$1Mil per Mile

[hwdelien]

Quite honestly I think WDW would be better served by expanding their boats and waterways before they expanded the monorail. Waterways are far less expensive to build and maintain, boats are considerably less expensive than monorails and can be bought off the shelf, there are no traffic tie ups, and you are using technology that is as reliable as it gets.

Yes, but only two of the lakes are connected, Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon (and if you want to count it Magic Kingdom Lake) at least at the Magic Kingdom end of the world. Water service could only accomodate Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, River Country, and maybe Fort Wilderness. There are some tributaries connecting some other areas but they are impassible because of water management systems that prevent boat traffic.

 

[Master Yoda]

Yes, but only two of the lakes are connected, Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon (and if you want to count it Magic Kingdom Lake) at least at the Magic Kingdom end of the world. Water service could only accomodate Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, River Country, and maybe Fort Wilderness. There are some tributaries connecting some other areas but they are impassible because of water management systems that prevent boat traffic.

The Pacific and Atlantic oceans were also once separate...at least until the Panama canal was completed in 1914.

 

[hwdelien]

The Pacific and Atlantic oceans were also once separate...at least until the Panama canal was completed in 1914.

Touché

 

[s8film40]

I am pretty sure the half hour plus that I spend one evening on a full monorail stopped between MK and the Contemporary during a power outage actually happened and was not a mythical event. I am also quite confident that no other monorail went over around or through us during this outage as well and finally the number of irate guests impatiently waiting at our final destination was considerable. So the whole myth of monorails breaking down not causing a problems is well....a myth. The current monorail system can come to a grinding halt with only one train breaking down.

I am sure there are better more flexible monorail systems out there but the one at WDW ain't one of them.

Right now the bus system works for WDW. Is it as magical or cool as a monorail? Of Course not but it works. Quite honestly I think WDW would be better served by expanding their boats and waterways before they expanded the monorail. Waterways are far less expensive to build and maintain, boats are considerably less expensive than monorails and can be bought off the shelf, there are no traffic tie ups, and you are using technology that is as reliable as it gets.

There are always going to be instances where a delay is unavoidable. While in your example you were on an affected train it is quite likely there were others who didn't even know this was going on and may have been routed through an alternate route. Don't be so certain that no other monorail was routed around yours, if the other beam was not affected it's almost certain that guests were routed around your train on the parallel beam, or the express and resort beam are loops, just because your in a monorail stuck on one side of the loop doesn't mean the other side of the loop isn't being used to shuttle passengers back and forth. In your description you said this was a half hour delay if you were riding the bus system a half hour wait is acceptable even during normal operation, sounds like the monorails did a great job of getting you where you need to go even during an unexpected problem.

From the perspective of a passenger on one train it's very easy to say if one monorail gets stuck the whole system shuts down, but that is actually an extremely rare case and has probably only happened a handful of times in the monorails over 35 years of service. Looking at the system as a whole most problems are handled very quickly and affect a very small number of passengers especially considering the system is very much the same as it was in 1971.

People expect 5 minutes or less wait time for the monorail and when there is a small delay people get upset no one expects the buses to be as efficient so longer wait and travel times are accepted, but you can ask anyone who has ever visited WDW and given the option of traveling by monorail or bus almost everyone will choose monorail, in fact I've seen people go way out of their way to avoid riding buses.

 

[harryk]

Several of the tour guides on the backstage tours I have taken have mentioned that there have been plans (possibly shelved) to connect all the parks by water. When you look at the various maps of the World, it is quite feasible. These guides have always used the 'cost' as the reason the monorail has not been extended to the other parks. They have also mentioned the idea of using mag-lev in the future. It has even been discussed as a means of transportation from Orlando International to the Ticket and Transportation Center (a misnomer if there ever was one - it has not been a TTC for years....). I can see a mag-lev system coming to Disney before any extension of the monorails.....Disney seems to like innovations.

