Attraction Review- Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

Before I start today, I would just like to give you a massive apology for the lateness of this post. I would have published it last Friday, as per normal, but it seems that Blogger had a problem with their servers, and I was unable to access my account for several days. Obviously this is all out of my control, but I will endeavour to prevent this happening again.



One of the things I love most about Walt Disney World is how the wonderful theme parks are still full of classic Disney Attractions. For me, the Magic Kingdom shows this better than any other park, creating a perfect balance of both old and nostalgic, and new and exciting attractions. The thing Disney does so well with these classic and nostalgic attractions is to maintain the high standards which have come to be expected of the Disney Parks, whilst still retaining the charm and character of the attraction in question.

When looking at the Magic Kingdom in particular, many such attractions spring to mind, with the task of picking out just one outstanding attraction almost impossible. Each one has, obviously, always been a guest favourite, a crucial factor in the longevity of any Disney Attraction. The Magic Kingdom attraction I'm looking at today, however, perfectly epitomises all these points, having been a Tomorrowland staple since it opened in July 1975, 4 years after the park itself. I am of course referring to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, or the TTA as we Disney Fans affectionately know it.

This incredible attraction takes guests on an interesting tour around Tomorrowland, including glimpses into several of Tomorrowland's exciting attractions, such as Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. Narrated by Mike Brassell, this attraction represents a mass transportation system of the future as imagined by the Disney Imagineers, and is actually considered to be a genuinely feasible prototype for future transportation systems. Indeed, the same ride systems used in this attraction are used in the Inter-Terminal Train at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, which was built by the Disney Imagineers for the Airport. It still functions and operates today as a means of transportation around the airport.

Guests board the TTA at a second floor station below the Astro Orbitor attraction, with the entire attraction taking place above Tomorrowland. Your adventure around this magnificent area of the Magic Kingdom takes place in one of the attraction's 32 ride vehicles, which are extremely pleasant, and lovely and comfortable for your 10 minute journey.

The TTA really is one of those remarkably rare attractions which are absolute perfection, however it is unique amongst the small group of attractions of this pedigree. When you think of such attractions, the Tower of Terror and Expedition Everest, among others, spring to mind. These Imagineering masterpieces are state of the art, utilising some of the most complex and mind boggling technologies known to man, creating a stunning attraction. The TTA, on the other hand, is about as technologically advanced as the WDW buses!

Weirdly enough, instead of being a criticism, this is actually a compliment! It is the blissful simplicity of the attraction which is one of the crucial ingredients to its winning formula, and when combined with the setting, atmosphere and theming which Disney does so splendidly, it makes the TTA pretty much unbeatable. On its own, the ride is very basic, nothing special. If you took just the track and vehicles and placed them in an empty parking lot, it would be nowhere near as enjoyable. Whereas, when you put it into the whimsical setting of the Magic Kingdom, it instantly makes the attraction so much more than a track and some vehicles.

With such a perfect attraction on offer, you'd think that lines for it would be longer than the time it's taking Disney to build a fifth WDW park (and that's a WHOLE other topic), but I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised by the reality. The TTA is actually one of the easiest attractions at WDW to get on! Although it's very popular, especially amongst Disney fans, lines for the PeopleMover are almost always a walk on, and if not, under 10 minutes. I've visited the Magic Kingdom at one of the busiest times of year, and still only waited 5 minutes for the TTA at the busiest time of day! For a ten minute attraction, that's a great time return (200%). Therefore, you can visit the TTA pretty much whenever you want!

Here's how I rate the TTA in the following categories, and why:

Thrill~ 9/10
Whilst the TTA is awesome, it's not thrilling in the traditional way, but more sensually. The raised track is the perfect vantage point to take in the exquisite sights, sounds and smells of Tomorrowland, which combine to make it one of my favourite themed areas in all of Walt Disney World.

Scariness~ 6/10
This attraction has no speed or drops, but does feature a fairly lengthy segment in the dark, and I mean DARK, as you go through Space Mountain. This can be pretty scary, as you can't see a thing, and can hear the Space Mountain cars whizzing all around you, creating a cool but scary effect. It's not really all that bad, but can be scary, especially for guests who are uncomfortable in the dark.

Theming~ 9/10~
Like I previously mentioned, the theming is such an integral part of this attraction. We all know that a good theme should really make you feel like you are wherever its portraying, like you are living, or visiting, that world. Whilst not WDW's most elaborate, the TTC's theme does this perfectly, transporting you to the dream version of the future which the whole of Tomorrowland represents so well.

Educational~ 7/10
The clever narration on the TTA does inform you of Tomorrowland's many attractions, just not in a particularly factual way. You do, however, pass a model of 'Progress City', which was Walt Disney's vision for a futuristic city, the concept which inspired Epcot, the theme park we know and love today. This is an awesome touch, and provides an awesome opportunity to learn about the city, if only very briefly. The attraction also represents a very probable future mode of transportation- very interesting to learn about, especially since PeopleMovers could be a massive part of our everyday lives in 50, or even 40 years time.

Fun~ 10/10
Fun is one of those vital elements that every attraction must have to be at all successful, and fun is the element which the TTA is richest in. Only Disney could take a prototype transportation network and turn it into an enjoyable attraction- and they've done so incredibly well. Another great thing they've managed to pull off is making the tour of Tomorrowland dimension of the attraction fun; instead of simply promoting each attraction. Also, the TTA is great for people watching, and has great views in general, including two segments of the ride which offer unmatched views of the Hub and Cinderella Castle, providing a great opportunity to snap a quick picture. And who could forget the ingenious joke which is cleverly incorporated into the attraction during one of its indoor sections. I won't spoil it for anyone, but I will say that it involves a certain person... called Tom.

Repeatability~ 10/10
Due to the length of this attraction, and the amount to see, you could ride it 1000 times and still not have taken it all in! The clever gags and spectacular theming will make you want to ride it again and again, it truly is one of those attractions which makes you want to get right back in line after disembarking! It's also really good for repeat rides if you enjoy people watching, as that's always constantly changing, of course.

And finally, my overall rating of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover~ 10/10
The TTA is, quite simply, one of my all time favourite attractions. It's wondrous, fantastic, awe-inspiring, everything I could possibly ask for in a Disney attraction. I love its charm and nostalgia as well, they are two of the defining principals of the TTA, and I also love everything else about it, to be honest!
It just goes to show that the magic is everywhere in the Disney Parks, and that the spirit and charm of a great attraction never falters. It's what sets aside Disney attractions from the rest.

Now I would love to hear what YOU think! Are my views valid, or am I a little too positive? Are you also a big TTA fan, or do you not see what all the fuss is about? Please share on Facebook, in the comments below, or by emailing worldofdreamsblog@gmail.com. I love hearing from my readers!

Thanks for reading, and may your day be full of magic!