Walt Disney World Adds New Feature to the First Thing Most Guests Ride

At Walt Disney World, the magic doesn’t begin at the castle gates. For millions of guests who arrive by car each year, the experience starts in a vast parking lot—followed by a short but iconic ride aboard an open-air tram. It’s a system that’s been moving guests since the early 1970s, often regarded as the “first ride” of the day.

Though overshadowed by Disney’s flashier modes of transport—monorails, boats, Skyliners—the humble parking tram is one of the resort’s most used systems. It connects the practical with the fantastical, transporting families from sun-scorched asphalt to park entrances in minutes. And now, it’s getting a modern upgrade, not in the way it moves, but in the way it speaks.

A Familiar Disney World Ride With a New Voice

Each theme park has its own tram fleet operating from early morning until well past closing. After a temporary suspension in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, service gradually resumed beginning from late 2021 through 2023. Since then, Disney has continued to refine tram operations, including improving wait zones, streamlining boarding, and now, updating the onboard announcements.

The newest addition is an automated safety message that plays before the vehicle departs. “As you board, please lower your head and watch your step. Push down on the handle and pull out on the door,” the recording begins. It continues with reminders to stow strollers and wheelchairs and notes that children may not ride while in strollers. “Once we are underway, please remain properly seated, facing forward, with no lap sitting except for small children.”

It doesn’t stop at boarding etiquette. The spiel also cautions riders about sudden stops and outlines a clear policy on dropped items: “If a personal belonging falls from the tram, please remain seated and inform the nearest cast member at the next stop.” Finally, it shifts to park rules: “Once you arrive at your destination, please be aware that you and your bags are subject to a security screening. Weapons of any kind, including firearms and knives, as well as selfie sticks, are prohibited.”

The First Step in a Long Day of Fun

While the message is new, the familiar “keep your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the vehicle” reminder still plays immediately after. Cast members behind the wheel also continue to make their own real-time announcements throughout the journey, ensuring guests stay informed and safe.

Across Walt Disney World’s four main parks, tram routes vary slightly. Magic Kingdom’s trams deliver guests to the Transportation and Ticket Center, requiring a transfer by monorail or ferry. At EPCOT, trams drop off right at the front entrance. Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom offer similar convenience, with stops near their main gates. Boarding zones are clearly marked, typically found at the end of each parking section, and often feature shaded areas and safety signage.

Though it rarely gets the spotlight, the parking tram remains one of the most consistent elements of a Disney visit. The updated spiel may be small in the grand scheme of the resort’s operations, but it reflects a broader effort by Disney to modernize even its most overlooked systems.

Have you heard the new tram spiel at Walt Disney World Resort yet?