Disneyland getting all new monorails

Earlier this year, Disneyland got a little more zany with the Muppet Mobile Laboratory, but as soon as the park opens up early next year, guests should notice a bit of an upgrade on the monorail. Reportedly, the famed park will be running its first all new monorail car in a score, and while details are scant on the actual engineering upgrades, we do know that the electric cars will sport all new hues. The first in line will feature blue glass and red stripes that "change color in the sunlight," while the next two will be blue with purple glass and orange with blue glass. So yeah, it's probably not enough to make a special trip out to Anaheim for, but if you needed just one more excuse to don those iconic black ears and pretend you're young again, you've got it.

[Via Switched]

[CubeGuy @ Dec 23rd 2007 4:10AM]

I haven't been to Disney in years. I'm glad to see that it's getting an upgrade to the most iconic (for me) parts of the park.

[greg @ Dec 23rd 2007 4:14AM]

sweet! I'll have to go check out when they're out. (I live like 20mins away from D-land)

[Andrew @ Dec 23rd 2007 4:19AM]

Thing looks pretty sweet. I like the "changes color in sunlight". That should make them even more catchy.

[Max @ Dec 23rd 2007 4:20AM]

I heard on the radio that the seats on the new monorail cars will all face the windows.

[Darrol @ Dec 23rd 2007 4:26AM]

I will keep an eye out when I go next year. For some strange reason, I am an annual pass holder and I live about 20 minutes away so I can go whenever.

[RC @ Dec 23rd 2007 4:31AM]

When I went to Disneyworld as a kid, I got to ride in the front of train where the driver is. It was pretty cool. He asked me if I like gladiator films.

[Adoniteking @ Dec 23rd 2007 4:48AM]

and he later asked "do you want to see something really cool in the locker room...giggly giggly goo"*your reply*"...alll riiight!"

[Wolfticket @ Dec 23rd 2007 5:48AM]

Airplane! ftw

[futurepastnow @ Dec 23rd 2007 12:38PM]

I got to ride in the front of the train at Disney World when I was seven. Very cool, although I didn't get any Airplane jokes.

[Andrew @ Dec 23rd 2007 9:36PM]

You ever seen a grown man naked?

[Richard @ Dec 24th 2007 5:01AM]

When I saw the driver he asked me if I would like to see his pets, as I recall he called the big one bity.

[Ken N @ Dec 23rd 2007 4:43AM]

I don't know... sounds like more of a Shelbyville idea to me.

Man, I miss Phil Hartman.

And Conan's Simpsons episodes.

[Ghen @ Dec 23rd 2007 8:12AM]

I call the big one Bitey. =)

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 23rd 2007 2:50PM]

Is there a chance the track will blend?

[ethana2 @ Dec 23rd 2007 8:17PM]

That's an interesting idea... how would you even do that kind of surface? Does the color change depending on angle?

..thank goodness for procedural objects, eh?

[Paolo @ Dec 23rd 2007 4:50AM]

Dang, I just missed the new monorails. I was just in Disneyland this past weekend. Oh well.

[Penn @ Dec 23rd 2007 4:14PM]

they aren't on the track yet

[Mr. S. @ Dec 23rd 2007 5:04AM]

When are they going to downgrade the People Mover back to its tron laden awesomeness! I miss it :-(

[CapWKidd @ Dec 23rd 2007 9:07AM]

Downgrade the people mover? How about BRING BACK THE PEOPLE MOVER first? Yes, People Mover+Tron, never saw it, would of loved to....

[Mr. S. @ Dec 23rd 2007 2:20PM]

well, that was sort of a joke since they said that the rocket things were upgrades.

[Haydio @ Dec 23rd 2007 7:58AM]

Monorail cat will be happy!

[CaliforniaKid @ Dec 23rd 2007 8:15AM]

What are they doin' with the old monorail cars? It'd be cool to turn the nose section into a street legal car.

[rento @ Dec 23rd 2007 8:56AM]

Yeah but will they run on hydrogen?

[Maestro @ Dec 23rd 2007 9:44AM]

Monorail! The transportation of the future...Just ask Springfield!

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 23rd 2007 3:29PM]

-but Main Street's still all cracked and broken!

