Fun Fact Friday: Red Car Trolley on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure Park

June 29, 2012 in All Posts, attraction tips, attractions, disney california adventure, disneyland resort, fun facts, Tips & Tricks for Families by Babes in Disneyland

There’s no disputing the fact that I’m a sucker for the past. There’s nothing I love more than authentic storytelling and attention to detail and when the story of our past is told accurately, it is absolutely captivating.

The Red Car Trolley system at Disney California Adventure Park has taken storytelling to the next level with impeccable details. The cars are not only authentic in their color and style, but have a great deal of meaning right down to their numbers.

The Red Car Trolley attraction was lovingly modeled after the Pacific Electric Railway system which operated in Southern California from 1901 through 1961. Historically, Disney has has a lot of train lovers in its midst, and the imagineers who worked on Buena Vista Street were no exception. These train lovers easily transferred their passion to the Red Care Trolley and got this attraction spot on.

If you are a Disney geek like me, you’ll love all of these fun facts about the Red Car Trolley.

The original cars in Los Angeles were powered by overhead wires; the wires at Disney California Adventure Park are just for show–a detail I adore. (Disney’s cars are battery operated.)

The number 623 car is an actual number from
an old Pacific Electric Railroad car and is
an homage to the year Walt arrived in California.

The rest of the cars are a bit brighter red and illustrate how cars were slightly redesigned in the 1930s. Red Car Trolley number 717 is a reference to Disneyland’s opening day July 17, 1955

The trollies runs through Buena Vista Street and into Hollywood Land, making multiple stops until it arrives at the Hollywood Tower Hotel. The attraction runs all day until the park closes and is a great way to get around–especially when it’s crowded. If you can fold up your stroller, you’ll be able to take it along for the ride.

Trolley car conductors wear uniforms evoking the ’20s time period, call the stops, toot the trolley whistle and entertain guests with historical tales of Buena Vista Street.

The interiors are modeled after the actual cars. You’ll notice that the advertisements are for the “businesses” on Buena Vista Street.

Photo courtesy of the Disneyland Resort

Beyond lending to the overall atmosphere of Buena Vista Street and the newly renamed Hollywood Land, the trolley cars also play a role in the park’s entertainment. Sure to please “Newsies” fans, the “Red Car News Boys” roll into town on the Red Car Trolley bringing the latest headlines and belting out songs from the ’20s and ’30s. Mickey Mouse even joins in the fun.

Have you taken a ride aboard the a trolley yet? What did you think?

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