em and I'd be a happy camper taking a chill ride.
Sadly it jeeds more then that. Rocket rids damaged it
It did more than that. Rocket Rods was literally shaking the buildings apart. If you go back stage, you can see the I beams they used to reinforce the buildings back in the late 90’s. Also today’s codes would not allow them to make the same vehicle that were used back then. Being once they closed down the people mover and started work on RR. Everything that had been grandfathered disappeared, and everything would have to be brought up to code.
Thank you for this! It is curious to me why Disney doesn't at least remove the railings from the loading station in the middle, for when I first visited Disneyland a number of years ago, they were the biggest givaway that something had been abandoned there. The "shelfs" of the ride itself at the entrance to the land blend well enough in as a kind of sculptural element, and you'd have to more intentionally trace them to see that they went through buildings. But the railings call attention to the absence (and the decay) and thus reduce the overall theatrical impact of the land. Seems like it would be a small cost item to remove them and do a bit of touch up to better sell the 'transport you to magic' Disney and Disneyland professes to aim for. Also, neat to hear about how this version was a testbed for what was planned for EPCOT and how it evolved in the, as you note, still-popular version at the Magic Kingdom. :)
I remember when Tomorrowland was happening with the people move, skybuckets. Rockets on top of the people mover. Bands playing. I miss that Disneyland
Yep. My wife and I were there in the late '80's and it was still fun. Now it just looks neglected and decaying. That's what happens when it just becomes a venue for showcasing your latest lame movie remake.
Tomorrowland at Disneyland may have peaked after the opening of Star Tours in the late 80s, although I enjoyed the quirkiness of Adventures through Inner Space. The Astro Jets over the People Mover and the Skyway added to the multiple levels of kinetic activity. No visually this land is mostly on the ground plane.
Disney would never building attractions that intertwine like People Mover which touches every other attraction in Tomorrowland. The same issue exist with Autopia being built on top of the Submarines.
Great video!
I remember riding the 'People Mover' in Houston Airport in the late 90s. I thought it was fairly neat at the time, and wondered why other airports didn't use the same.
I think its still running -- I always thought it looked out of place in the basement of the airport, but when you go between terminals outside of security you still use this system (i think?)
I managed to go on the Rocket Rods back in 1999, 7 year old me thought it was a fun ride. I actually like that the abandoned tracks and loading station are still there, it's like a relic of the past, and every time I go. I always have to point and say "abandoned Peoplemover tracks"
I was born in 91 and I was fortunate enough as a kid to ride both the people mover and rocket rods. Both were great rides, I totally remember the tron part of people mover and how fast and rickety rocket rods was. Im glad I was alive to experience both as with most rides and attractions at disneyland
Somebody needs to show this video to Offhand Disney
I'm calling out the copyright infringement! If it's the Peoplemover, The Haunted Mansion, or Living with the Land, Dallin has to approve! 😂
Oh I'm here and I'm loving every second of it.
@@OffhandDisney cryptid sighting
Ha! I just commented this very thing! 😂
@@OffhandDisneyThought of you immediately
Disneyland used to just be able to shut down entire lands for extended construction even when the park had significantly less capacity. Not only Tomorrowland in 1967, but Fantasyland in 1983, too. With California Adventure existing and with Star Wars land + the eventual opening of Tiana's directing thrill ride traffic to the opposite side of the park, I don't believe anyone who says it wouldn't be feasible for Tomorrowland to get another revamp that removes the tracks. With how much current Tomorrowland feels like a redundant extension of Galaxy's Edge anyway (especially when Hyperspace Mountain is on) it feels like it would be financially beneficial for Disney to not split the Star Wars focus between two areas regardless.
I grit my teeth at how much the current execs focus on IP, but even if I accept their POV, surely they'd want to promote an IP in that area that isn't Star Wars, right? Are there that many people buying Star Wars merch in Tomorrowland instead of the only area in the park dedicated to a single movie franchise?
