The Most DANGEROUS Dr Seuss Ride! History of High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride in Pi Minutes!

The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride we see today in Island's of Adventure is VERY different from the original, insanely dangerous idea that was the Mr McMonkey McBean Very Unusual Driving Machines which was built, but abandoned in plain sight!

#SeussLanding #HistoryInPiMinutes #TrolleyTrainRide #IslandsOfAdventure #SneetchRide #AbandonedThemeParks

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History in Pi Minutes is a series where I look at some popular topics in Disney or Theme Park History and cover them in a bite size format.

Views are my own and do not represent the Walt Disney Company or its values.


When Islands of Adventure opened in 1999, it almost featured perhaps the most dangerous and insane ride of any major theme park. Naturally, this terrifying death trap was a ride for toddlers meant for Seuss Landing.

A story like this is best told in a more Seussian way.
So let's start at the end and then work back to opening day.

Today, much like the PeopleMover at Disney World, the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train ride is a great way to relax and take in some fun sights.

There are two different tracks weaving through Seuss Landing that the trains can ride on and a few narrations. One tells the story of the Sneetches as well as other Seuss tales, and the rest being games for kids like repeating noises or saying the ABCs.

There aren’t many show scenes on the ride and they are very simple, but the Sneetch framing device does a lot to give the Ride a unique identity beyond just a tour of Seuss Landing.

When it opened in 2006 it was a huge hit!

What made the ride’s debut so exciting was that the track had been visible since the park’s opening day meaning that guests had been waiting 7 whole years to ride it.

Although, the track guests saw for all those years and the track guests got to ride were not the same. The whole thing had to be rebuilt since the original tracks had no way to evacuate guests in an emergency.

Plus, the track had to be rebuilt because it wasn’t originally meant to be a train ride. The concept had changed drastically and the lack of any evacuation plan was only a small part of what made the original idea so dangerous.

Now let’s end our story with how it all began, in 1999 and the insane idea that was Sylvester McMonkey McBean's Very Unusual Driving Machines.

Officially, not a lot is known about it. But by piecing together bits and pieces from concept art and interviews, I think we have a clear picture.

This started life as a ride very similar to Autopia in Disneyland. Where kids could get the chance to drive a real car on a road weaving around the land. Universal wanted to up the ante by making it more like bumper cars though so guests could have some extra fun bashing into each other.

At some point, they Changed it from regular cars on the ground into a mini monorail in the sky! But still as bumper cars that guests drove, just high in the air on a smaller track

Dangerous, abandoned, ride risk of whiplash, could be stuck and trapped on ride forever if it malfunctioned. This had it all!



Want to learn more about the history and go in depth?

https://seuss.fandom.com/wiki/High_in...
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...
https://mouseearstv.com/universal-orl...
https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flum...

Seuss Landing - Behind The Scenes look at the construction and music production of Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure
Courtesy of Nick Chandler
   • Seuss Landing - Behind The Scenes  


[4k] The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! - 2020 - Universal Orlando Resort - Purple Track
Courtesy of ThemeParkGroupie
   • [4k] The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Tra...  

Riding the Dr. Seuss High in the Sky Trolley Train Ride at Islands of Adventure - 2019 - Both Green and Purple Tracks
Courtesy of Lucas TV Adventures - Florida Theme Parks
   • Riding the Dr. Seuss High in the Sky Troll...  

[4K] Autopia at Night - Disneyland Autopia Now Powered by Honda
Courtesy of Attractions 360
   • [4K] Autopia at Night  - Disneyland Autopi...  

2000/05/07 Orlando: Universal Islands of Adventure - Walking Tour of Seuss Landing featuring the Abandoned Unusual Driving Machines Tracks
Courtesy of Armindo Souza
   • 2000/05/07 Orlando: Universal Islands of A...  

Bumper Cars Ride Busch Gardens
Courtesy of RickTrips
   • Bumper Cars Ride Busch Gardens  

This Video was made by Zach (AKA Pi the Disney Guy).

The Most DANGEROUS Dr Seuss Ride! History of High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride in Pi Minutes!