Iconic Disneyland Railroad transports riders on a redesigned Rivers of America

With the hectic urban jungle just steps away, the iconic Disneyland Railroad transports riders on a redesigned Rivers of America. Recently reopened, the Disney magic is quite picturesque.

After the recent D23 Expo announcements, Disneyland seemed to be left out of the new attraction excitement. With Disney World getting new Tron, Ratatouille and Guardians of the Galaxy rides, fans of the California Disney theme parks weren’t thrilled. But, Disneyland fans do have a new ride to cheer. The iconic Disneyland Railroad has been reopened and the new Rivers of America are as impressive as any superhero.

Trains, especially the Disneyland Railroad, have special connections to the Disney brand. From Mickey’s first movies that featured him on a train to Walt’s Disney’s personal love of trains, trains have been part of the fun. With the reopening of the Disneyland Railroad, guests get to experience what it’s like to ride the rails.

From the cast member engineers to the views along the journey, guests experience a journey across the U.S. First running when the park opened in 1955, the Disneyland Railroad is a favorite with young an old. Using a real steam-powered train, riders can tour all around the park, including newly redesigned Rivers of America.

DISNEYLAND RAILROAD RETURNS (Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort) (PRNewsfoto/Disneyland Resort)

The Disney Imagineers sprinkled their pixie dust on the new Rivers of America features. Inspired by “the Mississippi, the Columbia, the Missouri and the Rio Grande,” the areas feature “indigenous rock formations, waterfalls, natural forests and wildlife.” For a brief moment, riders feel as if they are far away from Southern California. While some people may never get to experience these areas in person, Disneyland gives them a glimpse at America’s majesty.

Even though the newly created river areas are visually impressive, the original Walt Disney Dioramas are family favorites. The dioramas of the Grand Canyon and Primeval World have been painstakingly restored to their original glory. A fun family challenge is to see how many animals they can count in the dioramas. The most difficult to find is the elusive armadillo.

Although many theme park guests want bigger, faster, and more thrilling rides, the Disneyland Railroad shows Disney’s commitment to classic, family entertainment. The train has, and now will continue to be, a lasting family memory for guests. Everyone, big and small, young and old, can ride together. Hopefully, a quiet moment gazing at recreations of America’s landscapes can spark a memorable conversation with family members.

Next: Big changes coming to Walt Disney World

Sometimes the quiet moments are the most meaningful.