Monorail expansion pieces actually built

[PeterAlt]

We all know that expansion of the WDW monorail system has been in the plans for decades now, awaiting an eventual green light for construction, if ever.

What most people don't know is that parts of the expansion have already been built! Very small parts. ( See, Disney engineers think of the eventual expansion of the monorail route and accommodate for it whenever a new construction project crosses its path. )

There are two examples I am aware of, but I don't know the details (maybe one of you can fill in the details on these).

1. Even before EPCOT CENTER and Downtown Disney (then-called Disney Village), a plan to extend the EPCOT monorail to Disney Village was drawn. As World Showcase was constructed, pylons for that monorail were put in place in World Showcase. There may also be pieces of this route built inside the Imagination Pavilion and station accommodations at the WDW Village Marketplace, but I'm unsure about the later.

2. Another monorail extension would start from the EPCOT Center parking lot and extend in the direction of the Swan and Dolphin Resorts and out toward DHS and DAK and loop back around to the TTC. I heard that when they built the Swan and Dolphin Resorts, they built either part of the planned station there and also the track right of way, though I forget which hotel has these.

Anyone here know of any more or details for the above?

 

[captainkidd]

We all know that expansion of the WDW monorail system has been in the plans for decades now, awaiting an eventual green light for construction, if ever.

What most people don't know is that parts of the expansion have already been built! Very small parts. ( See, Disney engineers think of the eventual expansion of the monorail route and accommodate for it whenever a new construction project crosses its path. )

There are two examples I am aware of, but I don't know the details (maybe one of you can fill in the details on these).

1. Even before EPCOT CENTER and Downtown Disney (then-called Disney Village), a plan to extend the EPCOT monorail to Disney Village was drawn. As World Showcase was constructed, pylons for that monorail were put in place in World Showcase. There may also be pieces of this route built inside the Imagination Pavilion and station accommodations at the WDW Village Marketplace, but I'm unsure about the later.

2. Another monorail extension would start from the EPCOT Center parking lot and extend in the direction of the Swan and Dolphin Resorts and out toward DHS and DAK and loop back around to the TTC. I heard that when they built the Swan and Dolphin Resorts, they built either part of the planned station there and also the track right of way, though I forget which hotel has these.

Anyone here know of any more or details for the above?

Yes. It's never going to happen.

 

[Jerm]

Both are wrong....sorry to be so blunt but it is the truth!

1. I have never seen nor heard of a plan for the Monorail to go to WS side of EPCOT, but would love to know where the pylons were built cause they have heard them very well! Also I think we have seen about every inch of Imagination and there is no part of it built in there. Yes there were plans for the Monorail to expand to DTD back in the day but nothing was ever built for it.

2. REALLY....REALLY....I thought we were done with the "hole in the hotel for the monorail" rumor by now. No the hotel was not built like that for the monorail to go thru!

 

[captainkidd]

There are so many reasons why this is never going to happen. The most obvious ones:

1.Cost.
2.Logistics. To build any extension of the monorail would involve shutting roads down, shutting monorail stations down. If an extension were ever to take place, the line would have to connect to the TTC. Well, it wouldn't HAVE to, but not doing so would make zero sense.
3.If an extension is built to other resorts, Disney would never get away with charging the rates they do at the existing 3 monorail resorts.

 

[DisneyJoe]

There are so many reasons why this is never going to happen. The most obvious ones:

1.Cost.
2.Logistics. To build any extension of the monorail would involve shutting roads down, shutting monorail stations down. If an extension were ever to take place, the line would have to connect to the TTC. Well, it wouldn't HAVE to, but not doing so would make zero sense.
3.If an extension is built to other resorts, Disney would never get away with charging the rates they do at the existing 3 monorail resorts.

1. completely agree 100%.

2. why would existing monorail stations need to shut down? I envision adding a separate loop at the TTC completely separate from the MK/Resort loop and the Epcot loop. I see no need for a shut down there of any sort.

I do know that certain rights of way are on the Master Plan, but that is as far as it goes; these are mentioned in some DVC paperwork for certain resorts.

