Disneyland was all-atwitter this weekend, as its Disneyland Railroad chuffed back into business — the new tracks dodging around the under-construction Star Wars Land.
First run of the Disneyland Railroad as it returns to #Disneyland pic.twitter.com/g6AE6DdTf9
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughing_place) July 28, 2017
The Disneyland Railroad is an original Disneyland attraction and park icon, according to the Disney Resorts publicity office. It’s last major route alteration came when ToonTown was opened roughly two decades ago.
The new route follows a rerouted Rivers of America, where it traverses new rockwork and waterfalls that separate the cowboys of Frontierland from the androids and strange characters over at Star Wars.
“Guests also will enjoy this new landscape from the water as they welcome the return of the popular watercraft – Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes,” gushed the Disney release.
Indeed, intrepid canoers were Instagrammed around the world this weekend as Disney resort guests snapped up rides in the train.
Another classic, “Fantasmic!,” re-opened July 17 on the Rivers of America, telling the story of Mickey Mouse and his vivid imagination. Guests cheered as they welcomed back this nighttime spectacular’s classic theme song and the engaging storyline that has been treasured for 25 years.
And explorers celebrated the re-opening of Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island in June.
During the railroad’s year-long hiatus, and across the park, Imagineers updated the Grand Canyon section for the first time since it opened in 1958. fauna and flora were refurbished, and some fun surprises added, the park said.
The orchestral Grand Canyon Suite by Ferde Grofe remains.
In the Primeval World, railroad passengers can see newly painted sets, and dinosaurs and creatures were blended with new effects and lighting, the park said.
–City News Service