Walt Disney World has shared that they are updating the current monorail fleet with glow-in-the-dark logos. This is just the latest update to the monorail fleet, building upon the under-cabin lighting that was introduced for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. Here’s the announcement, followed up by some commentary.
Glow-in-the-Dark Logos for Walt Disney World Monorails
A fan favorite for more than 50 years, Disney cast continue to find new ways to keep the experience fresh for guests. To celebrate the resort’s 50th anniversary, Disney engineers designed a feature that illuminates the beam underneath each train at night. This week, they’re adding another new feature, which allows the logo on each train to glow in the dark.
The update is part of a significant refresh of the fleet. The fleet currently in service is the Mark VI monorail system, which was first introduced all the way back in 1989. Disney Legend Bob Gurr, who was instrumental in the creation of the monorail, has called the current fleet of Mark VI monorails the “duct tape monorail”. The current fleet is past the end-of-life date, and is being kept alive by a talented team of engineers. Back in 2018, Gurr said that the Walt Disney World monorails would be replaced by a newer version, but that never came to be.
Back in January 2024, the Florida Department of Transportation began inspections of the Walt Disney World monorail system thanks to a bill introduced by the Republican legislature as part of the battle between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Walt Disney World. While DeSantis and Disney would later reach a settlement, ending dueling lawsuits, the monorail remains under the eye of FDOT.
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