[Chris.L @ Dec 23rd 2007 6:11PM]

but I never got to ride the old one... :(

[GameboyRMH @ Dec 23rd 2007 9:54AM]

BUT WILL THEY BE FASTER? They sure look cool, but I want to get around Disneyland faster dammit! You probably spend over 30mins. riding those things on a day there.

Plus if they made them REALLY fast they could easily become the best ride there :P

[karts41 @ Dec 23rd 2007 4:24PM]

It looks fast just SITTING on the trailer.

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 23rd 2007 10:27AM]

Take a tip from this, Federal Government.

Even DISNEY knows to MAINTAIN IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

[James @ Dec 23rd 2007 10:42AM]

When America does it, it's called "development"

When Dubai does it, Americans call it, "Rich Arabs wasting money"

http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/18/dinosaur-theme-park-coming-to-dubai/

Bigot much?

[audioslavery @ Dec 23rd 2007 11:33PM]

Generalizing 300 people with the opinion of one writer?

Bigot much?

[Quentin @ Dec 23rd 2007 11:16AM]

I wonder if it's using the same translucent color scheme that was first tested on Autopia cars? That would be pretty cool if it is. It also seems that they monorails are going back to a retro look like in the '50s.

Here are some pics of it being lifted backstage.
http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/gallery/4027522#234563989

[Penn @ Dec 23rd 2007 4:17PM]

some people have too much time on their hands...

[Dirkus @ Dec 23rd 2007 11:45AM]

All aboard the monofail!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dirkusmaximus/1343113098/in/set-72157601900439030/

[alfamale @ Dec 23rd 2007 11:48AM]

Is there a chance the track could blend?

[Jay @ Dec 23rd 2007 12:32PM]

Are they putting these in in Florida too, or just California.

I'll have to ask my sister since she works there.

[dustandechoes91 @ Dec 23rd 2007 1:39PM]

I was at disney world last Christmas, and i remember someone/something mentioning them getting them.

[Kris @ Dec 24th 2007 6:35PM]

how come Cali gets all the cool shi....stuff

[Alber1690 @ Dec 23rd 2007 1:24PM]

Sure...nice hardware upgrade...but will they run Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate? I want to know if in case it crashes, would I have a complete backup at hand?

Well, maybe when this upgrade takes place and that future center gets finished up by Microsoft, I'll pay ol' Disney a visit.

[yoshi @ Dec 23rd 2007 2:40PM]

It's Vista Premium. And when Vista notices that the monorail cars have been upgraded, it will pop up a notice saying that Disney will have to reverify their copy of Vista. Failure to do so will result in a reduced functionality of the monorail cars. No one will notice, of course, until they all glide to a spectacular stop during the first press conference.

[Alber1690 @ Dec 23rd 2007 3:30PM]

Of course...and every passenger will have to accept any UAC prompts too, we can't forget those. ;P

[Davsot @ Dec 23rd 2007 2:52PM]

I like monorails. =)

[yoyodude64 @ Dec 23rd 2007 2:57PM]

so will these come to disney world? im in orlando not cali lol

[Valgas @ Dec 23rd 2007 3:34PM]

Make the tunnels look like vaginas. Disney would do it.

[Tim @ Dec 23rd 2007 5:42PM]

Mono means One and Rail means Rail!

[Andrew @ Dec 23rd 2007 7:03PM]

Neat. Now what would be really cool in my opinion would be to extend the monorail system out to the Anaheim Metrolink station.

[Markus @ Dec 23rd 2007 7:21PM]

The ring came off my pudding can.

[pjg @ Dec 23rd 2007 7:50PM]

now why can't they build a bunch of these around los angeles? they look nice, and you don't have to tunnel underground. they definitely look better than new york or chicago subway. never understood why I've only seen them at disney...

[pjg @ Dec 23rd 2007 11:11PM]

wow! a little googling and come to find out I was not alone! A complete monorail line was presented to Los Angeles in 1963!!! Idiot politicians!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/LA1963.html

[LOs @ Dec 23rd 2007 10:37PM]

Wow, changing Paint. Sounds to me like the same phsgin chameleon paint that's been looking crappy on Rice Rockets and hillbilly 4x4s for years now. Way to be on the cutting edge Disney.