How the People Mover coming back IS POSSIBLE | It can be fixed! 

When the PeopleMover travelled through Space Mountain, you could see and hear the attraction. The Space Mountain rockets used to glow and you could see them flying past if you were lucky. There also used to be a "red Planet" looking thing inside the mountain and you could see the silhouettes of the rockets.

The escalator was underneath the incoming/outgoing track, facing towards Star Tours, Circlevision, and the Tomorrowland entrance, IIRC. There also was a big elevator to get to the roof, which was where the Rocket Jets (now the Astro Orbitor) used to be. Really wish they would move the AO back there, that ride was awesome when it was 3 stories up.

If they bring back the PeopleMover, I would love to see them move the Astro Orbiter back on top of the PM loading platform. That would also fix the Tomorrowland entrance choke point.

David, I rode the People Mover many times. I can guarantee you that when you went through Space Mountain you could see the ride itself - including the cars going around an orange sphere that is not in Space Mountain anymore. As I recall it was on the other side of glass which blocked some of the sound from the attraction.

This may go down as one of David’s best videos! I love that he and Chris Provost make their videos so educational!

David- you nailed it when you said the true value of bringing back Peoplemover is the "kinetic movement" it adds to all of Tomorrowland. It is the common thread that (literally) ties the entire land together, and when that thread is constantly moving, it symbolizes the never-ending "progress" of technology and innovation, which is the heart of Walt's vision of tomorrow. I do remember riding Peoplemover... but only up to 1982 when my family moved across country. I have clear memories of riding it through the Inner Space queue (and watching the Peoplemover from that queue) and I kinda remember going through Space Mtn, but I don't really remember the rest of the route. Thank you for showing it all to us here... it's much longer than I realized! And seeing PeopleMover cars moving all along that route would add SO MUCH kinetic movement that would really add to the visual aesthetic of the entire land. Most of us don't realize just how "dead" Tomorrowland feels today compared to the old days when everything was moving and flowing around you. Sign me up for Team Peoplemover!!!!

I really hope this is the case. Nothing would bring Tomorrowland back like restoring the Peoplemover. I'll be extremely disappointed if this rumor does not pan out.

Keep in mind that there were two Autopias back in the day and were later combined into one. So depending on when that footage of the Peoplemover was taken it could have been then. Also there was a Boat ride next to the Fantasyland Autopia. Yes there were escalators for People Mover and on the side of that platform there was a Elevator for the Astro Orbiter. They've just screwed this up so bad I can't believe it. There aren't enough attractions in Tomorrowland. I'm surprised they couldn't do some sort of dark ride in the Innoventions building. and why would you take an attraction out like Mission to Mars and put a pizza place there? They also took out Captain Eo which should be used for something. Heck run Captain Eo in the meantime. Last point is the choke spots you talk about are only a problem now because there aren't enough attractions. Back in the day people would be going to Starcade, Captain Eo, Mission to Mars, the Peoplemover, Astro Orbiter, the Skyride, Innoventions. All of which are closed now! Well Astro Orbiter was moved but you get my point. They lost the kinetic energy of Tomorrowland. Anyways the flow of traffic was much better through there. Disney really needs to sit down and figure this out, I say go with Neo Futuristic and make it happen so it doesn't all need to come down. The half Jules Verne / half Neo Futuristic look is horrible.

As a kid I loved People Mover because it felt so good to sit. Then it was the only time I would be in the moment, relax, and think how happy I was to be in Disneyland as I enjoyed the views. The “behind the scenes” put it over the top. I have always thought they would bring it back someday. Is there no way to bring back America Sings or Carousel of Progress? The latter is popular in WDW. It is ironic that the Tomorrowland of the past was far superior to today. Yes… keep subs!! Disneyland does not need Tron. Your enthusiasm is fabulous!! Fresh Baked is the best!

Before Tron it was called The Speed Tunnel. They had projections of race cars, air boats. and other stuff that gave the illusion that you were speeding along with them. Pretty cool and awesome

I loved the Peoplemover and the Starcade. It would be great if they came back. While they are at it, bring back a modernized version of the Skyway to Tomorrowland!

