Magic Kingdom Attractions: Walt Disney World Railroad

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Step back in time and embark on a nostalgic and enchanting adventure with the Walt Disney World Railroad. This iconic attraction, spanning the vast landscape of Disney’s theme parks, takes visitors on a delightful journey through picturesque scenes, transporting them to a bygone era of steam-powered locomotives and the golden age of rail travel. Let’s hop on board and explore the magic of the Walt Disney World Railroad.

As you step onto the platform of the Walt Disney World Railroad, you’re immediately immersed in the sights and sounds of a vintage train station. The meticulously recreated Victorian-era architecture, complete with period details, adds an authentic touch, transporting guests to a time when train travel was a grand adventure.

As the train chugs along its tracks, guests are treated to a scenic exploration of the park’s landscapes. Whether it’s gliding through the dense foliage of Adventureland, passing by the iconic Cinderella Castle in Fantasyland, or journeying through the wild frontier of Frontierland, each leg of the trip offers unique and captivating vistas. The slow and leisurely pace allows for a peaceful and immersive experience, making it an ideal opportunity to rest tired feet and take in the beauty of the park.

The Walt Disney World Railroad exudes a timeless charm that harkens back to an era when train travel was a romantic and elegant affair. The antique steam locomotives, meticulously maintained and operated by skilled engineers, evoke a sense of nostalgia and wonder. The rhythmic chugging of the train and the melodious whistle signals transport guests to a simpler time, evoking a sense of childlike excitement and adventure.

Beyond being a mode of transportation, the Walt Disney World Railroad seamlessly weaves storytelling into the guest experience. The onboard narration, coupled with audio-animatronic scenes along the route, immerses guests in captivating tales that bring the park’s lands to life. From encounters with playful wildlife to glimpses of historic events, each segment of the journey adds depth and narrative to the overall Disney experience.

The Walt Disney World Railroad is not merely a means of transportation but a magical journey that invites guests to explore the park’s landscapes while immersing themselves in the charm of a bygone era. Whether it’s the scenic vistas, the nostalgic ambiance, or the captivating storytelling, the railroad offers a unique and memorable adventure for visitors of all ages. So, next time you visit a Disney park, be sure to hop aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad and allow yourself to be transported to a time of wonder and imagination. All aboard for a magical journey!

Disney World to Bring Back Classic Magic Kingdom Ride

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

All aboard! In an era where the news is usually bad, we’ve got some really great news! While it’s no secret that the Walt Disney World Railroad was not closed permanently, many fans did start to wonder if it was going to become another attraction Disney quietly closed and never reopened. The fear was not completely baseless. Many attractions in the past have been “temporarily closed” only to end up relegated to the graveyard of lost shows and rides (looking at you Horizons, Stitch’s Great Escape, Dream Flight, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, etc.). When there were no signs of life with the attraction for years, many speculated it may be gone for good.

However, recently there have been signs of life at Walt’s beloved attraction confirming that it will in fact be making a comeback! Walt Disney World recently shared a picture of Cast Members training for the railroad’s return and captioned it, “Our week started off on the right track! Our first group of Magic Kingdom Cast Members began TRAINing – the next step in the ongoing process to restore the Walt Disney World Railroad. Welcome aboard, and welcome home Engineers!”

This is certainly a step in the right direction and confirmation that the attraction will be back, sooner rather than later! We cannot wait. It’s been a long 4 years since the Railroad closed to accommodate construction of Magic Kingdoms newest attraction Tron Lightcycle Power Run.

Walt Disney World Railroad

Disney has yet to say when the attraction will reopen but it stands to reason it will be soon. It wouldn’t be logical to train Cast Members if the reopening was a long way away. My guess would be around labor day. We expect lots of big things to happen around then so the Railroad’s triumphant return would fit into that timeline nicely. It’s just exciting to be getting it back. We’ve lost many beloved attractions in recent years but it seems this one, at least, is going to come back to us.

Disney Teases Return of Beloved Attraction After Nearly 5 Years

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Disney recently revealed a closer look at what’s going on on one of Disney World’s most beloved and historic attractions.

While Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World offers Guests some truly amazing and iconic experiences, none of the rides or attractions can compare with the historic nature of one of the Park’s most legendary rides.

The Walt Disney World Railroad is a legendary Disney attraction that takes Guests across all lands in the Park. Unfortunately, the railroad has been inoperational for close to five years with no word on when it will reopen, until now. In a video posted to the Disney Parks TikTok (@disneyparks), we can see the iconic Walt Disney World Railroad starting its official testing. See the video below:

@disneyparks

Choo Choo! Testing is just beginning for the Walt #DisneyWorld Railroad crew 🚂 #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneyCastLife #Railroad #Train #TrainTok

♬ original sound – Disney Parks

In the video, Cast Members talk about how iconic and beloved this attraction is and how crucial it is to the overall experience at the Magic Kingdom. The crew believes that the trains are part of “Walt’s legacy”, as Walt Disney himself had a fascination for trains and locomotives. The Cast Member states that they “are excited to getting the railroad back open”, but unfortunately, we are still left waiting for an official date or timeframe for when the Walt Disney World Railroad will return.

However, as shown in the video, it’s looking like the day is coming soon. We saw the railroad test a few months again but it seems like Disney is kicking things into full gear in order to finally get the attraction open again soon.

disney world railroad

Listen to the clamor of the engine, the chug of the wheels and the call of the whistle as you travel aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad.Take your seat on 1 of 4 meticulously restored, vintage narrow-gauge steam trains—originally built between 1916 and 1928—and enjoy a relaxing 20-minute, 1.5-mile scenic round-trip tour.

It’s a convenient—and nostalgic—way to get around Magic Kingdom park!

Find a Station
You can board or disembark at any of 3 stations:

Disney Genie: How Does It Work?

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Disney Genie is going to officially launch on October 19 at Walt Disney World. The date for Disneyland has not yet been determined. The information was shared as part of a Zoom Meeting with several Disney Executives who have been working on the project. They also shared plenty of information on the new service.

During the meeting, it was stated that the goal of Disney Genie is to optimize Guests’ time and maximize Guests’ fun. It will be a lot like a navigation app on your phone, with updates depending on where you are and what you are interested in. It will match your must dos and interests, and find ways for you to get the most out of your day. Any plans that you currently have such as dining reservations will be taken into account when the suggestions are made.

Disney Genie will use algorithms to determine what you should do and when. The suggestions will be not only for attractions, but dining will be included as well. If you don’t like a suggestion, you can swap it out for something else. If you aren’t sure why something was suggested for you, there will be a feature where you can find out why it was a suggestion. Current Wait Times will be available, as well as forecasted Wait Times. There will also be a Tip Board to help you figure out your next move. The Tip Board will give the status for each attraction or restaurant. Another nice feature will be that if a full service restaurant has spots available on the Wait List, you will be able to join through Disney Genie. No more “you’re aren’t close enough” messages!

Suggestions will change based on other factors as well. If storms are rolling in, an indoor attraction could be recommended. If a ride is down Disney Genie will let you know and adapt as needed. You won’t have to walk across a Park, only to discover that you can’t ride.

If you plan to Park Hop, Disney Genie is adaptable for that as well. You can include the time that you plan to hop and which park, and your suggestions will be updated. If you change your mind it is easy to put that information into Disney Genie and you will have new recommendations appear.

Don’t worry that Disney Genie is going to cause long lines because it recommends the same things to all Guests. The system will take that into account, so everyone will not receive the same recommendations at the same time.

Disney Genie will be complimentary. The free service will include personalized optimizations for your day. The Tip Board and many other features will be included as well. If you’re worried about your battery, the service will update only when you open it on your phone. That will help to prolong your battery life.

The paid extra that everyone is talking about is Disney Genie+. This will cost $15 a day at Walt Disney World. You do not need to purchase it for the length of your ticket, you’ll just buy it the day of. There will be no special add-on at launch for Annual Passholders, they also will have to pay each day they want to use it. The main draw of Disney Genie+ is that Guests will have access to the Lightning Lane. You will be able to pick one attraction at a time, and will be given the next available time. If your return time is too far away you will be able to make a second selection after two hours. The system will work much like the old FastPass system did, you cannot make selections until the day of your visit. One person can make Lightning Lane selections for everyone in a party. If you want to break the group up, you will be able to do that as well.

