DL Railroad Narration

[rbendtzen]

Hi.

I noticed that the Disneyland Railroad in California, has 2 different narrations.

One by Thurl Ravenscroft that plays when people go on it today. Then there is another version that was used in the Disneyland Forever collection. This version is not narrated by Thurl Ravenscroft. Does anyone know who this narrator is and why it was remade?

Also, could anyone tell me where I can find a source audio copy of Thurl's narration for the train? It seems that the only source audio copy available is the other version. I've only been able to find live recordings of Thurl's version.

 

[Magic Music]

I'm an East Coaster, so I have no clue what is currently playing at the Disneyland Railroad, but are you sure it is Thurl Ravenscroft? As far as I know, it should be Jack Wagner. Back in the early '80s, the narration was done by Vic Perrin ("There is nothing wrong with your television set..." The Outer Limits).

 

[almandot]

They got rid of Thurl's narration from Disneyland

 

[Gurgitoy2]

I think there have been many more variations on the DLRR narration that just 2. They have changed it so often over the years, I have no idea of anybody has a clear record of the different versions.

 

[dannyeyheralde]

while i'm not sure of the person's name The person who narrates the DLRR Train narration iis the same guy who does WDW's

 

[X-S Tech]

The Railroad narration changes as often as necessary to keep it updated to what's happening along the route. In the past, the Railroad narration has made mention of New Fantasyland, Fantasmic Construction, Mickey's Toontown Opening, Splash MOuntain construction, Tomorrowland 98 opening. I believe the person who currently does it is Pete Renoudet, though I could be wrong.

 

[DL FLIGHT 295]

The current Disneyland Narration is not Pete Renoudet. And that's correct, Over the decades there have been dozens of various voice actors fo the Disneyland RR. For a good portion of the mid 70's Jack Wagoner did them .....".....and have a happy day here at Disneyland!....this is Main Street, Main Street USA!)

DL FLIGHT 295

 

[eyore]

Does anyone know who does the DLRP version (alas, several seconds out of sync for the past few years - possibly because they have "added in" a few new attractions without removing anything - just a guess). That too has been updated but listening to the video tapes, it appears to be the same person doing the narration which is in English (the French bits only come in for the stations).

 

[SeaCastle]

I believe it may be Arthur Burghardt. There was a little, tiny line he said in the DLRR narration that made it sound like a certain Disney character...

 

[DavidG]

As far as I know, the English portion of the DLRP version was done by Mike Wagner, Jack Wagner's son who recorded plenty of park announcements before leaving Disney around '00.

 

[MightyTriton]

You can add Paul Frees to the list. He voiced Ludwig Von Drake as narrator for the train when it became the "State Fair Express" during Disney's State Fair Promotion.

Triton

 

[X-S Tech]

Was it Paul Frees? It always sounded like an impersonator- the Von Drake on that narration was close but didn't quite have the genius of Frees. He passed away in 86, so perhaps he was able to do it, though it probably would have been one of his last Disney bits.

 

[almandot]

might have been the jack wagner version of ludwig von drake(i've never heard it so i'm just saying that out loud..). wagner did a lot of the characters for parades/shows until the official disney character department was formed said no more we provide the voices for everything now to keep it consistent

 

[X-S Tech]

Hearing how weak Jack's impressions of Mickey and Goofy were, I can't imagine how bad his VonDrake would have been.

 

[The Trout]

You can add Paul Frees to the list. He voiced Ludwig Von Drake as narrator for the train when it became the "State Fair Express" during Disney's State Fair Promotion.

Best. DLRR. Narration. EVER.

 

[Burnsland]

You can add Paul Frees to the list. He voiced Ludwig Von Drake as narrator for the train when it became the "State Fair Express" during Disney's State Fair Promotion.

Best. DLRR. Narration. EVER.

That was actually Corey Burton as Ludwig Von Drake on the railroad narration. He had me fooled for a couple of years - I thought they had brought Paul Frees back in to voice Ludwig again. But then Frees passed away and new stuff with Ludwig kept turning up, so I realized it wasn't him. Corey is great as Von Drake.

 

[MightyTriton]

Would they have Corey doing Paul's Voices while Paul was still alive? I think Paul was around during the State Fair and the voice is spot on. Whoever did the voice, did so well ahead of State Fair actually arriving at Disneyland. DL Flight 295, do you have any knowledge of this? Is there a way we could find out? That would be very cool.

Triton

 

[DL FLIGHT 295]

The Disneyland State Fair Express Ludwig Von Drake was NOT Paul Freese. First he was already dead. Second, Paul stopped working with Disney many years before than. It was a sound-alike. The Goofy narrated Monorail and the Ludwig tracks were recorded AT Disneyland at the "Big D Studio"...that was in reality, very very small.



DL FLIGHT 295

 

[MightyTriton]

Thank you DL Flight 295! You have more than answered my question. This sparks my interest even more. I had no idea that Disneyland had it's own recording studio, I thought things were done at the Disney Studios. Is the Big D Studio still around?

Triton

 

[Gurgitoy2]

Thank you DL Flight 295! You have more than answered my question. This sparks my interest even more. I had no idea that Disneyland had it's own recording studio, I thought things were done at the Disney Studios. Is the Big D Studio still around?

Triton

Well, it gets even more complicated than that. When Jack Wagner was doing the announcements/voiceover work for the parks, he had his own home studio that was linked in to both parks so he could do announcements live from his house, if he needed to.