 

[s8film40]

Yes, but only two of the lakes are connected, Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon (and if you want to count it Magic Kingdom Lake) at least at the Magic Kingdom end of the world. Water service could only accomodate Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, River Country, and maybe Fort Wilderness. There are some tributaries connecting some other areas but they are impassible because of water management systems that prevent boat traffic.

Actually with only a few small exception All WDW waterways are connected. There are small levees that would need to be bypassed in order for the canals to be used and depending of the boats to be used some may need to be widened. I think the main limiting factor in expanding water transportation is the amount of time it would take to travel the larger distances. I don't think Disney would go for speed boats but that would be fun.

 

[PoohsGang]

Quote: the regulars and those "in the know" on here always feel it's their job to decide what threads should stay or go as you, and if it's a topic they pass off as a non-discussion worthy subject they'll jump at the chance to announce that it is not important to them...as you can see in alot of their posts.


I couldnt agree more, The so called experts "in the know " have flamed me in the past, they do act as though you should run your posts by them first. I just laugh.......I have visions of all the "in the knows" running to there computers every 2 minutes with there mouse ears strapped to there heads, looking for posts they can complain about, or what THEY WANT TO DISCUSS. I'm training to be just like them,,,,,,, www.tonytheplumber.com/disney.html

I'm sure the "in the knows" will love me for this post.:drevil:

 

[Master Yoda]

Actually with only a few small exception All WDW waterways are connected. There are small levees that would need to be bypassed in order for the canals to be used and depending of the boats to be used some may need to be widened. I think the main limiting factor in expanding water transportation is the amount of time it would take to travel the larger distances. I don't think Disney would go for speed boats but that would be fun.

AK to Epcot in 5 minutes!

 

[devoy1701]

There is one very important thing that everyone is missing and that is aesthetics. Sure the Contemporary, when built, was an architectural marvel, having a monorail stop in the middle was a natural extension of the “modern” design. But, could you imagine a monorail stop at Old Key West Resort , Animal Kingdom, or the Wilderness Lodge? Where would you put that structure that wouldn’t destroy the beauty and charm and still be convenient for guests to get to without a long walk? The only way I can imagine possible is to have it underground, but who ever heard of an underground monorail? That’d just be a subway, right?:hammer:

it doesn't seem to ruin the atmosphere of the Polynesian...and that's one of the most immersive resorts on property. Nor does the revolutionary streamline futuristic look of the monorail ruin the atmosphere of the turn of the century architecture of the Grand Floridian...each station is themed to the resort. :shrug:

and to another comment made by another poster about how Poly GF and Contemporary are all more expensive than say Wilderness Lodge because of the monorail is true, but that's because right now the monorail is a luxuary...if you bring it to all of the resorts, it's no long a luxuary, it's a standard, and it shouldn't have an effect on the pricing of the resorts anymore...

 

[CaptainJackNO]

It's hilarious to me that so many people on this board want to extend the monorail when so many fuss and complain about the smell....:brick:

"Hey mom, can we get some more stinky shoes like the ones I have??" Hmm?:shrug:

I love the monorail, however, trhe wait for the buses is bad enough. monorails would be worse, I think. Who cares. I love the current monorail and agree that the cost to expand would raise daily ticket prices to..................
1 Hundred Beelion Dollars:drevil:
Let's leave it alone

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

People expect 5 minutes or less wait time for the monorail and when there is a small delay people get upset no one expects the buses to be as efficient so longer wait and travel times are accepted, but you can ask anyone who has ever visited WDW and given the option of traveling by monorail or bus almost everyone will choose monorail, in fact I've seen people go way out of their way to avoid riding buses.

And there's the whole crux of the matter. People expect the Monorail to be efficient and fast naturally (rightfully so), and people expect the buses to be slow and inefficient (rightfully so). So yes, it's upsetting when every once in a while when what should be ten minutes (a five-minute wait and a five-minute Monorail ride) turns out to be half-an-hour, but you have to realize that if you were taking a bus ride between the same destinations, you're talking at least half-an-hour, and that's without any delays.

