The giant red "bumper" on the front and back and the fact that it sits so low to the ground. Plus, the "safety bars" going across the exposed parts of the wheel trucks. Didn't quite look that way in the color elevations and that model on the first page.

The "bumper" probably acts like the strips on the parking lot trams; if it makes contact with a stationary object, the vehicle E-stops automatically. I know safety is Disney's top priority, so I guess compromises with design have to be made.

Well, the bumper is prototypical--just wildly larger than the real thing:



With it being so low-down, the Disney red car almost looks like a parade float!

It's been lowridered. Do they have jumping hydraulics, too?

I was thinking of a logging railroad with a couple of shays and hieslers by the Grizzly River Rapids since it fits the theme, or my personal favorite idea, a full railroad with a replica of Santa Fe's steam powered California Limited. The Red cars look great though

In addition to the safety, being low to the ground probably help with the ADA compliance. It looks like there are some kind of ramps built into the doors on one side.



The giant red "bumper" on the front and back and the fact that it sits so low to the ground. Plus, the "safety bars" going across the exposed parts of the wheel trucks. Didn't quite look that way in the color elevations and that model on the first page.

The "bumper" probably acts like the strips on the parking lot trams; if it makes contact with a stationary object, the vehicle E-stops automatically. I know safety is Disney's top priority, so I guess compromises with design have to be made.[/quote]

I'm sure they could've made the ADA compliance without lowering the whole car. The thing is, if you can't see the trucks and their connection to the rails, you're left with that strange Flintstones or parade float sense. I'm reminded that we certainly didn't have that, with the Knott's cable cars.

While I agree with Roy on the low-rider/float/cartoon look, it probably was necessary compromise. My point is that the low-rider look was probably a combination of factors which may have include ADA.

Knott's added the cable cars in a different "legal era." I never saw them but I doubt they were going through an area with heavy foot traffic. One of my first thoughts when I heard about the Red Cars going in is that there is not much space to be going down what could have a lot of foot traffic.

While it would look better to not be so low, I agree with the others that it at least captures the feel of vehicles and will add a lot to the atmosphere. Remember that Disneyland's Main Street USA looks nothing like Kansas Ave. in Marceline Mo, but is very idealized.