by David Lee | Jan 24, 2024 | Magic Kingdom, WDW Blog
Have you ever wondered the history behind the Walt Disney World Railroad? Learn about its beginnings and changes to the modern day.
Walt Disney World is known for many things. There are four world-class theme parks with mind-blowing attractions. Then there is the incredible food, ranging from creative snacks to five-star dining. And don’t forget the intricately themed resorts! But another significant feature of Disney World is transportation. The monorail, Skyliner, and boats immediately come to mind. However, don’t forget about the transportation that is available within the park, such as the Walt Disney World Railroad.
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This train attraction is one of the first things guests see when walking into Magic Kingdom. However, it’s very easy to ignore and walk past, especially if you’re distracted by the castle ahead, or if you’re rushing over to beat the lines at a popular ride. And it’s too bad that many people aren’t even aware of the railroad as they enter the park. The Main Street, U.S.A. station features beautiful classic architecture modeled after the former train station in Saratoga Springs, New York. This is a great place not just for photography, but also to view the fireworks from.
How the Walt Disney World Railroad Began
Walt Disney himself was a huge fan of trains and even built a miniature railroad in his backyard. This passion led to the creation of the Disneyland Railroad, and his love of trains continued to be reflected through the WDW Railroad.
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While its steam trains now operate in Central Florida, they have a fascinating origin story. The four locomotives actually came from Mexico from a railroad based in Yucatán. These were then shipped to Tampa, Florida where the restoration process began. They were renovated to look like steam engines, which adds to the nostalgic feel as you ride the railroad around Magic Kingdom. The passenger cars were manufactured to match the look and feel of the locomotives.
Opening Day
The railroad was an opening-day attraction that was ready to transport guests around Magic Kingdom since its first day on October 1, 1971. In the beginning, the Main Street station was the only stop, so riders had to ride the full loop.
The next station opened in Frontierland in 1972. However, the one today is not the original. Due to the construction of Splash Mountain (which will be reopening as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, an attraction themed after The Princess and The Frog film), the first station was removed and replaced with the current version opened in 1991.
The last station is in Fantasyland. The first station opened in 1988, but went through several versions, just like the land it is located in. The current stop is located in Storybook Circus and opened in 2012. When I took my 3-year-old, we spent a decent amount of time in this area, as it is home to toddler-friendly attractions like Dumbo and The Barnstormer. By mid-afternoon, he was ready to head back to the hotel. Taking the train was a relaxing but still fun way to head to the park exit. If you have little ones, I highly recommend the train not only as a way to get around but also to get some rest.
In Recent Years
Most recently, the railroad was closed for a number of years beginning in 2018 due to the construction of the TRON Lightcycle Run attraction. It reopened at the end of 2022, and in the following years, the Frontierland station went through some modifications as part of the Splash Mountain retheme.
Overall, the entire railroad spans 1.5 miles and takes 20 minutes to complete the round trip. Fans of trains will love seeing, hearing, and riding this attraction powered by vintage steam trains that were originally built between 1916 and 1928. It provides a nice contrast to the futuristic feel of both the Peoplemover attraction in Tomorrowland and the Disney Monorail located right outside the park.
So next time you arrive through the entrance of Magic Kingdom, take a moment to look up at the Main Street station, hear the timeless sounds of a steam whistle, and be whisked away on a magical train ride.
FAQs
The WDW Railway opened with the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971. There are four different trains, each named after a significant person in Disney history: the Walter E. Disney, the Lilly Belle (Walt's nickname for his wife Lillian), the Roy O. Disney and the Roger E. Broggie.
What is the history of the Disney trains? ›
The attraction was conceived by Walt Disney, who drew inspiration from the ridable miniature Carolwood Pacific Railroad built in his backyard. The Disneyland Railroad opened to the public at Disneyland's grand opening on July 17, 1955.