I remember riding the People mover, way back in the day. I also remember the Gondola, going through the Matterhorn. I also remember The Adventures through Innerspace attraction. ❤

I loved the people mover. When rocket rods replaced it, I was pretty bummed out. Rocket rods kept breaking down. Hopefully it does come back. 🙏

I believe they have to keep a long People Mover vs shortening it. It needs a long ride time and back to back vehicles to have a high customer per hour count.

In general, I wish they would build some more of the longer rides. They fill the day more. It makes it feel like waiting an hour in line is all worth it. It also seems like it would reduce the amount of crowding throughout the park

For the Space Mountain part, there used to be an orange hexagonal globe thing that you could see and the space mountain vehicles used to glow with some black lights so you would see that from the PM. As for Starcade, I’m pretty sure that was there until just a few years ago.

First let me say David you ROCK for doing this video! Not many Disney vloggers have the commitment to do an extinct ride video quite like this. I remember the people mover well. I also remember MANY of the features you address in this like the escalator up to Space Mountain, the people mover loading area (yes, an escalator took you up to the platform), and the Tron part was one of the coolest parts of the ride. They were showcasing it as a future ride. I guess they never gave up on that. Thanks for doing this video . SUPER fascinating and fun to think about the future of Tomorrowland!!

The people mover was the first ride me and my family would get on. I remember the entrance was an escalator at the front of where the satellites are today. The rocket jets loading platform was above the loading area of people mover and was only accessible by two elevators on the side of the people mover. I miss the pre-1996 Tommorrowland. There was so much kinetic movement. You could always see a people mover in just about everywhere in TL. The monorail was used more frequently and the DL skyway buckets above TL and fantasyland. The peoplemover was also really nice at night. Good times!

i’m so pleased that disneyland might bring the peoplemover back. what my daughter and i were discussing, was why didn’t disneyland bring it back when they were closed for the pandemic. they had over a year with no guests present, to do any work on the peoplemover. it would have been so fabulous to have disneyland open back up, with the peoplemover running. 😊

When going through Star Trader, there were two Stormtroopers and a box, if I remember correctly, and the little speed boost made it seem like you were "getting away" from them. Such a cool ride...

You were able to see the rockets go by. There was only a chicken wire fence that separated you from the inside of Space Mountain. You were always able to hear the rockets on the Space Mountain track very loud and clear!

David, one of your best videos and I've seen them all. I want to confirm a few details about the PeopleMover to you. I first got an annual pass in 1988 and renewed each year until 1996 when we moved away. Me and my friends went to the park as much as you do in those eight years and we always rode the PeopleMover. To this day I know that track layout like the palm of my hand. As others have pointed out the speed ramps up and down were on the opposite end of where you estimated them. Yes, those windows in Space's extended queue were where you could see the cars going by when you were in Starcade. There was a sit down version of S.T.U.N. Runner parked right up to one of those windows that we used to play all the time. While going through Space Mnt you could faintly see the action going on within the mountain. As the ride left the Carousel building and headed down towards Autopia @11:30 in the video, that was the fastest People Mover would travel and it was quite bumpy as the cars leveled out lol. Often on the livestreams, people ask about your coolest evac off a ride. Mine came on the PeoplMover. we broke down right above the lagoon @21:42 in your video. We go walk the entire distance past the Monorail and barely into Circle Vision where a staircase is hidden off to the left. They made us hold that flimsy-looking handrail high above the lagoon as we walked. As for your Blue Sky thoughts, I like them although I do still like the thought of boarding and unboarding in the old platform. An End Of Line restaurant would be awesome. Nighttime lighting could be epic in and around this area. Again great video!

PEOPLE MOVER!!! My first visit to Disneyland was 1974, and I loved the PM from a very early age. Disneyland, my Disneyland has People mover and sky cabins. Best years were the 70's and 80's!!

I always assumed the issue was w/OSHA. No evacuation space for breakdowns. Just like the widening of Alice’s vine to accommodate OSHA, they’d have to enlarge the entire track, add sturdier handrails etc. Not out of the question. But definitely expensive.

I’m echoing the same comments but always enjoyed the People Mover. I do remember Starcade too. Would be awesome if it comes back. Great video along with the old video of the ride. I love your excitement!!! Wishes can come true and I hope People Mover comes back!

