Rocket Rods

[Yungbuck73]

I came across a video of the Rocket Rods ride at DL on the old people mover track. Didn't last long but looked like a pretty cool ride. Has anyone done that and if so, opinions?

[BrerGnat]

No, I never did and I am so mad about it! My husband did it. He said it was cool. It broke down a LOT.

[tinkwest]

We actually got to attend a Tomorrowland preview morning the day before it opened to the public. DH won tickets on the radio. With so few people allowed in to Tomorrowland we did all of the rides in the area with little or no wait. So we went on Rocket Rods several times. We thought it was fun. It was like going on the People Mover but at higher speeds with little bursts of extra speed every now and then. And the ride vehicles were open so it was exhilarating to feel the rush of air whipping through your hair as you raced over Autopia and past the Monorail. We had a great day even though I did not like the new bronze look of everything in Tomorrowland, including Space Mountain.

We rode the Rocket Rods quite a few times over the years that it was open. The lines were ridiculous, as is usually the case with new attractions and at least once we waited for over an hour only to have the ride break down and CMs usher all of the people out of the queue. (And speaking of the queue, there were interesting props - old Tomorrowland ride vehicles - to look at and fun Walt Disney futuristic transportation animated segments to watch once you got in to the building that had formerly housed CircleVision and is now Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters.) But we always had fun once we got on the ride. And the length of the track made it probably close to a three minute ride which is a good amount of time, imo.

Then suddenly it was gone. I know a lot of people complained that it could have been so much more than it was. Could have been faster. Could have had a better story within the interior corridors. But we enjoyed it the way it was (other than the fact that it was prone to breakdowns) and we still miss it AND the People Mover when we look overhead and see the lonely tracks sitting there.

[Yungbuck73]

Great review of the ride, Linda. Sounds like it was fun, when it worked.
Thanks

[Yungbuck73]

No, I never did and I am so mad about it! My husband did it. He said it was cool. It broke down a LOT.

That stinks it broke down a lot. Seems to have been a recurring theme. Sigh

[BrerGnat]

That stinks it broke down a lot. Seems to have been a recurring theme. Sigh

It used Test Track technology which was obviously not really ready for prime time. And the lack of banked turns was really hard on the vehicles.

[badkitty]

I remember waiting in line for hours... I don't remember much about the ride. It was a time before FP so standby was the only option. As Linda said, the props were cool.

I seem to recall the tires wore out quickly and it was always breaking down as others have said. I am glad I was able to experience it but I wish the People Mover was still in operation.

[faline]

We were fortunate enough to get to ride this during its brief existence. It was a pretty cool ride and I was sorry to hear it was closed down after just a brief period of time. However, I had also heard what others here have noted - that it broke down a lot. I would not have wanted to be stuck on the ride!!

[Lacy]

Thanks for the reports - I am sad that I was never able to ride this. And like my others I wish the people mover was still operational at Disneyland or that they could do something else with the track!