News World Drive Magic Kingdom Intersection Re-Design

[Goofyernmost]

Yep...that’s was always and issue before construction and I don’t see it stopping

Maybe they could go back to the old radio guidance from back in the 80's. It simply told everyone which lane to be in if they were going to MK or to Epcot or other places. It was zoned so that the closer you got the more detailed it became. Even if you missed a sign because a truck or something blocked your view, the radio instruction made it easy. I'm not saying forever, but, at least a while until people get used to it. If I had to guess, I would think that the beginners would be more intense on watching signs and the many time visitors might just be driving from habit and at the last minute need swerve over to get in the proper lane. Just a theory.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

at a wonderful time, too - as eyes start to divert, sizing up the lines for the gate...
i wonder about the effect of memory vs. signage on the flip for those coming up wd or over from ecd

Honestly...they should have moved the toll plaza way back into the parking lot lanes...out of play from the vista boulevard. It’s not in the right spot

 

[DisneyCane]

The monorail is 2,000,000 mile for the track

Yeah... that’s not even remotely accurate.

I know it includes a station but the Las Vegas monorail's proposed 1.14 mile extension is estimated (by them) to cost $110 million.

 

[MrPromey]

I know it includes a station but the Las Vegas monorail's proposed 1.14 mile extension is estimated (by them) to cost $110 million.

And if it's going to be a Disney budget for it, make that at least 2x since... well, they do everything based off studio math, apparently.

 

[MrPromey]

Honestly...they should have moved the toll plaza way back into the parking lot lanes...out of play from the vista boulevard. It’s not in the right spot

Agreed. this could have been designed into the flyovers themselves to hide what they are a little ala Hollywood Studios current main entrance or put after them so that you don't go through all that highway-like stuff after you've entered, too.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I know it includes a station but the Las Vegas monorail's proposed 1.14 mile extension is estimated (by them) to cost $110 million.

So the distance between guest areas is 3-4 Miles give or take on average.

You do the math, people...you’re talking up near the billion dollar range to take it anywhere. They haven’t even flinched in the one move that makes sense: a spur to wilderness lodge.

Iger and chapek are blue ocean guys...there is no such thing as an acceptable sunk cost that you can’t link to a future profit. That is the monorail in essence...a sunk cost. In Vegas...they can point to increased foot traffic from a larger pool.

The Disney hotels hold what they hold...as do the parks...and they already move them around with belchers. No advantage.

 

[Creathir]

Just a minor photo update, I’d guess the new south bound flyover is nearing completion.

 

[Rodan75]

Iger and chapek are blue ocean guys...there is no such thing as an acceptable sunk cost that you can’t link to a future profit. That is the monorail in essence...a sunk cost. In Vegas...they can point to increased foot traffic from a larger pool.

I'm not sure you are using Blue Ocean in the right context here. But I agree with the rest of your thought, there is no business justification for the Monorail to be expanded to Wilderness Lodge, but that has a lot more to do with CapEx business fundamentals than any specific strategy. Blue Ocean as a strategy, doesn't mean what a lot of folks here imply it to mean, in its simplest form it is just competing for business in ways that make it harder for others to compete with you, some folks refer to it as creating a 'moat' around your business. (Think the Nintendo Wii and now the Switch, Apple's App Store, Disney Magical Express)

Disney applying Blue Ocean to their current environment is leveraging its IP in the Parks. Any Theme Park can have highly themed environments and rides, but Only Disney can have Star Wars, Toy Story, Frozen and Guardians of the Galaxy, etc. (obviously YMMV on whether you think that is a good thing or not).

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I'm not sure you are using Blue Ocean in the right context here. But I agree with the rest of your thought, there is no business justification for the Monorail to be expanded to Wilderness Lodge, but that has a lot more to do with CapEx business fundamentals than any specific strategy. Blue Ocean as a strategy, doesn't mean what a lot of folks here imply it to mean, in its simplest form it is just competing for business in ways that make it harder for others to compete with you, some folks refer to it as creating a 'moat' around your business. (Think the Nintendo Wii and now the Switch, Apple's App Store, Disney Magical Express)

Disney applying Blue Ocean to their current environment is leveraging its IP in the Parks. Any Theme Park can have highly themed environments and rides, but Only Disney can have Star Wars, Toy Story, Frozen and Guardians of the Galaxy, etc. (obviously YMMV on whether you think that is a good thing or not).

