Walt Disney World Railroad Reopens to Guests

Walt Disney WorldDisneyMagic Kingdom
Written By Jonathan Holt

The heartbeat of the Magic Kingdom has returned after a four year closure! The Walt Disney World Railroad closed on December 18, 2018 to make way for the groundbreaking of the Tron Lightcycle / Run roller coaster that’s set to open in March of 2023. Since its closure, the park has felt like a piece of its heart has been missing. The sound of the train’s horn echoing throughout the park, and the kinetics of seeing the iconic steam engine filled with passengers pass by some of our favorite attractions left the Magic Kingdom feeling just a little bit less magical, and a whole lot less nostalgic. However, as of December 23, 2022, the Walt Disney World Railroad has finally returned!

 

Featuring a brand narration, the railroad hasn’t returned exactly the way it departed us; however, after its long refurbishment, and slight route adjustment, the trains look and ride as if they’re brand new! Walt Disney Imagineering had this to say about the new narration addition: “A new conductor has assumed the role, carrying on the long tradition of warm welcomes and amusing anecdotes while adding fresh commentary and story to the journey.” - Imagineering. The role of the narrator has been pivotal in the unique feel to this attraction, and this new narration is a great update to what has classically been a hallmark of the railroad since its opening in 1971.

Personally, if there’s one attraction in the Magic Kingdom that captures Walt Disney’s heart for the original Disneyland the best, it's the railroad. His love for locomotion stood out, and still does to this day, at Disneyland in Anaheim. At Walt Disney World, albeit not a complete copy of the original, the park wouldn’t be the Magic Kingdom of Walt’s without the beautiful tribute of the railroad. This is a long overdue, but welcome, return to the Magic Kingdom. With all the changes made to the parks in recent years, the railroad returning is one extra piece of magic being added back to the resort.

 

What are your thoughts on the return of the Walt Disney World Railroad? Leave them down in the comments below!

Jonathan Holt

Jonathan Holt grew up in Central Florida and fell in love with the Theme Parks and creative culture of Orlando at a young age.

“Some of my earliest childhood memories are filled with trips to Disney and Universal with my family. The way the parks transported me to another world where it was okay to laugh and scream directly impacted the way I saw the world growing up. As an adult now, the parks still hold a very special place in my heart. The parks that we love, hold so much magic that they remind us what it’s like to be a kid again. My dream is to build a community that is able to have child-like joy together while talking about and experiencing the parks.”

https://jonholt.media
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