A prime example of people going out of their way to avoid buses is between Magic Kingdom and the EPCOT Resorts. From Magic Kingdom there is more or less a direct bus to the EPCOT Resorts. Most of the time Boardwalk and Yacht & Beach are grouped on one bus, but I think I've seen Swan & Dolphin also thrown in before. I've known Guests to take the Monorail from the Magic Kingdom to the Transportation and Ticket Center, switch and take the Monorail to EPCOT, walk through EPCOT to the International Gateway, and then walk/boat ride to their Resort. Now, that sounds completely unreasonable and a lot of trouble, but Guests do this often just to avoid the buses!

There is one very important thing that everyone is missing and that is aesthetics. Sure the Contemporary, when built, was an architectural marvel, having a monorail stop in the middle was a natural extension of the “modern” design. But, could you imagine a monorail stop at Old Key West Resort , Animal Kingdom, or the Wilderness Lodge? Where would you put that structure that wouldn’t destroy the beauty and charm and still be convenient for guests to get to without a long walk? The only way I can imagine possible is to have it underground, but who ever heard of an underground monorail? That’d just be a subway, right?:hammer:

...wait for it...

it doesn't seem to ruin the atmosphere of the Polynesian...and that's one of the most immersive resorts on property. Nor does the revolutionary streamline futuristic look of the monorail ruin the atmosphere of the turn of the century architecture of the Grand Floridian...each station is themed to the resort. :shrug:

and to another comment made by another poster about how Poly GF and Contemporary are all more expensive than say Wilderness Lodge because of the monorail is true, but that's because right now the monorail is a luxuary...if you bring it to all of the resorts, it's no long a luxuary, it's a standard, and it shouldn't have an effect on the pricing of the resorts anymore...

We have a WINNER!!! :lol:

 

[hwdelien]

We have a WINNER!!! :lol:

The thing is, the Polynesian was designed with the monorail in mind. From the water the resort is beautiful and the monorail is all but hidden, but from the other side it's not the same. Also, specifically in Animal Kingdom, there are room views all around the resort that would be comprimised.

 

[devoy1701]

The thing is, the Polynesian was designed with the monorail in mind. From the water the resort is beautiful and the monorail is all but hidden, but from the other side it's not the same. Also, specifically in Animal Kingdom, there are room views all around the resort that would be comprimised.

:brick:

The Savannah Rooms...the rooms that people pay dearly to look at the garaffes from their balcony all face the rear of the resort since the expansion of the DVC at the resort. They would not be compromised...

The other rooms who would see this hypothetical monorail expansion would not be anymore compromised than those who look at it from their windows of the Polynesian.

Those rooms you're mentioning (standard view rooms) already stare down at the parkinglot! A monorail would be an improvement IMO!!!

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

The thing is, the Polynesian was designed with the monorail in mind. From the water the resort is beautiful and the monorail is all but hidden, but from the other side it's not the same. Also, specifically in Animal Kingdom, there are room views all around the resort that would be comprimised.

Except that supposedly all of the Resorts are designed with a space intended for a Monorail station. While I can't verify this obviously, we know for a fact that the DVC contract for Saratoga Springs shows Monorail easement running through the property.

 

[devoy1701]

Except that supposedly all of the Resorts are designed with a space intended for a Monorail station. While I can't verify this obviously, we know for a fact that the DVC contract for Saratoga Springs shows Monorail easement running through the property.

Looking at the front facade of the Wilderness Lodge as well...the large exterior concourse on the 2nd floor could very well accomodate a Monorail platform with some minor revisions to the roof of the carport area...

then again it might just have always been planned to be a large outdoor observation deck...or it could have been the planned monorail station when WL was originally supposed to be put on the 7 Seas Lagoon...


and we all know of the pylon footings in place for the once planned expansion to MGM.