Another extra in Disney Genie+ will be Augmented Reality Lenses. There will be 20 to choose from. You will be able to turn yourself into the Genie, or enjoy a plate of virtual spaghetti with your favorite Tramp. Most of the lenses are for use in the Theme Parks, but some will be available outside of them.

There was also an update on the Individual Lightning Lane attractions. These will be available for purchase a la carte, so to speak. You will be able to purchase a maximum of two different attractions per day. At launch the Individual Lightning Lane choices will be as follows; Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Frozen Ever After at EPCOT, Rise of the Resistance and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Avatar Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The price point was not mentioned, but will reflect how busy the Parks are expected to be.

More information on Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ will be released in the coming days. The new service is meant to help you to make the most of your time at Walt Disney World. It is not mandatory to use, but since the basic service will be free we recommend that you try it. You could end up saving a lot of time.

July 2021 Walt Disney World Refurbishments

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Magic Kingdom

Whether you’re visiting to see the fireworks return, enjoying the Fourth of July holiday, or ready to eat and sip your way through EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, Disney is ready to invite you home. There are however a few refurbishments you’ll want to take note of as you prepare your days in the parks.

1. Walt Disney World Railroad (Magic Kingdom):

Sorry Disney fans, this one has been closed for a LONG time now, and we are missing it dearly. The railroad closed temporarily way back on December 3, 2018 and has remained closed since. The extended closure is due to the construction of the new attraction, Tron Lightcycle Power Run. Our best guess is that we won’t have a chance to take a ride on the railroad until Tron opens… which has yet to be announced… but is expected in 2022.

2. The Hall of Presidents (Magic Kingdom):

No surprise here as Disney is hard at work preparing Hall of Presidents for the 46th President, Joe Biden. For Trump’s Presidency, the attraction closed in January 2017 for refurbishment and reopened in December 2017. If history repeats itself, we are hoping to see Hall of Presidents reopen in December 2021.

3. Main Street Confectionery (Magic Kingdom):

Yes, this tasty shop filled with delightful treats closed on March 29, 2021 for a lengthy refurbishment. Currently, the refurbishment calendar has the Confectionery listed as under refurbishment through August 28, 2021. Note – August 28 is as far as Disney’s park hours are currently listed at the time of writing this article which is as far as the refurbishment calendar goes. This refurbishment could go longer once the calendar is updated. Get excited though because when it reopens Disney has said we will have a chance to customize our confections! In the meantime, there is a temporary shop set up in Main Street Cinema with Confectionery treats.

4. The Wave… of American Flavors (Disney’s Contemporary Resort):

The Wave… of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will be unavailable for the summer as Disney refurbishes the space in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort. Reservations will be available through July 15. If you’re looking to enjoy this restaurant as is one last time, be sure to snag a reservation before July 15. The Disney rumor mill and speculations are hard at work with this refurbishment. Much of the speculations suggest Disney could make this a character dining restaurant with characters from The Incredibles. While we would absolutely love that, there is no confirmation from Disney.

5. Jungle Cruise (Magic Kingdom) – BUT it’s still open!

The Jungle Cruise attraction, at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, are receiving new “experiences” which includes new adventures for us to cruise along to. While details of the enhancements have been revealed slowly, Disney has announced the work will be complete “this summer” at Walt Disney World. Thankfully, the attraction at Disney World has remained open throughout the refurbishment. The attraction is currently closed at Disneyland with a reopening date of July 16. Our hope is that Disney will be putting the final touches on Disney World’s Jungle Cruise around the same time.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom are currently listed as being free from refurbishment closures (yay!). Keep in mind, refurbishments are listed to help us plan but it is not set in stone. Disney has been known to extend refurbishments, shorten them, and even close attractions and/or shops suddenly for refurb.