I was fortunate that I was 10 years old in 1967 when the Peoplemover and the all-new Tomorrowland (World on the Move) opened up, along with Pirates that same year. Yes there was no SPace Mountain yet, by to me Tomorrowland has never been better. Peoplemover, Adventure Through Inner Space, CircleVision 360, Carousel of Progress, the Character Shop, Mary Blair’s wonderful murals…. All at once! I’m sorry for anyone who did not know Tomorrowland back then (and the direct influence Walt had before he passed away) because it was spectacular!

The escalator for the PM entrance was under the overhead track, between StarTrader and StarCommand, same as in WDW. Where you pointed was where the elevator was for the jets. And yes, you could hear the SM cars through the black metal mesh windows as you passed by on the PM. And occasionally see a light on the front of a vehicle. And yes, it DID go through the round building. When it was still Carousel of Progress, the track passed behind where the people were walking as they left the ride, and in front of the Epcot model. The Epcot model was the focus of attention, so the people leaving the ride most of the time didn't even notice the PM behind them. It was very cool. Also, in the early days of the PM, there were still TWO Autopias: Tomorrowland & Fantasyland. (yeah, I'm old lol)

David! THANK YOU for this video! I am probably ten to fifteen years older than you. I have a lot of memories of riding PM! This was like a walk down memory lane for me!! I really do hope that it can be brought back to life. I just fear how much they may shorten it, but would be good to have it back!!!!!

As the Tomorrowland movie was coming out in 2015 I remember director Brad Bird describing how Imagineers were "chomping at the bit" to redesign Tomorrowland in Disneyland and the designs he saw were incredible. He chose his words carefully but it was clear the "Disney bean counters" didn't want to shell out for a complete Tomorrowland re-do to the scale the Imagineers wanted. There was hope if the movie was a hit then it would materialize but it flopped and all hopes were crushed. The movie started off great but turned out to be about the journey to Tomorrowland instead of Tomorrowland itself

Oh man, David! Your tour of the PM track has me pumped up. I could feel it in your excitement too. If recollection serves me right, the escalator entrance to the PM hub faced Star Tours and then Color Vision (a.k. Buzz Lightyear). They either have plants growing in front of the entrance or a temporary wall. You read my mind, or I read yours, that they could make the old Carousel building the new People Mover hub and remove the center dividing hub and track. Although I would miss out on having that, I do not care. It is so neat to see the PM cars slow down and watch people load and unload. Another option which you hit on briefly while standing on the Space Mountain deck is the idea of a restaurant in the Carousel building. I do not know if Disney removed the mechanism, but it would be cool to have a nice revolving sit down restaurant with a space or futuristic city scene all around. If the mechanism is there and it can be repaired, I say use it and get creative. Many cities have revolving resturants on the top of their skyskraper buildings. Why not tomorrowland? It would be nice to have the track stay straight and make a cut-through fly over the new Carousel restaurant and connect to the other side going over toward Autopia. If a restaurant goes into Carousel, I agree to remove the Pizzeria in the Mission to Mars and make a new attraction and do something with the old Captian EO theatre. hahahaa. You have me all fired up again! I loved how you showed the interweaving layers as you drove Autopia. You can really notice the genius layering despite what some may think as a logistic nightmare. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to making this video, David. Fresh Baked! John :)

Yes! Bring back the people mover! When I went to Magic kingdom in March, I rode the people mover so many times! It was awesome! It would be perfect!

David, thank you for this video! You did a great job! The people mover and carousel of progress was my childhood. I’m going to be sixty next month and these were my favorite rides to do when I was young. Every time I go into tomorrow land I long for those rides and wish Disney would bring them back. I hope they hear you David.

The biggest issue with all this is they’ve removed the star tours section of the people mover completely. I was a cast member when they did it and may have explored that section before and after

Coming into Star Tours, The Peoplemover would turn right, then left. When you are coming down the Star Tours exit, on your right halfway down the lower ramp, you will see a door which leads up to the peoplemover track. Up there now is the projectors that project the passengers you see walking back and forth on the upper section of Star Trader. Also you used to be able to see the the people movers go by when you were in the top floor of the Starcade.

Going to the park, and tracing the old ride paths is one of the funniest things one can do This is the People Mover video I have been waiting for. Excellent work David. Personally Tomorrow Land makes sense when you watch the 90's footage of the attraction functioning. So stoked to see how it unfolds.

