A thoughtful review of Disney's Transportation System

If you've been to Walt Disney World you've probably used some sort of their transportation system, whether that be a Disney Bus, a Monorail, a Friendship Boat, or a Ferry. Today we will review the changes and the additions of many of the transportation on property.

Disney's Buses

This is by far the fastest mode of transportation on WDW property. Buses will run constantly throughout the day and usually you won't wait more than 10 minutes, but you may be unfortunate and wait 45 at times, but on average you'll only wait about 5-10 minutes. So here are the buses that ran on opening day.

As you can see, quite a lot has changed since then, the most drastic would be size. The stripe on the side indicated where this bus was going. (below)

Who remembers these good looking buses? Most of these were re-painted versions of the ones above. These are the buses I remember fondly. I remember standing alot due to lack of seats, and getting sick because of the way we took turns combined with the fact I had the flu... (below)

Around the early 2000's you could start to see these kinds of buses (pictured below). They have more room, are closer to the ground to benefit the ever growing population who needs wheelchair access, and more seats. There was/are many different layouts of this version of bus and are currently still in use. 

Finally we have come to present day. These buses use less diesel, some electric. They now make up a majority of the buses. (below)

As well as the new extra long. I pray for this bus at the end of the night. (below)

Along with the Disney Transport Buses you have both the Cruise Line buses and Disney's Magical Express which run from WDW to Cape Canaveral and WDW to MCO (Orlando International Airport). 

Disney Ferry Boats/ Friendship Boats

There are many Ferry Boats on property, the most prominent being the Liberty Belle in the Magic Kingdom, and the Transportation and Ticket Center Ferries, the Richard F. Irvine, the General Joe Potter, and the Admiral Joe Fowler.

(The Liberty Belle above)

This is the Ferry that travels along the Rivers of America in Liberty Square.

(The General Joe Potter above)

This is a Transportation and Ticket Center Ferry

(Admiral Joe Fowler circa 1979 above)

There was actually a second Ferry Boat on the Rivers of America in the Magic Kingdom, the Admiral Joe Fowler which actually was the first Ferry but was destroyed in the 80's during one of it's dry docks, then they renamed one of the TTC Ferries after him.

(New Admiral Joe Fowler Circa 2012 below)

My Personal favorite boats are in Epcot and used in the surrounding area. The"Friendship" boats are used daily from launches inside of Epcot (Future World to Germany and Future World to Morocco) and outside the back gate at the international gateway providing service from Epcot to Disney's Hollywood Studios (with stops at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club, Disney's Boardwalk, and the Swan and Dolphin).

The only caveat with taking these boats is that they are slowwwwwww. It is often faster to take the boat from Epcot to the Boardwalk and walk to Disney's Hollywood Studios, or Hollywood Studios to Swan and Dolphin and walk to Epcot, you will almost definitely beat the boat.

If you are in World Showcase and are planning to head to Future World, its worth it to give your feet a break and take a friendship across the lagoon. It's only a 5 minute ride and your feet will thank you later.

Walt Disney World Monorail System

The most famous and my personal favorite transportation on WDW property, the Monorail. Disney has of course been famous for it's monorail ever since their first opened at Disneyland in 1959. When  you think of "Disney World" one of the first images that pops up in my mind is the monorails. I can gaurentee that most people who have been here have ridden the monorail once. Shout out to my fellow geeks who can word for word "Please stand clear of the doors...".

(Disneyland's original monorail pictured below)

The Walt Disney World Monorail System has been operating since opening day 1971, serving as a means of transportation from both hotels and the parking area (where as Disneyland's was just an attraction taking you around Tomorrowland until 1961).

The Monorail still travel directly through the Grand Canyon Concourse of the Contemporary Hotel (pictured below)

And in 1982, the Monorail expanded to include Epcot Center. Originally before E.P.C.O.T. became Epcot Center, Monorails and Peoplemovers were to be the main transportation around Walt Disney World.

Disney Trams!

The last but not least transportation in WDW I want to touch on is of course the Disney Trams. Everyone has probably at least seen them. For those of you who frequent WDW and stay on property, you may have never been on this but those who stay off property or are Florida residents are quite familiar with them. I have actually never been on them in Florida, I have been on the ones in California (shout out to mickey and friends tram!). These are as iconic as the Disney Buses. 

While they can also be as slow as the Friendship boats, this tram is almost necessary when you are traveling with kids, or a big family.

Anyways, That's all I got!

Disneyland - Trip Report 2016

This is a pretty old review, seeing as I went the last week of January, but better late than never! It was also the Diamond Celebration!

I have only been to the Disneyland Resort one other time in my life and that was on a choir tour in 2009, which meant I was only able to experience about a total of a days worth, it was also pre-Cars Land. This trip was for business, so I got to experience the park from open to close on multiple days. IT WAS GREAT.

The down side was that a ton was closed.

Disneyland:
Disneyland Railroad
It's A Small World (one week to tear down the holiday decorations)
Fantasmic!
Autopia
Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes
Mark Twain Riverboat
Sailing Ship Columbia
Jungle Cruise
Tom Sawyers Island

Disney California Adventure:
Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular
World of Color (one week refurbishment)


So that was a bummer, especially World of Color and Fantasmic, both of which I was unable to see my first trip.

But I got to experience Hyperspace Mountain, and what I consider the best nighttime parade that currently plays at any Disney park (an argument could be made for the best ever, but would loose to Spectromagic).

Hyperspace Mountain was fantastic! It was the Seasons of the Force which basically meant all of Tomorrowland became Star Wars Land.

Disneyland's cute Space Mountain!

