PeopleMover Articles

The PeopleMover was certainly one of the most visible of the 1967 new attractions. Backed by the smooth music of Disney Legend Buddy Baker the little blue green red and yellow cars slid leisurely along a winding elevated track that took them across the Tomorrowland entrance into the Adventure Thru Inner Space building where they can be seen by guests standing in line past the shoppers in the Character Shop and as of the late 1970s inside Space Mountain in and out of the Carousel Theater near the submarine lagoon through the waiting area of the Circarama Theater. Guests got a scenic 16 minute tour of Tomorrowland.The PeopleMover were was truly different from any other futuristic transportation in the park. While the monorail was an old idea in a new showcase the PeopleMover was a new concept developed by Disney engineers and introduced for the first time anywhere in Tomorrowland.

Those engineers had first experimented with PeopleMover technology in their Magic Skyway ride at the 1964 1965 New York World's Fair. There the new propulsion concept was used to push unpowered vehicles along a track like factory cars being moved down an assembly line.Imagineer John Hench actually got the idea from a Ford plant where he watched steel being moved on tracks from area to area.Two years later a similar system propelled Disneyland PeopleMover unlike the Monorail and other trains in the park. PeopleMover trains themselves weren't motorized the track was.Rubber tires mounted every 9 feet along the three quarter mile track were powered by electricity to push the PeopleMover gently along at walking speeds ranging from about 2 to 7 miles per hour.

Usually four people at a time could fit comfortably on the bench seats inside one of the cars which had white canopies to shield them from the sun.With four-car trains running non-stop and with guests stepping directly into their seats from a moving walkway almost 4900 passengers could be moved through the attraction per hour.Surprisingly Goodyear, which made its name selling car tires sponsored this mass transit system from 1967 to the end of 1981.

Specs: Capacity 4200 per hour -- Capacity per train 16 -- Cycle Time 11:35 -- Load Time :30 -- Unload Time :30 -- Trip Time 10:20 -- Dispatch Interval :14 -- Trips per hour 260 -- Distance Traveled 3952 feet -- Speed 3.9 MPH

The people mover was built 1/5 its actual design size. It was tested at Disneyland and then supposed to be used in the City of Epcot (which was never built) to move people from the neighborhoods to the hub of the city where they would catch a monorail to go to work. 20% of the electro-magnet motors can go down and it will still function properly.

The ride traveled at 6 mph.

The electro-magnet motors operated on 480VAC and were spaced 9 feet apart

There were 55 trains

The design for the ride system was originally used on the Wonder Rotunda at the 1964 Worlds Fair

Idea for the propulsion was from John Hench when he saw steel being moved in a Ford Plant

From Tomorrowland Info Packet 1967:

REVOLUTIONARY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM:

A unique new concept in intermediate transportation mazes its world debut at Disneyland this summer. Called the PeopleMover, it is presented by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in the Magic Kingdom's all-new Tomorrowland.

COMPLETELY AUTOMATIC:

A new WEDway Transportation System developed by WED Enterprises, the PeopleMover is a silent, all-electric, completely automatic conveyance that is designed for variable speed, point-to-point service.

PeopleMover's many automatic features and hosting procedures enable complete operation by a comparatively small staff. And its amazing degree of automation is achieved without extensive electronic equipment.

MOTORLESS VEHICLES: PeopleMover vehicles are motorless, eliminating the chance of one vehicle stalling the others. Independent drive units are embedded in the system's elevated guideway, automatically controlling speed and maintaining proper intervals between vehicles. No cogs, conveyor belt or similar types of devices are used.

If a drive unit becomes inoperative, the system continues to trans-port passengers at maximum capacity, safety and comfort.

NEVER STOPS RUNNING:

The 62 four-car PeopleMover trains never stop running, even while passengers board or leave cars at its station's revolving turntable platform.

ALWAYS CARS AVAILABLE:

An endless parade of cars, ready to leave passengers and take on new ones, arrive constantly at the PeopleMover Station, circling it in the same direction and rate of speed as the turning platform. Each car comfortably seats up to four adults or six children in two opposing seats.

Because the trains and the turntable move synchronously, the effect when boarding is similar to stepping from a stationary platform into a motionless car. SELF OPENING DOORS:

Doors of compartments open and close, and car tops raise and lower automatically to facilitate passengers boarding and disembarking.

GLIDE NOISELESSLY:

Trains of the PeopleMover glide noiselessly along a ribbon-like guideway, supported by graceful, symmetrical pylons, which form a pair of sweeping arches over the entrance to Tomorrowland. HIGH CAPACITY:

As many as 4,880 passengers per hour cruise aboard the smooth running trains, out of the way and above the heads of strolling Disneyland visitors.

NO WAITING: PeopleMover passengers never have to wait for the fun to begin; their adventure actually starts at the very moment they step aboard the cars.

ADVENTURE THRU TOMORROWLAND:

Upon leaving the PeopleMover Station, trains pick up somewhat in speed as Disneyland guests begin their 15-minute sight-seeing excursion throughout new Tomorrowland in an adventure more than three-quarters of a mile (4,000 feet) in length.