Great video! I love seeing all of the old photos and videos that you compiled to really give an idea of what it would be like again. You always have so much perspective and give such interesting insights. Fingers crossed that we do get the People Mover back!!

Absolutely love this video! What keeps hitting me is this whole IP thing. I understand Disney is all about the money. In my opinion turning it into a Buzz theme is ridiculous. Maybe I don’t understand or I’m too old but, make the changes needed to bring back the people mover, add a fabulous restaurant and name it after the big guy himself… Walt’s Yesterland! Bring it back to a semi original opening. I guarantee that will bring in more revenue.

Remember - where the people mover goes over the subs, the pillars go ALL THE WAY down into the subs building to the ground level floor.

The escalator was located under the outgoing and incoming tracks and it was a moving ramp like the haunted mansion exit ramp

Two things: help people to be interested in electric vehicles - by making Autotopia cars powered by electricity. Also- in Epcot the Space 220 restaurant was open without an obvious IP- I think you’re right- make the People Mover it’s own IP. The process of updating Tomorrowland would be very popular Disney + content.

Hey thanks for taking the time to explore the old route of the People Mover! The ride was great because similar to the steam train you had a chance to rest your feet and have a great elevated view of everything! I hope they bring it back. I would come back just to ride it again.

The Speed Ramp belts were located on the east side of the platform and were installed by my father. Not an escalator as others have stated. He was a conveyor belt splicer by trade, and also installed Haunted Mansion speed walk belts on load and unload, the very old Monsanto trip through inner space load and unload.

Love how the passion is pouring out of you in this video. You’ve got me as excited as you are! Thank you.

With Finding Nemo coming back tomorrow, seeing it run yesterday and me having to wait yesterday at Downtown Disney Station on the Monorail to come back online and I got the best ride of my life. The People Mover is what tied Tomorrowland together. Yes it was not the fastest ride in Tomorrowland but I always enjoyed the People Mover. Without the People Mover Tomorrowland lost it's Soul. Disneyland needs the People Mover.

Rough night for me and I so needed this ! Thank you! Dang how does Disney make everything somehow better

I'm not a fan of the Finding Nemo Submarines...but I still agree with David that they should be kept in tact. It's not all about me and my preferences, right? It's an amazing spot for constant kinetic motion. It's also so beautiful and scenic!

People mover is one of the few things that keeps me booking trips to WDW. Disneyland needs this! And your excitement / walking us through the potential is proof in the pudding.

David, this video is absolutely brilliant! So informative and exciting to follow the track and visualize this attraction coming back to life. THIS is why FreshBaked is my go-to for all things Disney!! 💕👏

This video gives me such hope! A dream come true for sure! As the Peoplemover left/returned to the station, just below was where the escalators were. I have to say that with the Tomorrowland theming, Starcade with retro gaming would be a huge hit in my opinion. In watching the old footage as you rode Autopia I remembered a second Autopia in Fantasyland just by the Motorboat Cruise so long ago. Part of me still wonders if this was a strong possibility a few years ago when Tony Baxter was spotted walking the Peopelmover tracks in Tomorrowland. Side note, that spot at the Monorail Station overlooking Nemo is my favorite spot as an adult. It's breathtaking and I hope it remains. Always. As for the idea of the new hub in place of the former General Electric/ America Sings building is genius! It would be, at least to me, the solution to Tomorrowland. I would be totally content. I agree with you 100%, David! Thank you for this!

You could totally see the ride vehicles in Space Mountain. Especially at night when your eyes were adjusted for night.

I absolutely loved the People Mover. It was great to ride anytime of day or night. If you were tired, it was a great spot to rest. If you were hot, it was a great place to cool off. It was a must do several times a trip. BUT Bringing it back in no way, shape, or form, “fixes” Tomorrowland. It would be a great first step, but TL was horribly broken even in those days. It needs a gut job.

Pretty sure the.people mover is being built in Tarzan's tree house. Up the tree around the tree down the tree. 20 bucks genie plus add on. Gonna be so fun

I remember the people mover and being unimpressed with it as a kid. I was too young to appreciate it. That said, I’d love for it to come back and maybe expand things. Since Matterhorn will eventually need major structural rebuilding, why not do Skyway boxes and extend them to Galaxy’s Edge. Call them Skywalker boxes! There definitely needs to be a balance of retro in Tomorrowland, but also improvements. I love the idea of bringing back some things, but do it in a way that moves the experience forward instead of backwards for the sake of nostalgia.

