Park-wide (Main Street, New Orleans Square, Mickey's Toontown, Tomorrowland) · Disneyland
Disneyland Railroad
About this ride
The Disneyland Railroad is a fleet of steam-powered locomotives that has circled the park on a 1.2-mile loop since Opening Day in 1955. The trains stop at four stations: Main Street USA, New Orleans Square, Mickey's Toontown, and Tomorrowland. Between the Tomorrowland and Main Street stations, the railroad passes through two extraordinary dioramas: the Grand Canyon panorama, featuring a sweeping 306-foot curved mural with three-dimensional foreground elements, and Primeval World, featuring life-size animatronic dinosaurs that were originally created for the 1964 New York World's Fair. These dioramas are only visible from the train and represent some of the most detailed scenic work in the park. Walt Disney was a passionate railroad enthusiast — he had a working scale-model railroad in his personal backyard before Disneyland was built. The Railroad operates continuously during park hours and provides a gentle, comfortable way to transit between lands while resting your feet.
Best time to ride
Midday rest break — the full 20-minute loop is a wonderful way to rest your feet while still seeing the park.
Insider tips
- Ride the full loop — the Grand Canyon and Primeval World tunnels are between the Tomorrowland and Main Street stations.
- Board at Tomorrowland station for the shortest wait and the best approach to the diorama tunnels.
- Walt Disney was a serious train enthusiast — the Railroad was his passion project.
What to know before you ride
- Loud steam whistle at departure — can startle toddlers.
- Otherwise completely safe and gentle.
Good for
Mateo's Take
The Disneyland Railroad is one of the best decisions you can make at the midpoint of a long park day, and most guests completely overlook it. Here is what those guests miss: between the Tomorrowland and Main Street stations, the train passes through two extraordinary dioramas. The first is the Grand Canyon panorama, rendered in a 306-foot circular mural with three-dimensional foreground elements. The second is Primeval World, with life-size dinosaurs that were originally created for the 1964 World's Fair. Neither of these is visible from anywhere else in the park. You can only see them from the train. Walt Disney's love of railroads, he had a working scale-model railroad in his backyard before Disneyland was built, infused every detail of these locomotives. My recommendation: board at Tomorrowland station, ride the complete 20-minute loop, and treat the diorama tunnels as the main event. They earn the entire ride.
— Mateo, Lead Disney Parks Specialist
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