Disneyland Railroad – Walt’s Beloved Trains

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Walt Disney loved trains. He really did. He had, for a time, his own miniature, live-steam train at his home. The railroad became the glue holding together his idea for Disneyland. Following isn’t so much a review of this timeless classic, as an outline of what you can expect when boarding one of our favorite ways to get around the park. 

As you enter the Happiest Place on Earth, the Main Street Station of the Disneyland Railroad is the first thing you’ll see. The steam-powered locomotive is ready to take you “on a complete trip around Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom” as the announcer speaks, and the clanging of the bell and the toot-toot of the steam whistle can be heard. You can climb up the steps to the station and board the 3-foot narrow-gauge railroad for a ride around Disneyland, with stops in New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown and Tomorrowland.

As the train departs the station, you’ll notice there is little to no jerkiness that is associated with steam-powered trains. You’ll quickly roll by the lush greenery of Adventureland’s perimeter and approach a building with Mardi Gras props. Then, you’ll enter a short tunnel and arrive at the New Orleans Square Frontierland station.

On the left-hand side of the tracks is an old-fashioned railroad depot, where a telegraph is clicking away with a message of Walt Disney’s dedication of Disneyland. If you’re using the railroad as transportation, this is a great way to get to the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain, as it’s just a short walk from the station. However, if you’re boarding here to journey to another part of Disneyland, stay on board, and when the conductor yells out “Forward!” the train starts moving again. You’ll pass behind the Haunted Mansion and into a dark tunnel that takes you through Splash Mountain, where you’ll hear the refrain of “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” and catch a glimpse of the flume ride’s finale before exiting the tunnel.

Next, you’ll cross a trestle over Critter Country and take a quick jaunt behind Hungry Bear Restaurant, heading into the backwoods of Frontierland near the Rivers of America. Along this portion of the journey, you might spot deer and even Native Americans interspersed throughout the forest as you ride along the steel rails. After a minute, you’ll pass alongside a wooden corral before entering another tunnel, which will bring you to the cartoon-like Mickey’s Toontown Station.

If you disembark here, you’ll find yourself in Fantasyland, or you can walk under the railroad tracks to visit Mickey Mouse and his pals in Mickey’s Toontown. Alternatively, you can board here to ride to Tomorrowland, saving yourself some walking. As the train starts moving again, it will slowly roll through the facade for “it’s a small world,” just behind the world clock. If you turn around, you can see the Disneyland Railroad Roundhouse, where the steam trains and Disneyland Monorail trains are stored at night.

The narrator will next announce that you’re in Tomorrowland, a land on the move, where the Disneyland Monorail passes above the railroad. You’ll also see and hear the cars motoring along the Autopia, while another track sits eerily quiet – it’s the track for the long-gone PeopleMover and Rocket Rods attraction. However, soon enough, you’ll come to a stop at the Tomorrowland Station, conveniently located near the entrance to the Autopia, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, the monorail, and more.

At this point, you may as well complete your tour of Disneyland by taking a slightly slower ride through a tunnel that leads you to the Grand Canyon Diorama. The diorama creates the illusion that the railroad tracks have been built along the southern rim of the Grand Canyon, with deer, squirrels, bobcats, cougars, and more along the edge. You’ll even see a thunderstorm on the horizon that eventually fades into a stunning sunset.

Next, you’ll travel back millions of years to the Primeval World, where various types of dinosaurs are displayed in different settings where they would have lived, such as lush tropics, dry deserts, and even a volcanic eruption. In the climax, you’ll see a T. rex battling another dinosaur for their next meal.

The train finally takes you back to the Main Street Station in 1890s America, signaling the end of your journey around Disneyland. Please take care as you disembark from the train.

If this is your first trip to Disneyland, make sure to climb aboard this treasure from a time when Walt walked the avenues of his beloved park. It’s worth the time.