Seeing the PeopleMover go through Star Tours would help to reinforce the "spaceport" theming by making it look like Spaceport THX1138 has its own transportation system.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, you “get” the park and I appreciate you sharing that with us!

David your awesome. Your passion for people mover is infectious. I am 70 and remember the Tomorrowland you see now as brand new. The people mover tied the whole land together. It was a real blast to ride! By the way those telephone pole things in the water of the submarine ride are called pilings as far as I know. Keep the faith! 😊

Theory: the imagineer’s tweet was about a fantasyland expansion cutting into that portion of the monorail/autopia/motorboat area. The shortened people mover may return (which Disney is fine with leaking), but the big announcement out of D23 will be the new IP based attraction in the former motor boat area.

When I first went to D'Land, in 1968, my father, who was an aerial photographer for the USAF stationed at Edwards AFB at the time, made us go into the Circle Vision building. He was so excited about the technology that we all had to see it. Now it just contains Buzz Light-year Astro Blasters. I say it that way because the Circle Vision was ground breaking in its day. Why aren't there more ground breaking attractions like this at D'Land? Yes, Buzz Light-year Astro Blasters is a somewhat fun ride but it has a limit to its attractiveness. If I have a choice to ride it or the Monorail its the Monorail, hands down. Astro Blasters or Space Mountain? Space Mountain. Astro Blasters or Star Tours? Actually neither. I'll take a break. That's just me. Sorry. Any ways, bring on the People Mover, I'm ready!

Yes, there were escalators there at the start of the ride. I miss People Mover so much. I went to the park a lot as a teenager. I was in a school marching band and we often performed at the park, so I was backstage a lot, too. I loved it so much. One of my favorite parts of every visit was the People Mover. It was always a lovely break from the heat and and for tired feet. Plus... TRON. We loved going through the various peek a boo spots at the various queues for the other rides. It was never super exciting, but it was long and relaxing. I also remember the skyway baskets going through the middle of Matterhorn. That was the bomb!

They definitely need to bring back the PeopleMover! Full stop. As for what to do with the old Carousel of Progress building, tear it down and put the Tron roller coaster there. It’s even more appropriate since that was where the old PeopleMover had its Tron section. And thanks FreshBaked for being such an advocate for the PeopleMover!

Honestly I hope they bring it back. I wasn’t around when it was still a thing but if it is to come back that would be so awesome

Your original thought was correct: the projected shadows in Star Trader are on the old PeopleMover track. The track runs at the back of the store and then makes a hard right turn to head into the Starcade.

1…Watching you in the land is so fun. We can see your inner child just beaming. It’s exactly how we all feel in our home away from home. 2…Completely agree that they need to just let Tomorrowland be it’s own IP. Owning the greatness that is Walt’s vintage future Tomorrowland would be a draw to so many enthusiasts. 3…They have so much dead space in this land that they need to hop to it. The motor boats, CaptainEO, innoventions, the peoplemover hub and track. I mean common Disney. Get with it and get moving on a project already. We are all waiting!

I know you won't read this ... but 2 days ago I was beaten on the blue line on the way home from work here in LBC, I'm sorta traumatized by it but I have been binging your videos because you seem like such a good person and it's like therapeutic almost ... thank you fresh baked

From time to time yes you could see the SM coaster. The silhouette of the coaster going past the glowing orb. The people mover entrance moving ramp up to the attraction was under the track itself. They closed it for rocket rods and made it a tunnel from the old circle vision theater.

Praying that it comes back someday 🤞🏼

My first trip to Disneyland was in 1981, and I remember how cool it was to ride the People mover, the skybuckets, and the monorail. We would use the skybuckets to get from Fantasyland to Tommorrowland like it was transportation. I thought it was cool to sit on the PM and just watch the people, esp at night. How magical it all was!! Bring back both the people mover and the skybuckets!!