This ride was a dream for any Star Wars fan. The music was all John Williams scores from Episodes I-VI, and definitely brought a tear to my eye. Every time I rode there were multiple cars that came back into the station with people cheering, I may have been one of those people. Also original FASTPASS for the win!

Also this was the first time I got to ride Radiator Springs Racers, and it was really good. I still prefer Test Track for the thrill, but the dark ride portion is amazing!

Much like Test Track, the car holds 6 people, it has it's own single rider line (which I found is rare in Disneyland), and will usually have a 60+ minute wait.

Seriously, some of the best Audio Animatronics I've ever seen!

From there you start your race against another car through Ornament Valley. This would be my favorite ride ever if "Life is a Highway" started playing, Listen!

All in all, a great ride. Good Job Disney!

Cars Land it self is beautiful and looks exactly like the movie. It's pretty stunning to see the exact replicas of the buildings in Radiator Springs. It was also massive.

This is the Cadillac Mountain Range. You can also see the fire station and the Cozy Cone Motel.

Luigi's Flying Tires was closed, as it was being transformed into Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters.

Flo's V8 cafe! I actually didn't try the food, but the roast beef looked pretty tempting.

Ramone's House of Body Art!

All in all, a great addition to the least attended US Disney Park.

I was super bummed that I was not able to see World of Color or Fantasmic! I was not able to see either my first visit and was looking forward to maybe catching them. I was also bummed that I was unable to go on It's A Small World. Oh well.

I really hadn't explored Disney California Adventure the first time I had visited because I really wanted to see all of Disneyland. All I saw in DCA the first time I visited was Muppet Vison 3D and Soarin' Over California, both of which I have seen on a regular basis, I just wanted my friends to expirence Soain' so after we left.

I LOVE Paradise Pier, I think there could be another E-ticket ride here but both Toy Story Mania and California Screamin' are awesome. Here is the video (not mine).

I absolutely loved California Screamin'. It is a launch coaster and launches you into a hill which is pretty unique. Before I went on I thought it would be fun, but not comparable to Rockin' Rollercoaster, or Expedition Everest, but I was wrong, It was better.

No it is not as thrilling as Rockin' or Everest, but it was just good old fashioned fun. It does have a inversion, just one loop, but that isn't even the best part, it's the atmosphere and view you get while riding, as well as a great soundtrack that is synced with the train. It is the longest coaster in California and one of the longer roller coasters I've been on, which is much different than the very quick Rockin' Rollercoaster which seems like it's over even before it starts.

California Screamin' has de-throned Space Mountain (Florida) as my favorite roller coaster of all time. I never thought those words would be spoken, or written rather. And go at night, preferably not when it's raining, that kinda hurt the old face.

Anyways, back in Disneyland, everything was great. It was the Diamond celebration so the castle was sparkling.

I got time to ride pretty much everything in Disneyland. I only missed Peter Pan's Flight, The Storybook Canals, and the peoplemover (jk RIP).

Splash Mountain was a little bit awkward since I was spooning a father of three, and my pants started to rip, but it was still fun!

A clothes pin and Dole Whip Float later I was at the Enchanted Tiki Room, which is far superior to Walt Disney World's Tiki Room for one reason. I could bring in the DOLE WHIP. Seriously seeing a Tiki show is far better with a Dole Whip Float, I couldn't imagine the show without it. I tried to bring it in to the Tiki Room in Florida and was told that I could only eat it outside, and had to wait for the next show. LAME. I am currently trying to find a way to enjoy Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room with my Dole Whip, but lets keep that on the DL.

I guess Walt Disney World does not trust you to throw your tiki trash away...

Then I ventured to Star Wars land, sorry I meant Tomorrowland to check out the new Force Awakens scene in Star Tours and ride Hyperspace Mountain again, and meet Chewbacca.

Rawr...

I wasn't even going to go to Marvel HQ, but I'm glad I did. I am a pretty big Marvel fan, and Iron Man is my favorite of The Avengers, so I was pretty happy to see the Iron Man suits.

Mk. III as seen in Iron Man (2008)

Mk. IV as seen in Iron Man 2

Mk. V as seen in Iron Man 2

Mk. VI as seen in Iron Man 2, and The Avengers

Mk. VII as seen in The Avengers

and Mk. XLII as seen in Iron Man 3

Definitely awesome. I wish that they had like an Avengers Lounge or the S.H.E.I.L.D. Hellicarrier. I would love it. I would love to see a Marvel meet and greet other than Spider-man and Thor.

But the most exciting part of the whole trip was actually the nighttime entertainment. I cannot tell you how much I love the Paint The Night Parade. I am so over the Main Street Electrical Parade at Walt Disney World, and this was such a breath of fresh air. The Parade was set to the tune of "When Can I See You Again" (the credits music from Wreck-It Ralph) which I don't know if I've even heard it besides the one time I watched the movie but it is amazing. The Baroque Hoedown (from MSEP) is also intertwined into the medley.

Seriously, I'm not really a parade person although this blog is proving otherwise, but this is amazing.

Some of the coolest floats I've ever seen.

Looks suspiciously familiar to a whrillyball from Spectromagic

Also off topic is this guy not way more frightening than..

Okay maybe they are both frightening

Anyways so many cool floats, the coolest by far was Mickey's multidimensional ball of light thing as seen here.

Honestly, It was just great to see a night parade that wasn't MSEP. That music is cute for like 2 minutes. I would love to see Paint the Night in WDW for it's 50th celebration, almost as much as I would want to see a revival of Spectromagic.

Also Disneyland Forever was amazing. Made for the Diamond celebration, Disneyland Forever utilized projections on Main Street, and had a great soundtrack to go with the fireworks. They had an awesome Tangled portion, as well as Circle of Life, which was epic.

All in all, a great visit to Disneyland!