As a regular to Disneyland since 1965 (I was 4 then) I agree. I am one of those who write on the Dis fan boards that Tomorrowland 1967 was the best Tomorrowland. I have spoken to Bob Gurr (he's still with us!) and he has an idea of what a new Peoplemover should be but I doubt Burbank will listen to someone in their 90's. Oh well. Love your channel Jake!
I'm pretty sure the revenue from your park tickets alone could have paid for a brand new peoplemover ride, twice.
Perfect show to watch before my afternoon nap
we're on the same boat
Thank you for this video. I have never been to Disneyland, only Disney World. And just went back in April but before that was back in 1990. My parents never allowed us on the people mover, but when i went with my wife, we went on it, and I loved it. So fun too
As a kid in the 90's, we used to go ride the "people mover" at IAH for fun, just doing laps around the airport for laughs!
I just came back from Florida and as we drove through Orlando I was thinking about how your Disney Abandoned videos are always the most interesting. I even drove past Cabana Bay and rewatched that video.
The abandoned Rocket Rods attraction is always right up there with River Country in terms of my favourite abandoned Disney stories.
I really liked the rocket rods, fun ride. It was short lived. I guess I was one of the few that experience this ride. I remember hearing the rocket rods on the tracks when you were in the Tomorrowland area. They had a distinct noise
Was it kind of a SHAKUGAKUKAKU noise or am i thinking of Test Track?
Can't believe the Peoplemover's just been left to rot like that! It's such a bummer, considering how iconic it was back in the day. Sure, maybe some folks might think it's old news now, but I bet a lot of people still have a soft spot for it. I mean, imagine if they brought it back with a fresh, modern twist. That'd be so cool!
The issue is the damage Ricket Rods did to the structure
I agree, we do enjoy the People Mover in the Magic Kingdom. When the day gets long and hot, a little ride on the People Mover gives you a chance to relax, and enjoy the leisurely ride through some AC.
I guess "post-apocalypse where human-built structures are decaying and being reclaimed by nature" technically counts as a vision of the future?
Watching this, I realized I'm old enough to remember riding those attractions before and after the remodeling.
Babe wake up. Brand new BSF video.
Seeing footage of how wildly kinetic Tomorrowland used to be is depressing. Peoplemover, Astro Jets, Monorail, Autopia, Matterhorn, Submarine Voyage, Sky Buckets, Boat Cruise... they've made some improvements since the early 2000's dark ages but it's still a quiet shadow of what it once was.
The people mover and gondola are two retro Magic Kingdom attractions that I miss!
I hope they never take the WDW people mover away.no joke one of my favorites from 5 to an adult now. Going on it at night and seeing Tomorrowland tron and space mountain are memories I won’t forget from magic kingdom as a kid ❤
I always wondered why this was left to rot, thank you BFS what a great video I’ve watched this entire thing 125 times already
It’s so funny seeing how nice the tomorrow land in Disneyworld looks, then comparing it to Disneyland with a more wacky layout with many different color schemes and ofc the people mover
The unused track provides some pretty good shade from the sun but it also makes the area feel pretty boxed in and crowded. The entirety of Tomorrowland needs a refresh, but modern day disney is just gonna throw whatever IP at it and call it a day instead of actually innovating so I don’t even know about that
One of my favorite rides ever at Disneyland.
It's very insane how such an ominous ride with so much history would be easily visible to everyone after being abandoned
I remember as a kid riding the 90s people mover. I remember it reopening as Rocket Rods and really enjoyed that ride for whatever reason.
Was bummed when it closed and am still bummed that it is gone. Memories.
West Virginia University still has a running people mover, they call theirs PRT (Personal Rapid Transit). Its claim to fame is that it essentially never breaks.
Traveled here about a year ago for the first time and I’m so used to seeing the peoplemover at Disney world it didn’t even cross my mind this had been closed for so long. Your videos always amaze me
Yea, they should have never removed the people mover and left it alone, It was a great place to rest your feet and the scenery was wonderful for those nice long rides around tomorrowland. Rocket rods broke down so much, probably a few times in one day i saw it shut down back when it was running. I hope they add it back in, maybe doing it like the magic kingdom in florida has it.
