Disney's Monorail System: History, Tragedy, and Memories in the Making
Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor mantangase alejado de las puertas.
If you're anything like me, you know exactly where this statement is from - this is the message played by Disney's Monorail System! The message was voiced by Jack Wagner, an American radio personality. Nicknamed "The Voice of Disneyland", he has voiced a number of announcements and safety advisements for Disneyland and Disney World. With the Monorail opening in 1959 in Disneyland and 1971 in Disney World, this message has been playing for and keeping families safe for decades!
Today, we're going to discuss this much-beloved classic. From its inception to tragedies that have occurred in relation to it, it's a part of Disney history that needs to be explored.
Let's go back to the beginning. The Disneyland Monorail System, originally the Disneyland ALWEG Monorail System, was launched in 1959. It was the first monorail system in operation in the United States. The original Mark I monorails were designed in 1958 by Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr. Now, if you don't know who Bob Gurr is, he is the man to have developed most of the ride vehicles for the Disneyland attractions. This includes Autopia, The Haunted Mansion (gotta get me some Doom Buggies!), and the Matterhorn Bobsleds. He also did work on the King Kong encounter animatronic used at Universal Studios in Hollywood.
The Monorail as it Started/Exists in Disneyland
What the monorail is and what was envisioned for it are two separate matters entirely. The Monorail System was originally envisioned by Walt Disney to be a practical form of free transportation for the future (much like his visions of a community living in his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, EPCOT). It also evolved from the 1959 round trip, no stops, sightseeing attraction in Tomorrowland it started as to an actual transportation system in 1961. In 2012, the monorails were given a Cars-themed makeover... but it was not to last; by 2013, they were back to the good ol' monorail days of old that luckily didn't include big soul-less eyes looking through you as you boarded the car.
In Disneyland, the Monorail System only runs one-way in the present day and has two different stations.
The Routes in Disneyland:
A little bit more technologically advanced than the 1959 versions, the Monorail System at Disney World originally used Mark IV monorails. The Mark IVs were built in 1969, and cost about $7M each! That's a lot of money! These monorails were used at Walt Disney World between 1971 and 1989, at which point they were replaced by the Mark VI monorail. If you're wondering what happened to Mark V, this system was in use at Disneyland from 1987 - 2008, being replaced by Mark VII at that point in time. New monorails are also purported to be heading to Walt Disney World in the near future.
Initially in Disney World, there were two monorail lines: Magic Kingdom Resort and Magic Kingdom Express. This was expanded to include Epcot in 1982.
Fun fact: this system is one of the most heavily used monorail systems in the world, with 150,000 daily users!
The Routes in Disney World:
Each monorail is 203 feet, 6 inches and can carry a whopping 360 passengers! The maximum speed is 40 mph (about 64 km/hr for my fellow Canadians).
Dark Disney, Monorail Style
Now, as you know, I do love some dark Disney once in awhile. Let's look at some of the incidents that occurred on or as a result of the Monorail System, shall we? If you're not into that sort of thing, look at the puppy and move on to merch! :)
1966
Let's Discuss Merch!
You've got to be kidding if you thought the monorail wouldn't have merch. Heck, the slogan has merch up the wazoo. There's also a pretty cute shirt that says, "If it involves monorails, dole whips, or Mickey ears, count me in."
If you're into building stuff, Disney has a monorail play set that actually looks pretty interesting. I'm a grown woman in her 20's... not sure I should but quite this enthused!
Know a man who likes to dress sharp? How about an official monorail tie? Either way, between official and unofficial wares, you're bound to find just what you're looking for!
Do you love to ride the monorail? Let me know! Comment and subscribe :)
If you're anything like me, you know exactly where this statement is from - this is the message played by Disney's Monorail System! The message was voiced by Jack Wagner, an American radio personality. Nicknamed "The Voice of Disneyland", he has voiced a number of announcements and safety advisements for Disneyland and Disney World. With the Monorail opening in 1959 in Disneyland and 1971 in Disney World, this message has been playing for and keeping families safe for decades!
Today, we're going to discuss this much-beloved classic. From its inception to tragedies that have occurred in relation to it, it's a part of Disney history that needs to be explored.