What happened to Walt Disney World Railroad? ›
In the summer of 2019, it was shipped off to the Strasburg Rail Road workshop. It later returned to the park in late 2023 and underwent some extensive testing before returning to service on February 21, 2024.
When did the Walt Disney World Railroad open? ›
Like the steam trains running on the Disneyland Railroad during Disneyland's opening day on July 17, 1955, the steam trains for the WDWRR were the first attraction in the Magic Kingdom park to be finished, and they have been operating in the park ever since it opened on October 1, 1971.
Is the Walt Disney World Railroad a real steam engine? ›
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!
How many Disney railroad trains are there? ›
Fun Facts About the Disneyland Train
His first was a 1/8-scale train that ran in his backyard, built in 1949. The Disneyland train isn't just one train, but five. Each is a meticulously restored, working narrow-gauge train with four sets of passenger cars. The trains are named for locomotive legends C.K.
How many stops does the Disney World railroad make? ›
You can board or disembark at any of 3 stations: Near the entrance to the park on Main Street, U.S.A. The Frontierland station. The Fantasyland station.
What ride shut down at Disney World? ›
Do not expect to ride Splash Mountain when you visit the park this year. The ride was permanently closed to make way for Tiana's Bayou Adventure in January 2023. Country Bear Jamboree, in Magic Kingdom, is temporarily closed for refurbishment. It will not reopen until the summer of 2024.
What ride was retired at Disney World? ›
Many rides have stood the test of time such as Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion, but other rides such as Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and The Great Movie Ride have been retired.
How long does Disney railroad last? ›
But in reality, the oldest ride in Disney World was built in 1917 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. The carousel historian in me does get slightly annoyed whenever people say the Carousel of Progress is the oldest Disney World ride, when it's really Prince Charming's Regal Carrousel.
How long does the Walt Disney World Railroad take? ›
How long is the Disney Railroad loop? ›
Description: The Walt Disney World Railroad is a 20-minute slow-moving, 1.5-mile scenic round-trip train ride around the Magic Kingdom. You can ride on 1 of 4 restored, vintage narrow-gauge steam trains that were originally built between 1916 and 1928.
Are the Disney tunnels real? ›
Magic Kingdom utilidor system
The largest system of utilidors is beneath Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, but they are not a basem*nt, contrary to popular belief. Because of an elevated water table, most of these tunnels were actually built at ground level, and the Magic Kingdom was built above that.
What is the Disney train called? ›
The Disneyland Railroad is a handy way to get around the park. Trains are scheduled to arrive every 5 to 10 minutes at most times throughout the day and travel clockwise around the park. Hop on or off at one of 4 convenient stations: Main Street, U.S.A.
Why did Walt Disney like trains? ›
His father was a railroad mechanic and his Uncle Mike Martin was a steam locomotive engineer. Walt's first job was selling newspapers, candy and fruit on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. His other great love as a youth was drawing cartoons.
What is the history of Disney's monorail? ›
The Disneyland Monorail was introduced in 1959 and althought the E.P.C.O.T project as Walt envisioned it was not constructed, the Monorail was part of what became Walt Disney World in 1971. Walt Disney Productions tried at the time to promote and market the Walt Disney World Monorail System as a transportation system ...
What are the trains called in Disney? ›
There are four different trains, each named after a significant person in Disney history: the Walter E. Disney, the Lilly Belle (Walt's nickname for his wife Lillian), the Roy O. Disney and the Roger E. Broggie.
What was the first train at Disneyland? ›
The Disneyland Railroad was one of our opening-day attractions on July 17, 1955, with two steam engines in operation. Engine No. 1 – C.K. Holliday – was named for Cyrus Kurtz Holliday, founder of the Atchison & Topeka Railroad (later the Santa Fe Railroad, established in 1859).
Did Walt Disney love trains? ›
“I suppose I've always been in love with trains,” Walt wrote in the October 1965 issue of Railroad Magazine, tracing his rail fascination to his youth, “As a small boy living on a farm near Marceline, Mo. …
