Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train

October 2002 – September 2018

LOCATION

A Bug’s Land – When you walked through the main entrance of A Bug’s Land, off of Pacific Wharf, you’d see the entrance to the Chew Chew Train on your right, tucked across from the Drive ‘Em Buggies. If you entered A Bug’s Land from Hollywood Land, keep to your left and you’d see the Chew Chew Train right before Route 66, which led to Cars Land.

BACKGROUND

Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train made its debut along with the rest of A Bug’s Land in 2002. The ride, along with most of A Bug’s Land, sat on the site of the former Bountiful Valley Farm attraction, which shrunk to accommodate the new land before closing permanently in 2010. The Chew Chew Train offered guests a shady tour into the grasslands of the A Bug’s Life world, with the added experience of live narration from Heimlich himself.

EXPERIENCE

Guests began by hopping onto Heimlich’s back for a trip through the dense brush of A Bug’s Land. Heimlich welcomed guests joining him on his journey, and he enthusiastically pointed out all of his favorite foods he passed along the way: an apple, a watermelon, sprouts, animal crackers, a cupcake, hard candies, and candy corn. After completing the circuit and taking in the sights and smells of Heimlich’s favorite foods, guests bid their tour guide goodbye and continued on their adventures in A Bug’s Land.

CLOSURE

When the Tower of Terror closed to become a Guardians of the Galaxy attraction, the days of A Bug’s Land were numbered. Finally, in early 2018, Disneyland confirmed the land would close at the end of the summer season, to make room for a new Marvel themed land. Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train, and the rest of A Bug’s Land, closed for good in September 2018.

TRIVIA

My original rating: Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train is one of the most bizarre rides in either park. I assumed it would be an A Bug’s Life themed equivalent to the Casey Jr. Circus Train in Disneyland…but it definitely isn’t. The train moves very slowly, and the only sights to see on the 90-second tour are massive foods that Heimlich, your tour guide, wants to stop to eat. In fact, Heimlich screams about every food he sees, which is an experience that is bewildering to the point that it’s almost comical. There are no characters to see, and the train completes a flat circuit with few turns, so you won’t find many thrills or exciting views on this ride. For little kids, this is a very tame ride that they will likely enjoy, but it’s not a ride meant to entertain adults too. Unless you have very small children in your party, or you want a genuinely weird park experience, steer clear of Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train. That being said, there is one feature to this ride that guests of all ages can appreciate: the use of Smellitizers (more detailed post coming soon). Each time you pass by food on the tour, you can smell it, and the scents are amazingly realistic. (★★☆☆☆)

The Chew Chew Train was the only ride in A Bug’s Land that holds more than two guests per vehicle.

The watermelon tunnel generally sprayed a bit of mist as you pass through, so you might have felt a little water on your head.

Pixar Animator Joe Ranft, who provided the voice for Heimlich in A Bug’s Life, also provided the narration for the Chew Chew Train.