The Best Attraction Vehicles in Walt Disney World
Every single attraction at the Walt Disney World Resort features an incredible, immersive theme designed by the Disney Imagineers that surrounds Guests with stunning detail to make them feel like part of the experience. These details include everything from the music to the décor and even the vehicles themselves that move Guests throughout each experience.
While every single attraction vehicle is unique at the Walt Disney World Resort, some are simply so wonderful that they are Guest favorites. From nostalgia to innovative technology and beyond, let’s check out some of the best attraction vehicles found throughout the Walt Disney World Resort!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in the Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland immerses Guests in the rustic atmosphere of Tumbleweed, a mostly abandoned mining town filled with dark caves, critters, and more. Considered to be the “wildest ride in the wilderness” Guests whip around the mountain aboard runaway trains that are so intricately detailed that it’s easy to think that they have been sitting in a mine somewhere for decades.
Featuring rustic details, smudges of smoke and dirt, and architectural elements that suggest years of productivity, each train on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad looks as though it has had a long history of mining. A great subtle detail to check out on each train is the tongue-in-cheek names found on the engines, including U.R. Courageous, U.B. Bold, and I.M. Loco.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Gliding through the skies of Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom is the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, a scenic and relaxing attraction that showcases the beauty of the area with glimpses into nearby attractions including Space Mountain. This wonderful experience not only offers Guests the chance to relax for a few, but also uses incredible technology to cleanly power the experience.
The vibrant blue cars that make up each train of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover are entirely powered by magnets that are embedded in the track throughout Tomorrowland. Each magnet pushes and pulls the trains, in turn, to smoothly move them along the track, making them incredibly efficient and comfortable for Guests!
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom is home to many beloved attractions as well as the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which opened in 2014 as part of a large expansion. The train brings Guests on a thrilling adventure throughout a small mountain, offering up glimpses of the Dwarfs digging away in the mines and dancing with Snow White at home.
While the overall experience of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is enjoyable, it’s the vehicles themselves that truly make it unforgettable. Each mine train consists of individual carts, which utilize new and innovative technology to independently swing Guests in either direction with every single twist and turn throughout the mountain.
Haunted Mansion
No visit to the Magic Kingdom is complete without enjoying the Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square, which is a beloved experience that offers Guests the chance to interact with 999 happy haunts. While moving throughout the attraction, Guests can spot favorite characters like Madame Leota, Constance the bride, and the waltzing duos in the ballroom, all thanks to a unique ride system and vehicle.
The Doom Buggies that whisk Guests throughout the Haunted Mansion are part of an omnimover system, which features a continually moving line of vehicles that can turn and rotate to direct Guests’ attention to specific scenes and locations. With an onboard audio system that pipes in the Ghost Host’s unforgettable narration, the Doom Buggies are an integral part of the Haunted Mansion’s experience that Guests absolutely love.
Walt Disney World Railroad
The Walt Disney World Railroad is a wonderful attraction that many Guests tend to overlook, which takes a grand circle tour around the entire Magic Kingdom. With stations on Main Street, U.S.A., and in Frontierland and Storybook Circus, Guests can board one of four steam trains for a serene ride throughout the Disney Park that even features some unique scenes.
Each of the four steam trains was originally built between 1916 and 1918 and was beautifully restored to its original glory by the Imagineers with immense attention to detail. Featuring beautiful trim, architectural curves and angles, and the distinct sound of the whistle blowing along the track, the Walt Disney World Railroad trains are some of the most incredible attraction vehicles at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Monorail
While not technically an attraction inside of a Disney Park at the Walt Disney World Resort, the Monorail is considered by many Guests to be a can’t-miss ride on every single trip. These innovative modes of transportation run on a loop around Seven Seas Lagoon as well as a connecting circuit between the Transportation and Ticket Center and EPCOT, welcoming thousands of Guests each day.
Each Monorail features its own unique color that can be found in a band on the exterior as well as in the decorative details found within each car. With scenic views and the iconic line “Por favor mantengase alejado de las puertas,” a trip on the Monorail is a must-do on every trip to the Walt Disney World Resort.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
EPCOT is home to its fair share of innovative attractions, including Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which can be found in World Discovery. This thrilling and technologically amazing attraction puts Guests right in the middle of the action with the Guardians as they travel through time to save the galaxy.
Guests enjoy Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind from incredible vehicles that are incredibly smooth and fluid while whipping Guests through a backyard launch and seamlessly rotating and turning to strategically point them at screens and action spots throughout the experience. The attraction vehicles also feature impressive onboard audio systems that blast six songs to pair with the experience, including “September” by Earth, Wind, & Fire and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in Disney’s Hollywood Studios brings eerie and thrilling experiences to life from the very moment that Guests enter the queue. The attraction brings Guests on an unforgettable journey into The Twilight Zone that is made possible by the incredible vehicles designed by Imagineers.
While each service elevator that Guests board might seem relatively normal, they are engineering feats that operate as a normal elevator briefly before moving horizontally through a scene and then moving with a pulley system to be lifted and pulled downwards faster than gravity. With incredible technology and immersive details including an inspection certificate signed by a character from an episode of the show who was the devil, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror features some of the most incredible attraction vehicles at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Any Star Wars fan will tell you that one of their ultimate dreams is to be able to not only board, but pilot, the Millennium Falcon which can be found throughout the film series as Luke, Han, Rey, and more favorites get into all sorts of galactic trouble. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios not only constructed the iconic hunk of space junk, but also created an attraction that fulfills Guests’ greatest wish.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run brings Guests onto the ship on a special mission for Hondo and offers them the chance to enter the cockpit and take the role of pilot, engineer, or gunner. Each role features interactive elements that impact the experience in real-time, and the pilots even get the incredible opportunity to punch it into hyperdrive, making the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon an amazing attraction vehicle that cannot be missed.
Kilimanjaro Safaris
The final attraction vehicle on the list can be found in the village of Harambe in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Kilimanjaro Safaris invites Guests to embark onto the Harambe Reserve for a stunning and scenic authentic adventure filled with chance encounters with animals including lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, and more.
In order to make the experience of Kilimanjaro Safaris possible, Guests board absolutely massive safari vehicles that are beautifully themed to feel as though they have been wandering the African Savannah for years. The trucks also feature large open sides that allow Guests sweeping views of the animals, handy illustrated guides above, and a large mirror in the front that allows the driver to see and interact with Guests throughout the experience.
