Disneyland Railroad

Is it worth it?

Yes, for most groups. Ride it at least once. It suits first-timers, train fans, grandparents, anyone with tired feet, and families who want a seated break. It also works as transport: hop on at one side of the park and step off at the other. The highlight is the history. Walt Disney built a miniature backyard railroad, the Carolwood Pacific, before he built this one, and real steam locomotives still pull the trains. The catch: it's a slow, gentle ride with no thrills. Short-on-time thrill seekers can skip the full loop and use it only to get from one side of the park to the other.

About Disneyland Railroad

The Disneyland Railroad is a narrow-gauge steam train that has circled Walt Disney's original park since opening day, July 17, 1955. It runs a grand-circle loop of about 1.2 miles, with stations at Main Street, U.S.A., New Orleans Square, Mickey's Toontown and Tomorrowland. You can ride the whole loop or get off at any station.

Insider tips

• Stay on through the dioramas. The Grand Canyon and Primeval World scenes are big dioramas along the route. They were refurbished, with new effects added, during the closure that ended in 2017. If you get off early, you'll miss them.
• Learn the five locomotive names: C.K. Holliday, E.P. Ripley, Ernest Marsh, Fred Gurley and Ward Kimball. Two were built by WED and three are historic Baldwin engines. Kids enjoy spotting which one pulls in.
• Look for the Lilly Belle. It's an ornate Victorian parlor car named after Lillian Disney, normally kept for VIP guests. Disneyland has offered a paid Disneyland Railroad guided tour that includes a ride in the Lilly Belle, so if riding it matters to you, check Disneyland.com for current guided tours.
• Watch the water stop at New Orleans Square. The engines run on steam and have to refill their boilers, and the station there has a working water tower.
• Use it as transport. You can get on at any of the four stations, which can save tired legs a walk across the park after a long day.
• Check the Disneyland app for live status before you plan around it. The railroad has had long closures before, and parts of the route sometimes close for work while the rest keeps running. Lightning Lane and single rider details can change, so check Disney's current listing.

Who can ride

Height: check the posted requirement at the station. Intensity: very gentle. It's a slow, open-air train ride with no drops or spins, so it's usually fine for anyone prone to motion sickness. Young kids: the steam whistle is loud, and the dark Primeval World diorama has big dinosaur figures, which may startle very small or sensitive children. Most kids love it, though.

Nearby

• Jambalaya Jazz — steps away
• Haunted Mansion — steps away
• The Bootstrappers — about 1 min walk
• Mint Julep Bar — steps away
• Tiana’s Palace — steps away
• Cafe Orleans — steps away

Quick answers

Is Disneyland Railroad worth it?

Yes, for most groups. Ride it at least once.