In this post we give an overview of Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, a dark ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World. We cover the basics of the ride, how to ride it, and our thoughts on the experience before closing with an FAQ. Read on to learn more!
Related Posts
This post is a quick guide to PeopleMover, but we have related content that dives deeper into topics. Our Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lane post covers Lightning Lane strategy in deep. The Magic Kingdom Rides and Entertainment Guide gives brief introductions to all the park’s offerings. For putting together your day at the park, we have a One Day Plan for Magic Kingdom.
PeopleMover Basics
PeopleMover is a ride at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. The ride
does not offer rider switch
does NOT have a Lightning Lane
does not have a single rider line
is a part of Early Entry at Magic Kingdom
is about 15 minutes long
Where is PeopleMover located?
PeopleMover is located in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom. Entering the park you’ll head straight to the hub and take a right, crossing the bridge into Tomorrowland. Once at the center of that land, you can go right around Astro Orbiter / The Lunching Pad and the entrance to PeopleMover is on the backside of that structure. Make sure you get in the PeopleMover queue, as it’s located right next to the Astro Orbiter queue.
If you’re riding it first at rope drop, then you are good people and the ride gods shall forever be in your favor. (Unfortunately for all our PeopleMover love, it is not a good idea, strategically, to ride it at rope drop.)
How to Ride PeopleMover
PeopleMover doesn’t have a Lightning Lane, so your only option is to wait standby for it. The ride is also quite long—15 minutes—which makes it a bad option early in the day when you’re trying to take advantage of short waits while they last.
Luckily, PeopleMover waits generally don’t get very high. A 20-minute wait for PeopleMover is long, and most of the time you see it posted at 20 minutes it is actually closer to 10. You shouldn’t have trouble fitting it in outside of peak hours, and you might even just opt for it during peak hours, particularly if you have some time to pass waiting for a Lightning Lane nearby.
If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom with small children, PeopleMover is fantastic option because it has no height requirement and it gives everyone fifteen minutes off their feet. There are a few dark segments—including a pass through the nearly pitch black Space Mountain—but no actual scares of any sort.
PeopleMover Ride Experience
PeopleMover is a 15-minute ride through Tomorrowland. There are outside portions and portions that pass through the insides of some of the buildings in the land. Along the way, a narrator tells you about the land.
The ride has a very well deserved cult following, us included. It’s devoid of thrills or classic Disney characters, but for a usually short wait you get 15 minutes of relaxation and great views.
Many days when I’m arriving late to the park for miscellaneous errands, I’ll make a quick visit to PeopleMover. Almost every one of our visits to the ticketed events Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, or Magic Kingdom After Hours starts with a ride on PeopleMover to review the event guide and plan the rest of the night.
PeopleMover FAQ
How can I see Space Mountain with lights on from PeopleMover?
If Space Mountain is temporarily closed, there’s a good chance that if you hop on PeopleMover you’ll be able to see the inside of Space Mountain with the lights on. PeopleMover does not stop running or change its route just because work is being done on Space Mountain.
This isn’t a guarantee, the Space Mountain might be temporarily closed but not for a reason that requires the lights to be turned on, or it might be running by the time you get to it on PeopleMover, but it’s your best chance.
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
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Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World Genie+ and Lightning Lane strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Epcot Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Animal Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, and Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.