Austin Wuennenberg and a Disney Experience - Riding the 'Rail

As a child growing up with Disney in your backyard, life was pretty sweet. You always got a great fireworks show in your backyard, and at some point, if your school could find a way, you got to go on a field trip to Disney for "educational" purposes.

It was usually around that time that the thought of working for Disney entered your mind. To be a part of the magic was an intoxicating thought, and the friends you made coupled with the experience you could put on your resume was worth it's weight in gold. To many youngsters around the world (Disney staffs its EPCOT World Showcase with college students from the various countries), it probably still is. 

It was for me.

One of the most magical things about Disney is the monorail system. How does it work? How do we stay on the rail? How fast can this thing go? How does it know just when to stop? I know I asked these questions to one of the many Monorail operators at the various stations. I know I probably drove them crazy with this question:

'Can I pleeeease sit up front?'

Many times the answer was no. Someone else had already nabbed the coveted spot. I would watch those people board the front cabin with a mixture of jealousy and awe. To be that lucky...

Sometimes I was. Many times, at just the right time, I was able to nab a spot up front. It is the most incredible experience, and I couldn't wait to share it with my children, you know, once I had them. In the meantime, it was enough to get the opportunity to "ride shotgun" with the Monorail pilot.

One evening, about three years ago, my boys and I got that chance. It was in the evening, right before the fireworks, and we had just delivered some friends who were visiting back to their hotel. It just so happened to be one that was on the Monorail line, so we popped out to take a quick ride. I asked the attendant on the platform if we could ride up front, and he said he would check. We waited, so hopeful.

Next thing we knew, we were being whisked up front. We took our seats, and the door closed. Our Monorail driver sat down and began to engage us in conversation.

'So, where are you from? Are you local? Have you ridden up front in the Monorail before? Did you go to the parks? Oh, just out for the day, huh?'

All while deftly maneuvering the monorail around the corner and into the Magic Kingdom; through the Contemporary Resort, and over to the Transportation & Ticket Center. My boys were fascinated. 

As we waited for the passengers to load and unload, the driver turned to my sons and said;

'Would you like to see how to drive the monorail?'

My boys could not move fast enough.

And he did. He let them sit up in the cockpit. He let them pretend they were 'driving'. He let me take pictures. 

And as we disembarked, he handed each of them a Monorail Co-Pilot License. They were walking on air. It was as if you gave them a real drivers license. They were over the moon. They didn't stop talking about it for days.

I'm sure many families have that memory, and I'm also certain Austin Wuennenberg gave many families and children the same memorable experience. He loved his job as a Monorail Pilot, and I'm sure it showed easily, effortlessly.

On July 5, 2009, Austin died in a Monorail accident that is still being investigated. 

Disney will make changes to how it operates its Monorail system. It will have to. Currently Disney is not allowing guests to ride up in the front of any Monorails. So for many families, this right of passage will have to wait. 

I hope Disney will open up that opportunity again in the future. If you view the video, he is making the day of the child who's co-piloting the Monorail. That opportunity is a right of passage for so many. 

When or if that chance comes our way again, we will take our seats and remember a young man who loved his job so much that it wasn't really a job at all. It was an experience.

Thank you, Austin, for the experience. We will remember you always.

An original Deep South Moms post.

When Shari is not watching the Disney fireworks from her backyard, she's writing about breaking up the latest sibling fight and keeping what little shred of sanity she has left at Diary of a Crazed Mommy.