[Question] Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

[DutchGuy]

I haven't been to the Disneyland Resort yet (my homepark is Disneyland Paris), but after seeing a POV video of the monorail I was wondering: doesn't it spoil much of the magic? You get to see so many backstage areas and industrial looking places... Anyone who actually rode it has anything to say on the subject?

[calsig31]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

It doesn't spoil it. It actually adds to it.

[explodingboy]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

It doesn't spoil it. It actually adds to it.

I'd have to agree. The Monorail is great and gives you some awesome views of the Resort. Sure you pass by some of the backstage areas but personally I like that! It's cool to see that stuff!

[bee1000]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

Seeing the backstage areas doesn't spoil the park, but seeing Harbor Blvd and other parts of the outside world isn't great and having to disembark in Downtown Disney is a real buzzkill.

[jcruise86]

Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

No.

I went to Walt Disney World as a kid, and the monorail was the form of transportation that took us on the final scenic segment of the journey to the Magic Kingdom. To me it represents Disney as much as a good drawing of Mickey Mouse.

Seeing the backstage areas doesn't spoil the park, but seeing Harbor Blvd and other parts of the outside world isn't great and having to disembark in Downtown Disney is a real buzzkill.

We disagree. :ghug:

[flynnibus]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

I haven't been to the Disneyland Resort yet (my homepark is Disneyland Paris), but after seeing a POV video of the monorail I was wondering: doesn't it spoil much of the magic? You get to see so many backstage areas and industrial looking places... Anyone who actually rode it has anything to say on the subject?

It's a different experience for sure.. in WDW it mostly makes grand passes.. through the Contemp.. around the lagoon... approaching the MK.. looping around EPCOT.

At DLR.. the portion of the trip in TL/FL is great.. but its only a short portion of the ride. The rest is like riding a regional train. Running through the parts of town no one else wants to. Does it ruin the magic? No... no more so then the skyway or google maps does.. but is it glamerous or enticing? Nope.

[smartlabelprint]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

No. The monorail is good with me. I don't ride often though.

[Sorcerer's Apprentice]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

I've only riden it once out of dozens of visits to the parks, but so cool to watch it swish on by!

[hojoanaheim]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

I think seeing parts of backstage adds some mystery to the trip. You get to see things that you normally do not see, and I always wonder what buildings we are passing and try to get a glimpse of something cool.

-Kriss

[Sambo]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

Doesn't spoil anything and enhances it IMHO. Additionally I enjoy seeing the monorail cruise along Harbor Blvd. It reminds me that there is indeed a possiblity of futuristic mass transit. We have this gawd-awful light rail here in Sacramento, and I am constantly saddened that the Capital city of California chose ugly, expensive, inefficient, and very old technology over a bold, bright, and futuristic option. Talk about a political boondoggle... sigh

:yuck:

[sbk1234]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

Seeing the backstage areas doesn't spoil the park, but seeing Harbor Blvd and other parts of the outside world isn't great and having to disembark in Downtown Disney is a real buzzkill.

I agree. I used to avoid the monorail like the plague when it took you through the magical parking lot. Now I don't mind it so much since except for a short bit of Harbor Blvd., it's all part of the Disneyland Resort.

[Slappypunk]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

It doesn't spoil it. It actually adds to it.

I couldn't agree more.

I love to see what's going on in Disneyland. It puts me in a complete awe.

[jasmineray]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

The monorail doesn't ruin anything for me, including the views. I love it all. It's home.

[magicaldisney77]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

i could see why you would think that, but really the whole area around the DLR feels like a resort as a whole. because the DLR is a resort within a resort as they call it the Anaheim resort.

[Giant Panda]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

Seeing the backstage areas doesn't spoil the park, but seeing Harbor Blvd and other parts of the outside world isn't great and having to disembark in Downtown Disney is a real buzzkill.

I agree with the first point, but the visibility of Harbor Blvd. is a result of placement and function, another result of which brings back nostalgia for the good old days.

Back in the day, approaching Disneyland from afar, the first thing you'd see of the park was the Matterhorn. No less thrilling was to exit I-5 at Harbor and finding a Monorail traveling overhead. It was the only ride visible from the outside, what Walt would call a wienee (something to draw someone's interest).

[Gothemi]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

Not at all for us. In fact, it's kinda nice when you sometimes see CM's backstage (or the parades waiting near IASW to go "on stage") look up and wave at you...

[Barbaraann]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

The Disneyland monorail is cool when it goes by. There's something futuristic about it. I like riding it, but mostly, I like watching it and taking photographs of it. It immediately makes me think of Walt Disney, and instantly reminds me of where I am. Disneyland is a special place, and occupies a big part of my heart. The monorail in many ways symbolizes that.

[Bob Weaver]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

I'll be the dissenter here and say that the first part of the trip does spoil the magic. I remember thinking even as a kid, that the sudden change from Tomorrowland to the gritty "real world" was kind of a shock. Then you had a view of the parking lot, then a boring stop at the hotel. But when you went back into the park the "magic" returned and you were looking at the Autopia, the Motor Boat Cruise, and going around the Matterhorn, getting a brief glimpse of Fantasyland... that brought the wonder and "magic" back.

[DisneyIPresume]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

Doesn't spoil anything and enhances it IMHO. Additionally I enjoy seeing the monorail cruise along Harbor Blvd. It reminds me that there is indeed a possiblity of futuristic mass transit. We have this gawd-awful light rail here in Sacramento, and I am constantly saddened that the Capital city of California chose ugly, expensive, inefficient, and very old technology over a bold, bright, and futuristic option. Talk about a political boondoggle... sigh

:yuck:

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the monorail that was supposed to connect the ARTIC to the DLR has been shelved for a light rail system similar to the one in Sacramento. No fancy monorails -- just a light rail system. Nothing fancy or glamorous.

Anaheim considers adding streetcars near Disneyland | anaheim, city, streetcars - News - The Orange County Register

I agree with the first point, but the visibility of Harbor Blvd. is a result of placement and function, another result of which brings back nostalgia for the good old days.

Back in the day, approaching Disneyland from afar, the first thing you'd see of the park was the Matterhorn. No less thrilling was to exit I-5 at Harbor and finding a Monorail traveling overhead. It was the only ride visible from the outside, what Walt would call a wienee (something to draw someone's interest).

That was so amazing when I was a kid, approaching the resort. And to this day I love it when the monorail goes along Harbor Blvd, even when riding. It's as if I can observe the real, ugly world, but within the safe confines of a monorail car, which is all connected to and within Disneyland.

[flynnibus]

Re: Doesn't the monorail spoil the magic?

the leg from harbor over to the front entrance portion is the worst.. there is no backstage magic there.. it looks like your local city alley. The stretch along harbor is neat for 3 seconds to think 'monorail vs car' but the rest of the trip once you leave the TL 'forest' really is droning and anti-climatic. That stretch along the entrance way stands out to me the most.

There really are no majestic scenes at all except in TL.