Disneyland fans call for return of defunct ride amid major park ‘reimagining’

Tomorrowland is heading into the future.

Disney has announced a major overhaul of Disneyland‘s Tomorrowland, a section of the park with a fraught history of unrealized potential. The overhaul was confirmed by Chairman of Disney Experiences Thomas Mazloum at the D23 fan convention on August 15.

“You all know Disneyland is a promise. As that famous plaque in the front of the park reads, ‘Here you leave today and enter the worlds yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy,’” said Mazloum.

“As we approach Disneyland’s 75th anniversary, with an eye towards the horizon and the park centennial, I think it’s time to renew that promise once again in a way that deeply honors the original and imagines the future with optimism,” Mazloum continued. “And that starts with Tomorrowland.” 

No details on a timeline for the overhaul were announced, but an Instagram post from Disney Parks said the upgrades will “reimagine” the land, bring new attractions, new open spaces and more places for parkgoers to “dream about the future.”

Following the announcement, fans took to social media with a very specific request: bring back the PeopleMover. The classic attraction, which took riders around Tomorrowland in small trains along an elevated track, first opened in 1967 before closing in 1995.

Today, the ride’s tracks still tower over guests, unused.

“PLEASE GIVE US THE PEOPLEMOVER BACK,” one commenter wrote on Instagram.

“Give the people what they want, the PeopleMover!!” another commenter said.

“Was waiting for the p word (peoplemover)” a third commenter chimed in.

The futuristic Tomorrowland was ill-fated from the start. Due to budget cuts during the park’s development, much of founder Walt Disney’s vision for Tomorrowland went unrealized, and many of the land’s early attractions, such as the PeopleMover, Submarine Voyage, and Mission to Mars, have closed.

Also at D23, Disney unveiled new details of Disney California Adventure’s upcoming “Avatar” experience, which will feature an elaborate new section of the park with new attractions.

While Disney World Orlando’s Avatar world was inspired by the original 2009 film, Disney California Adventure’s new Avatar section will be modeled after 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” and the franchise’s upcoming films.

Physical models of the new land reveal a boat attraction which will take riders through the Pandoran seas in both indoor and outdoor sections, where they will be surrounded by Pandora’s out-of-this-world wildlife and environment.

The new Avatar experience will be located on the Hollywood Backlot area currently occupied by “Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!” Disney says the ride will remain open as construction on the new Avatar land takes place elsewhere at the resort.

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