This week we heard the last of the familiar train whistles for a while as the Walt Disney Railroad temporarily suspended operations while construction on the new TRON attraction nears the railroad tracks in Disney World‘s Magic Kingdom.
However, fans of the Walt Disney World Railroad need not despair. Even though you can’t ride the train, you can at least visit when you’re in the park.
The train now sits “in residence” in the Main Street, U.S.A. Train Station.
While the train is “in residence” in the station you will have a unique opportunity to get up-close views, as well as take some photos.
For train buffs this is a rare chance to walk the platform and explore the train in a crowd-free environment.
You’ll find signs like this one we saw in Fantasyland at all of the train stations in the park.
The train isn’t the only attraction with changes or closures as TRON construction progresses, with an opening set for 2021. The pathway between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland from Space Mountain to the Barnstormer is now closed as well.
Tomorrowland Speedway will close for a while in 2019, and reopen later in the year as the same attraction.
For fans of the train, even though you can’t ride it currently, we did spot a newly released t-shirt featuring Mickey Mouse encouraging all of us to Ride the Rails!
Are you looking forward to the opening of the TRON attraction? Let us know in the comments below!
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Some things should be set in stone, and a Magic Kingdom Park without a functioning Railroad is an insult to the the memory of Walter Elias Disney! Railroad trains were a life- long love of the great man several of the “nine old men”. If the turn of the century is now too quaint to honor you might a well tear down Main Street USA as well! Shame on you!
I haven’t been in a while, is there still the opening show before the park opens? If so, I think I remember the characters riding in on the train, guess that wouldn’t happen now..
They ride in on the Millennium Falcon now.
Ellen, they stopped that show at the park entrance a while ago. Now, they allow folks in the park up to the Castle about 5 minutes before opening time, and the morning’s opening “Let the Magic Begin” ceremony takes place there.
Thank you for that info! I haven’t been in a few years. Heading there again soon & am in the midst of planning..
Yeah I’ve too noticed the changes. When I heard about the Universe Of Eneergy being changed to what it is now (Guardians) I had hope for maybe a revamp of a Disneyland Attraction “Journey Thru Innerspace” … but we got Guardians.
the Guardians in DisneyLand is just a rehabbed Tower of Terror. The Guardian being built in EPCOT is a totally new attraction. (Tower of Terror is in Disney Studios park)
Dauna,
I agree. Todays imagineers couldn’t give a rats rear end about what Walt would approve. They are so far removed from the original vision and philosophy of Walt Disney they can’t even see it in their rear view mirrors. Tradition and history mean nothing to this bunch. And sadly, the majority of each new generation of Disney lovers are equally clueless. Look at how they have embraced the demolition of Hollywood Studios for Star Wars and Avatar. Time has come to accept it, Disney Land/World as it was founded is gone forever. There will always be a Walt Disney World, but it will never again be a reflection of the man who dreamed it.
Disney is NOT Tron! You’re turning Disney into Universal!
Neither is Star Wars.
Hello,
Wondering if you can tell me what shops the “ride the rails” t-shirts are available? My dad loves the t-shirt and my parents will be visiting WDW on December 29/30, 2018. They will be going to Disney Springs and Epcot, hopefully the t-shirt is sold in shops other than the Magic Kingdom.
Any information would be much appreciated!
Jenna
Hi Jenna, we haven’t seen this t-shirt outside of Magic Kingdom yet, sorry. But if you stop in at World of Disney, it’s worth asking if they have it. You never know!
Thank you for the information!