This "D" Ticket attraction debuted with 1967's "New Tomorrowland" and was based on the WEDway used for the Ford Magic Skyway at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. Ford declined sponsoring the Disneyland version (The PeopleMover) since they didn't want to support a technology that could replace the car. Goodyear stepped in and began one of the longest running Disneyland sponsorships (28 years). The PeopleMover was powered by rotating Goodyear tires embedded in the track, which the trains would pass over every nine feet (the Goodyear tires replaced the wheels that powered the WEDway system, thus the sponsorship!). The PeopleMover was often referred to as the Goodyear PeopleMover, and even its logo font was the same as Goodyear's. The vehicles moved continuously and were accessible by a large rotating platform inside the station. The cars were red, blue, yellow, or green with white roofs until they became white with colored stripes in 1987. 4 guests could sit in one car, and 4 cars were part of each "train" with a top speed of 2 miles per hour and a 16 minute ride length. The PeopleMover took a ¾ mile trip around Tomorrowland, previewing attractions (Adventures Thru Innerspace, Space Mountain, Mission to Mars, CircleVision Theater) and giving a general birds-eye view of the Fantasyland Motor Boats, the Autopia, and the Submarine Voyage.

In 1977, the SuperSpeed Tunnel was added to the PeopleMover. It was located in the Carousel Building ("America Sings"). Race cars were projected on the walls all around the trains. In 1982, the scenes were changed to clips from the movie "Tron," showing the light cycle race scene, and the tunnel was renamed Tron SuperSpeed Tunnel. The PeopleMover closed in August 1995 and was replaced by Rocket Rods in 1998. Two guests (at separate times) were actually killed by trying to jump between moving cars of the PeopleMover (thus creating the nickname "Peoplecrusher"). Other nicknames for the ride include "PeopleRemover" (same reason) and "PeopleMaker" because of its reputation as a make-out vehicle.

Although the Peoplemover may seem like merely a slow mode of transportation, it was actually much more than that. It was Walt Disney's prototype transportation for EPCOT; the Peoplemover would carry citizens of EPCOT from their home to work, to shopping areas, etc., without having to use cars. This extremely forward-thinking mode of transportation eliminated traffic jams and was a huge energy saver. If you'd like to see Walt talk about the PeopleMover in relation to EPCOT, you can view the EPCOT TV special on the Disney Treasures DVD, "Tomorrowland"

Are you interested in bringing back the PeopleMover? You can sign a petition here:

www.peopleforthepeoplemover.org

And, for the ol' rumor mill, there has been one abuzz that the PeopleMover track might be reused in the future with an enclosed vehicle, similar to the pod featured in the Pixar movie, "The Incredibles." Sounds good to me…

Here is a view of the unused track as it looks today:

Well folks, that's it for this column. Many thanks again for the positive feedback and suggestions—until next time, see you at Daveland, 24/7! Feel free to email me suggestions