3:00 - My recollection is the escalators pointed down from the center of the Peoplemover structure toward the entrance to the land, right under the tracks. But that could be a flawed memory. It was an awful long time ago and I'm getting old. :) 8:45 - Those escalators (really inclined tracks - they didn't have steps, just a belt at a slope) were a constant risk of problems. If the line at the exit end of the escalator got backed up, there was no where for people to go to get off the escalator, but the escalator kept pushing people off the end anyway. I distinctly remember that the Space Mountain queue had a cast member at the bottom regulating the guests getting on to the escalator. They would hold you at the foot of the escalator until there was room at the top for people to get off the escalator safely. Switching to static ramps that you had to walk up eventually became a no-brainer. Safer for all, and fewer cast needed. 9:30 - My recollection of the old Peoplemover view into Space Mountain was that the Space Mountain cars had a bit of glow in the dark paint on their sides, which allowed you to see the cars moving around during the ride. It doesn't surprise me that video cameras could not capture that, as it was a pretty dim glow. 22:30 (and a bit before) Walt and Rolly sure understood the magic of kinetic energy, and Tomorrowland used to have it in spades. The Peoplemover at the entrance and down the main path, the rocket ship on top of the Peoplemover, the Monorail passing by overhead, the Subs plodding by on the cooling lake, the Skyway buckets heading off through the Matterhorn. Everywhere you looked there was motion in the land. Now the Peoplemover tracks are silent, the Skyway is but a memory, the Rocket ships demoted to ground level blocking the view into the land. It's just not the same. 27:20 That historic footage was the waiting area for the Circlevision theater. It's pretty much the queue of the current Buzz Lightyear. If you get an overhead photo of the area (such as Google maps), you can see the circular area for the theater itself. The waiting area is to the west of the theater - between the theater and the hub area. Blue Sky time: I'd leave the Peoplemover track over the entry path way. Getting a tour of the whole of Tomorrowland is part of the charm of the Peoplemover. They really don't block the path all that much. It's the people parking their strollers there that cause the obstruction. And that's partly being dealt with by actively moving empty strollers over to the space behind the Star Tours outdoor queue. (The other big road block is Astro Orbiter. THAT is the real problem.) The go ahead and demo the Carousel of Progress building and replace it with the load/unload building for the Peoplemover, effectively extending that straight line portion of the ride. Put some additional seating around that new building for the Galactic Grill and the replacement for Alien Pizza Planet. That really frees up the walkways in that central area and could turn it into a sort of plaza. It shouldn't be too difficult or expensive to reconnect the two ends of the existing Peoplemover track left from the demo of the Carousel of Progress, perhaps roughly following the original circular path. You'd have a nice view of the whole land to the left, and could put some posters or other reminders of the Carousel of Progress on the right side of the track, blocking the views into that backstage area while paying tribute to the attraction that used to sit on that spot. If you really wanted to open up the walkways, put the Astro Orbiter back on top of the Peoplemover load/unload building and open up the entrance area again. Or scrap it as a ride and put an actual, working bit of kinetics on top of the building.

I am 60 years old and I remember the People Mover with fondness. They killed it when they changed all of Tomorrowland to retro/steam punk look. They replaced the sleek submarines to Nemo's Nautilus and the People Mover cars with a speedier looking vehicle.

David, you’re a genius! Kinetic motion is EXACTLY what Tomorrowland needs added back in to reinvigorate the feel of the land. I LOVE the idea of getting the Peoplemover back and adding more details to the land that add more motion back into the scenery. I’d also love to see them find a different solution for extending the space mountain queue so that that really cool space that used to be at the top of the escalators can be utilized again.

Now as a kid I was 12 when NTL opened and loved it.. Space Mountain was years away from being built but the land was just awesome..that one downhill inside Autopia was a blast..I loved it and want it back so much BTW..I worked as a JC Skipper and THAT IS the most fun you can have working there..in my book

I was on the people mover many times. The entry/exit ramp was underneath the in/outgoing track. Before innovations building, you had America Sings, and before that was the Carousel of Progress. When the Carousel of Progress was over you went up a moving ramp to the 2nd floor where you saw the city of Tomorrow and behind the audience was the People Mover going by. Eventually, the city was taken out and a small part was sent to Disney World and the rest trashed then the area was blank until they put the Tron bit in.

@6:46 you were right when you pointed at the passengers walking but then wrong when you pointed out the area of the back left area. I was reopening crew and opening trainer of Star Tours and have been up on that portion of the track numerous times. Not only that, during the 80's, me and my buddies would ride that ride so many times. great way to rest before taking off back into the park again.

