Over at Walt Disney World, a Monorail transportation system (larger in scale than its Anaheim counterpart) opened on October 1, 1971, connecting the main Transportation and Ticket Center at the parking lot with several of the hotels and Magic Kingdom Park.

Disneyland Resort’s version opened on June 14, 1959, and was the first daily operating monorail in the entire country! At first, it only traveled around Tomorrowland-but in 1961, it was extended out to the Disneyland Hotel.

Perhaps the most famous mode of “first-ride-of-the-day” transportation, on both coasts, is the Monorail. D23 wondered what it’s like to facilitate those “first rides of the day,” and reached out to Cast Members for the inside scoop. Those trips-especially the ones first thing in the morning-can be quite magical, too. Have you ever thought about that very “first ride” you take once you’ve arrived at Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort? We’re talking about the tram, the Monorail, the bus, and even the watercraft that transport you to the front (or sometimes the middle!) of the various parks and resort hotels. “It’s very exciting, because you see the kids’ eyes light up.” There are the mind-blowing attractions, the tune-filled shows, the nighttime fireworks spectaculars, and all that delicious food! But the excitement doesn’t actually start there… sometimes, it starts before you’ve even stepped foot inside a park! Taking a trip to a Disney Park is a truly memorable experience.

Disney world magic kingdom parking