I don’t disagree with that at all...having recently completed some “light reading”
On it.

But after the moat is constructed...blue ocean requires you to slaughter all the villagers within the castle and sell their belongings to the orcs...
Metaphorically speaking.

Mine it out...that’s why you build the moat. The reality is there is little need for the monorail if money can be saved otherwise...it isn’t what it once was to Disney.

 

[Rodan75]

I don’t disagree with that at all...having recently completed some “light reading”
On it.

But after the moat is constructed...blue ocean requires you to slaughter all the villagers within the castle and sell their belongings to the orcs...
Metaphorically speaking.

Mine it out...that’s why you build the moat. The reality is there is little need for the monorail if money can be saved otherwise...it isn’t what it once was to Disney.

Yeah. But any good business does basic ROI on Capital funding. Disney has generally been a fairly fiscally responsible organization since the beginning. So to imply that they would have done it before in some magical time, isn’t really true.

Once it wasn’t justified in the original build...it was never going to be justified. As much as we may have wanted it...there just wasn’t a good justifiable reason to do it. (Unless they could make a payback via higher room rates in a year or two)

Bottom line. I agree with you. But for slightly different reasons.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yeah. But any good business does basic ROI on Capital funding. Disney has generally been a fairly fiscally responsible organization since the beginning. So to imply that they would have done it before in some magical time, isn’t really true.

Once it wasn’t justified in the original build...it was never going to be justified. As much as we may have wanted it...there just wasn’t a good justifiable reason to do it. (Unless they could make a payback via higher room rates in a year or two)

Bottom line. I agree with you. But for slightly different reasons.

The reason I applied the tactic to the monorail is that the logical move is to replace it with somthing more efficient. It’s like running a 1910 powerhouse that burns anthracite next to a brand new CNG or LNG plant...it’s awfuk from a cost standpoint. That system was designed in 1965 and can’t really be upgraded. Power was cheap then and you could get parts.

I see many who argue that they “can’t” get rid of it...why? Warm and fuzzies?

Hell no...I’ve seen posters swear they or others won’t book...

Bull...nothing would stop those saying that from booking their PV CL MK

And they know it...pounders are completely disingenuous.

 

[halltd]

Just a minor photo update, I’d guess the new south bound flyover is nearing completion.
View attachment 317540
View attachment 317541

Orange construction signs on the road say it opens October 16th.

 

[Walt d]

The reason I applied the tactic to the monorail is that the logical move is to replace it with somthing more efficient. It’s like running a 1910 powerhouse that burns anthracite next to a brand new CNG or LNG plant...it’s awfuk from a cost standpoint. That system was designed in 1965 and can’t really be upgraded. Power was cheap then and you could get parts.

I see many who argue that they “can’t” get rid of it...why? Warm and fuzzies?

Hell no...I’ve seen posters swear they or others won’t book...

Bull...nothing would stop those saying that from booking their PV CL MK

And they know it...pounders are completely disingenuous.

The monorail is 2 millon a mile to build.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The monorail is 2 millon a mile to build.

It’s not that LOW... it’s far too expensive to ever be built/rebuilt. Days are numbered

 

[peter11435]

It’s not that high...but it’s far to expensive to ever be built/rebuilt. Days are numbered

If it only cost 2 million per mile there would have been monorails everywhere years ago.

It’s much higher than that.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

If it only cost 2 million per mile there would have been monorails everywhere years ago.

It’s much higher than that.

My bad...I read that wrong...

The old rumor was $1,000,000 per BEAM and I had a brain fart on that.

It’s WAY higher than 2 million per mile...think like 50 and you might be warm

 

[jt04]

They will never get rid of the MK loop.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

They will never get rid of the MK loop.

Ok...how does a $500 mil, 2 year reconstruction sound?

What if you could replace it with an automated system that cost half as much and is 1/5th the cost to run??

It’s hard to speak in absolutes...

 

[jt04]

Ok...how does a $500 mil, 2 year reconstruction sound?

What if you could replace it with an automated system that cost half as much and is 1/5th the cost to run??

It’s hard to speak in absolutes...

I want this between Tomorrowland and and Future World via the TTC. Slip this to one of your connections.

 

[Lensman]

From bioreconstruct, southbound flyover to open on Tuesday the 16th:



Edited to add the following post: