Disneyland Monorail Ride Transcribed by Lou Smith 20 Oct 97 The Queue The line starts part way around the Submarine Lagoon. At the turnstile is a sign that reads: After you pass through the turnstile you head to your left and step on the upward moving ramp to the Tomorrowland Monorail Station platform and wait for one of the four monorail trains to arrive. While waiting you can look east over the Autopia and toward the Tomorrowland Train Station; southeast at the large round building that housed the Carousel Of Progress and America Sings and the Skyway Terminal; south toward the Lunching Pad (seasonal food bar), the restaurant with the stage for the Tomorrowland musical presentations, People Mover, Astrojets, and Space Mountain; west toward the Submarine Lagoon, Matterhorn Mountain; northwest toward Videolopis, the entrance to Toontown and It's A Small World; or north to the winding Monorail, People Mover and Autopia tracks. While you're there you read the brass plaque (12 by 18 inches) on the wall of the cast member and controls area ... National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. Disney Monorail System Anaheim, California 1959. Disney engineers designed this monorail system, based on the system developed by Axel L. Wenner-Gren of the Alweg Company, Cologne, Germany. Built at the Walt Disney Studios, the system was intended as a model for urban transit. Opened in 1959, it has been in daily passenger service ever since. The cars are equipped with 600 volt DC, 100 hp electric motors driving rubber-tired wheels on a single-beam trackway. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers 1986. By this time one of the trains has arrived, the passengers disembarked, the gates opened and you board one of four monorail trains; blue, purple, red, or orange and find a seat. One of the cast members push the door closure buttons, and the doors, with a hiss of air, slide closed. The train starts to move and you hear ... The Ride (prior to September 1997) From the Tomorrowland Station Controller: Monorail one, you are cleared for dispatch. Engineer: Roger, control, we're leaving now. Announcer: Hello everyone! Welcome aboard the Disneyland Monorail. For your safety during our journey, please keep your hands and arms inside the cabin and remain seated at all times and no smoking please. We're riding aboard a Mark Five monorail, an advanced design of the first daily operating monorail system in the Western hemisphere introduced right here at Disneyland. Since its opening in nineteen fifty-nine, the Disneyland monorail system has carried more than eighty million passengers along a two and one- half mile "highway in the sky." We've reached a comfortable cruising speed of thirty miles an hour. To our left is Harbor Boulevard, the road you probably used to enter Disneyland today. As we cross our one hundred acre parking area, you're probably engaged in a favorite activity here at Disneyland, trying to find the family car. I trust you've already found yours by now. Just ahead is our next stop, the Disneyland Hotel. This year-round resort offers its own worlds of fun and entertainment, including specialty restaurants, lounges, the water marina, live entertainment and a collection of specialty shops. If you wish to disembark, please make sure you have your Disneyland Passport and have your hand stamped as you leave the station. For your convenience, you may reboard the monorail and return to Tomorrowland any time up until one-half hour prior to Disneyland's closing. Just show your hand stamp and passport at the turnstile. This is the Disneyland Hotel Station. If you are leaving us here, please gather your belongings and exit the station toward the rear of the monorail. For those of you who are continuing with us, we'll begin our return trip to Tomorrowland in just a few minutes. When the doors open you may exit, walk to your left, get your hand stamped, go through the two sets of turnstiles, head down the stairs and explore the Disneyland Hotel and Disneyland Pacific Hotel Complex. Upon your return, you head up the stairs, you show your left hand with the daily changed handstamp under the ultraviolet lamp for verification, and proceed through the turnstile, board the waiting monorail and take a seat. The doors close, the train starts and you hear... From the Disneyland Hotel station Controller: Monorail one, you are cleared for dispatch. Engineer: Ten-four, control. Announcer: To those of you who have just joined us, welcome aboard. For your safety, we ask that you keep your hands and arms inside the cabin during our journey, remain seated at all times and no smoking please. We're now on route to Tomorrowland riding aboard a Mark V monorail, the newest generation of Disneyland monorails. These trains were designed for a top speed of seventy miles per hour, but as we approach the Magic Kingdom, our Disneyland Skyway Patrol sees to it we stay at a comfortable thirty-five miles per hour. Across the way is the Main Entrance of Disneyland. Beyond it is Main Street USA, offering a glimpse of what life was like in America nearly a century ago. We're about to reenter Disneyland. Some of the clearances are pretty tight up ahead so please keep your hands and arms inside the cabin. We're now turning towards Tomorrowland. Directly below us is the Autopia, the safest superhighway in America, where nearly anyone can drive a sports car and no license is required. The shimmering waters below are part of Submarine Lagoon where Disneyland's own fleet of research subs dives deep beneath the ocean, exploring the mysteries of liquid space. Those ice covered Alpine slopes across the way belong to the famous Matterhorn Mountain, home to the most thrilling and popular year round bobsled run in the world. Just ahead, the pastel spires of It's A Small World and just beyond it the entrance to Mickey's Toontown. Across the way, the happiest Kingdom of them all, Fantasyland. As we circle Matterhorn Mountain I'd like to remind you to please keep your hands and arms safely inside the monorail. We're now approaching the Tomorrowland Monorail Station, our final destination. Controller: Base to monorail one. You are cleared for Tomorrowland approach. Engineer: Monorail one, Ten-four, on final approach. Announcer: Please remain seated until the monorail comes to a complete stop. Then collect your belongings, watch your head, and step carefully from the train. On behalf of all of our crew, thank you for traveling with us. And we hope you'll have a happy and memorable visit here at Disneyland. This is the Tomorrowland Monorail Station. At this point you can deboard and seek other adventures or stay seated and ride again... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ During Construction (September 97) The trains have been restricted to a shorter amount of track and go both ways on what was the return from the Hotel area track. The queue and hotel area stations have not changed, but the words have. As the monorail leaves you now hear ... From the Tomorrowland Station Controller: Monorail One, ah, clear for dispatch. Engineer: Roger control, we're leaving now. Announcer: Hello everyone! Welcome aboard the Disneyland Monorail. For your safety, please keep your hands and arms inside the cabin and remain seated at all times, and no smoking please. You are now riding aboard a Mark Five Monorail, the newest generation of Disneyland Monorails. The original monorail which was introduced here in nineteen fifty-nine was part of the first daily operating monorail system in the Western Hemisphere. Since that time they have served as a model for urban transportation in communities around the world. Walt Disney once said that Disneyland would never be complete as long as there was imagination left in the world. And today you'll be getting a bird's eye view of that imagination at work. Right here in Tomorrowland Disney Imagineers are creating exciting new attractions and adventures that will take you to new worlds of imagination beginning in the Spring of nineteen ninety-eight. Winding below us are the tracks of one of these new adventures. Beginning next year you will be able to embark on a thrilling high speed race across Tomorrowland in sleek five-passenger cars. Elsewhere in Tomorrow land you'll be able to literally touch the future at Innoventions a fascinating new showcase for tomorrow's products and technologies . Nearby, at the Imagination Institute, you'll become part of a most unusual science experiment as Professor Wayne Sravinski demonstrates his incredible shrinking machine in "Honey I Shrunk The Audience." Throughout Tomorrow land you'll discover a whole new world of attractions, live shows, shops, and dining experiences that will take you into imagination and beyond. We're now traveling alongside Harbor Boulevard, the route you probably used to enter Disneyland today. When Disneyland opened in nineteen fifty- five, this busy thoroughfare was a small, two lane road surrounded by orange groves. Time has certainly brought a lot of changes to this area, bit the biggest change is yet to come. Just ahead, in the Disneyland guest parking area is the future home of Disney's California Adventure, an all new fifty-five acre theme park and resort that celebrates the fun and diversity of America's Golden State. From the natural wonders of the California landscape, to the glitter of Hollywood, to the seaside amusement parks of yesteryear, Disney's California Adventure will offer a whole new world of discovery and entertainment. Linking Disney's California Adventure to the rest of the Disneyland facility will be a bustling outdoor promenade where visitors can enjoy shopping, dining, and entertainment under California skies. We hope you'll join us in two thousand and one to experience the magic of Disney's California Adventure. In just a few moments we'll be making a brief stop at the Disneyland Resort Hotel, a home away from home for many of our Disneyland guests. In addition to the marina, gardens, and outdoor recreation, the hotels feature unique shopping, award winning restaurants, dining with the Disney characters, and popular nighttime entertainment. To find out more, please see the directory located near the tram stop or ask any resort hotel cast member. Controller: Ah, Monorail one, you are cleared for hotel approach. Engineer: Ten four. Announcer: This is the stop for the Disneyland Hotel and the Disneyland Pacific Hotel. We ask that all passengers kindly disembark here. If you will be returning to Disneyland later, please be sure to keep your Disneyland passport and have your hand stamped as you leave the station. You may reboard the Monorail at any time up until one half hour prior to Disneyland closing. When the monorail comes to a complete stop, please gather your belongings, watch your step, and exit to the left of the station. Thanks for traveling