In Praise Of The PeopleMover’s Popularity
Who Knew? The PeopleMover Is THE Real Favorite!
I mean, I knew. Beyond any Star Wars rides, Pirates, or Mansion, the PeopleMover remains my favorite ride anywhere. Ever.
If they would let me, I would — legitimately — sit and ride the TTA for hours.
I really would just sit and watch the people and the scenery and listen to the relaxing soundtrack (and the clack, clack of the magnets). And I would think of how the future “was supposed to be” when I was watching Disneyland reruns as a child.
An aside: I would also say the same of the Monorail or the new Skyliner. I love these rides more because of what they represent.
The PeopleMover Is Back
In fact, the LACK of a current PeopleMover system is taken into high consideration when I compare Magic Kingdom and Disneyland in terms of esteem.
And that’s the atmosphere that DeWayne Bevil found himself in when he sat down to type out his treatise about the beloved PeopleMover. Mind you: The PeopleMover returned to service this week after a prolonged refurb.
Anywho, The Orlando Sentinel writer posted:
I like the PeopleMover. Honest. But after the Magic Kingdom ride returned to service after a long absence at Walt Disney World last weekend, I see that a lot of people love them some PeopleMover. They love it with a white-hot, White Castle level of intensity.”
Substitute White Castle with an In-n-Out Burger, and you understand my personal devotion.
Relaxing In Tomorrowland
Of course, Bevil, a veteran theme park reporter, cut to the chase when he broke down the devotion to Walt’s transportation mode of tomorrow.
Under the heading of “Just Relax,” Bevil explained, “PeopleMover fans describe its pace as soothing, and riders loom above the teeming Tomorrowland masses. It’s true that most neighboring attractions are indoors, and people scurry all over the plaza. It appears even more congested with social distancing forcing queues for Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin out into the open.
“If your car is not full, it’s also nice to put your feet up, literally, whilst PeopleMoving,” he added.
The Key To The Florida Project
My own devotion is rooted in Walt’s idea that this simple ride was a key to his Florida Project.
The WEDWay PeopleMover (WED = Walter Elias Disney) was one of two electric-powered vehicles which Mr. Disney thought would revolutionize how cities worked.
Nowadays, people are waiting in LONG lines to go “back to the future” and ride the ride, which was supposed to be the key to Progress City. Funny how, in an environment built on speed and sensory overload, that a ride that moves 7-miles-an-hour is, perhaps, the biggest thrill of all.
The PeopleMover has RETURNED! Can we make a movement to return the WEDWay to Disneyland?
Read Mr. Bevil’s piece and call your MickeyTravels agent.
Source: The Orlando Sentinel