When Walt Disney introduced the Disneyland Alweg Monorail at Disneyland back in 1959, it was the first of its kind to operate in the United States. He intended it to be more than an attraction. His goal was to showcase the technology as a mass transit solution for the future. Over the years, the Disney monorails were upgraded several times from that Mark I original, but the idea never really caught on beyond the Disney Parks.
Upon the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971, the Mark IV Monorail took a leap forward as a mass transit system, carrying thousands of Guests each day between the Magic Kingdom Park, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Resort and the Transportation & Ticket Center.
The Mark IV Monorail introduced the sleek white styling and colored stripes, a style that still looks futuristic today. Those original trains served the Walt Disney World Resort for twenty years, before being upgraded in 1991 for higher-capacity Mark VI Monorails (the Mark V designation went to an upgrade of Disneyland's Monorail in 1985).
The Mark VI trains are still in operation and still sport the traditional Walt Disney World "D" logo with Mouse Ear globe. The key differences introduced with these trains allowed them to operate more efficiently and carry more passengers. Where the Mark IV Monorails had doors that were each closed manually and opened on tightly-arranged bench seating, the Mark VI brought automatic doors and plenty of standing room.
In 1982, the Walt Disney World Monorail was extended with the addition of a separate line serving Epcot. Other changes over the years have included the addition of the Grand Floridian station to the Magic Kingdom Resort line in 1988 and graphic enhancements to the monorail fleet in honor of special events. Images of Stitch were placed on the front of trains for the opening of Stitch's Great Escape! in 2004. Swirls of color graced the front cabs during the "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration in 2007, while 2009 brought bouquets of balloons for "What Will You Celebrate?" To generate excitement for the upcoming film TRON: Legacy, one of the trains on the Epcot line is currently wrapped in a design that gives the impression of Light Cycles racing along the monorail beam.
Even with all the changes that have occurred, the Walt Disney World Monorail system still generates excitement. Seeing a train pass by is one of the quintessential signs that you have arrived at the Walt Disney World Resort, and if you're driving up to Seven Seas Way or Disney's Contemporary Resort, consider it good luck if you happen to pass under the beam just as a monorail is passing overhead.
As for the narration on board, it has been rerecorded time and time again, but one piece of the original remains intact. For many, Disney wouldn't be Disney without hearing the voice of Jack Wagner intone, "Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas."
Great article! I always wondered when the various 'Marks' were put into service. Thanks for the info.
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