Here’s what Disney doesn’t want Monorail riders to see

Backstage view from the Disneyland Monorail
Image: Ashley Varela

So, what’s not to love about the Monorail? Given its connection to Walt Disney and the undeniable attraction of sitting up front as it circles the Matterhorn, why would we tell you to skip it? Do we hate old attractions? Are we grouchy PeopleMover purists?

Not quite.

Because the Disneyland Monorail shuttles its riders to and from Tomorrowland, it is forced to do what no other attraction does: it extends beyond the perimeter of the park. As you move away from the Tomorrowland station, you zip past the adjacent Harbor Boulevard and the hotels and shops that cater to perennial out-of-towners. From one side of the Monorail, you are treated to a view of traffic and palm trees outside the resort; from the other, you get a long look at several backstage areas of the park itself.

Image: Disney

Unlike the Disneyland Railroad, which encircles the park (pre-Star Wars Land, at least), the Monorail removes you from Disney’s immersive environment and reminds you that the outside world exists. Even worse, it reminds you that everything you’ve seen and experienced within the resort has been just a little contrived.

Now, there are two things to keep in mind here. First, remember that the Monorail was always intended to be more practical than most of Disneyland’s signature attractions. Walt hoped to stun its riders with its sleek design, silent, smooth movement and quick turnaround time. By all accounts, he had envisioned the Monorail as the transportation of the future, eclipsing cars and trains as it glided above congested roadways. It was never supposed to stay within the confines of the Disneyland Resort.

Second, remember that Disney never really shows you anything they don’t intend you to see. Sure, they might not want you fixating on the security vehicles and offices that you can see from the Monorail, but you’re not going to spot Donald and Goofy walking around without their character heads or catch Elsa chowing down on a cheeseburger. Anything pertaining to Disney’s characters, live entertainment and behind-the-scenes magic has been carefully and deliberately locked away from public view.

There’s one classic view you’ll miss on the Monorail

Sleeping Beauty Castle
Image: Ashley Varela

If you’re going to ride the Disneyland Monorail — and you should, given its revolutionary place in theme park history — at least wait until your second day in the parks. This advice, of course, only applies to those who haven’t yet explored Walt’s original stomping grounds.

There’s no disputing the appeal of the Monorail as a convenient alternative when you’re coming from the Disneyland Hotel, Rainforest Cafe, ESPN Zone or anything that requires more than a five-minute walk from the Esplanade. It’s much easier to take the rail into Tomorrowland than it is to fight your way down the clogged sidewalks of Main Street, U.S.A. (And don’t get us started on the mass hysteria of those post-fireworks crowds.)

Taking the convenient route also deprives you of a quintessential Disneyland experience, however. If it’s your first visit to Anaheim, you should experience the parks the way Walt intended, and that means waiting out those long lines at the main gates so that you get the unparalleled pleasure of watching the Disneyland Railroad steam into the station, walking underneath the plaque that reads, “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy” and strolling through Town Square until you see the pastel spires of Sleeping Beauty Castle waiting for you at the end of the street.

Rest assured, the Monorail will still be there to transport you to and from the resort, giving your aching feet a much-needed break at the end of the day or cool relief during the zenith of a Southern California summer. But if you’re traveling to the Disneyland Resort for the first time? Trust us: it can wait.