Let's go back to the beginning. The Disneyland Monorail System, originally the Disneyland ALWEG Monorail System, was launched in 1959. It was the first monorail system in operation in the United States. The original Mark I monorails were designed in 1958 by Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr. Now, if you don't know who Bob Gurr is, he is the man to have developed most of the ride vehicles for the Disneyland attractions. This includes Autopia, The Haunted Mansion (gotta get me some Doom Buggies!), and the Matterhorn Bobsleds. He also did work on the King Kong encounter animatronic used at Universal Studios in Hollywood.
 |
| Matterhorn Bobsleds in Disneyland |
What the monorail is and what was envisioned for it are two separate matters entirely. The Monorail System was originally envisioned by Walt Disney to be a practical form of free transportation for the future (much like his visions of a community living in his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, EPCOT). It also evolved from the 1959 round trip, no stops, sightseeing attraction in Tomorrowland it started as to an actual transportation system in 1961. In 2012, the monorails were given a Cars-themed makeover... but it was not to last; by 2013, they were back to the good ol' monorail days of old that luckily didn't include big soul-less eyes looking through you as you boarded the car.
 |
| Manny Monorail... Ugh. Just no. |
In Disneyland, the Monorail System only runs one-way in the present day and has two different stations.
The Routes in Disneyland:
- Tomorrowland Station - the monorail crosses Disneyland Railroad and continues along the eastern edge of the park to California Adventure. You pass Monsters Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue!, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa (among a few others along the way), and then enter the Downtown Disney Station.
- Downtown Disney Station - This monorail travels towards Disneyland and around Tomorrowland. You pass Submarine Lagoon, Autopia, around the Matterhorn Bobsleds, and then enter the Tomorrowland Station.
A little bit more technologically advanced than the 1959 versions, the Monorail System at Disney World originally used Mark IV monorails. The Mark IVs were built in 1969, and cost about $7M each! That's a lot of money! These monorails were used at Walt Disney World between 1971 and 1989, at which point they were replaced by the Mark VI monorail. If you're wondering what happened to Mark V, this system was in use at Disneyland from 1987 - 2008, being replaced by Mark VII at that point in time. New monorails are also purported to be heading to Walt Disney World in the near future.
Initially in Disney World, there were two monorail lines: Magic Kingdom Resort and Magic Kingdom Express. This was expanded to include Epcot in 1982.
Fun fact: this system is one of the most heavily used monorail systems in the world, with 150,000 daily users!
The Routes in Disney World:
- Express - this route takes place between the Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). This service runs on an outer loop counter-clockwise.
- Resort - this route runs on the inner loop clockwise and makes a number of stops: Magic Kingdom, Disney's Contemporary Resort, the TTC, Disney's Polynesian Village and /resort, and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
- Epcot - This monorail provides service between the TTC and Epcot, running clockwise on the loop.
Each monorail is 203 feet, 6 inches and can carry a whopping 360 passengers! The maximum speed is 40 mph (about 64 km/hr for my fellow Canadians).
Dark Disney, Monorail Style
Now, as you know, I do love some dark Disney once in awhile. Let's look at some of the incidents that occurred on or as a result of the Monorail System, shall we? If you're not into that sort of thing, look at the puppy and move on to merch! :)
 |
| This is Fluffie. She likes blankies. |
1966
- A 19-year-old man is killed by the Disneyland monorail when trying to climb 20 feet to a trestle to gain free entrance to Disneyland. He was crushed between the train and tracks. Not a great way to go, that is for certain!
- One monorail train crashed into the one in front of it at Disney World. One driver and two passengers were injured.
- A fire completely engulfed the rear car of a monorail heading from Epcot to the TTC. Passengers were able to kick out some windows and get onto the roof, where they were rescued by the fire department. Seven of the passengers of the monorail were treated for smoke inhalation.
- A monorail collided with a diesel truck near Disney's Contemporary Resort. Why? The truck was filming the monorail for a commercial. Hopefully they were able to capture the resilience of the monorail. Two cast members were treated for injuries.
- Fire # 2. An electrical fire happened when the monorail was pulling into the Magic Kingdom. Two bus drivers who stopped to help were treated for smoke inhalation. No other cast members or guests were injured.
- Here's where it does get pretty heavy. There was a failed track switchover from the Epcot line onto the Magic Kingdom Express line. One of the monorail pilots, a 21-year-old man, was killed. One other cast member and six guests were also treated for injuries.
Let's Discuss Merch!
You've got to be kidding if you thought the monorail wouldn't have merch. Heck, the slogan has merch up the wazoo. There's also a pretty cute shirt that says, "If it involves monorails, dole whips, or Mickey ears, count me in."
If you're into building stuff, Disney has a monorail play set that actually looks pretty interesting. I'm a grown woman in her 20's... not sure I should but quite this enthused!
Know a man who likes to dress sharp? How about an official monorail tie? Either way, between official and unofficial wares, you're bound to find just what you're looking for!
Do you love to ride the monorail? Let me know! Comment and subscribe :)
Comments
Post a Comment