PeopleMover
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The PeopleMover (July 2, 1967–August 21, 1995), officially the PeopleMover Thru the World of Tron from 1982-1995, was an attraction in Tomorrowland at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and remains open at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida as Tomorrowland Transit Authority. The spelling of the attraction's name is also referenced as "Peoplemover" or "People Mover." Disney sometimes uses the latter, but usually uses the spelling "PeopleMover."
The transportation term "people mover" comes from this attraction. PeopleMover was actually a working title for the attraction, but it became attached to the project over time and there was never another name for it.
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[edit] Attraction facts
- Grand Opening: July 2, 1967 (Opened with the Re-Opening of Tomorrowland)
- Closing Date: August 21, 1995
- Designer: WED Enterprises
- Sponsor: Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company (entire run)
- Seating: 4 per car, 4 cars per train
- Top Speed: 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h)
- Ride Duration: 16:00
- Height Requirement: None.
- Required Ticket: "D"
[edit] History
The PeopleMover opened as part of New Tomorrowland in 1967. The attraction's vehicles were always in motion, and were accessible by a large rotating platform inside the station. The PeopleMover was presented by Goodyear. The trains were not powered by motors within themselves, but rather by rotating Goodyear tires embedded in the track, which the trains would pass over every nine feet. The cars were all red, blue, yellow, and green with white roofs until they were repainted all white with colored stripes sometime during 1987. The PeopleMover closed in August 1995, and was replaced by Rocket Rods in 1998.
[edit] Sponsorship
The attraction used an updated WEDway system based on the WEDway used for the Ford Magic Skyway at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. When Disney asked Ford Motor Company to continue sponsorship by sponsoring Disneyland's new PeopleMover, they declined, because Ford did not want to support technology that could replace the automobile. So Goodyear was asked to sponsor it, and accepted, and the wheels in the WEDway system were replaced by tires. The PeopleMover's logo is even influenced by Goodyear; the entire "PEOPLEMOVER" logo is in the same font as Goodyear's logo. The PeopleMover was also often called the Goodyear PeopleMover. Since it sponsored the attraction for more than 28 years, it was one of the longest-lasting sponsorships in Disneyland's history.
[edit] SuperSpeed Tunnel
In 1977, the SuperSpeed Tunnel was added to the PeopleMover. It was located in the Carousel Building, then housing America Sings. Race cars were projected on the walls all around the trains. In 1982, the scenes were changed to clips from Tron's light cycle race scene, and the tunnel was renamed Tron SuperSpeed Tunnel.
[edit] Deaths
During the attraction's 28-year run, the PeopleMover took the lives of two guests. The guests were at fault for jumping out of their cars, and were crushed by oncoming trains.
[edit] Future
After the PeopleMover's ill-fated successor Rocket Rods closed in 2000, the PeopleMover/Rocket Rods tracks remained untouched until 2005, when the tracks were painted blue and silver for Tomorrowland's new paint scheme. This raised much hope from Disneyland fans, to know that Disneyland was still maintaining the tracks. Although many trees have taken over the tracks in the Autopia area, some have been recently cut away from the tracks. Many fans still speculate the attraction will be the next new attraction for Tomorrowland after Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage opens in May 2007. If this is the case, the ride vehicles will likely require a redesign as safety codes would prevent an exact replica. Specifically, the vehicles would have to be enclosed at least in the areas where they come very close to walls etc (no grandfathering can take place since the Rocket Rods altered the track).
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- People for the PeopleMover – Fan site with information on the history of the PeopleMover.
