Article from Peggy Macdonald at the Examiner
The reopening of the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland Transit Authority ride has been postponed. Originally scheduled to reopen August 25, the TTA (formerly the WEDWay People Mover) will resume operations September 1.
The TTA takes guests on a leisurely tour through several of Tomorrowland’s most popular rides, including Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, and Space Mountain, which is currently closed for refurbishment. Although TTA riders sometimes catch a glimpse of Space Mountain with the lights on when there are technical difficulties with the ride, Disney typically conceals major renovations by erecting temporary barricades that block the view of the ride in transition.
The TTA is a classic Disney World ride that is especially popular with guests who enjoy sitting down for several minutes in shaded comfort. The ride offers breathtaking views of Cinderella Castle and provides a bird’s eye perspective of the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. Another reason to ride the TTA is that it typically has one of the shortest lines at the Magic Kingdom. The flat escalators provide an awkward-feeling calf stretch on the way up, followed by a virtual foot massage on the way down.
The ride has been in need of refurbishment for years. The audio track has grown stale, and a scene near the Mickey’s Star Traders gift shop has been out of order for several years. The scene depicts a futuristic space traveler whose spaceship has broken down. A service droid used to move back and forth on a ramp, but now the droid rests motionless. Steam used to rise from the broken ship, but now there is no action. With any luck, the refurbished TTA will have a new scene at this location. It will be wonderful to see the refurbishment barricades come down before the September 1 reopening.
