A conversation about favorite Disney World rides led to mentions of rides we love but forget to ride, or rides that aren’t as high-profile as, say, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
After narrowing our focus to Magic Kingdom we tried to decide which ride was the most underrated ride in the park and came to our conclusion.
Drum-roll Please… The Most Underrated Ride in the Magic Kingdom is:
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover.
OK, Disney isn’t helping matters with this description in the park guide map: “Ride this emission-free mass transit system of the future.” This ride is so much more than an “emission-free mass transit system of the future.”
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover is a time-out from the crowds, lines, heat, and rain. A ride on the PeopleMover gives you 10 minutes to rest your weary feet. It gives you a chance to settle the kids down for 10 minutes. Maybe it even gives you 10 minutes to catch a cat nap. However you choose to spend those 10 minutes you are alone in your vehicle, high above the crowds and dry.
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover is educational. You can take a quick look at a diorama of Progress City, better known as Epcot. This diorama has been around since it was a part of Disneyland’s Carousel of Progress in the 1960s.
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover gives a peek into Space Mountain. If you or someone in your group doesn’t want to ride Space Mountain, a loop on the PeopleMover allows you or them to say you have “been in Space Mountain” as it passes through a portion of the attraction. Similarly, you also get to take a peek into Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.
The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover offers great views of the park and current construction. If you aren’t catnapping, you can catch a nice view of Cinderella Castle from the ride vehicle as you pass by the Tomorrowland entrance. Currently, you might even catch a view into the construction area and worksite for the TRON attraction coming to Tomorrowland in 2021.
After summing all of this up we humbly offer Disney a new description for the PeopleMover in the guide map: “Need a time-out? Want to rest your feet? Is it pouring down rain or insanely humid? Take a break on this emission-free mass transit system of the future.”
Are you a Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover fan? What’s your favorite reason for riding this underrated ride? Let us know in the comments below!
Read about the Magic Kingdom’s TRON attraction reaching a construction special milestone here!
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My younger son who is now 19 has loved this ride since he was 3! Every time we go we have to ride it several times. We’ve even seen the inside of Dpace Mountain with all the lights on!! Great view of everything during the day and even better at night. Great way to take s break too. Whole family loves it!
I love this ride. I ride several times when we go it’s the best ride to see everything from high above and do relaxing.
We ride it *every trip* and wave to every car that passes ours. We love this ride!!
This ride is great
You just relax and people watch,I wish it lasted longer! Not everyone can ride roller coasters.
I don’t really see the point of this ride. Its not like it goes around the whole park like the railroad. I can only see it benefiting those who can’t find a bench in the park to relax on
Our family absolutely love this ride! Not only is it a great way to get off your feet as others have said, it is also a great indicator of how crowded the park is. If the queue is down on the ground and circling near Astro Orbiter, then it’s pretty crowded. If the queue is just on the ground but not circling then it’s only a little crowded but if you can walk on then you know it’s not crowded at all. Great indicator – I’m telling you!
We always ride the People Mover at least twice every time we are at Disney. Along with Carousel of Progress it is a long time favorite!
Love riding this! Great way to rest before tackling more of the park!
Before the advent of FP+ there seldom was EVER a wait for People Mover! We use it now as a way to relax above the crowds and noise. Friends call it “the lazy man ride”! It’s always a must do everytime we are in MK!
100% agree. This ride is a great way to get some “down” time and relax. We like to ride this a couple of times each visit to the Magic Kingdom. The one change I would suggest is to bring back the original voice of the ride.
I love this ride! After doing all the other rides, it’s so nice to sit and look at everywhere you’ve been all day! Lol! Ride it at least twice a visit, once in the daylight hours and once in the dark of night! Beautiful, either way!
I first saw the people mover at the 1964 Worlds Fair in Flushings, why didn’t this from of transportation never been used in major population hubs?
My family loves this ride. We miss it at Disneyland !! We ride it at least 2 times every time we go to Florida.
