Walt Disney World Railroad Testing Taking Place Today

Guests in the Magic Kingdom area could hear the unmistakable whistle of a Walt Disney World Railroad train this morning. The train, Walter E. Disney, is out of the maintenance roundhouse and testing this morning backstage.

There was some recent roadwork that took place near the area where the backstage railroad tracks enter Magic Kingdom, so it’s possible that the train could simply be testing that portion of the track.

The railroad track replacement project has stalled recently as crews wait for the TRON Lightcycle Run project to make further progress. This doesn't mean that this morning’s testing indicates an imminent return of the Walt Disney World Railroad, which is expected to remain closed through Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary on October 1, 2021.

Disney has not said when the railroad will begin operating again. It’s possible that Disney could be preparing to put a railroad car on display at the very least, like they did in early 2020. Either way, today’s testing will not include guest passengers, and it may not even be visible from inside Magic Kingdom.