Walt Disney World has introduced updated recorded narration across its Monorail system, refreshing the onboard audio heard on the Express, Resort and EPCOT lines with new wording and more current references to the resort.
The revised narration began appearing in late August and includes several noticeable changes. Among the most straightforward is an updated courtesy reminder telling guests that both smoking and vaping are prohibited aboard the Monorail. The wording now specifically mentions vaping rather than referring only to smoking.
Disney has also adjusted some terminology throughout the spiel. On the Express Monorail, references to a “host or hostess” have been replaced with “Cast Member,” while the familiar “ladies and gentlemen” greeting remains in use.
The EPCOT line has received some of the most substantial changes. Previous narration included references to projects that were announced years ago but never opened, including the PLAY! Pavilion and the planned Mary Poppins attraction in the United Kingdom pavilion. Those references have now been removed.
Descriptions of EPCOT attractions have also become more general, which could make the narration easier to keep current as park offerings evolve. Soarin’, for example, is referenced without attaching a specific version of the attraction’s title, while the section covering The Seas with Nemo & Friends places additional emphasis on the pavilion’s real marine life.
One particularly notable addition is archival audio from Walt Disney discussing EPCOT and explaining the original Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow concept. The inclusion connects the modern theme park with Walt Disney’s original vision for the acronym, even though EPCOT ultimately developed into a different type of destination.
The refresh follows the death of longtime Monorail narrator Tom Kane in May 2026. Kane had provided narration for the Walt Disney World Monorail System since 2012, making his voice familiar to millions of guests over more than a decade.
Reports surrounding the new recording initially led to questions about how Disney produced the replacement audio. Subsequent reporting indicated that the narration was recorded by a voice actor rather than generated using artificial intelligence. Disney has not publicly identified the new narrator.
One familiar element also remains closely tied to the Monorail experience: the classic warning telling guests to stand clear of the doors, including its well-known Spanish counterpart. The announcement has been associated with Walt Disney World transportation for decades and remains one of the resort’s most recognizable pieces of recorded audio.
The Walt Disney World Monorail System currently operates three lines. The Express Monorail connects the Transportation and Ticket Center directly with Magic Kingdom, while the Resort Monorail circles Seven Seas Lagoon and serves Magic Kingdom, the Transportation and Ticket Center, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. A separate line connects the Transportation and Ticket Center with EPCOT.
Disney describes the Monorail as complimentary transportation for Walt Disney World guests, and it remains both a practical transportation system and a recognizable part of the resort experience.
The new narration does not fundamentally change how guests use the Monorail, but it brings the recorded experience more closely in line with Walt Disney World as it exists in 2026. By removing outdated project references, updating guest terminology and adding current safety language, Disney has refreshed one of the resort’s most familiar soundtracks while retaining several elements longtime visitors will immediately recognize.