I rode the People Mover during the Christmas season. When it exited the enclosed section, the view of Cinderella’s Castle covered in “ice” was amazing. Literally took my breath away.
I love the people mover! I love getting on it and looking around at the park & all the people below. It’s so relaxing! A moment to take everything in.
“Mr Morrow, Mr Tom Morrow, your party from Saturn has arrived. Please give him a ring”
Attention Mr. Morrow…Mr. Tom Morrow your party is waiting for you at the courtesy desk.
Definitely a must every time at Disney! It just feels like a little bit of history when you ride. Just so much fun!
We like to grab a bucket of popcorn and eat while riding. It’s so relaxing. On occasion when it stops while we are on it, my daughter calls it the Peoplesitterstiller, haha!
We never miss the people mover for the reasons stated plus you get to talk about what you’ve done and what ya gonna do, like where to eat are we going to disney springs and so on
I would love to go on this ride but unfortunately it is not wheelchair accessible. It is the only ride in all of the parks that has absolutely no wheelchair access. Unfortunate…
Was just there yesterday and rode it! We had to wait 20+ minutes, but well worth it! It’s a time out from the crowds and off your feet. Carousel of Progress is great for a cool down and short nap – a must during the busy times!
The last time we rode the People Mover as it was approaching the window where you can see thr Space Mountain Ride, the light suddenly turned on in the Space Mountain Ride, showing how the ride was when the lights were turned on. It was a cool moment seeing the Space Mountain not in the dark and seeing all those steel beams and tracks.
Disney even has a people mover shirt now!
Was on it last night at about 10pm. They stopped it in space mountain when the couple in front of us decided to get frisky. The lights came on and they separated fast!
I love the peoplemover, always did, and for all the reasons that you have mentioned. However, if Disney truly believed it is the mass transit system of the future, then why are they building the skyliner and not peoplemovers for their new transportation system….Just sayin’.
Because it would cause substantially more to build that the skyliner costs, but capacity would be similar.
That is one ride we NEVER miss. It’s great to cool off, relax and take a moment to all sit together and decide what to do, where to go or what to ride next. It’s a double pleasure when Space Mountain is down and you get to see just how low the clearances are and how they have use every inch of space to create an awesome ride.
The Tomorrow Transit Authority which I still call The Wedway People Mover is an absolute must for me. I highly recommend this ride. Since its found in Disneyland and also the fact that the W.E.D was the initials of Walt Elias Disney
The fact that so many love this ride is proof that it’s not all about thrill rides. Disney should take note.
I have to say it’s not underrated anymore. I remember 10+ years ago when you could get on with a 5-minute wait, tops. The line is usually 25+ minutes now and the size of the line is too big for the size of Tomorrowland 🙁
I agree, Sarah. We didn’t even go on it in February, because the lines were soooo long. There never even used to be a line. 🙁
On several occasions we’ve been on it when Space Mountain is down for maintenance and with the lights on you get a fascinating view of the ride
People Mover is definitely underrated. Great to ride at night, when it gives you a close up view of Cinderella’s Castle lit up in different colors, which is beautiful.
Always has a line anymore!20 min waits are common. It isnt forgotte. Its always busy.
This is defiantly one of the best kept secrets in the MK. Great ride to cool off and rest a bit. Get popcorn and a soda and enjoy the sites!
People Mover is awesome 😉 You get to see a lot of Tomorrowland from up above which is cool. We’ve been fortunate to ride it while Space Mountain was down and the lights were on. Also gave us some pretty views of the fireworks when we were on it one time.
Please don’t tell people. It is irresponsible for all of us who already know. If everyone else finds out how good it is the lines will be far worse. But yes it is very much one of the best rides in all of the parks.
Don’t share our secret! ???
I don’t know why but I love this ride! Every time I go there I have to ride it!!
One of the best!
One of my faves!
I love the People Mover. Almost no wait time to enjoy! Don’t pass it up.
A must on our ride list every visit.
Both this and Carousel are our 2 definite go to rides every trip