BREAKING NEWS: Walt Disney World Railroad Re-Opening at Magic Kingdom with Updates

After being closed for many years, the Walt Disney World Railroad has finally reopened at Magic Kingdom. Disney has also released details on an all-new voice for the narrator. Learn more below.

Here are all the details from Disney Cast Member Chelsea Eagle:

Cast members and Imagineers are celebrating a moment of nostalgia at Magic Kingdom Park this week as we prepare to welcome guests aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad once again for the holiday season. This opening-day attraction returns with a completely refreshed track looping the park, and another new surprise for fans and first-comers alike.

Not only did this historic train undergo track updates and maintenance—as 100-year-old vintage steam trains do—the creative minds at Walt Disney Imagineering also seized this moment to revisit the narration and introduce an all-new voice to bring guests into the beloved stories they encounter as they travel from one magical land to the next. “The familiar whistle of its steam engine will be complemented by exciting new sounds and voices,” the team of Imagineers shared. “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.”

The creative voiceover process is as detailed as the train operation itself, and it all starts with our conductor. For these meticulously restored steam trains, we know the scenic grand circle tour must be guided by a voice our guests can envision and resonate with. Someone who grew up on Main Street, U.S.A., dreaming of the day they’d be on the railroad. They’ve now achieved that dream, and they know everyone and everything at Magic Kingdom … an unofficial mayor of sorts. This conductor is humble, genial, and knowledgeable, and he’s eager to help passengers of these iconic steam trains get to their destinations around the park he loves so dearly.

While our conductor points you to the familiar sights on your left and right, we embrace what makes Magic Kingdom a place unlike any other, where you can escape into completely new worlds and celebrate with characters you love. This legacy attraction now holds true the very nostalgia of opening day and blends it with the wonder of new adventures, immersing you into story after story as it loops around the park. You may even encounter a character or two along the way!

We are delighted to share Walt Disney’s love of trains with the world once again, taking guests for the iconic grand circle tour of Magic Kingdom this holiday season. And before your own travels, we are honored to welcome aboard our Magic Kingdom cast members as the very first to experience this historic moment starting today, waving to guests during special #DisneyCastLife tours around the park.

RELATED ARTICLE: 10 Things We Love About the Walt Disney World Railroad

A telltale sign that you’ve arrived at the Magic Kingdom is the Walt Disney World Railroad. Right after passing through security and the gates, you encounter the Main Street, U.S.A. station. It isn’t just a place to hold the welcome show that starts every day at this theme park. The railroad itself stands as a cornerstone experience for the visitors to Magic Kingdom. To prove our point, we present these ten things that we love about the Walt Disney World Railroad.

Editor’s Note: The Walt Disney World Railroad is temporarily closed due to Tron Lightcycle Run construction in Tomorrowland. The railroad is reopening soon.

10 – The Transportation

Let’s face it…when you’ve just finished riding Dumbo the Flying Elephant with your little one, and you need to meet the rest of your family at the front of the park to see Happily Ever After, you may find the journey daunting. Certainly, the prospect of weaving in and out of crowds, avoiding roped-off parade routes, and dragging kids by the hand doesn’t appeal to parents after a long day at Magic Kingdom. That’s why we love the railroad, a practical transportation alternative between Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Main Street, U.S.A. Anytime you want to get around the park, just pick a station and wait; a train will come around every four to ten minutes.

9 – The Relaxation

Not only does the railroad offer easy transportation around Magic Kingdom, but also some respite from the crowds, the heat, the wet weather, and the excitement of attractions and shows. Everyone, especially children, needs a break from time to time to avoid exhaustion. Also, feet grow sore and sprout blisters when you’re at Walt Disney World, therefore giving you another reason to welcome the site of a train station.

8 – The Tour of Magic Kingdom

If you have never been to Magic Kingdom, or your last visit occurred years ago, then you’ll surely love the railroad tour. The ride affords you a sample of the different “lands” as it transports you around the perimeter of the park. Fans of the railroad often hop on the train at Main Street, U.S.A. right after entering the park and ride all the way around, disembarking right where they boarded and completing what is called The Grand Circle Tour. These passengers look to see what has changed since their last visit and try to steal glances of the new projects Disney Imagineers are building around the park.