Love the video as always Dave! I love Disneyland but have never ridden the PeopleMover, before my time. Thanks for this detail!

For me this is the best video ever. I think your reasoning is right on and I support the PM coming back. You've got me excited now. The two cents that I will add is this. Back in the late 60's and early 70's , when I was a Tomorrowland Ride Operator, the PM was considered a lame ride. Parents and older guests who loved sitting down and getting off their feet loved it. Teens would be bored after the first 100 feet and get out and try to run from car to car...among other things, including romantic encounters during the more isolated sections of the ride. I also appreciated your comments about the submarines being the ideal job. I worked on the original subs. The cast members would rotate between loading and driving. I never felt it was claustrophobic. At that time, the subs had a continuous diesel engine that drove an electric motor and propeller. The smell became a bit much if there was no wind. The only other downside was that in the front loading position...one had to get proficient in counting and placing groups together to fill two sides of sub #1 and then move on to counting and grouping people for sub #2 immediately after. But all in all it was the ideal ride to work and I was always happy to be assigned there. I loved the crew that worked there and miss it to this day. A friend of mine sunk one of the subs when he backed it off the track when he was supposed to be parking it. Those were the days.

What a delightful show! I love seeing you so positive about the possibilities. To quote Agent Mulder, “I want to believe.”

I’d love to see the autopia get updated to electric cars… seems like Tesla would be the perfect sponsor for that. Tomorrowland definitely needs a facelift. I think we let our nostalgia blind us to the fact that it’s kinda dumpy and neglected. I’m onboard for return of the peoplemover, though!

I still can’t believe that Disney messed up the people mover! What were they thinking….🤔

The essential nature of the (circa ‘67) New Tomorrowland was things in motion: Monorail, Subs, Autopia, Skyway, Rockets, and PeopleMover. The area seems dull now in part because so motion motion has been taken out. Restoring the PeopleMover would help a lot but keeping the original load structure and central track is important for keeping the motion visible. I think taking it out would be a huge mistake. It should be restored, and rocket ride put back on top.

23:54 Such a beautiful shot, going from the trees to reveal the Matterhorn and the Lagoon.

When I worked there at Disney, I was hired into Guest Relations as a “Children’s Matron.” Think Lost Children and the Baby Centers. Well, they wanted to make a “Water Park, Outside” of Disneyland and have it over where the Old Strawberry 🍓 Field/Parking lot, on Harbor Blvd was & how do I know that to be true? Because they were already asking Us (Children’s Matron’s) about who would be Willing to go over there & work in that New Water Park? I was Ready to jump on it, to go over there & Open up another New Disney Land. I was READY & they were going to send me and several other women to go too & then EVERYTHING STOPPED 😭😭😭and it was Never brought up again 😭😭😭 P.S. I was one of the Main lGuest Relations Opening Team” into Opening “Disney California Adventure.” So of course I wanted to open another Disney land, just like I was part of the Grand Opening Team for Knott’s Berry Farms “Camp Snoopy.” I’ve Opened several Different areas in Disneyland. “Toon Town,” DCA, Captain EO (was there in 1986 when it opened. Got many of free T-shirt that day and even the Glow in the dark ones, but people were so horrible that day. They were Stealing them left & right. Even out of my sons stroller 😡😡😡I was there when “Star Tours” opened. Got the New watch they had given out too & again people got into my children’s stroller and stole many of my things from that day Again. At the end of my working for Disney, I was a “Disney Special Event Hostess “ for All of there Special Events and that was a blast. I Loved my 6 years of working at Disneyland & California Adventure. I’d Still be working there if my health hadn’t of gotten bad. They were going to movie me from being a Disney Special Events Hostess, to working in Special Events Chef 🧑🏼‍🍳 area. No joke, the very next day AFTER I had to leave my job at Disney, a member of the Manegement team (from the Special Events Food Department) called me to let me know that they wanted me over there in There area. I cried, literally cried 😭😭😭 and told them that I had just left Disney the Day Before, but they Never got the memo. I was crushed, but my body was giving out on me, so Now I’m a Disney Guest 🥳🎉🥳🎉🥳🎉🥳🎉

The escalator (or escalating ramp to be exact) went the other way, pretty much under where the two tracks merge to the loading area.. Used to be a favorite rest attraction for me---like a walk in the park w/o actually walking. lol

Man, Disney execs should watch and study this video and take note. If they don’t listen and move forward with this GREAT plan, they are tone deaf! EXCELLENT video, David!!!