Great video. I hadn’t been to Disneyland since the mid 90’s, went back this year to take my daughter, and was confused at the lack of the People Mover
I loved Rocket Rods when I got to ride it in '99, but I'll never forgive Disney for cheaping out and not banking the turns. So much squandered potential. Had they done it right, it might still exist.
Jake, thanks for amazing episode. I had a season pass to Disneyland in '99 and hated the Rocket Rods. They were fun, but as you stated, always broken down and the queue was always so long. The People Mover will forever have a fond place in my heart and memories. Thanks again!
Learning that they turned what is clearly an mode of transportation into a thrill ride is probably the biggest engineering failure imo and I never been to WDW (and likely never will). If they want to revive it, I think its best to restore it to its original intent and repurpose it to an viable transportation network by adding stops to points of interests and or extending to neighboring parks. And maybe get Brightline, Siemen or Hyundai Rotem to sponsor it.
However there is a good chance that the track is beyond repair so its likely destined to just simply rot away to time but it would be cool if they, at the very least turn it into a walking path/trail... and maybe adds some entry points along the track if viable.
When I was a kid in SoCal, we went to Disneyland once a year from ‘68 to ‘76 and the People Mover was the perfect place for my folks to take me when I got a little too hyper and fussy. I still have great memories of being on it around sunset as the park cooled down and the lights came on. I haven’t been since and honestly had no idea it was no longer there. It’s too bad.
The people mover is a perfect analogy of everything Disney back in the day and everything Disney today. 15 years ago, my kids were on top of the world with out Disneyland experience. Today, I can't even pay them to visit it now.
Cool to see you talk more about the people mover, even including more about the rocket rods! Hopefully, the one in Florida stays for a long time since I still want to ride it!
They could re-theme it for the 2030s as a 1960s retro-future, with the 1960s being as distant in time from the 2030s as the 1890s.
If Disney is so obsessed in their desire to "leverage other intellectual properties", then the only thing I can visialise them doing in the near future is put holograms on the cute walking droids from that Star Wars land and let them parade endlessly around the track. IP used! Cute kinetic display! Free Ad space on those holograms!
Disney, please surprise me, you can do more than this bare minimum... Right???
I loved the People Mover. Used it all the time when I was there.
they should just bring it back to its original glory….the one here in FL….people always use it. i ride it to chill….all the chaos of being in the heat and long lines for other rides….you go on the peoplemover and chill….unwind.
Sadly by all known reports rocket rods damaged the structure and Disney just does not have the money...or the peoplewith talent to brong it back
Dallin weeps for this.
I truly miss the PeopleMover very much as I was very lucky to have ridden this beloved classic especially during my early first visits to Disneyland around 1994 when I was months old at that time. It’ll be great to someday see “PeopleMover” make its long awaited comeback in Disneyland especially with the Upcoming “Disneyland Forward” Expansion Project within the near possible future ahead.
It’s pretty crazy that at Transit Trivia Night in Seattle just a couple nights ago they showed pictures of transit systems and we had to figure out what they are and they showed a picture of the Disneyland Peoplemover and myself being into theme parks and transit I was like “holy cow”
I've only been to Disneyland once....and that was in 1982. The funny thing about this is that I loved the People Mover the best of everything I saw. At the time, being 22, I loved it because it reminded me of 1967. It seemed so old in 1982. The Goodyear Music playing over the loud speakers was the theme music from Goodyear TV commercials all thru the 1960's, "Go Go Go Go Goodyear". I hadn't heard that song in so many years. It just seemed so old and quaint. I loved it!. I'm glad it's still there, yes abandoned but still glad it's there. I can remember waiting to get on Space Mountain and remember that ride too a bit, but it was the People Mover that made a lasting impression on me. I had been to the NY Worlds Fair, 2 times, so there was also the 1960's vibe going on for me in that regard as well.
