What’s the symbol of Walt Disney World? The obvious answer is Cinderella Castle, an icon recognizable even to people that have never seen it in person. You could also choose Spaceship Earth, the entrance sign, or even Mickey Mouse himself. My pick exemplifies what I loved about Disney World as a kid and still do today. The monorail symbolizes an optimistic future that still extends just beyond our reach. The technology exists, but the corporate will is lacking.
My early Disney World memories come from the early-to-mid ‘80s — a much different time for the resort. I remember just visiting two parks connected by an amazing transportation system. The monorail wasn’t just a way to get from Point A to Point B. It was a sleek and graceful attraction on its own. I could have ridden the monorail all day and not complained about missing anything. The cramped, worn-down ride of today wasn’t part of my experience. There were more seats back then, and we rode comfortably to our destination without feeling like cattle.
Part of my feelings about the monorail spring from nostalgia, but it’s not that simple. I rode public transportation to work here in St. Louis for many years in the 2000s. That experience didn’t rival the monorail, but I still felt the excitement of a better way to travel. Why mess with driving a car and sitting in traffic when you could just hop on a train? As a kid, I expected a future with monorails and people movers everywhere. I was definitely too optimistic, but I’m not ready to give up either. We still need the monorail as we move further into the 21st century.
Disneyland in 1959
Before I delve into this exciting future, let’s take a look back at the monorail’s beginnings in California. Inspired by Alweg monorails during a trip to Europe, Walt enlisted Bob Gurr to design the vehicles. In his book The Disneyland Story, Sam Gennawey describes the challenges to build something that would become “the first passenger-carrying monorail in the Western Hemisphere to operate daily”. It’s stunning to consider visiting Disneyland in 1959 and experiencing the monorail. The station even had a speed ramp!
The Disneyland monorail was part of the park’s largest expansion up to that point; the Matterhorn and Submarine Voyage opened at the same time. All three attractions were revolutionary in 1959 and showed how Walt continued to innovate at Disneyland. It’s no surprise that all three (with some differences) remain in place today. The monorail vehicles are quite different now, but the “highway in the sky” remains a key part of the park.
Disney’s ambitions for Walt Disney World went beyond what guests experienced at Disneyland. The monorail would serve as a real transportation system to connect the massive resort. The ideas that Walt presented in his EPCOT film didn’t come to fruition, but the monorail embodied the spirit of those concepts. It was truly something to see and revealed the promise of even more innovations to come.
A Vision of the Future
One of my earliest Disney World memories is seeing the unfinished monorail track to EPCOT Center still under construction. This likely happened in 1981 when I was only five years old, so the image made a serious impression. To a young kid, the massive structure and extensive track seemed like something out of a sci-fi movie. Disney had plans to expand the system much further than Epcot, and it’s too bad that those plans didn’t come into being.
I’ve written extensively on this blog about the importance of EPCOT Center in my young life, especially Future World. The monorail embodies the optimistic future that guests enjoyed while visiting Spaceship Earth, World of Motion, and Horizons. In The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot at Walt Disney World, Alex Wright explains how the monorail connected to Walt’s vision of EPCOT the city:
“Many of these concepts have been explored in the development of the original Walt Disney World property. The monorail, in particular, fit into Walt’s vision by separating groups of travelers with different departures and destination points in order to allow all of them to move with the least interference.”
Imagineering’s choice to have the monorail pass through Future World upon its arrival was brilliant. For guests arriving for the first time, they caught their first look of this remarkable place. It also enhanced the feeling of motion and energy for guests inside EPCOT Center. Seeing the monorail pass by the gigantic pavilions felt like nothing else in our everyday lives.
Continued Relevance
It’s been sad to watch the monorail wear down in recent years and not receive the necessary upgrades from Disney. When doors are flying open while in transit, it’s a big problem. I’ve heard fans speculate that perhaps Disney will close down the monorail; that would be a huge mistake. The problems are not with the system itself but with the lack of vision from those overseeing it. The costs to fix and expand the monorail are high, but doing nothing is much worse.
I’m excited that Disney is adding the gondolas to connect Epcot, the Studios, and nearby resorts. Disney should look for other unique ways to offer guests something more than crowded buses. The spirit of ingenuity is a key part of what makes Disney World stand out as a resort. It’s about more than just taking guests where they need to go. Having a wonderful experience on the monorail could change guests’ perspectives on public transportation at home.
The film Tomorrowland offered a glimpse at a world of monorails, jet packs, rocket ships, and other amazing transportation options. Despite its box-office failure, I loved the movie and connected with its message of hope. If we work together and seek out a better future, who knows what we can create? The monorail still exemplifies that idea for me today. Watching it glide across the landscape with The Magic Kingdom in the background is an incredible sight.
The Missing Piece
Why doesn’t current Disney management care about the monorail? I can’t answer that question, though I suspect it’s because you can’t directly connect revenues to its daily operations. The high maintenance costs have them looking for ways to cut corners with safety and repairs. Huge lines at the Transportation and Ticket Center also discourage guests from taking the monorail. I often end up boarding the ferry instead due to the time savings.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however. I’m sure that the monorail continues to inspire young kids today. It’s still an essential part of the Disney World experience for families making their first trip to the resort. The monorail gives us a vision of what humanity can accomplish with ingenuity and the commitment to make something better. It’s a perfect example of how Disney stands apart, even if management doesn’t see it.
Disney should be investing time and money to ensure that the monorail remains an idealistic symbol for Disney World and the entire company. To quote Casey Newton from Tomorrowland, even the tiniest of actions can change the future. It’s easy to get discouraged by the latest news and our leaders, but it’s not all doom and gloom. When I see the monorail, Spaceship Earth, and other marvels, my first thought is wonder about what we all can do. Let’s not forget it.
Sources: The Disneyland Story by Sam Gennawey; The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot at Walt Disney World by Alex Wright
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I remember my first trip to Disney World in 1975. We also stayed at the Polynesian Resort. To this day, the monorail is still my favorite mode of transportation too. I still remember riding in the front car with the pilot…that was an awesome experience. Completely understand, but a shame that it’s no longer available after the accident. The gondola is a great idea, but not sure if I’d want to ride in a car high above the ground with the sun beating down on it…and no air conditioning. Only time will tell.
Sorry to not reply sooner; somehow I missed this comment! I think the Monorail means even more to anyone that visited in the ’70s and ’80s especially. It was sleek and new and seemed like something we’d have everywhere by now. I’m not too concerned about the gondolas not having air conditioning. I have to hope that Disney knows what it’s doing; they’ve been testing them for a long time. Still, I doubt it’s going to match up with the Monorail!