TOTAL EXPOSURE:

Passengers are introduced to all of Tomorrowland's corporate-sponsored attractions and exhibit areas. A narrator's voice, commenting on points of interest along the way, is broadcast to each compartment against a musical background.

PREVIEW OF SHOWS:

PeopleMover trains transport guests inside many of Tomorrow-land's major new pavilions for special previews of attractions, including Adventure Thru Inner Space, Progress City, America the Beautiful and The Character Shop.

PEOPLEMOVE STATION:

Theme center and pivotal point of new Tomorrowland is the PeopleMover Station. It is a circular, tri-level structure surrounded by spacious concourse area and new pavilions and attractions.

ROCKET JETS AND OBSERVATION DECK:

The PeopleMover Station is topped by a new version of the popular Rocket Jets attraction and an observation deck that offers total viewing of new Tomorrowland. Guests are carried to the upper-most level of the station by gantry-like elevators.

GOODYEAR PRODUCTS:

Guests glide to the station's PeopleMover boarding area on the second level while standing on a Goodyear rubber-surfaced "speed-ramp." As they ascend, the story of Goodyear's diversified areas of activity and interests are presented through ten humorous vignettes —animated exhibits—along the way.

STATION AREA:

Total area of the PeopleMover Station is 16,000 square feet.

From WED Disneyland Dictionary 1968
a versatile new WEDway Transportation System, offers step-saving comfort to passengers in motorless four-car trains. The never-stopping PeopteMovek carries guests on a scenic cruise throughout Tomorrowland and inside many of the new area's pavilions for special previews of major attractions. This system Is a whole new approach to intermediate transportation techniques -- one that can be applied to any area where people must be transported, such as airports, parking areas, shopping centers, stadiums, etc. Presented by Goodyear.

In the 1970's required a "D" ticket

The SuperSpeed Tunnel was added in 1977.
Tron footage added in 1982.

From Steve Birnbaum brings you the best of Disneyland 1982:
Disneyland's PeopleMover offers guests a preview of Tomorrowland's various attractions. The most valuable, of course, is the look at Space Mountain-just long enough to entice those who plan to go and to help the indecisive make up their minds. But the PeopleMover's 34 motorless cars, which get their electric power from motors in the track itself, also take in the Super Speed Tunnel, an attraction in its own right, presenting a hair-raising motorcycle chase scene from Disney's spectacular movie Tron.

[Female Voice]
You are now beginning a grand circle tour of Tomorrowland, aboard the Peoplemover. The first system of its kind in the world. Since its 1967 opening, the Peoplemover has carried over 50 million guests.

Across the way is Star Tours, a thrilling new adventure, inspired by the George Lucas Star Wars film.

[C3PO]
Hello, I am C3PO, and this is my counterpart, R2D2, welcome to the Star Tours Tomorrowland space port.

[Female voice]
Below us is the Star Trade, where you'll find the largest selection of Disney signature clothing, toys and gift items here at the Magic Kingdom.

You are about to enter one of Tomorrowland's most exciting attractions, Space Mountain. For everyone's safety, we remind you to please remain seated.

Inside Space Mountain, you can race thru the cosmos, past spiraling galaxies and meteor showers, an experience that is truly out of this world.

And now, here is a sample of the high speed adventure that awaits you in Space Mountain.

[Master Computer]
Warning, you have invaded the electronic realm of the Master Computer Program, prepare for the game grids of TRON. You have escaped TRON's game grid for now, users, but take heed, next time you may not fare so well.

[Female voice]
Above you is Disneyland's Highway in the Sky, traveled by sleek monorail trains. The Disneyland monorails have carried more than 75 million guests.

From here, you can see the spires of It's a Small World. There you can join children of the world on the happiest cruise that ever set sail on the seven seas.

Below you is the submarine voyage, on board you'll glide thru liquid space on a journey to the north pole, exploring a fascinating world of eerie sea creatures and lost ships.

We're now approaching the monorail station, there you can depart on a swift scenic tour thru Tomorrowland, and to Disneyland Hotel and back.

This high speed transportation system opened at Disneyland in 1959, and was the first monorail to operate daily, in the western hemisphere.

We're now at World Premier Circle Vision, this theater is now presenting to spectator circle vision 360 motion pictures, American Journeys and Wonders of China.

As we pass above Tomorrowland's entrance, you can see the heart of Disneyland, it's the plaza, gateway to the theme lands in the Magic Kingdom.

As we near the Peoplemover station, you can see colorful murals celebrating the joy-est spirit of children everywhere. A reminder that tomorrow will be built by our youth.

We hope that you have enjoyed your tour on the Peoplemover, and that you'll have a pleasant visit to the Magic Kingdom.

Please remain seated and stay clear of the vehicle doors. Kindly gather your belongings and carefully step away from the vehicle on to the moving platform.

As you exit, please walk to the left on the dark area of the moving platform, and kindly watch you step, thank you.