I've never been on the People Mover and you've made me fall in love with the attraction. Your excitement is palpable. What a fun video. I hope it comes back in some form.

Let's hope Chapek finally makes the announcement at D23, we all know both us... and him... needs it.

The escalators to people mover are very similar to the ones in Orlando. Underneath and centered. I remember riding that a lot. If I were in charge at Disney the people mover would have been restored during the Covid shut down.

I’m sure someone has said this by now but you could ABSOLUTELY see into the ride portion of Space Mountain.

David, I have never met someone so enthusiastic as you are for Disneyland and People Mover. Your knowledge and insights are always spot-on and I appreciate the excellent cinematography. Love your plan to move People Mover to the old Innovations/Star Wars Launch Bay! Tear down the ugly hub in the center of Tomorrowland and put it off to the side. Brilliant!

I love the Lagoon but hate the Subs. I wish Disney would come up with a new water attraction something similar to Aquatopia at Tokyo DisneySea. Also, bring back the Mermaids! 😉

What made the People Mover so cool, specifically as a teen in the 80s, was that it was a 15 minute slow ride that you could ride with your crush, and make out.

Disneyland is a land of ATTRACTIONS, not rides, and certainly not a roller coaster park! You are 100% spot on with what you are saying. The attractions are not meant to be a amusement park of one type of ride… it is a park of magic & amazement, a park of sensory visuals, smells, sounds and sights. And if some attractions are replaced with more “coaster type” rides, well then Disneyland becomes more like all other coaster amusement parks. I agree with you… let’s push for the magic and amazement!

The escalator was under the double track leading to the plaza, right about where the saucer thing is. And remember the Rocket jets were above the People Mover station as well. Lots of movement, like a carnival midway, but smoother and all working unison. There were two Autopias, the Fantasyland iteration loading under the Monorail, so it was always going over while you were in line. The Motorboats were going by as well and you could hear the Matterhorn music behind you. Bring back! the People Mover. Heck I would even shell out an E-Ticket for it!

Agree to disagree. Tomorrowland is not close to perfect. The space mountain extended queue and even the beginning of the queue are depressing. It feels like you have left Disneyland and entered an abandoned mall. The whole land feels unloved and un-disney. It needs to either have something totally new or completely go back to the 1970's all white buildings with colorful vehicles and mid century modern styling. The current state is just sad.

Have a lot of memories riding the PeopleMover as a kid (dads favorite ride) and as much as I'd love for it to come back I'm skeptical because (1) it was always a walk-on and really wasn't that popular which is why they tried to remake it into the cooler faster Rocket Rods (2) it was pretty slow & boring as a kid so I'm not sure how today's audience masses would respond to it (3) everything seems to have to be IP based these days so doubtful Chapek would approve a non-IP ride that might not be popular enough for the masses to pay up. But hey just theme it to a WALL-E PeopleMover and build it! haha

David you have outdone yourself well done. The genius of tomorrowland is there is not an inch of space wasted. No matter where you were there was always something moving. Fun to see circlevision since that building was the Que for Rocket Rods. Brought back many memories thanks.

Growing up, I took severel happy rides on the Peoplemover. One of my favorite rides at Walt Disney World ‘s Magic Kingdom. Last time I was there was 18 years ago. I was a New York boy, so we went every few years to Florida’s Disney parks. When I moved to Los Angeles, and got to see Disneyland , I was awestruck to be there - but disappointed that there wasn’t a Peoplemover. (Side note, you saw the Space Mountain vehicles glowing in the dark on their Proplemover). Thanks David for giving me hope.

This guy acts like he owns Disneyland.

I have vivid memories of riding PeopleMover in both 1980 and 1987 (through Star Tours) as well as seeing the PeopleMover go by from the queue of Star Tours. Great memories!

Sooooo nostalgic, the People Mover was very cool. I'm ready to ride it again.😁 Detailed and informative, thank you, David.

The starcade gave such a cool energy. In the late 80s and early 90s tomorrowland was the livest place in the park!