A New Plan For Anaheim Could Make Getting To Disneyland A Lot Easier, And I Think Walt Would Approve

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Initially, when Walt Disney established Disneyland, it was nestled amidst an orange orchard, before freeways had been developed in the area. Contrary to earlier speculation, following its successful opening and widespread popularity (no longer referred to as “Walt’s Folly”), businesses blossomed around the park at an astonishing pace. Today, Anaheim is as bustling and congested as any region in Southern California, making one of the most vexing aspects of visiting Disneyland: reaching it.

Intriguingly, there’s a potential new venture under discussion in Anaheim, which could alter the current situation dramatically. According to Anaheim Investigator, this project involves the city contemplating a plan to construct an aerial gondola system. This system would resemble the one found at Walt Disney World, known as Skyliner, and would link the Anaheim Resort area, where Disneyland Resort is situated, with the Western part of Los Angeles.

More Transportation Options To Disneyland Are Needed

Due to the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, a gondola system is being contemplated as an alternative transport solution for moving attendees between different event locations. Since the existing infrastructure may not be capable of handling such demand, this new transportation system could serve as a viable option.

Instead of the Olympics missing out, Disneyland could benefit from this situation. As it stands, the Anaheim Resort Transit (ART) system provides bus services across the Anaheim Resort area, transporting guests from local hotels to Disneyland. However, I believe a constantly moving gondola service would be far more convenient than waiting for buses. Based on personal experience, the ART buses are somewhat similar in terms of unreliability compared to Disney World’s own bus system, often not being at the right place or time.

The suggested gondola system includes stops close to Disneyland Resort and Anaheim Convention Center, along with stops near Honda Center and Angels Stadium. If the Honda Center continues to host D23: The Ultimate Fan Event, as it did last year, this transport system could provide a convenient means of travel for thousands of attendees moving between locations.

A greater variety of routes to reach Disneyland is generally advantageous. While I enjoy the luxury and charm of staying at one of Disneyland Resort’s three exceptional hotels, their high costs are undeniable. Typically, I opt for accommodations outside the resort, which requires either using the ART bus or walking – neither of which I find particularly appealing. The proposed gondola system could broaden the selection of hotels to choose from when planning a Disneyland trip, as it would allow for stays further away if those locations were accessible via the gondola route.

Walt Disney Would Love To See This

Certainly, it’s worth noting that the development of an aerial gondola system might have been avoidable if people had heeded Walt Disney’s advice several decades ago and constructed a different form of elevated public transportation. Specifically, an innovative monorail system could have been implemented instead.

The original Disneyland Monorail served to shuttle guests between Disneyland Park and the Disneyland Hotel, serving as a prototype for a comprehensive transit network encompassing all of Southern California. Walt Disney, in particular, found traffic to be a major annoyance, advocating that urban areas should prioritize people over vehicles in their design. This concept was significantly reflected in his vision for EPCOT, his proposed community.

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, the dream of transforming the Disneyland Monorail into a city-wide transportation system fell short, as city officials didn’t quite embrace the vision shared by Walt Disney. However, if Walt were here today, I’d like to imagine him beaming with approval at this innovative solution that promises to simplify our daily commute without relying on cars. After all, anything that enhances mobility for people is a step in the right direction.

It seems like there are several potential transport methods under discussion, yet something innovative looks set to emerge, and it’s probable that any significant transportation system in Anaheim will incorporate Disneyland. With Disneyland planning a significant expansion as well, this can only augur well for the future of the world’s happiest destination.

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2025-09-04 21:38