Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
So sad. And disgusting, especially the mold.
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Appalling state of the monorail cabins
- Thread starter ptaylor
- Start date
The Empress Lilly
Well-Known Member
Dat crazy talk.
The monorail budget is for painting on monorail-length Avengers and Monsters adverts.
The sad thing is I don't think they even pay for that. I believe they sell that advertising space to the movie studios who pay WDW to do it.
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
Tokyo Disneyland's trains are also 12 years newer than WDW's Mk.6s.Tokyo Disney monorail:
Disney World used to look like that. The 'Disney' in the name didn't denote cartoon franchises, but a place where everything was spotless, freshly painted, friendly and reassuring.
While I understand that in 2013 East Asia is First World and America is Third World, UNI still manages to have spotless transportation systems. Shiny and clean:
michael guinn
New Member
i was there last week and noticed the same thing. as i was taking a buss to MK I noticed they were putting in what looked wires next to the entire monerail line. I asked a CM what they were doing? his response was that they were updating the whole system. my guess is that they are getting new trains which is great but no excuse for the current conditions for the current trains.
hpyhnt 1000
Well-Known Member
Tokyo Disney monorail:
Disney World used to look like that. The 'Disney' in the name didn't denote cartoon franchises, but a place where everything was spotless, freshly painted, friendly and reassuring.
While I understand that in 2013 East Asia is First World and America is Third World, UNI still manages to have spotless transportation systems. Shiny and clean:
Heck, even this looks better than WDW's monorails. A 2000 series Metro car from DC that went into service in 1982. Its 10 years older yet looks 10x better than Monorail Black does right now.
No new trains unfortunately. The work is just for http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/automated-monorail-system-update.876411/
ExtinctJenn
Well-Known Member
Proof that even a "Pixie Dust Snorter" like me is willing to recognize the bad... this is just horrific. We noticed on our last trip that there was some issues... mostly things like the molding or seat issues. We attributed it to the fact that ultimately some guests just don't give a crap and will tear stuff apart that doesn't belong to them just for the fun of it. These pictures highlight way more than guest neglect though for sure.
It does seem it's been quite a while since we saw some monorail refurbishment and/or new monorail outside of the new one they put together from the two unbroken halves left after the horrible accident in 2009 (and even then I'm not sure they did much inside did they?).
Now that said... this is coming off of the busiest time of year and coming into the next busiest time of year. I'd think to really do a good fix/clean they'd have to take a monorail off the line for at least a day to do that. Maybe they simply can't now and once we get into January and have a few months of relative down time they'll get on it? Here's hoping!
It does seem it's been quite a while since we saw some monorail refurbishment and/or new monorail outside of the new one they put together from the two unbroken halves left after the horrible accident in 2009 (and even then I'm not sure they did much inside did they?).
Now that said... this is coming off of the busiest time of year and coming into the next busiest time of year. I'd think to really do a good fix/clean they'd have to take a monorail off the line for at least a day to do that. Maybe they simply can't now and once we get into January and have a few months of relative down time they'll get on it? Here's hoping!
It is not a case of not having time. At least 3 monorails have gone down for weeks to have a movie wrap installed. If there was an interest in updating or even cleaning the interiors it could have been done then.
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
I think it's safe to say all of the Disney Monorails look different from one another.
Disneyland's Monorail, specifically at night:
WDW should get new Monorails
Disneyland's Monorail, specifically at night:
WDW should get new Monorails
hpyhnt 1000
Well-Known Member
At the very least, its clear they need a complete interior overhaul. New seats, new panels, rip out the carpet, install new A/C. Could be done for a fraction of the cost of brand new trains but would do wonders to improve the system.
But no. Instead, the choice was made to let the mold grow!
ExtinctJenn
Well-Known Member
Right but were those taken down during some of the busiest times of the year? I honestly don't remember. That said though, I didn't say it was about them not "having time" to do it but rather not being able to pull a monorail from the line due to guest attendance numbers. If attendance is maxed out I can see them thinking now is not a good time to reduce the number of transportation vehicles they have. Just a hunch.
omurice
Well-Known Member
I'm curious too. Guessing over 25K per car to re-fit, given the trim, seats, windows, lighting, everything is custom, since these are fully custom vehicles - but 25K is a guess, and I have zero idea of the actual cost. The capital depreciation on the monorail year on year has to be staggering, which may partly explain the dozens of new bus stops they're building in front of MK. Some of those stops could be designated for TTC to cut down on monorail operation further. Drive forward to the future - in a bus?
Sadly this condition has not just occurred recently. They have been in this state for years now. The damage you see is from long term neglect and basically no interior maintenance or deep cleaning. 3 monorails have been through long downtimes during this time, and if there was any desire to fix the issues, it could have been done then. It is not the fact that the damage has just occurred and they need to wait for a quiet period.
MickeyPeace
Well-Known Member
I'm surprised no one is talking about this. When TDO drastically and permanently cut monorail operating hours people were upset. Then the reasoning started that maintenance was the reason why. Obviously not.
As u said, it was purely cost cutting. And that is shameful.
ExtinctJenn
Well-Known Member
Well as I said earlier, on our last trip (this past March) I don't remember them looking near this bad. I noticed minor things but not this sad state. As such I assumed it was the result of a long hot, humid, guest packed summer/fall.
Communicore
Well-Known Member
As long as people continue to ride them, and people pay for the admission to the parks, it's all good!!
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
This is exactly correct. This is certainly not "waiting out the busy times" or a poor overnight cleaning or two. As another poster mentioned this is a willful ignorance of the problem and a lack of desire to fix it. They simply do not care.
I'm glad this thread was started. I know I have mentioned the sad state of the monorails in posts of mine, but these pictures speak volumes. It's disgusting and anyone who thinks this is "show ready" is out of their mind. It certainly doesn't engender thoughts that the monorails are safe or properly maintained when the insides are in such poor condition.
Did Bob Iger ride these trains when he was in town last week on his magical journey to the MK to try out a MagicBand? The poor state of the monorails is a perfect example of how WDW is run today. If NYC subways are in better shape, then we have a real problem here.
Last ride on monorail was in March. I thought then the car was not as clean, and more worn as I had experienced before. Hot day and A/C not working well. Did not ride this October when there last. Worries me this is what we will experience in the future.
Have been visiting yearly since 1997 and last couple visits have seen the lack of quality of maintenance generally... includes the monorail that I always considered a different "people mover" from MK to Epcot like TTA and admired the quality of how WDW kept the grounds along the monorail path. It was an experience and not just transportation. I hope the boat ride from The Studios to Epcot that I also consider an experience rather than just transportation has remained clean...missed it also in October, but was fine in March.
Have not given up yet, plan another visit next fall for F and W and MNSSHP... plan to see what another year brings besides mine train, Downtown, and new Morrocan dining in Epcot... especially quality of experience.
Have been visiting yearly since 1997 and last couple visits have seen the lack of quality of maintenance generally... includes the monorail that I always considered a different "people mover" from MK to Epcot like TTA and admired the quality of how WDW kept the grounds along the monorail path. It was an experience and not just transportation. I hope the boat ride from The Studios to Epcot that I also consider an experience rather than just transportation has remained clean...missed it also in October, but was fine in March.
Have not given up yet, plan another visit next fall for F and W and MNSSHP... plan to see what another year brings besides mine train, Downtown, and new Morrocan dining in Epcot... especially quality of experience.
Figment2005
Well-Known Member
Another thing is the fact that other than seat covers there are no spare parts. If they wanted to retrim interior they would basically have to start from scratch. That is neither cheap or quick.