with us today and we hope you enjoy your visit to the Disneyland Resort Hotel. From the Disneyland Hotel station Controller: Monorail one, you are cleared for dispatch. Engineer: Ten-four, control. Announcer: To those of you who have just joined us, welcome aboard the Disneyland Monorail. For your safety, we ask that you keep your hands and arms inside the cabin during our journey, remain seated at all times and no smoking please. We're now on route to Tomorrowland on our own "highway in the sky" which will give us a bird's eye view of the Disneyland resort. Since its opening in nineteen fifty-five, Disneyland has continued to grow and change, adding new shows, attractions, and even new lands. Just to the right of the train, in what is now the guest parking area, will be the biggest change yet. Its Disney's California Adventure. An entirely new resort area that will include a fifty-five acre theme park, a luxury resort hotel, and a bustling entertainment center. We hope you'll join us in two thousand and one to experience the newest generation in Disney entertainment. To the left of the monorail is the main entrance of Disneyland. Beyond it is Main Street, U.S.A., a nostalgic look at small town America as it was nearly a century ago. Before we enter Disneyland the engineer would like to say a few words. (Here the cast member engineer usually tells the passengers how late the Park is open or some other trivial information.) We're about to enter Disneyland. Some of the clearances are pretty tight up ahead so please keep your hands and arms inside the cabin. This is Tomorrowland. A land inspired by science fact and science fantasy. Directly below us is the Autopia, where almost anyone can get behind the wheel of a sports car and no driver's license is required. The shimmering waters below belong to Submarine Lagoon where Disneyland's own fleet of research subs takes you on a fascinating voyage through the world of liquid space. Across the way are the icy peaks of Matterhorn Mountain, home of the Abominable Snowman and the world's most famous bobsled ride. Winding below us are the tracks of what will become one of Tomorrowland's most thrilling adventures. Beginning in Spring nineteen ninety-eight, sleek five passenger vehicles will race across these beamways on a high speed journey over Tomorrowland. Just ahead, and to the right of the train, are the pastel spires of one of Disneyland's most beloved attractions, It's A Small World. And beyond it is the entrance to one of the wackiest neighborhoods around, Mickey's Toontown. We're now riding along the outskirts of Fantasyland, the Happiest Kingdom of them all. Here you'll find adventures inspired by favorite Disney characters and stories. As we circle Matterhorn Mountain I'd like to remind you to please keep your hands and arms safely inside the monorail. We're now approaching the Tomorrowland Monorail Station, our final destination. Controller: Monorail One, cleared for Tomorrowland approach. Engineer: Monorail One on final approach. Announcer: Please remain seated until the monorail comes to a complete stop. Then collect your belongings, watch your head, and step carefully from the train. On behalf of all of our crew, thank you for traveling with us and we hope you'll have a happy and memorable visit here at Disneyland. This is the Tomorrowland Monorail Station. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++ During Construction (Oct 97 - ?) The trains are no longer restricted to a shortened track route and now are traversing their regular path to the Hotel and back. The words have changed on the Tomorrowland to Disneyland section of the ride. As the monorail leaves you now hear ... From the Tomorrowland Station Controller: Monorail One, ah, clear for dispatch. Engineer: Roger control, we're leaving now. Announcer: Hello everyone! Welcome aboard the Disneyland Monorail. For your safety, please keep your hands and arms inside the cabin and remain seated at all times, and no smoking please. You are now riding aboard a Mark Five Monorail, the newest generation of Disneyland Monorails. The original monorails which were introduced here in nineteen fifty-nine were part of the first daily operating monorail system in the Western Hemisphere. Since that time this system has served as a model for urban transportation in communities around the world. We're now traveling alongside Harbor Boulevard, the route you probably used to enter Disneyland today. When Disneyland opened in nineteen fifty- five, this busy thoroughfare was a small two lane road surrounded by orange groves. Time has certainly brought a lot of changes to this area, but the biggest change is yet to come. Just ahead, in the Disneyland guest parking area, is the future home of Disney's California Adventure. An all new fifty- five acre theme park and resort that celebrates the fun and diversity of America's Golden State. From the natural wonders of the California Landscape, to the glitter of Hollywood, to the seaside amusement parks of yesteryear, Disney's California Adventure will offer a whole new world of discovery and entertainment. And for the first time in any Disney theme park, guests will actually be able to stay inside the theme park in a luxury resort hotel. Linking Disney's California Adventure to the rest of the Disneyland facility will be a bustling outdoor promenade where visitors can enjoy shopping, dining, and entertainment under California skies. We hope you'll join us in two thousand and one to experience the magic of Disney's California Adventure. In just a few moments we'll be making a brief stop at the Disneyland Resort Hotel, a home away from home for many of our Disneyland guests. In addition to the marina, gardens, and outdoor recreation, the resort hotels feature unique shopping, dining with the Disney characters, and award winning restaurants. At night the hotels come alive with music, dancing, and magical entertainment. To find out more about tonight's entertainment program please see the directory which is located near the tram stop Controller: Ah Monorail One, you are cleared for hotel approach. Engineer: Ten four. Announcer: This is the stop for the Disneyland Hotel and the Disneyland Pacific Hotel. If you will be leaving us here, please gather your belongings and exit the station toward the rear of the monorail. If you will be returning to Disneyland later, please be sure to keep your Disneyland passport and have your hand stamped as you leave the station. You may reboard the monorail at any time up until one half hour prior to Disneyland closing. For your safety, please remain seated until the monorail comes to a full stop. Then gather your belongings, and watch your step when exiting. Thanks for traveling with us today and we hope you enjoy your visit to the Disneyland resort hotels. For those of you continuing with us, we'll begin our return trip to Tomorrowland in just a few minutes. From the Disneyland Hotel station Controller: Monorail one, you are cleared for dispatch. Engineer: Ten-four, control. Announcer: To those of you who have just joined us, welcome aboard the Disneyland Monorail. For your safety, we ask that you keep your hands and arms inside the cabin during our journey, remain seated at all times and no smoking please. We're now on route to Tomorrowland on our own "highway in the sky" which will give us a bird's eye view of the Disneyland resort. Since its opening in nineteen fifty-five, Disneyland has continued to grow and change, adding new shows, attractions, and even new lands. Just to the right of the train, in what is now the guest parking area, will be the biggest change yet. Its Disney's California Adventure. An entirely new resort area that will include a fifty-five acre theme park, a luxury resort hotel, and a bustling entertainment center. We hope you'll join us in two thousand and one to experience the newest generation in Disney entertainment. To the left of the monorail is the main entrance of Disneyland. Beyond it is Main Street, U.S.A., a nostalgic look at small town America as it was nearly a century ago. Before we enter Disneyland the engineer would like to say a few words. (Here the cast member engineer usually tells the passengers how late the Park is open or some other trivial information. On October 19, 1997 at about 1600 (4 PM) cast member Jason was our engineer. He did such a good job of interplay with the recorded voice I've added his comments in this section.) Jason: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Welcome aboard Monorail Red. Just as a reminder Disneyland does close at ten o'clock tonight. The monorails leave the stations about every three minutes and the last monorail of the evening will be departing Tomorrowland on a one way trip back to the hotel shortly after closing. So please make sure you're in line by ten o'clock. Thank you for traveling with us and I Hope you enjoy the rest of your stay here today at the Magic Kingdom. Announcer: We're about to enter Disneyland. Some of the clearances are pretty tight up ahead so please keep your hands and arms inside the cabin. This is Tomorrowland. A land inspired by science fact and science fantasy. Directly below us is the Autopia, where almost anyone can get behind the wheel of a sports car and no driver's license is required. The shimmering waters below belong to Submarine Lagoon where Disneyland's own fleet of research subs takes you on a fascinating voyage through the world of liquid space. Across the way are the icy peaks of Matterhorn Mountain, home of the Abominable Snowman and the world's most famous bobsled ride. Winding below us are the tracks of what will become one of Tomorrowland's most thrilling adventures. Beginning in Spring nineteen ninety-eight, sleek five passenger vehicles will race across these beamways on a high speed journey over Tomorrowland. Just ahead, and to the right of the train, are the pastel spires of one of Disney's most beloved attractions, It's A Small World. And beyond it is the entrance to one of the wackiest neighborhoods around, Mickey's Toontown. We're now riding along the outskirts of Fantasyland, the Happiest Kingdom of them all. Here you'll find adventures inspired by favorite Disney characters and stories. As we circle Matterhorn Mountain I'd like to remind you to please keep your hands and arms safely inside the monorail. We're now approaching the Tomorrowland Monorail Station, our final destination. Controller: Monorail One, cleared for Tomorrowland approach. Engineer: Monorail One on final approach. Announcer: Please remain seated until the monorail comes to a complete stop. Then collect your belongings, watch your head, and step carefully from the train. On behalf of all of our crew, thank you for traveling with us and we hope you'll have a happy and memorable visit here at Disneyland. This is the Tomorrowland Monorail Station.