 

[c-one]

I do know that certain rights of way are on the Master Plan, but that is as far as it goes; these are mentioned in some DVC paperwork for certain resorts.

The inclusion in the DVC agreement is just a legal maneuver to cover Disney's hide. Don't read too much into it; it doesn't mean an expansion is inevitable. Chances of it actually happening remain somewhere south of 1%.

 

[Jerm]

There are so many reasons why this is never going to happen. The most obvious ones:

1.Cost.
2.Logistics. To build any extension of the monorail would involve shutting roads down, shutting monorail stations down. If an extension were ever to take place, the line would have to connect to the TTC. Well, it wouldn't HAVE to, but not doing so would make zero sense.
3.If an extension is built to other resorts, Disney would never get away with charging the rates they do at the existing 3 monorail resorts.

Ummmm the OP is not saying that this is planned, he is saying it has already been built and in place waiting for the rest of the expansion to happen!

 

[WDW Monorail]

What's that small grey area that's boxed in? Could it be a footing? Yes it is!!!




Uploaded with ImageShack.us


That is right behind Mission: Space and on the front lawn of the WDI building.

 

[WDW John]

Not arguing

What's that small grey area that's boxed in? Could it be a footing? Yes it is!!!

How do you know that's a footing? To me it just looks like something that is indefinable. Do you have any other information you are going by or can you show any other examples of footings that are clearer?

 

[Jerm]

Also if that is behind Mission:Space couldn't that just be left over footings (if that is indeed what it is) from when they were building Horizons and needed a lot of help while building something that was a very odd shaped building?

 

[DisneyJoe]

The inclusion in the DVC agreement is just a legal maneuver to cover Disney's hide. Don't read too much into it; it doesn't mean an expansion is inevitable. Chances of it actually happening remain somewhere south of 1%.

I wasn't implying in either direction, just stating a fact that it was there "just in case". I agree that the odds are slim to none.

 

[PyroKinesis]

They are called "footers" not "footings".

 

[raven]

What's that small grey area that's boxed in? Could it be a footing? Yes it is!!!




Uploaded with ImageShack.us


That is right behind Mission: Space and on the front lawn of the WDI building.

You are onto something. In an early concept art of Horizons you will see a monorail beam to the north side of the pavilion (between Horizons and Wonders of Life). This is still path that may be used of they decide to expand the monorail from Epcot to Downtown Disney. Plans have not been completely written off for this expansion to ever happen.

But I can tell you now that the area in the photo is no longer there.

 

[marni1971]

There were 2 routes for a DHS monorail. Non went near Showcase. They were either side of The Land.

The LBV route went between Energy and Horizons.

A third route went south of Epcot via the East Service area and crossed Buena Vista Drive to skirt the CBR. it avoided Showcase completely.

 

[Clever Name]

That footer is for the Maglev train. :wave:

 

[c-one]

There were 2 routes for a DHS monorail. Non went near Showcase. They were either side of The Land.

The LBV route went between Energy and Horizons.

A third route went south of Epcot via the East Service area and crossed Buena Vista Drive to skirt the CBR. it avoided Showcase completely.

Is there a map, model or some kind of masterplan floating around on the Interwebs that shows where the proposed new monorail routes would have gone?

 

[trr1]

Is there a map, model or some kind of masterplan floating around on the Interwebs that shows where the proposed new monorail routes would have gone?

try here http://www.yesterland.com/monoraillegends.html

 

[alissafalco]

try here http://www.yesterland.com/monoraillegends.html

oh too bad....WDW would be even more amazing if it had the monorail go to most of the resorts. It would also open me up to wanting to stay at different resorts I normally wouldnt stay at.

 

[PeterAlt]

Is there a map, model or some kind of masterplan floating around on the Interwebs that shows where the proposed new monorail routes would have gone?

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/129/8345ritrmappropertyimg1qu0.gif

I actually created this image a few years ago. It is my idea of the most efficient route possible for monorail expansion. I found it by accident just now when I Googled WDW monorail expansion. What a surprise seeing my own work being circulated on the Internet after all these years!

 

[PeterAlt]

Also, found this:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General_Disney_News/Expansion_of_Walt_Disney_World_monorail_tracks.htm