Paging Mr. Morrow, Mr. Tom Morrow. Sit back, relax and take in the sights, sounds and behind the scenes looks of Tomorrowland’s attractions on this narrated futuristic transit system.
In our opinion, it doesn’t get much better than the PeopleMover. It’s relaxing. It offers amazing views of Magic Kingdom, specifically Tomorrowland. And it typically has low waits.
Let’s glide into our guide of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover.
Before we get too far into it, make sure you check out our guide on the Best Rides at Magic Kingdom for information on every attraction and show at Magic Kingdom.
PeopleMover Quick Facts
Description: The PeopleMover is a narrated seated tour that takes you behind the scenes of Tomorrowland attractions like Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Space Mountain, and TRON.
Location
You can find the People Mover in Tomorrowland between Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Space Mountain. Here’s the location on the map:
How to Ride PeopleMover
PeopleMover only has a Standby Line. There is no Lightning Lane or a Single Rider Line.
This is one of the most popular rides at Magic Kingdom since this is a ride that all ages can enjoy.
The Standby Line for PeopleMover is typically the lowest first thing in the morning and at the end of the evening. The middle of the day will see longer lines.
PeopleMover is listed as an available attraction for Early Theme Park Entry. This means it will open 30-minutes before the official park open every day for Disney World resort guests (and select others) only. The Standby wait time jumps quickly after park open.
Do I need to use Genie+ at PeopleMover?
Genie+ is not offered at PeopleMover.
Rider Switch/Child Swap
Seeing as PeopleMover is for all ages and heights, Rider Switch is not offered.
Rider Switch is Disney’s system that allows guests with small children to take turns riding bigger rides, while another person/people wait with the little one.
You can learn more about Rider Switch via our handy guide.
What to Expect When You Ride
Queue
The PeopleMover queue is completely outdoors (and can be very hot during those higher temperatures).
While the ride doesn’t have an interactive queue like many other attractions, there are the sights and sounds of Tomorrowland to enjoy as you make your way towards the loading area.
Ride Vehicles
The ride vehicles for PeopleMover are similar to a tram. Each tram cart can hold 4 adults. Smaller children can fit on the seat in between adults.
You will sit facing one another, 2 persons seated forward and 2 persons seated backward. The carts glide on a magnetic track above Tomorrowland. There are 5 carts per ride vehicle.
There are no safety restraints or seat belts, you simply sit down and ride.
Motion Sickness
PeopleMover is mostly slow-moving with the occasional speed and a few quick turns, so motion sickness can occur. Be sure to check out our guide on motion sickness that’s filled with information and tips, so feel free to check that out.
Accessibility Information
To board the PeopleMover you must be ambulatory, or must be able to walk.
Guests could potentially remain in a wheelchair while waiting in the line, but since you have to get across a moving walkway to board the ride, guests must be able to walk to experience the ride.
Both audio description and handheld captioning are available. You can also speak to a Cast Member at the attraction entrance for further information.
On The Ride
Warning: ride spoilers ahead!
After you step onto the moving platform, take your seat loading into your tram cart. Once seated on the ride your tram departs the loading station to begin your tour.
Leaving the Rocket Tower loading station, the tram makes a few twists and turns around the plaza. The track enters a tunnel and passes a large model of Walt Disney’s EPCOT Progress City. The tram next crosses through the Star Traders gift shop. You continue gliding past the Tomorrowland Speedway and TRON Lightcycle / Run.
Afterwards, the ride crosses the Walt Disney World Railroad tracks and make a right to enter Space Mountain. Inside Space Mountain, the ride vehicle passes in between the lift hills of the roller coaster tracks. You can look up and see some of the starry projections from the Space Mountain ride.
The tram exits Space Mountain and crosses back over the railroad tracks and Tomorrowland Speedway, traveling along the outside of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. You enter another building displaying a futuristic salon and then get a view down into Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.
Exiting the tunnel, the ride moves along passing by a few landmarks: Main Street U.S.A., the Tomorrowland sign entrance, Cinderella Castle, above the queue for Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.
The ride then returns to Rocket Tower Plaza, where guests unload.
Is People Mover Kid-Friendly?
The PeopleMover is very kid-friendly. There are a few tunnels that the tram glides through pitch black or dimly lit rooms, which could be scary for children. But the ride vehicle passes through these quickly.
We also have a full guide on several other things that might scare little ones at Disney World.
Strollers
Like with most attractions at Disney World, strollers are not permitted on the ride. They can be left in the designated area near the entrance or with a non-rider.
History
The original PeopleMover attraction opened in Disneyland, California on July 2, 1967. The PeopleMover was also known as the Goodyear PeopleMover and WEDWay PeopleMover (WED for Walter Elias Disney.)
The Disney World version of the PeopleMover opened on July 1, 1975. The ride has undergone several refurbishments and closures throughout the years to update both its narration and attraction name.
In spring of 1994, Tomorrowland underwent a refurbishment that changed the theme of the land from a showcase of future technology to a working city of the future. As a result, the PeopleMover received new theming and its name changed from the WEDway PeopleMover to Tomorrowland Transit Authority.
The new name and narration debuted June 12, 1994. The new voiceover was added to include segments for attractions in Tomorrowland that had opened since the last update to the narration. These included Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.
The new narration is similar to the original WEDway Peoplemover narration and includes segments introducing all attractions in Tomorrowland, including attractions that had opened after the last update to the narration, such as Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority closed again on April 19, 2009, due to a major refurbishment of Space Mountain. The closure was necessary to keep Transit riders safe due to extensive construction work planned for Space Mountain. The attraction reopened on September 12, 2009.
On August 5, 2010, it was announced that the name PeopleMover would officially be re-instated effectively changing the attraction name to Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover.
On July 1, 2022, the PeopleMover’s narration was updated once again to feature an entirely new voiceover by ORAC-5 (the original narrator character of ORAC One.) Much of the dialogue is still the same, just with a new voice. The updated narration now includes references to the new Tron Lightcycle / Run.
Other Fun Details
- Walt Disney’s Progress City Model: One of the tunnels you pass through has a replica model of Walt’s Progress City for EPCOT known as the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. This was used as the inspiration for the Epcot theme park. It originally resided in the upper level of the Carousel of Progress at the New York World’s Fair of 1964-1965 and at Disneyland starting in 1967-1973.
- Space Mountain with lights on: On occasion the Space Mountain ride will break down at the same time that the PeopleMover tram cart will pass through. This has given PeopleMover riders a rare glimpse of Space Mountain’s roller coaster tracks illuminated with the lights completely turned on.