The WDW Peoplemover is popular and a people eater. It’s shocking they haven’t found a way to just reopen the DL Peoplemover with ride cars similar to the WDW version.
Another fantastic video, Jake. Can’t wait to see what you cover next!
Just a little math error. The Disneyland PeopleMover operated for 28 years [1967-95), but the RocketRods only closed 23 years ago.
Yeah I was counting it from the day it closed as the peoplemover. I admit that doesn’t make much sense though lol
I appreciate the shade it offers nowadays, but once I learned of the ride a few years ago I've wished dearly it would come back as a leisurely way to spend time.
The Disney World people mover is great because of the shorter wait times, the ride experience lasts longer, and it is a welcome change of pace in the day. Not every ride needs to be high speed thrills.
Very nice video! It’s crazy how long it’s been abandoned, and I personally don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon. It’s a shame, I think the Peoplemover is a really great ride!
That original installation at IAH (Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport) is still running.
So is the same system in the US capital.
As a LA resident who has an annual pass most of her life I can say this:
1. The Peoplemover was one of the most loved rides at the park til the day it closed, there was a constant but efficient line. When it was removed people were genuinely upset, especially since we had recently lost the Skyliner. Both of those ate up guests
2. I was one of the few who got to try Rocket Rods multiple times, and was one of the groups who got to first try it when it opened. It was fun, to a point. People complain about Matterhorn being rough...RR was rough! The stopping and starting and turns weren't fun. I only kept doing it cause...it was magically open at closing several times I was there. I was bored lol but I still wanted Peoplemover back. Most did
3. I strongly remember that no one was surprised when RR closed AND that people petitioned to bring back people mover for YEARS!! No one missed RR either because so few in reality to the amount of people who went to the park, got to ride the ride. It went down more than Rise of the Resistance
4. Disney admitted openly that due to the massive changes to the track and destroying most of the Peoplemover cars that they didn't want spend more money on bringing it back. Add on there's legit damage to the structure, the cost to repair is extremely high. But it's also been openly said that when they do do another needed update to Tomorrowland they'll likely bring it back because they know it would bring the crowds back. All this has been said by former and current Imagineers
Honestly if Disney is smart they're make it the nostalgia ride, have us see the beginning of Disneyland to the planned future which could easily be regularly updated
I miss the Peoplemover. I'm glad I got to ride it during the 80's.
Also missed that as well and really used to go to Disneyland back when it was still good and may have hit there when I was a young boy somewhere back in the early 90s.
Slightly off-topic, but years ago I attended Grad Night at Disney World. I don't know if it's still a thing, but the gist of it was that graduating high schoolers around Central Florida paid a reduced fee to go the Magic Kingdom and get locked in overnight doing all of the normal Disney stuff (everything was open). It was great except for one detail: they expected us to dress up, boys in suits, girls in formal dresses. In Central Florida. In July. You know how tiring walking the park can be wearing casual clothes, imagine it wearing dress shoe or heels.
The magic of the evening quickly wore off one we saw the park was overcrowded with teenagers, the blisters started forming on our feet from ill-fitting dress shoes, and when we started soaking sweat completely through our shirts. The thing that saved our night was that blessed Peoplemover. We snuck food onto it and spent a couple hours slowly circling the park, eating and taking naps. The Disney workers probably didn't care what we were doing, to be honest, they were likely exhausted and tired of dealing with thousands of high schoolers, and we weren't causing any kind of trouble.
I'll always have a small place in my heart for the Peoplemover. I'm not sure what we would have done without that option... maybe watch the Tiki Birds for a couple of hours... tiki tiki tiki room lol
Cheapest thing they could do with it is turn it into a sky walkway, especially as it goes directly to some attractions.
Pave it over, put some hand rails up and you're pretty much done!
My big hope for tomorrowland is that once disneyland forward is at least partially opened, then Tomorrowland may see a complete refurb. I would hope that not only the people mover would return, but also maybe Tron can take the place of Autopia, finding nemo, and innoventions