7 – The Narration

During the tour around Magic Kingdom, the Walt Disney Railroad broadcasts a narration explaining each of the thematic lands and highlighting select attractions. Diehard railroad fans love listening for changes in the narration as if they’re panning for gold. The attraction updates the recording from time to time to reflect changes in the theme park. In addition to the tour narration, the soundtrack also addresses a bit about the train and its history.

6 – The Old-Fashioned Feelings

The narrator’s references to the railroad’s history conjures up some “good, old-fashioned feelings”; he even labels the attraction and himself as “old-fashioned.” Older passengers may feel nostalgic about days when trains were popular, and young ones can experience a slice of history in the process. These feelings stir up the imagination about the past and may encourage conversations with the kids about the impact the railroad system had on the settlement and industrialization of our nation. Also, the trains of the Walt Disney Railroad were built between 1916 and 1928, so they actually are a piece of history.

 5– The Natural Beauty

The journey around the park cuts through the rich flora of Central Florida, where Disney landscapers ensure that a wide variety of plant life beautifies the scenery. To the left of the train, the park’s landscaping crews allow most plants to grow wild, only cutting back vegetation that crowds the tracks for safety reasons. To the right, they meticulously groom much of the property. The train ride gives passengers a chance to leave the crowded asphalt and concrete pathways, the numerous buildings, and the long attraction lines in order to breathe in the freshness of nature and view the lush colors of the countryside.

4 – The Whistle

No, the train whistle is not a recording. Disney fans love that these trains burn real fuel to create real steam that powers their engines. The steam also powers the whistle, which you can tell from the large plume that shoots out of the top of the engine each time the engineer pulls on the cord. If you’re lucky, you may ride the train when it’s time to refill the tank at a water tower. Though some passengers may not appreciate the wait, train fans will absolutely love the lesson provided by a cast member while the refilling and maintenance take place. The maintenance stops and the sound of the whistle may annoy a few park guests, but we love them because they remind us that we’re experiencing a real, steam-powered train, not just another theme park imitation.

3 – The Theming

Visitors from around the world travel to Walt Disney World to experience the resort’s incredible theming. The railroad at Magic Kingdom contributes to theming, as well. Not only do we enjoy the narrator’s explanation of the themes of each of the lands, but we also love the scenes and accents that we spot along the train route. For example, the three stations directly reflect the lands in which they appear. Main Street, U.S.A.’s station appears like something you would see in a small Midwestern town in the early 1900s, Frontierland’s like something in a backwoods, mining town, and Fantasyland’s like something on a circus route (à la Dumbo). You’ll also notice other thematic décor, such as the dear, the Native American village, and the buildings behind select attractions along the route. All the theming occurs smoothly and seamlessly, just as Walt envisioned when he conceived the idea of Walt Disney World.

2 – The Walt Connection

Another aspect of the Walt Disney Railroad that we appreciate concerns Walt’s adoration of trains. Somehow, by experiencing the wonder of the trains at this attraction, we connect to the passion and inspiration of Walt Disney himself. A lot of important things in Walt’s life occurred around trains. He created Mickey Mouse while riding a train back from New York. The small, backyard railroad that he built on his property inspired him about Disneyland, which later led to the creation of Walt Disney World. The fact that the trains at Magic Kingdom are named after Walt and the people he loved should indicate just how important they were for him.

1 – The Family Fellowship

Lastly, we love the trains for the opportunities they provide for us to fellowship with our families. Walt experienced this family fellowship around his home train, the Lilly Belle, and even invited the families of friends and associates to participate. Many park guests share memorable conversations and experiences as they ride the Walt Disney World Railroad since it gives them a chance to back away from the busyness and connect with each other. For this reason, we make the train rides an essential part of every Disney vacation, not just an arbitrary addition of an item to check off our to-do list.